Regional ecosystem details for 6.6.2
| Regional ecosystem | 6.6.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 5, 3 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 4000 ha; Remnant 2021 3000 ha |
| Short description | Triodia mitchellii and/or T. marginata hummock grassland on low sand dunes east of the Warrego River |
| Structure code | Hummock Grassland |
| Description | Triodia mitchellii and/or T. marginata hummock grassland. Other associated species include Eragrostis eriopoda and Aristida spp., Panicum effusum, Themeda triandra, Eriachne mucronata is often locally dominant. A variety of forbs are seasonally abundant. Emergent trees may occur, including Corymbia clarksoniana, Eucalyptus melanophloia, Angophora melanoxylon and Acacia aneura. Occurs on low sand dunes east of the Warrego River. Deep, red to yellow-red, earthy sands. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 33b). |
| Supplementary description | Mills and Lee (1990), N1 (LU 64); Neldner (1984), 65 |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Storm season or wet season. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: Minimum 5 to 6 years but require patches with greater fire intervals in the mosaic also. INTERVAL_MIN: 5. INTERVAL_MAX: 6. STRATEGY: Maintenance of a multi-aged mosaic of spinifex communities should protect these fire tolerant ecosystems and adjacent ecosystems which may not be so tolerant of burning. Burn with good soil moisture. Under hot and dry conditions, fires can burn with high intensity in these ecosystems. ISSUES: Ensure multi-aged mosaic maintained at a landscape level, including long unburnt patches, e.g., both large, mature clumps (to ~ 10 years old) and also areas of over-mature and senescent plants (> ~ 10 years old). Burning too much and this reducing ground cover for long periods, may promote sand shift. Winter burns may favour shrubs over Triodia spp. and thus change the ground layer over time. |
| Comments | 6.6.2: East of the Warrego River. Increased fire intensity and frequency may be associated with structural and floristic changes in this ecosystem. The structure, shrub density and floristic composition of the association is affected by fire. There is frequently a gradation from hummock grasslands to low open woodlands, depending on fire frequency. |
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.
