Regional ecosystem details for 9.12.42

Regional ecosystem 9.12.42
Vegetation Management Act class Of concern
Wetlands Not a Wetland
Biodiversity status Endangered
Subregion 3
Estimated extent1 Pre-clearing 500 ha; Remnant 2021 500 ha
Short description Schizachyrium fragile and Dichanthium sericeum grassland on undulating hills on pre-Cainozoic mafic igneous rocks
Structure code Tussock Grassland
Description Mixed tussock grassland dominated by Schizachyrium fragile (firegrass) and Dichanthium sericeum +/- Sarga sp. +/- Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass). Very sparsely wooded with low trees and shrubs including Corymbia spp., Cochlospermum spp. and Terminalia aridicola (arid peach). Occurs on undulating hills on pre-Cainozoic mafic igneous rocks. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b).
Special values 9.12.42: A naturally restricted regional ecosystem.
Fire management guidelines INTERVAL: Fire return interval flexible. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Ground fuels are typically sparse. Burn in association with surrounding country. ISSUES: This is a fire tolerant vegetation community, but will burn rarely owing to sparse fuels. Maintaining a fire mosaic in surrounding landscape will mitigate against wildfires.
Comments 9.12.42: Small outcrops are dominated by Schizachyrium fragile and lower areas are dominated by Dichanthium sericeum. Occurs in a restricted range north of Chillagoe in the north of the bioregion. The naturalised species Mitracarpus hirtus* occurs in this community. Prone to invasion by the weed Themeda quadrivalvis (grader grass).

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 ( https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/ecosystems/remnant-vegetation/ ).