Regional ecosystem details for 9.11.2
| Regional ecosystem | 9.11.2 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, (5), (6), (2), (10.3), (11.3), (10.2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 359000 ha; Remnant 2021 351000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus crebra (or several other ironbark species) +/- Corymbia spp. woodland on shallow texture contrast soils on low metamorphic hills and lowlands |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) and/or a number of similar ironbark species +/- Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) +/- C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood). A sparse sub-canopy layer can occur. The shrub layer is absent to sparse and often includes canopy species and Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush). The ground layer is mid-dense and is generally dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Occurs on a wide variety of landforms, but predominantly undulating rises and hills generally on shallow loamy soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.11.2a: Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) +/- Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) +/- C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- C. clarksoniana (Clarkson's bloodwood) +/- Eucalyptus spp. +/- Corymbia spp. An open to mid-dense sub-canopy layer can occur and include canopy species, Bursaria incana (prickly pine), Hakea spp., and Acacia spp. The shrub layer is sparse to open and can include canopy species, Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Grewia savannicola, Erythroxylum australe (cocaine tree), Carissa spp., Hakea spp. And Acacia spp. The ground layer is grassy and dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and H. triticeus (giant speargrass). Occurs on metamorphic hills and rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). 9.11.2b: Woodland of Eucalyptus exilipes (fine-leaved ironbark) +/- Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). An open sub-canopy can include C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood), Hakea lorea subsp. lorea (shoe-lace Hakea), Bursaria incana (prickly pine) and Acacia excelsa or Vachellia bidwillii (corkwood wattle). The shrub layer is absent to very open and can include Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Grewia savannicola and Hakea chordophylla. The sparse to mid-dense grassy ground layer is dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Bothriochloa spp. (bluegrasses). Occurs on steep metamorphic rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). 9.11.2c: Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus whitei (White's ironbark) and/or E. crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) +/- Corymbia peltata (rustyjacket) +/- C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). There can also be scattered canopy species in the sub-canopy. There is no shrub layer though very scattered shrubs of juvenile canopy species or Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush) and Cycas sp. can occur. The ground layer is dense grassy and is usually dominated by Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass). Occurs on metamorphic rises and footslopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). 9.11.2d: Open woodland to woodland of Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark) or E. granitica (granite ironbark), sometimes with a sparse sub-canopy of Corymbia spp. An open shrub layer includes Grevillea parallela (silver oak), Denhamia cunninghamii (yellowberry bush), Acacia flavescens (yellow wattle) and Alphitonia pomaderroides (soapbush). The ground layer is grassy and dominated by Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Restricted to Serpentinite geologies. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). 9.11.2e: Open woodland of Eucalyptus drepanophylla (grey ironbark) +/- Corymbia erythrophloia (red bloodwood) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). The mid-layer is very open though scattered individuals of the canopy species, Melaleuca nervosa (woodland paperbark) and Carissa lanceolata (currantbush) can occur in the shrub layer. A dense grassy cover is usually dominated by Bothriochloa spp. or Aristida spp. Occurs on undulating metamorphic rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 13c). |
| Protected areas | Girringun CP, White Mountains RR, Girringun NP, Dalrymple NP, White Mountains NP, Blackbraes NP, Girringun RR |
| Special values | 9.11.2: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Corchorus subargenteus, Cycas couttsiana, Cycas platyphylla, Eucalyptus paedoglauca, Grevillea glossadenia. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Early dry season and storm time. Timing of early dry season burns will vary depending on seasonal conditions; it may sometimes commence as early as March. Avoid burning August-October when south-easterly winds are typically strongest. INTENSITY: Low, with occasional moderate or high. INTERVAL: 5-10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 5. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Apply mosaic across the landscape at a range of frequencies to create varying stages of post-fire response. ISSUES: These ecosystems contain shrubs that germinate after fire. Seedlings typically take a number of years to mature. Avoid repeated fires at short intervals and high intensity burns of broad areas. Leave areas of long unburnt vegetation to maintain a diversity of habitat for wildlife. Shrub species diversity will decline if areas are left long unburnt. |
| Comments | 9.11.2: The northern distribution of this unit may overlap with RE 9.11.3. Includes other narrow leaved ironbark taxa such as Eucalyptus drepanophylla, and their intergrades. Occurs throughout the central and southern bioregion. 9.11.2a: Occurs extensively across the southern half of the bioregion. 9.11.2b: Occurs in a restricted range around Lolworth in the central bioregion. 9.11.2c: Restricted to the Montgomery Range in the central bioregion. 9.11.2d: Restricted to several locations on Serpentinite from Mt. Garnet to Maryvale in the central bioregion. 9.11.2e: Occurs south of the Harvey Range road in the south of the bioregion. |
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.
