Regional ecosystem details for 10.7.3
| Regional ecosystem | 10.7.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 4, 3, (4.5), (1), (11.24), (9.4), (11.26) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 131000 ha; Remnant 2021 119000 ha |
| Short description | Acacia shirleyi and/or Acacia catenulata open forest on laterite |
| Structure code | Open Forest |
| Description | Acacia shirleyi and/or Acacia catenulata open forest, occasionally with Acacia microcybe. A secondary tree layer, dominated by canopy species, is commonly present. A variable shrub layer is usually present. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses and/or Triodia pungens. Occurs on lateritic surfaces throughout the bioregion. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 10.7.3a: Acacia catenulata open forest, commonly with Acacia shirleyi. A variable secondary tree layer, dominated by Acacia catenulata and Eremophila mitchellii, is commonly present. A variable shrub layer is usually present. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses and/or Triodia pungens. Occurs on laterite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 10.7.3b: Acacia shirleyi open forest, commonly with Eucalyptus exilipes, Corymbia leichhardtii, Eucalyptus crebra, Eucalyptus thozetiana and Acacia catenulata. A secondary tree layer, dominated by canopy species, is commonly present. A variable shrub layer is usually present. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses and/or Triodia pungens. Occurs on laterite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 10.7.3c: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.7.9. Corymbia lamprophylla and/or C. leichhardtii dominate the sparse canopy. Jacksonia ramosissima, Lithomyrtus microphylla, Grevillea decora, Hemigenia cuneifolia, Persoonia falcata and Petalostigma banksii are frequently present in the very sparse to sparse shrub layer. Triodia spp. And Schizachyrium fragile dominate the very sparse to sparse ground layer. Mostly found on the margins of sandplains near ranges, above scarps with skeletal soils usually on ferricrete at the margins of Tertiary plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 12a). 10.7.3d: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.7.3b. Acacia shirleyi dominates the sparse tree layer. Corymbia leichhardtii is usually present and in the north so is Eucalyptus exilipes. Alphitonia excelsa is often present as scattered small tree. Cleistochloa subjuncea, Aristida caput-medusae, Eragrostis spartinoides, Schizachyrium fragile and Thyridolepis xerophila are frequently present and occasionally dominant or codominant. Occurs on laterite. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 10.7.3e: Acacia microcybe low open woodland. Tussock grass ground layer with forbs. Occurs on ferricrete on the margins of low plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 10.7.3ex1: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.7.3e. Acacia microcybe dominates the sparse small tree layer. The shrub layer and the ground layer have scattered plants. Occurs on undulating terrain on silcrete. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 10.7.3f: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.7.3b. Corymbia blakei dominates the very sparse low tree layer. Acacia shirleyi is sometimes present as a codominant in the canopy. Scattered shrubs are sometimes present. Triodia pungens is usually present and frequently dominant in the very sparse ground layer. Occurs on skeletal soils on the exposed mottled zone on scarps at the margins of Tertiary plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 12a). 10.7.3g: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 10.7.3b. Acacia burdekensis dominates the very sparse to sparse canopy. A. shirleyi, Corymbia trachyphloia and Eucalyptus exilipes are sometimes present in the canopy. There can be scattered shrubs including Olearia xerophila and Sauropus elachophyllus. Triodia bitextura dominates the very sparse ground layer. Occurs at the margins of plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 10.7.3x1: Acacia argyrodendron woodland with an Eremophila mitchellii dominated shrub layer. Occurs on lateritised surfaces usually at the margins of low plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 10.7.3x2: Acacia cambagei woodland with an Eremophila mitchellii dominated shrub layer. Occurs on lateritised surfaces usually at the margins of low plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 10.7.3x2a: Acacia cambagei woodland with an Eremophila mitchellii dominated shrub layer. Occurs on lateritised surfaces usually at the margins of low plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). 10.7.3x2b: Acacia cambagei and Eucalyptus thozetiana woodland. Occurs on lateritised surfaces usually at the margins of low plateaus. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). |
| Supplementary description | Cumming (1992), Cd; Gunn et al. (1967), Du, Mo; Lorimer (1998), Ms; Perry et al. (1964), Br, E, Wa; Turner et al. (1978), E7, R1; Turner et al. (1993), E4, R1, R4 |
| Protected areas | White Mountains NP, Cudmore (Limited Depth) NP, Cudmore RR, Moorrinya NP |
| Special values | 10.7.3: Habitat for vulnerable plant species, Micromyrtus rotundifolia and near threatened species including Cerber dumicola. Habita for Solanum crassitomentosum that is endemic to the White Mountains and occurs in this ecosystem. Recently discovered grass species Dimorphochloa sp. (Charters Towers E.J.Thompson+ CHA554) is known from only two locations in this ecosystem near Charters Towers. Eucalyptus bakeri occurs at its most northerly known location in this ecosystem in the White Mountains. A disjunct population of Triodia triaristata occurs in this ecosystem in the White Mountains. 10.7.3f: Indigofera haematica has been recorded in this ecosystem and is of biogeographical significance with restricted distribution (known from only 14 herbarium records in Queensland). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Various, avoiding hottest time of the year. INTENSITY: Light to moderate. INTERVAL: >10 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 10. INTERVAL_MAX: 50. STRATEGY: Burn less than 10% mosaic. ISSUES: Burn only when weather is mild to limit spread of fire. This may be soon after rain, early in the dry season, or early spring. |
| Comments | 10.7.3: The dominant regional ecosystems, on skeletal soils, are of no concern at present. Types on red earths are restricted in extent and subject to clearing. The soils are shallow with low water holding capacity and low fertility. The nature of the soils and the very sparse ground cover of plants renders this ecosystem highly susceptible to erosion. Degradation in the form of soil disturbance or reduction of ground cover will be difficult to reverse and therefore tree-clearing should not occur. Plant growth is seasonal and pasture productivity is low. There are few palatable species and their cover is very sparse. It is recommended that grazing be controlled by fencing out these areas. Fire management requires consideration of the effect of the expected slow recovery rate of plant cover and the sensitivity to burning of species such as lancewood. 10.7.3d: Ground flora is considerable more diverse than map unit 10.7.3b. In a typical profile, 10.7.3d occurs on gently sloping terrain on plateau margins while map unit 10.7.3b occurs on the slopes of jump-ups below. Uncommon vegetation community with greatest extent in the north of subregion 3. 10.7.3e: Uncommon vegetation community. 10.7.3f: Only known from western edges of the subregion 2, east to south-east of Aramac. 10.7.3g: Rare vegetation community only found in the White Mountains National Park. |
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.
