Regional ecosystem details for 5.3.21
| Regional ecosystem | 5.3.21 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 4, 6, 5, 3, (8), (7), (9), (10), (4.2), (12), (6.10), (1), (11), (4.3), (4.4), (6.11), (13), (4.5), (4.1), (6.9) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 1067000 ha; Remnant 2021 1067000 ha |
| Short description | Variable sparse to open herbland, Senna spp. open shrubland and bare scalded areas on infrequently flooded alluvia of major rivers their distributaries, drainage channels and creeks |
| Structure code | Open Herbland |
| Description | Variable sparse to open grassland, herbland or forbland often dominated by ephemeral grasses and forbs. At times extensive areas may be denuded of any species. The perennial grasses Astrebla pectinata, Sporobolus mitchellii and Eragrostis setifolia or annual grasses such as Brachyachne convergens, Dactyloctenium radulans, Iseilema vaginiflorum, Panicum spp. and Sporobolus spp. may be seasonally or locally prominent. A wide variety of forbs including Cullen cinereum, Atriplex spongiosa, Salsola australis, Sclerolaena glabra, Osteocarpum acropterum, Minuria denticulata, Sclerolaena calcarata, Sclerolaena intricata, Sclerolaena muricata, Trianthema triquetra, Calotis hispidula, Euphorbia drummondii, Goodenia fascicularis, Arabidella nasturtium, Atriplex velutinella, Brachyscome dentata, Ethuliopsis cunninghamii occur and may become seasonally or locally prominent. Trees and shrubs are usually absent, however limited areas of Senna spp. low open shrubland do occur. Occurs on flat, infrequently flooded alluvial plains of major rivers as well as on alluvia of distributaries of major rivers and along major drainage channels and creeks, with minor occurrences on interchannel alluvia and clay pans. Associated soils are very deep, crusted, red, brown and grey cracking clays that are subject to scalding and some wind-blown sand on the surface. Surfaces may be weakly self-mulching. Soils are neutral to very strongly alkaline and gypsum occurs at depth. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 31a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 5.3.21a: Variable sparse to open grassland, herbland or forbland often dominated by ephemeral grasses and forbs. At times extensive areas may be denuded of any species. The perennial grasses Astrebla pectinata, Sporobolus mitchellii and Eragrostis setifolia or annual grasses such as Brachyachne convergens, Dactyloctenium radulans, Iseilema vaginiflorum, Panicum spp. and Sporobolus spp. may be seasonally or locally prominent. A wide variety of forbs including Cullen cinereum, Atriplex spongiosa, Salsola australis, Sclerolaena glabra, Osteocarpum acropterum, Minuria denticulata, Sclerolaena calcarata, Sclerolaena intricata, Sclerolaena muricata, Trianthema triquetra, Calotis hispidula, Euphorbia drummondii, Goodenia fascicularis, Arabidella nasturtium, Atriplex velutinella, Brachyscome dentata, Ethuliopsis cunninghamii occur and may become seasonally or locally prominent. Trees and shrubs are usually absent, however limited areas of Senna spp. low open shrubland do occur. Occurs on flat, infrequently flooded alluvial plains of major rivers as well as on alluvia of distributaries of major rivers and along major drainage channels and creeks, with minor occurrences on interchannel alluvia and clay pans. Associated soils are very deep, crusted, red, brown and grey cracking clays that are subject to scalding and some wind-blown sand on the surface. Surfaces may be weakly self-mulching. Soils are neutral to very strongly alkaline and gypsum occurs at depth. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 31a). 5.3.21b: Senna spp. open shrubland. The ground layer cover and floristics varies with seasonal conditions, and is often dominated by ephemeral grasses and forbs. At times extensive areas may be denuded of any species. The perennial grasses Astrebla pectinata, Sporobolus mitchellii and Eragrostis setifolia or annual grasses such as Brachyachne convergens, Dactyloctenium radulans, Iseilema vaginiflorum, Panicum spp. and Sporobolus spp. may be seasonally or locally prominent. A wide variety of forbs including Cullen cinereum, Atriplex spongiosa, Salsola australis, Sclerolaena glabra, Osteocarpum acropterum, Minuria denticulata, Sclerolaena calcarata, Sclerolaena intricata, Sclerolaena muricata, Trianthema triquetra, Calotis hispidula, Euphorbia drummondii, Goodenia fascicularis, Arabidella nasturtium, Atriplex velutinella, Brachyscome dentata, Ethuliopsis cunninghamii occur and may become seasonally or locally prominent. Occurs on flat, infrequently flooded alluvial plains of major rivers and distributaries, with minor occurrences on interchannel alluvia and clay pans. Associated soils are very deep, crusted, red, brown and grey cracking clays that are subject to scalding and some wind-blown sand on the surface. Surfaces may be weakly self-mulching. Soils are neutral to very strongly alkaline and gypsum occurs at depth. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 31a). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1984), 68a,b,c,d; Boyland (1984), 28; Neldner (1991), 49 (72); Wilson and Purdie (1990a), A2 (81, 83). |
| Protected areas | Diamantina NP, Welford NP, Pullen Pullen SWR, Bladensburg NP, Astrebla Downs NP, Goneaway NP, Lochern NP, Lark Quarry CP |
| Special values | 5.3.21: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Acacia peuce. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Exclude fire (not a very flammable ecosystem in any case). ISSUES: Unlikely to burn in any case due to low fuel loads. |
| Comments | 5.3.21: Severely scalded and saline areas devoid of vegetation. Highly modified floristic composition due to heavy total grazing pressure. Scalding locally common (Wilson and Purdie, 1990b; C2). Flooding frequency low, however, timing and duration of flooding affects floristic composition. Grasses predominate after summer floods, and forbs after winter floods. 5.3.21a: Severely scalded and saline areas devoid of vegetation. Highly modified floristic composition due to heavy total grazing pressure. Scalding locally common (Wilson and Purdie, 1990b; C2). Flooding frequency low, however, timing and duration of flooding affects floristic composition. Grasses predominate after summer floods, and forbs after winter floods. |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13.1 pre-clearing and 2021 remnant regional ecosystem mapping. Figures are rounded for simplicity. For more precise estimates, including breakdowns by tenure and other themes see remnant vegetation in Queensland.
