Regional ecosystem details for 11.3.27
| Regional ecosystem | 11.3.27 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Palustrine |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 1, 14, 20, 11, (25), (36), (26), (27), (35), (24), (6), (7), (30), (32), (37), (15), (13), (2), (29), (21), (18), (31), (3), (16), (5), (33), (23), (4), (8), (34), (19), (38), (12), (9), (22), (6.1), (10), (10.3), (6.4), (4.4), (12.10) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 63000 ha; Remnant 2021 43000 ha |
| Short description | Freshwater wetlands |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Freshwater wetlands. Vegetation is variable including open water with or without aquatic species and fringing sedgelands and eucalypt woodlands. Occurs in a variety of situations including lakes, billabongs, oxbows and depressions on floodplains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 11.3.27a: Vegetation ranges from open water +/- aquatics and emergents such as Chara spp. Nitella spp., Myriophyllum verrucosum, Nymphaea violacea, Pyrgillus javanicus, Potamogeton crispus, P. tricarinatus, Ottelia ovalifolia, Vallisneria caulescens and Nymphoides indica. A narrow fringing woodland commonly dominated by E. camaldulensis or E. coolabah but also a range of other tree species may be present. In dry seasonal conditions, non-woody vegetation may be completely absent from ephemeral waterbodies, with only bare claypans present. During drying-off periods, herbaceous species such as Sesbania cannabina, Glinus lotoides and Cullen spp. may be present and dominant on drying lake margins. Larger ephemeral - permanent water bodies (lakes). Lacustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). 11.3.27b: Vegetation ranges from open water +/- aquatics and emergents such as Potamogeton crispus, Myriophyllum verrucosum, Chara spp., Nitella spp. Nymphaea violacea, Ottelia ovalifolia, Nymphoides indica, N. crenata, Potamogeton tricarinatus, Cyperus difformis, Vallisneria caulescens and Hydrilla verticillata. Often with fringing woodland, commonly Eucalyptus camaldulensis or E. coolabah but also a wide range of other species including Eucalyptus platyphylla, E. tereticornis, Melaleuca spp., Acacia holosericea or other Acacia spp. Occurs on billabongs. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 11.3.27c: Mixed sedges or grasses with areas of open water +/- aquatic species. Dominated by a range of species including Eleocharis spp., Nymphoides spp. And sometimes Phragmites australis. During drying or drought periods, such ephemeral waterbodies may be dominated by herbaceous species such as Glinus lotoides, or exist as bare claypan. Occurs on closed depressions on alluvial plains that are intermittently flooded in inlands parts of the bioregion. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 11.3.27d: Eucalyptus camaldulensis and/or E. tereticornis woodland. A range of sedges and grasses occur in the ground layer including Fimbristylis vagans, Myriophyllum striatum, Nitella pseudoflabellata and Pseudoraphis sp. Occurs fringing large lakes. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). 11.3.27e: Vegetation ranges from open water +/- aquatics sometimes with fringing trees and shrubs. Fringing tree species include Melaleuca dealbata, Nauclea orientalis, M. leucadendra, Lophostemon suaveolens and Corymbia tessellaris. Shrub layers are usually absent although scattered Pandanus spp. may be present. The ground layer is often open water with emergent aquatic species or sedges and grasses including Leersia hexandra, Cyperus dactylotes, Cyperus lucidus, Nymphaea spp. and Gymnanthera oblonga. Occurs on billabongs and oxbows with permanent to ephemeral water regime. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 11.3.27f: Eucalyptus coolabah and/or E. tereticornis open woodland to woodland fringing swamps. Ground layer and treeless areas range from open water +/- aquatics and emergents such as Potamogeton crispus, Myriophyllum verrucosum, Chara spp., Eleocharis spp., Nitella spp. Cyperus difformis, Hydrilla verticillata. In drying periods may exist as bare dry claypans with only sparse woody vegetation present. Occurs on closed depressions on floodplains associated with old drainage courses that are intermittently flooded. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 11.3.27g: Lakes with or without fringing Eucalyptus coolabah low open woodland. Occurs on closed depressions on floodplains associated with old drainage courses. Lacustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). 11.3.27h: Lakes with mainly open water or bare lake bed. May be Duma florulenta low shrubland +/- scattered E. coolabah trees fringing or scattered across the area. Occurs on floodplains. Seasonally dry. Lacustrine. (BVG1M: 34a). 11.3.27i: Eucalyptus camaldulensis or E. tereticornis woodland to open woodland with sedgeland ground layer. Other tree species such as E. coolabah and E. largiflorens may be present or locally dominant. Ground layer dominated by sedges, ferns or herbs such as Eleocharis spp., Juncus spp. and Marsilea spp. In drying seasonal conditions, may exist only as woody trees with a bare claypan ground layer. Occurs in depressions on floodplains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 11.3.27j: Acacia stenophylla and other shrubby species. Occurs in frequently flooded depression on floodplains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d). 11.3.27x1a: Sedgelands to grasslands on old marine planes. Often occurs as an Eleocharis spp. (E. dulcis, E. sphacelata) sedgeland but a variety of other species dominate in local areas including Typha orientalis, Cyperus alopecuroides, Phragmites australis and Ludwigia octovalvis. A range of other sedges, grasses small shrubs and herbs (<40 cm) are abundant, and include Ammannia multiflora, Cyperus polystachyos, Sporobolus virginicus, Chloris virgata, Fimbristylis ferruginea, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Phyla nodiflora and Persicaria attenuata. The vines *Passiflora foetida may occur in some areas. Trees and large shrubs are generally absent. Occurs in depressions on Quaternary estuarine deposits which are seasonally inundated with fresh water. