Regional ecosystem details for 6.3.3
| Regional ecosystem | 6.3.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Riverine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 8, 5, 10, 6, (1), (2), (7), (4), (3), (4.4), (5.9), (11), (9), (11.26) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 242000 ha; Remnant 2021 223000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus camaldulensis and/or E. coolabah +/- Acacia stenophylla, Melaleuca trichostachya woodland fringing channels of major watercourses |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus camaldulensis and/or E. coolabah woodland to open forest. A secondary tree layer may occur, including canopy species, Acacia stenophylla, Melaleuca trichostachya, A. salicina and Lysiphyllum carronii. A shrub layer may occur, including Duma florulenta and A. stenophylla. The ground layer is typically perennial tussock grasses, including Paspalidium jubiflorum, Arundinella nepalensis, Leptochloa digitata, Dichanthium sericeum, Bothriochloa ewartiana, B. bladhii and Sporobolus mitchellii. Occurs on the fringes of channels of major watercourses. Grey to grey-brown silty clays and cracking clays. Areas of coarse sand occur throughout the profile and form sand bars in channels. Riverine. (BVG1M: 16a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 6.3.3a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 6.3.3x1. Waterholes in drainage lines. Occurs in drainage lines. Semi-permanent to permanent. Riverine. (BVG1M: 16d). 6.3.3x1: Waterholes and billabongs (channel and preferential flow path waterbodies). Associated woody species include Eucalyptus coolabah, E. camaldulensis, Acacia stenophylla, Eremophila bignoniiflora and Duma florulenta. Aquatic vegetation, grasses, forbs and sedges may occur. Occurs in the channels of major watercourses and wet season preferential channels on floodplains. Riverine. (BVG1M: 34d). |
| Supplementary description | Dawson (1974), W7 (LU 26); Neldner (1984), 12a; Mills and Lee (1990), W6 (LU 2); Kingsford et al. (2001), River channels and waterholes |
| Protected areas | Currawinya NP, Thrushton NP, Binya NP |
| Special values | 6.3.3: High fauna diversity, particularly bird and mammal (including Koala - Gordon et al. 1988) species. Often includes large permanent waterholes which provide important wetland and fauna refuge habitat. This regional ecosystem is floristically rich with more than 100 species/500m2. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: n/a. a: Wet season. INTENSITY: n/a. a: Low. INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Manage surrounding country. a: 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. Interval will depend on need for burning, seasonal conditions and grazing pressure. Not to be targeted for burning unless in need of protection. ISSUES: This community does not need fire. Flood events drive recruitment. Hollow trees are critical habitat. High intensity and extensive fires will degrade vegetation structure and destroy animal habitats. Restrict extent and intensity of fires. a: Rarely enough fuel load to burn. |
| Comments | 6.3.3: The naturalised species *Xanthium occidentale (Noogoora burr) is often locally abundant in the ground layer. Many of the large waterholes are subject to siltation (Mills and Lee, 1990). Highly modified structural and floristic composition as a result of high total grazing pressure. 6.3.3x1: Previously mapped as 6.3.1a and 6.3.3a. |
1 Estimated extent is from version 13 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.
