Regional ecosystem details for 6.3.13
| Regional ecosystem | 6.3.13 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 10, 8, 5, 9, (11), (5.5), (7), (6), (4.4), (4), (5.9), (1), (3), (2), (5.6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 880000 ha; Remnant 2021 854000 ha |
| Short description | Atriplex spp., Sclerolaena spp., species of Asteraceae and/or short grasses open herbland on alluvial plains |
| Structure code | Forbland |
| Description | Forbs, frequently Atriplex spp. and Sclerolaena spp., predominate with short grasses present, becoming co-dominant or dominant in some situations. Frequent and seasonally prominent species include the grasses Sporobolus actinocladus, Chloris pectinata, Oxychloris scariosa, Aristida platychaeta, A. contorta, A. anthoxanthoides, Enneapogon avenaceus and the forbs Atriplex muelleri, Sclerolaena lanicuspis, Crassula sieberiana, Goodenia fascicularis and Sida spp. In places, an Astrebla spp. dominated open tussock grassland may form, and other areas may be devoid of vegetation. Scattered trees and shrubs may occur including Atalaya hemiglauca, Senna phyllodinea, Flindersia maculosa, Eucalyptus populnea, Alectryon oleifolius, Acacia excelsa, A. cambagei, Chenopodium auricomum and Eremophila polyclada. In some more western areas, Maireana aphylla is a conspicuous low shrub. Occurs on infrequently flooded, flat alluvial plains, which are formed from recent clay alluvia. Associated soils are very deep, slightly acid to slightly alkaline, brown clays (some grey and red clays occur). Soils are medium to heavy clays commonly becoming light in texture with depth. Intermixed are soils with silty-clay-loam to silty-clay surface soil (10 to 20cm). Thin surface crusts are common. Gypsum commonly occurs in the lower part of the profile <60cm. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 31a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 6.3.13a: Forbs, frequently Atriplex spp. and Sclerolaena spp., predominate with short grasses present, becoming co-dominant or dominant in some situations. Scattered shrubs such as Chenopodium auricomum and Eremophila polyclada. Associated with depressions on frequently flooded alluvial plains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 34b). 6.3.13b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 6.3.7x1. 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. In other situations 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 low (1m tall) shrubs Chenopodium auricomum and Maireana aphylla are locally prominent in some areas. The ground stratum may be dominated by perennial grasses, sedges and/or ephemeral forbs. The perennial grasses Eragrostis setifolia may be locally prominent, while Sporobolus mitchellii and the sedge Eleocharis pallens occur infrequently, with the latter abundant in some areas. Ephemeral graminoids include Cyperus spp. Echinochloa turneriana, Eriochloa pseudoacrotricha and Panicum laevinode. Seasonal dominant forms include Cullen cinereum, Marsilea drummondii, Alternanthera nodiflora, Senecio lautus and Epaltes cunninghamii. Occurs in depressions on floodplains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). |
| Supplementary description | Dawson (1974), A1 (LU 24), A3, W1 (LU 24, 35); Neldner (1984), 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d, 69, 70c; Mills and Lee (1990), A3 (LU 18) |
| Protected areas | Currawinya NP, Welford NP, Idalia NP, Culgoa Floodplain NP, Binya NP |
| Special values | 6.3.13: Potential habitat for threatened plant species including Myriophyllum artesium. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: n/a. b: Wet season. INTENSITY: n/a. b: Low. INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Exclude fire. b: 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. ISSUES: Unlikely to burn due to generally sparse nature. Rarely enough fuel load to burn in any case. b: Rarely enough fuel load to burn. |
| Comments | 6.3.13: Widespread scalding and loss of topsoil is evident (Mills and Lee, 1990). Extensive (>80% medium value) areas of bare ground due to intensive total grazing pressure (Mills and Lee 1990). Floristic composition varies with seasonal rainfall. 6.3.13a: The ground layer has a similar composition to 6.3.13. 6.3.13b: Fill mainly from rivers with opaque fresh water and support many invertebrates (Timms 1999). |
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.