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34c). 11.3.27x1b: Sedgelands to grasslands on Quaternary deposits. Often occurs as an Eleocharis dulcis sedgeland but a variety of other species dominate in local areas including Typha orientalis and Phragmites australis. Trees and large shrubs are generally absent. Occurs on broad drainage depressions situated on old alluvial plains. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34c). 11.3.27x1c: Sedgelands to grasslands on Quaternary deposits. Sedgeland areas typically dominated by Schoenoplectus subulatus although a range of other sedges and grasses may also dominate localised areas. Other dominant species include the sedges Eleocharis philippinensis, Cyperus alopecuroides, C. scariosus and C. iria and the grasses Phragmites australis, Sporobolus virginicus and Paspalum vaginatum. Other typical species in shallower margins include Fimbristylis ferruginea, Phyla nodiflora and Cyperus polystachyos. Occasional twiners such as Vincetoxicum carnosum may be present. Occurs in depressions on old Quaternary estuarine deposits. These are seasonally inundated with fresh water but become more brackish as they dry out completely before the next season's rain. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34c). |
| Supplementary description | Pollock and Edginton (1999), we-3, wc-3; ANCA (1996); Speck et al. (1968), Palmtree (8); Burgess (2003), (VA21) Thirteenmile, Bluchers; Gunn and Nix (1977) LU 136; Blackman et al. (2002) |
| Protected areas | Lake Murphy CP, Lake Broadwater CP, Townsville Town Common CP, Carnarvon NP, Bowling Green Bay CP, Bowling Green Bay NP, Wongaloo CP, Horseshoe Lagoon CP, Nairana NP, Nuga Nuga NP, Tolderodden CP, Horseshoe Bay Lagoon CP, Kroombit Tops NP, Bolger Bay CP, |
| Special values | 11.3.27: Habitat for a diverse range of fauna species (Venz et al. 2002) particularly birds. 11.3.27a: Provides wetland habitat for a flora and fauna. |
| Fire management guidelines | INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Depending on position in the landscape, protection depends on broad-scale management of surrounding country, with numerous small fires throughout the year so that wildfires will be very limited in extent. ISSUES: If burning is to occur then implement when water level is deep enough to protect the bases of aquatic plants. Sedges are disadvantaged by repeated fires. Impact of fire on rare and threatened plants associated with mound springs that include Arthraxon hispidus and Dimeria sp. (Salvator Rosa R.J.Fensham RJF3643) should be considered. Boggomosses/springs can bounce back following fire but care should be taken where a dry peat layer has developed (particularly in degraded situations). Fire is an option for control of weeds (possibly in ungrazed situations). If riparian areas need to be burnt to reduce fuel loads then burning should occur when there is good soil moisture and active growth. |
| Comments | 11.3.27: Many smaller wetlands in the Brigalow Belt bioregion are too small to map at a 1:100 000 scale. Widespread throughout the bioregion. 11.3.27a: In some locations, the invasive grass Urochloa mutica threatens some of the biodiversity values of this ecosystem. 11.3.27b: This vegetation community is flooded by overland flow in contrast to 11.3.25g occurs within channels. Smaller billabongs (< 8 ha) are classified as palustrine wetlands while areas with more extensive open water are classified as lacustrine wetlands although the latter are often fringed with (palustrine) wetland vegetation. Naturalised species associated with this regional ecosystem include *Egeria densa. 11.3.27c: Common in the Taroom area. 11.3.27d: Occurs as a narrow fringe around many wetlands although is only mapped on larger lakes and billabongs. 11.3.27e: Occurs in the northern coastal parts of the bioregion (subregion 1, 2 and 12). Subject to trampling by domestic and feral animals. Impacted by modification of hydrology due to irrigation and water extraction from the wetland or surrounding catchment. Invaded by Urochloa mutica in many locations. 11.3.27f: Similar to old billabongs but not as deep or linear. Mainly in Goondiwindi area. Naturalised species associated with this regional ecosystem include *Egeria densa. 11.3.27g: Occur on floodplain surrounding Palm Creek near Taroom and on the Macintyre River near Goondiwindi. 11.3.27h: Lake Bockara on Culgoa floodplain. 11.3.27i: Confined to the Goondiwindi area. 11.3.27x1a: These areas may become brackish as they dry out. E. dulcis is more common in slightly brackish areas while E. sphacelata tends to occur in less salty areas. Includes areas of saline grasslands/sedgelands now removed from tidal influence and dominated by native freshwater grass species (e.g. around St Lawrence). Confined to coastal subregions in the northern parts of the bioregion. Many areas are impacted by and sometimes formed from levees and bunds build to stabilise the encroachment from salt water. 11.3.27x1b: Confined to coastal subregions in the northern parts of the bioregion. Many areas are impacted by and sometimes formed from levees and bunds build to stabilise the encroachment from salt water. Generally a palustrine wetland although also some areas have been converted to lacustrine water bodies associated with the construction of bunding and levees. 11.3.27x1c: Often associated with modified hydrology caused by levees. Naturalised species include *Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon. |
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.
