Regional ecosystem details for 9.8.13
| Regional ecosystem | 9.8.13 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, (4), (6), (2), (2.9), (10.2), (10.3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 168000 ha; Remnant 2021 165000 ha |
| Short description | Iseilema spp. and/or Dichanthium spp. tussock grassland on basalt plains |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Grassland to very open grassland of Iseilema spp. (Flinders grass) and/or Dichanthium spp. +/- Bothriochloa spp. (bluegrasses) +/- Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) +/- Ophiuros exaltatus (canegrass) +/- Eulalia aurea (silky browntop) +/- Aristida spp. In some areas any of the subdominant species can be dominant. There are often emergents including Corymbia dallachiana (Dallachy's gum), Eucalyptus crebra (narrow-leaved ironbark), E. orgadophila (mountain coolibah) and C. erythrophloia (red bloodwood) or scattered shrubs including Carissa lanceolata (currantbush) and Atalaya hemiglauca (whitewood). Occurs on basalt plains and undulating plains with varying soil depths. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). |
| Protected areas | Undara Volcanic NP, Mount Rosey RR, Blackbraes NP, Girringun NP, Porcupine Gorge NP, Great Basalt Wall NP, White Mountains NP |
| Special values | 9.8.13: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Dichanthium queenslandicum. |
| 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. |
| Comments | 9.8.13: Imperata cylindrica and/or Aristida spp. may become prevalent under different land management regimes. Occurs mainly in the central and southern bioregion. The weeds Vachellia farnesiana (mimosa) and Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine) can occur in an emergent shrub layer. |
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.
