Regional ecosystem details for 10.3.24
| Regional ecosystem | 10.3.24 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Lacustrine |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 1, (9.5), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 21000 ha; Remnant 2021 21000 ha |
| Short description | Ephemeral lake bed (Lake Buchanan) |
| Structure code | Bare |
| Description | Ephemeral lake with algal turf of Chara sp. Part of this map unit is algal turf of Chara sp. while covered with water otherwise it is bare clay pan with salt deposits in some areas. Occurs over bare saline or brackish clays. Lacustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 10.3.24x1: Lakes with permanent or near permanent water. A wooded fringe usually occurs, including Eucalyptus coolabah and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Occurs on level to undulating plains of various origins. Lacustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). |
| Supplementary description | Gunn et al. (1967), G; Lorimer (1998), Ql9; Thompson and Turpin (in prep), S; Turner et al. (1993), L1 |
| Special values | 10.3.24: Seasonal wetlands of national significance for periodic water bird nesting and feeding. Unique geomorphic and geochemical characteristics associated with Lake Buchanan (Chivar et al., 1986). Lake Buchanan is considered by Timms (1987) to have a relatively high diversity of endemic fauna in its mud and water, which ranges from brackish to hypersaline each year. He identified 28 species of insect, one rotiferal species, 21 species of crustacean, two species of water mite, and one snail species in a comprehensive study of the lake complex. He also explained why many halobiont and halophilic species are missing, and why the lake fauna of Lake Buchanan differs from those in the salt lakes of southern Australia. 10.3.24x1: Key habitat for water birds. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Do not target for burning. INTENSITY: Do not target for burning. INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Do not target for burning. Most species are fire sensitive. Burning in adjacent fire adapted communities will reduce risk of wildfire incursion. Ensure fire encroachment is limited. Burns in adjacent vegetation, implemented in late wet to early dry season, may limit fire incursion into sensitive vegetation. ISSUES: Unlikely to burn due to generally sparse nature. Rarely enough fuel load to burn in any case. |
| Comments | 10.3.24: Water bird breeding values for some species are being compromised by degradation of adjacent habitats. 10.3.24x1: Margins usually degraded by overgrazing. |
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.
