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Regional ecosystem details for 2.3.61

Regional ecosystem 2.3.61
Vegetation Management Act class Least concern
Wetlands Palustrine
Biodiversity status No concern at present
Subregion 5, 2, 4, 3, 8, (6), (7), (1.4), (9), (1.3)
Estimated extent1 Pre-clearing 20000 ha; Remnant 2021 20000 ha
Short description Eucalyptus microtheca woodland in seasonal swamps on active Quaternary alluvial plains
Structure code Woodland
Description Seasonal swamps (wooded). Eucalyptus microtheca woodland. Occasional canopy species may include Terminalia platyphylla, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Melaleuca spp. The ground layer is a variable combination of sedges, forbs and grasses, including Eleocharis spp., Pseudoraphis spinescens and Oryza australiensis. Occurs in closed depressions on active Quaternary alluvial backplains. Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d).

Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include:
2.3.61a: Seasonal swamps (wooded). Eucalyptus microtheca woodland. The ground layer is commonly Eleocharis spp., Pseudoraphis spinescens and Marsilea sp. Occurs in closed depressions on active Quaternary alluvial backplains in the north-east of the bioregion. Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d).
2.3.61b: Seasonal swamps (wooded). Eucalyptus microtheca woodland occasionally with Terminalia platyphylla and Lysiphyllum cunninghamii. May contain small areas of Chenopodium auricomum dwarf shrubland. The ground layer is a seasonally variable combination of sedges, forbs and grasses. Occurs in closed depressions on active Quaternary alluvial backplains in the west of the bioregion. Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d).
2.3.61c: Seasonal swamps (wooded). Eucalyptus microtheca woodland, occasionally with Melaleuca viridiflora and M. citrolens. The ground layer is tussock grasses or sedges. Occurs in closed depressions in the Yappar River - Belmore Creek alluvial system (overlying Cretaceous siltstones). Cracking clay soils. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34d).
Protected areas Lawn Hill (Widdallion) RR
Special values 2.3.61: Seasonal wetland. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds. 2.3.61a: Seasonal wetland. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds. 2.3.61b: Seasonal wetlands. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds. 2.3.61c: Seasonal wetland. Important feeding and moulting sites for water birds.
Fire management guidelines SEASON: Burn in the wet season or very soon after. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. INTERVAL: Determine by assessment of fuel accumulation, previous fire history and wildfire risk. 1-5 years broad interval range. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Maintain mosaic of time since burnt and unburnt patches in surrounding fire-adapted landscape to mitigate impacts of unplanned fire. Do not actively target burning of sedgelands. ISSUES: These do not necessarily readily burn because ground fuels are sparse. Overgrazing can reduce fuel loads and give woody species a competitive advantage. Riparian areas contain important habitat for fauna.
Comments 2.3.61: A rare ecosystem. Eleocharis spp. are commonly excavated by feral pigs. 2.3.61a: A rare ecosystem. Was previously mapped as 2.3.11x3. Eleocharis spp. are commonly excavated by feral pigs. 2.3.61b: A rare vegetation community. Was previously mapped as 2.3.13b. Catchment protection of adjacent slopes required. Subject to degradation from high total grazing pressure, particularly in the dry season. 2.3.61c: Was previously mapped as 2.3.33c.

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.

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Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Last updated
14 May 2024