Regional ecosystem details for 6.3.11
| Regional ecosystem | 6.3.11 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 7, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, (2), (6), (4), (5.5), (1), (5.6), (4.4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 122000 ha; Remnant 2021 115000 ha |
| Short description | Seasonal swamps, with mixed herblands and a fringe of eucalypts in closed depressions on broad sand sheets |
| Structure code | Herbland |
| Description | Seasonal swamps. Mixed herbland to forbland, including combinations of the species Eleocharis pallens, Eryngium supinum, Diplachne fusca var. muelleri, Eragrostis parviflora and Marsilea spp. A wooded fringe commonly occurs, including Eucalyptus coolabah and E. populnea. Isolated individuals of Duma florulenta may occur. Occurs in closed depressions on broad sand sheets. Brown clays to texture contrast soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 6.3.11a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 6.3.10x1. Areas of permanent to semi-permanent open water. Associated with larger lake systems that occur in depressions connected to larger drainage systems. Lacustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). 6.3.11b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 6.3.11 or 6.3.11x1. Eragrostis australasica open tussock grassland mixed with bare/open water areas. Less commonly Chenopodium auricomum sparse to open low shrub land. In some areas trees such as Eucalyptus largiflorens, E. coolabah, E. ochrophloia and the shrubs Acacia stenophylla, Eremophila bignoniiflora and Myoporum acuminatum form a fringing low open woodland - shrubland. Some areas are covered by Marsilea spp. or other forbs and aquatic species. Associated with claypans commonly between old dunes or on sandplains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 6.3.11c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 6.3.11. Eleocharis pallens frequently dominates forming an open ground layer (0.3m high). The perennial grasses Eragrostis setifolia and Eriachne benthamii, and annual grasses Eragrostis parviflora, Diplachne fusca and Iseilema membranaceum may be co-dominant or dominant. The grass Elytrophorus spicatus and the sedges Eleocharis pusilla and Cyperus spp. occur frequently. A variety of forbs may be present and seasonally abundant. These include Aeschynomene indica, Centipeda spp. Pycnosorus chrysanthus, Eryngium supinum, Marsilea spp., Cullen tenax, Swainsona spp., and Trigonella suavissima. Scattered low shrubs may be present including Duma florulenta, Tecticornia spp. and Tecticornia tenuis. Associated with closed depressions. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 6.3.11d: Melaleuca densispicata predominates with scattered Eucalyptus coolabah emerging above the well-defined but discontinuous canopy. A low shrub layer is rarely developed although scattered low shrubs may be present. The ground cover is composed mainly of forbs, but grasses and sedges do occur. Occurs on cemented aprons on the lower slopes and edges of dunes occurring on flat alluvial plains (slopes 1 to 4%) or fringing claypans. Formed from aeolian Quaternary sand overlying Quaternary alluvia. Associated soils are shallow to moderately deep, neutral, red sandy-loam to sandy-clay-loams usually with a ferruginous hardpan. Surface soil is hard and cemented often with concretionary lime present. Also associated are texture contrast soils. These soils comprise loose, neutral, red, loamy-coarse-sands overlying alkaline, sandy-clay-loams to clay-loams. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 21b). 6.3.11e: [RE not in use]²: History unknown. Duma florulenta predominates forming a distinct but discontinuous low open shrubland to open scrub canopy (2-3m tall). Duma florulenta may occur in pure stands or with scattered low trees and tall shrubs such as Acacia stenophylla, A. victoriae, Eremophila bignoniiflora, Eucalyptus coolabah emerge (3-4m tall; density <25-100/ha). The ground stratum may be dominated by perennial grasses, sedges and/or ephemeral forbs. Occurs in closed depressions on floodplains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 6.3.11f: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 6.3.11x1. Lakes/claypans on floodplains. Occurs on depressions at edge of floodplains. Lacustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). 6.3.11x1: Seasonal swamps. Chenopodium auricomum dwarf open shrubland. The ground layer is variable, including Marsilea spp., Diplachne fusca var. muelleri, Eragrostis spp. and sedges. Isolated emergent Acacia stenophylla, Eremophila bignoniiflora and Eucalyptus coolabah may occur. Occurs in closed depressions on floodplains. Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). 6.3.11x2: Seasonal swamps. Mixed succulent shrubland, tussock grassland or herbland, including combinations of the species Tecticornia spp., Eragrostis australasica, Atriplex spongiosa and Sclerolaena spp. Occurs in closed depressions in reticulate dune fields. Pale, silty clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). |
| Supplementary description | Dawson (1974), L2 (LU 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20); Neldner (1984), 73b (162), 73c (163), 73d (158, 160); Mills and Lee (1990), L2 (LU 67, 69); Kingsford et al. (2001), Pans and spike rush swamps and freshwater lakes; Timms (2006) |
| Protected areas | Currawinya NP, Lake Bindegolly NP, Culgoa Floodplain NP |
| Special values | 6.3.11: These wetlands are associated with a diverse and abundant invertebrate and water bird fauna (Kingsford et al. 2001, Timms 2006). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Wet season. d: Do not target for burning. INTENSITY: Low. d: Do not target for burning. INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Aim to exclude fire by fuel reduction in adjacent vegetation communities where possible. Undertake partial burns when necessary to reduce fuel loads and protect against severe wildfire. Burn with high soil moisture (i.e., after rain/storms) or in winter when fire is more easily controlled. d: Manage surrounding country. Burn in association with surrounding ecosystems, as melaleuca ecosystems often just occur in patches or along natural drainage lines. High soil moisture (or presence of water on the ground) will aid in the regeneration of melaleuca and reduce any possibility of peat fires. ISSUES: Rarely enough fuel load to burn. d: Fire regimes for melaleuca ecosystems require further fire research. Melaleucas are fire-adapted, but too high an intensity or frequent fire will slow or prevent regeneration. High intensity fires may kill trees and lead to whipstick regeneration. Too frequent fire may result in a net loss of nutrients over time from an already nutrient poor system. |
| Comments | 6.3.11: Hydrology, salinity and associated microfauna varies both spatially and temporally (Timms 2006). Heavily impacted or modified by total grazing pressure. Habitat for feral pigs which impact on the ground layer of this and adjacent regional ecosystems. Fringing areas are often in poor condition due to extensive erosion (Dawson, 1974; Mills and Lee, 1990). 6.3.11b: Generally filled by local run-off or from ground water with turbid, fresh water. Often only stay inundated for a few weeks or months but they often support a rich and characteristic vertebrate fauna (Timms 1999). 6.3.11d: Often occurs fringing clay pans associated with Atalaya hemiglauca +/- Acacia aneura +/- Acacia spp. +/- Corymbia terminalis tall open shrubland (6.6.1). 6.3.11f: Smaller clay pans (<8 ha) are classified as palustrine wetlands while large areas of open water are classified as lacustrine wetlands. 6.3.11x2: Primarily in sub-region 7. |
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.
2 Superseded: Revision of the regional ecosystem classification removed this regional ecosystem code from use. It is included in the regional ecosystem description database because the RE code may appear in older versions of RE mapping and the Vegetation Management regulation.
