Regional ecosystem details for 9.5.4
| Regional ecosystem | 9.5.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 4, 11.3, 5, (11.7), (11.13) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 12000 ha; Remnant 2021 12000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus melanophloia +/- Corymbia dallachiana woodland on sand plains |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Woodland to open woodland of Eucalyptus melanophloia (silver-leaved ironbark) +/- Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum) +/- E. crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark). There is often an open sub-canopy, which can include canopy species, Petalostigma pubescens (quinine), Bursaria incana (prickly pine) and Alphitonia excelsa (soapbush). An open shrub layer often contains juvenile canopy species as well as Melaleuca nervosa (woodland paperbark), P. banksii (smooth-leaved quinine) and Carissa spp. There is a sparse to mid-dense grassy ground layer of Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and/or Triodia pungens (spinifex). Occurs on gently undulating terrain with sandy loam to sandy clay soils on Quaternary sandplains. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17b). |
| Protected areas | Great Basalt Wall NP |
| 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. INTENSITY: Low, with occasional moderate. INTERVAL: 2-5 year intervals with longer unburnt patches. Fuel loads tend to reach a maximum after 2-3 years. Ensure burn programs occur after big wet season as fuel loads will be higher than average. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Burn less than 40% across the landscape in any year. Burning through the early dry season will produce a network of burns that will contain later fires. Fires will only gain in intensity as the dry season progresses. Grass composition can be affected by timing and intensity of fire. Occasional moderate fire will help to reduce overabundant trees that could potentially suppress ground layer vegetation. ISSUES: Leave areas of long unburnt vegetation to maintain a diversity of habitat for wildlife. |
| Comments | 9.5.4: Occurs close to the Desert Uplands boundary in the south of the bioregion. |
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.
