Regional ecosystem details for 6.3.8
| Regional ecosystem | 6.3.8 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 7, 5, 1, (11.37), (11), (3), (8) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 18000 ha; Remnant 2021 15000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus largiflorens +/- Acacia cambagei woodland on alluvium |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus largiflorens woodland. Scattered E. coolabah or E. populnea low trees may be present and (in the east) groves of Acacia cambagei, A. harpophylla or A. omalophylla occasionally occur. Duma florulenta low shrubs are often prominent, and the sparse ground layer is dominated by perennial grasses and locally abundant forbs. Occurs in depressions on floodplains but also fringing billabongs and small lakes (particularly in the west). Soils are mainly poorly drained, deep, alkaline, grey alluvial clays, but also associated texture contrast soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 16c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 6.3.8x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 6.3.8x3 and 6.3.7x2. Seasonal swamps (wooded). Eucalyptus coolabah woodland, occasionally with Casuarina cristata, E. ochrophloia and Acacia cambagei. A shrub layer may occur, including Duma florulenta, Eremophila bignoniiflora and Senna spp. The ground layer is variable, with tussock grasses and forbs, including Eragrostis parviflora, Marsilea spp., and Alternanthera spp. Occurs in closed depressions on broad sandy plains overlying clays. Brown silty clay to cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 16c). 6.3.8x2: Seasonal swamps (wooded). Duma florulenta shrubland. Eremophila spp. may occur. Emergent Hakea leucoptera and Acacia stenophylla commonly occur. The ground layer is variable, including Eleocharis pallens, Marsilea spp. and Duma florulenta. Occurs in closed depressions in reticulate dunefields in the south-west of the bioregion. Brown silty clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34b). 6.3.8x3: Seasonal swamps (wooded). Eucalyptus largiflorens and/or E. ochrophloia woodland. A shrub layer may occur, including Duma florulenta, Eremophila spp. and Senna spp. The ground layer is variable, with tussock grasses and forbs, including Eragrostis spp., Alternanthera denticulata and Paspalidium jubiflorum. Occurs in closed depressions on broad sandy plains in the south-west of the bioregion. Red-brown to yellow-brown silty and sandy soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 16c). 6.3.8x4: Eucalyptus largiflorens woodland to open forest, commonly with E. ochrophloia and Acacia aneura. The ground layer is tussock grasses and forbs, including Sporobolus caroli, Panicum spp. and Pterocaulon sphacelatum. Occurs on the fringes of alluvial plains and sand deposits, subject to irregular inundation by large flood events. Red silty sands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 16c). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1984), 16 (27); Kingsford et al. (2001), Black box, river channels and waterholes; Timms and Boulton (2001), blackbox depressions. |
| Protected areas | Currawinya NP, Culgoa Floodplain NP, Lake Bindegolly NP |
| Special values | 6.3.8: Northern extremity of regional ecosystem's distribution which extends into New South Wales. Provides valuable habitat for a high number of fauna species, particularly birds (Kingsford et al. 2001). 6.3.8x1: Provides valuable habitat for a high number of fauna species, particularly birds (Kingsford et al. 2001). 6.3.8x2: Provides valuable habitat for a high number of fauna species, particularly birds (Kingsford et al. 2001). 6.3.8x3: Provides valuable habitat for a high number of fauna species, particularly birds (Kingsford et al. 2001). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet/dry season when there is good soil moisture. Early storm season or after good spring rains. INTENSITY: Moderate to high. INTERVAL: 6-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 6. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Burn less than 10-30% in any year. Burn surrounding vegetation under conditions of good soil moisture and when plants are actively growing throughout the year so that wildfires will be very limited in extent. Fire exclusion not necessary. ISSUES: Best protection from wildfires is probably the creation of a multi-aged mosaic in surrounding vegetation and perimeter burning. Planned burns have traditionally been carried out in the winter dry season; further research required. |
| Comments | 6.3.8: Many small areas on the lower Paroo River are too small to map. Confined largely to the lower Paroo River (subregion 7) with smaller areas occurring to east of the Warrego River (subregion 1 and 5). Merges with a similar regional ecosystem (11.3.16) in the Brigalow Belt bioregion. 6.3.8x3: Previously mapped as 6.3.8x1. |
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.
