Regional ecosystem details for 11.8.11
| Regional ecosystem | 11.8.11 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 10, 6, (26), (11), (8), (23), (31), (15), (24), (13), (20), (16), (21), (9), (7), (5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 601000 ha; Remnant 2021 169000 ha |
| Short description | Dichanthium sericeum grassland on Cainozoic igneous rocks |
| Structure code | Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Grassland dominated by Dichanthium sericeum, Aristida spp., Astrebla spp. and Panicum decompositum with or without trees such as Eucalyptus orgadophila, E. melanophloia, Corymbia erythrophloia and Acacia salicina. However, dominance and cover may vary with seasonal and other environmental conditions. Frequently occurring and sometimes locally dominant, species include the grasses Aristida lazaridis, A. ramosa, Bothriochloa ewartiana, Dichanthium sericeum, Chrysopogon fallax, Heteropogon contortus, Enneapogon gracilis, Themeda triandra and Tragus australianus and the herbs Brunoniella australis, Evolvulus alsinoides, Galactia tenuiflora and Indigofera linnaei. Isolated emergent trees (tree height 12+/-4 m - species including Eucalyptus orgadophila, E. melanophloia and Corymbia erythrophloia) or small areas of open woodland may also be present. Occurs on Cainozoic igneous rocks, particularly fresh basalt, and is generally associated with undulating to gently undulating rises. It usually occurs on the crests and middle and upper slopes (slopes 2-6%), although also present on lower slopes and flat areas (slopes 0-2%). Associated soils are moderately shallow to deep cracking clay soils, dark brown to reddish brown in colour, often self-mulching, and with gravel, stone or linear gilgai sometimes present. Surface stone 10-15 cm diameter is present in the south-western remnants. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 30b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 11.8.11a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 11.3.25d. Melaleuca bracteata woodland drainage depressions. Occurs in drainage depressions. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 21b). |
| Supplementary description | Gunn et al. (1967), Kinsale (5), Oxford (1-3), Waterford (1); Story et al. (1967), Moorooloo (2), Oxford (1-3), Racecourse (3), Waterford (1, 2); Speck et al. (1968), Westwood (1, 2, 4), Grevillea (2, 3); Galloway et al. (1974), LU 19; Gunn and Nix (1977) |
| Protected areas | Albinia NP, Peak Range NP, Carnarvon NP, Albinia CP, Albinia RR, Minerva Hills NP |
| Special values | 11.8.11: Habitat for threatened plant species including Trioncinia retroflexa and Dichanthium queenslandicum. T. retroflexa is currently known from three small populations. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Late wet to early dry season when there is good soil moisture. Early storm season or after good spring rains. INTENSITY: Various. Mainly low, but also moderate. INTERVAL: >5 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 5. INTERVAL_MAX: 50. STRATEGY: Low to moderate burns can help limit the spread of fires. Burn less than 30% in any year. Burn under conditions of good soil moisture and when plants are actively growing. ISSUES: Fire can be used to control weed invasions, although there are also risks of promoting weeds. |
| Comments | 11.8.11: Areas of woodland/open woodland larger than 5 ha are defined as 11.8.5, while less extensive trees areas are treated as a component of 11.8.11. Extensively utilised for cropping, and rapid decline is predicted on current trends. Large areas remaining have lost perennial grass cover which may be replaced by annuals including the exotic herb *Parthenium hysterophorus. These changes may be associated with periods of low summer rainfall combined with high or moderate grazing pressure (Fensham et al. 1999). The occurrence of Parthenium may be reversible with appropriate management and season in the medium term (Fensham 1999). Species such as Dichanthium sericeum and D. queenslandicum are likely to have been more dominant in the absence of high or moderate grazing pressure (Fensham 1999). At the end of the wet season, the biomass of the vegetation may range from 5 to 10 t/ha, but may be negligible after the wet season under extreme grazing pressure (Fensham et al. 2002). Naturalised species associated with this regional ecosystem include *Sida spinosa. |
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.
