Regional ecosystem details for 9.8.5
| Regional ecosystem | 9.8.5 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, (10.1), (4.6), (2.5), (10.2), (2.9), (4), (10.3), (4.5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 171000 ha; Remnant 2021 170000 ha |
| Short description | Astrebla spp. +/- Iseilema vaginiflorum grassland on basalt plains |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Grassland of Astrebla spp. (Mitchell Grass) +/- Iseilema vaginiflorum (Red Flinders grass). Scattered shrubs or trees of mixed species including Carissa lanceolata (currantbush), Acacia spp., Atalaya hemiglauca (whitewood) or Corymbia terminalis (western bloodwood) may occur. Occurs on gently undulating to undulating basalt plains with numerous surface basalt boulders and grey to black soil. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 9.8.5a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 9.8.5. Grassland of Astrebla spp. (Mitchell Grass) +/- Iseilema vaginiflorum (Red Flinders grass). Scattered shrubs or trees of mixed species including Carissa lanceolata (currantbush), Acacia spp., Atalaya hemiglauca (whitewood) or Corymbia terminalis (western bloodwood) may occur. Occurs on gently undulating to undulating basalt plains with numerous surface basalt boulders and grey to black soil. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). 9.8.5b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 9.8.1d. Open woodland of Corymbia terminalis (western bloodwood) +/- C. dallachiana (Dallachy's gum). There can also be an open sub-canopy layer which can include Atalaya hemiglauca (whitewood), Terminalia aridicola (arid peach) and/or Santalum lanceolatum (sandalwood). Shrubs present may include Eremophila spp., Acacia spp. and Carissa lanceolata (currantbush). There is a sparse grassy cover. This community can have areas where the canopy layer disappears and it becomes grassland. Occurs on basalt plains on plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 11b). |
| Protected areas | Porcupine Gorge NP |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not burn deliberately. The grasses and forbs of Astrebla spp. dominated communities do not require fire for regeneration. Protection relies on management of fire in the surrounding country to prevent running fires entering Astrebla spp. communities, particularly at times of low soil moisture. ISSUES: Fire can sometimes be used as a tool to control woody thickening and woody weeds in grasslands. Moderate intensity fire is required for a successful kill of the woody species but good moisture levels are required to ensure recovery of the ground layer. Large scale germination of woody species is most likely to occur in high rainfall years. The best management opportunity is usually after storms at the end of the subsequent dry season, although exclusion of grazing pressure may still be required to ensure sufficient fuel loads. |
| Comments | 9.8.5: Largely restricted to the south-west of the bioregion. 9.8.5a: Largely restricted to the south-west of the bioregion. Subject to high grazing pressure. Subject to weed infestation by Cryptostegia grandiflora and Themeda quadrivalvis (grader grass) and invasive exotic weed species Vachellia farnesiana (mimosa) and A. nilotica (prickly Acacia) may change the community to a tall open shrubland. Subject to invasion by the exotic pasture species Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass). 9.8.5b: This community is closely associated and interspersed with the vegetation community 9.8.5 (grassland). Occurs extensively in the south western 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.
2 Superseded: Revision of the regional ecosystem classification removed this regional ecosystem code from use. It is included in the regional ecosystem description database because the RE code may appear in older versions of RE mapping and the Vegetation Management regulation.
