Regional ecosystem details for 6.3.17
| Regional ecosystem | 6.3.17 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 5, 1, 4, 2, (6), (11.29), (11.35), (4.4), (3), (11.26) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 163000 ha; Remnant 2021 91000 ha |
| Short description | Corymbia tessellaris, C. clarksoniana, Eucalyptus melanophloia, Angophora melanoxylon in mixed woodlands with Callitris glaucophylla lower trees on levees of major watercourses |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Mixed woodland, including combinations of the species Corymbia tessellaris, C. clarksoniana, Eucalyptus melanophloia, Angophora melanoxylon and E. populnea. A secondary tree layer usually occurs, typically dominated by Callitris glaucophylla. A shrub layer may occur, including Geijera parviflora, Acacia excelsa and Alstonia constricta. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Heteropogon contortus, Aristida spp. and Perotis rara. Occurs on levees of major watercourses. The soils are deep, earthy or siliceous sands and associated sandy-surfaced texture contrast soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18a). |
| Supplementary description | Galloway et al. (1974), LU 60; Neldner (1984), 11b, 11c, 11d; Mills and Lee (1990), D3 (LU63) |
| Special values | 6.3.17: Habitat for high diversity of fauna. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet/early dry season when there is good soil moisture. Early storm season or after good spring rains. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: 6-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 6. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Burn less than 10-30% in any year to achieve a mosaic. Burn under conditions of good soil moisture and when plants are actively growing. Protection relies on broad-scale management of surrounding country with numerous small fires throughout the year so that wildfires will be very limited in extent. ISSUES: Cypress is killed by fire and regenerates from canopy stored seed (obligate seeder). It reaches reproductive age at about 6 years. Fire frequency less than 6-8 years will reduce cypress, but long fire interval will lead to cypress dominance and eucalypt suppression. Fuel reduction burns will help restrict incursions by high intensity wildfires that kill cypress. Fire after good spring rain has the potential to burn severely if there is no follow-up rain and re-lights occur. |
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.
