Regional ecosystem details for 9.3.27
| Regional ecosystem | 9.3.27 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, 2, 4, (2.9), (6) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 33000 ha; Remnant 2021 32000 ha |
| Short description | Dichanthium sp. or Iseilema sp. grassland +/- Eucalyptus spp. or Corymbia spp. emergents on alluvials on basalt geologies |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Grassland of Dichanthium spp. or Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) or Imperata cylindrica (Blady grass) or Iseilema spp. (Flinders grass), with patches of sedgeland. A range of Eucalyptus spp. And Corymbia spp. can occur as emergents. Occurs on alluvial deposits overlying basalt geologies. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.3.27a: Grassland of Dichanthium spp. or Imperata cylindrica (Blady grass) or Iseilema spp. (Flinders grass) or Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) with patches of sedgeland. Isolated low clumps of Melaleuca bracteata (black teatree) and a range of other species such as Eucalyptus brownii (Reid River box), E. leptophleba (Molloy red box), E. orgadophila (mountain coolibah) and Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) may occur as emergents. Occurs on alluvial deposits overlying basalt geologies. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). 9.3.27b: Grassland with emergent Corymbia tessellaris (Moreton Bay ash), E. camaldulensis (river red gum) or E. tereticornis (bluegum) and/or E. platyphylla (poplar gum). The emergents may become an open woodland in small patches. Occurs in alluvium within basalt flows. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 31a). |
| Protected areas | Blackbraes NP, Great Basalt Wall NP, Kennedy Road Gravel RR |
| Special values | 9.3.27: Springs associated with this ecosystem (9.8.8) are significant for local fauna and may support endemic flora. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet/early dry season when there is good soil moisture. INTENSITY: Various. Mainly low, but also moderate. INTERVAL: > 5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 5. INTERVAL_MAX: 50. STRATEGY: Begin burning soon after the wet season so that fires will carry only a small distance. Patchy burns are preferred. Burn less than 30% in any year. Burn under conditions of good soil moisture and when plants are actively growing. Where woody thickening is an issue, implement burns soon after high rainfall events, before woody seedlings become established. ISSUES: Patchy burning provides an appropriate mix of fresh and older tussocks and regenerates associated herbs. Targeted burning of rubber vine may be useful in controlling this weed, but may be difficult to burn due to generally sparse nature of ground fuels. |
| Comments | 9.3.27: This grassland contains patches of sedgeland. Imperata cylindrica may dominate as a result of management. 9.3.27 is distinguished from 9.3.25 by specifically overlying basalt geologies. Occurs mainly south of the Lynd Junction but scattered elsewhere though the central and southern bioregion. Subject to minor clearing. Some salinity risk associated with groundwater discharge areas. Rubber vine Cryptostegia grandiflora infestation and total high grazing pressures are leading to degradation. Timber harvesting is removing significant habitat trees. 9.3.27a: Occurs within basalt geologies. Occurs mainly south of the Lynd Junction but scattered elsewhere though the central bioregion. 9.3.27b: Occurs in pockets in the Great Basalt Wall 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.
