Regional ecosystem details for 6.4.2
| Regional ecosystem | 6.4.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Endangered |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 1, (2), (11.35), (11.29), (11.37) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 266000 ha; Remnant 2021 17000 ha |
| Short description | Casuarina cristata +/- Acacia harpophylla open forest on clay plains |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Casuarina cristata open forest, commonly with Acacia harpophylla. Eucalyptus spp. may occur in the canopy. A tall shrub layer of Geijera parviflora and/or Eremophila mitchellii commonly occurs. A low shrub layer may be present in some areas. The ground layer is tussock grasses and forbs. Occurs on flat to gently undulating Cainozoic clay plains. The soils are predominantly deep, texture contrast with thin, loamy surfaces over strongly alkaline, red or brown clay subsoils, or deep, cracking clays, which may have a conspicuous gilgai microrelief. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 25a). |
| Supplementary description | Galloway et al. (1974), LU 55; Neldner (1984), 9 (131) |
| Protected areas | Thrushton NP |
| Special values | 6.4.2: Potential habitat for threatened fauna including glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami). |
| 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: Restrict to less than 30-60% in any year. Rotate burns in mosaic patches. Maintain fire management of surrounding country so that wildfires will be very limited in extent. Burn under conditions of good soil moisture and when plants are actively growing. ISSUES: Maintaining a fire mosaic will ensure protection of fauna habitats (such as dense stands of A. luehmannii) and mitigate against wildfires. Allocasuarina luehmannii (bull oak) can be both killed by fire and regenerate from seed following fire. Bull oak thickening/creation of whipstick communities may be controlled with planned low intensity burns. Drought index will help deliver required guideline. Jewel butterfly is significant in this community, but the jewel butterfly needs thick leaf litter/mature bull oak; so high intensity fire (or fire that removes the litter layer) could be detrimental to survival. Allocasuarina is also an important food source for glossy-black cockatoo. |
| Comments | 6.4.2: Extensively cleared. |
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.
