Regional ecosystem details for 2.5.18
| Regional ecosystem | 2.5.18 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 5, 9, 6, 4 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 277000 ha; Remnant 2021 277000 ha |
| Short description | Corymbia setosa +/- C. polycarpa, Erythrophleum chlorostachys, C. pocillum low open woodland on Tertiary sand sheets |
| Structure code | Low Open Woodland |
| Description | Corymbia setosa low open woodland to woodland, commonly with Erythrophleum chlorostachys. Occasional canopy species include C. pocillum, C. polycarpa, Melaleuca spp., Eucalyptus microneura and Acacia spp. Lower trees or shrubs may occur, including Acacia torulosa, Grevillea spp. and Petalostigma spp. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Aristida spp. and Schizachyrium fragile. A cyclic ecosystem, where short lived Acacia spp. May form a part of the canopy between fire events. Occurs on gently undulating, Tertiary sand sheets. Brown sands and sandy loams. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 2.5.18a: Corymbia setosa low open woodland to woodland, commonly with Erythrophleum chlorostachys. Occasional canopy species include Eucalyptus microneura, C. pocillum, Melaleuca spp., Acacia spp. and Brachychiton paradoxus. Emergent C. grandifolia may occur. A shrub layer commonly occurs, including Acacia torulosa, Grevillea spp. and Petalostigma banksii. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Aristida hygrometrica, Schizachyrium fragile and Thaumastochloa spp. Occurs on broad, gently undulating, Tertiary sand sheets in the south-east of the bioregion. Brown sands and sandy loams. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18a). 2.5.18b: Corymbia setosa woodland, commonly with C. polycarpa, Erythrophleum chlorostachys and C. pocillum. Occasional canopy species include Melaleuca nervosa and Eucalyptus tetrodonta. A lower tree or shrub layer may occur, including Grevillea glauca, Petalostigma pubescens, Asteromyrtus symphyocarpa and Alphitonia pomaderroides. The ground layer is tussock grasses, including Schizachyrium fragile, Aristida spp. and Chrysopogon fallax. Occurs on undulating, dissected, Tertiary sand sheets in the north of the bioregion. Brown sandy loam soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 18a). |
| Protected areas | Staaten River NP |
| Special values | 2.5.18a: Potential habitat for the golden-shouldered parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius). |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Commence early in dry season as soon as ground fuels can carry fire with fire extinguishing early evening. Continue to mid-dry season. INTENSITY: Low to moderate with occasional high intensity. INTERVAL: 1-5 years, but do not burn the same patches annually. Landscape mosaic should consist of patches with different times since burning. Fire-killed acacias produce seed at 5 years, so some longer unburnt patches need to be retained. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. INTERVAL_MAX: 5. STRATEGY: Break up continuity of fuel across the landscape so that impact of late-season wildfire is minimised. Wildfire due to dry storms late in the dry season or in the early wet are natural occurrences, but they can burn over a wide area of the landscape with unwanted intensity and frequency. Use broad scale mosaic burning. ISSUES: Overabundant seedlings and saplings can lead to woody thickening if unchecked by fire. A long absence of fire or low intensity fire too early in the season may lead to overabundant seedlings and saplings. If ground fuels are sparse spell pastures prior to planned burns. Weeds such as buffel grass and rubbervine may be an issue for some tussock grass communities because weeds increase fuel loads leading to high intensity fires. |
| Comments | 2.5.18a: Was previously mapped as 2.5.9x2a. 2.5.18b: Was previously mapped as 2.5.9x2b and 2.5.9x2e. |
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.
