Regional ecosystem details for 1.9.1
| Regional ecosystem | 1.9.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 1, (3), (4.7) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 10000 ha; Remnant 2021 10000 ha |
| Short description | Astrebla spp. grassland on shallow clays on limestones |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Astrebla pectinata and/or Aristida latifolia grassland, commonly with Bothriochloa ewartiana, Eulalia aurea, Dichanthium spp. and Sarga spp. Occasional trees include Acacia spp. and Atalaya hemiglauca. Occurs on low hills and gently undulating to near-level plains on calcareous Cambrian sediments; grey or brown calcareous clays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 1.9.1a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.9.1. Aristida latifolia and Enneapogon spp. with patches of Eulalia aurea and Bothriochloa ewartiana. Scattered trees of Ventilago viminalis, Atalaya hemiglauca, Denhamia oleaster, Owenia acidula, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Acacia cambagei are common. Occurs on stony rises with shallower soils on limestone geologies. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 31b). 1.9.1b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.9.1. Astrebla pectinata grassland wooded with Vachellia sutherlandii. Occurs on rises on downs. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). 1.9.1c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.9.11a. Low open woodland of Lysiphyllum cunninghamii, Corymbia terminalis, Eucalyptus leucophylla and Ventilago viminalis with ground layer of mixed tussock grasses. Includes treeless areas. Occurs close to the northern edge of the Barkly Tableland. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 27a). 1.9.1d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.9.1. Astrebla pectinata (Mitchell grass) grassland, with A. elymoides in depressions and annual grasses on stony rises. Occasional trees include Acacia spp. And Atalaya hemiglauca. Eucalyptus microtheca in depressions and along watercourses. Occurs on low hills and gently undulating to near-level plains on calcareous Cambrian sediments; grey or brown calcareous clays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). 1.9.1x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 1.9.9. Acacia cambagei low woodland on clays, usually with tussock grass ground layer including Astrebla pectinata. Occurs on self-mulching clays. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 26a). 1.9.1x2: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.5.4a. Low open woodland of Corymbia terminalis +/- Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa with a second tree layer of Ventilago viminalis and Atalaya hemiglauca and with a mixed ground layer dominated by Enneapogon polyphyllus and/or Aristida spp. Occurs on stony rises with shallower soils on limestone geologies. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 1.9.1x3: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 1.7.1a. Tall shrubland of Eucalyptus normantonensis with a dense hummock grass ground layer of Triodia longiceps. Occurs on lithosols in stony hills. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19b). 1.9.1x4: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 4.9.13b. Senna artemisioides subsp. helmsii shrubland often with Senna artemisioides subsp. oligophylla, Acacia georginae, Acacia spp., Atalaya hemiglauca and Eremophila spp. Occurs on stony limestone rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24b). |
| Supplementary description | Christian et al. (1954), Thorntonia, Wonardo; Neldner (1991), 44 |
| Protected areas | Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP |
| Special values | 1.9.1: Includes caves and sinkholes that host significant breeding colonies of the ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) and the orange leafnosed-bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia). 1.9.1d: Includes caves and sinkholes that host significant breeding colonies of the ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) and the orange leafnosed-bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia). |
| 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. Burn sensitively near caves and sink holes in recognition that these may be important to fauna, such as microbats. |
| Comments | 1.9.1: Outlier of Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion. 1.9.1d: Outlier of Mitchell Grass Downs 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.
