Regional ecosystem details for 2.7.3
| Regional ecosystem | 2.7.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 8, (2), (3) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 24000 ha; Remnant 2021 24000 ha |
| Short description | Triodia spp. grassland on plateaus on skeletal soils and shallow earths |
| Structure code | Hummock Grassland |
| Description | Triodia pungens grassland, usually with scattered Eucalyptus leucophloia and/or Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa. Other occasional trees include Eucalyptus leucophylla, Corymbia setosa subsp. setosa and Terminalia canescens. Shrub understorey of Acacia spp. Small areas of Eucalyptus tetrodonta in north. Occurs on Tertiary plateau surfaces and margins; skeletal soils on siliceous or ferruginous duricrust, and shallow earths. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 2.7.3x1: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 2.7.4x3. Corymbia pocillum and/or Eucalyptus tetrodonta low open woodland to woodland, commonly with Corymbia polycarpa. Corymbia grandifolia subsp. grandifolia, C. capricornia and E. leucophloia may occur in the canopy. A shrub layer commonly occurs, including Petalostigma banksii, E. tetrodonta and Acacia spp. The ground layer is commonly Schizachyrium fragile, Triodia pungens and Sarga plumosum. Small areas of Petalostigma banksii tall shrubland with emergent Corymbia pocillum and/or Eucalyptus tetrodonta may occur. Occurs on Tertiary lateritic plateau surfaces. Shallow red to brown loams overlying ferricrete. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 14b). 2.7.3x2: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 2.7.6. Eucalyptus normantonensis low open woodland. A sparse shrub layer may occur, including E. normantonensis, Acacia gonoclada and Melaleuca viridiflora. The ground layer is dominated by Triodia pungens. Occurs on margins of Tertiary lateritic plateaus. Brown skeletal sandy soils over lateritic profile. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19d). 2.7.3x3a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.7.4. Eucalyptus leucophloia and/or Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. Pruinosa and/or Corymbia setosa low open woodland. A sparse shrub layer may occur, including Acacia spp., and Petalostigma spp. The ground layer is dominated by Triodia pungens and Aristida spp. Occurs on surfaces and margins of Tertiary lateritic plateaus. Red to brown skeletal sandy soils over ferricrete. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19a). 2.7.3x3b: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 2.7.4. Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. Pruinosa and/or E. leucophloia low open woodland, occasionally with Corymbia capricornia, Terminalia canescens, Atalaya hemiglauca, Lysiphyllum cunninghamii and Grevillea striata. A sparse shrub layer may occur, including Acacia spp. And Denhamia cunninghamii. The ground layer is dominated by Triodia pungens. Occurs on flats and low rises of exposed ferricrete (residuals of Tertiary lateritic surface), commonly within re-worked surfaces. Brown skeletal sandy soils over ferricrete. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19c). 2.7.3x4: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 2.7.7. Corymbia aparrerinja and/or Corymbia grandifolia subsp. grandifolia open woodland, occasionally with Cochlospermum gregorii. A secondary tree layer may occur, including Eucalyptus leucophloia, Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa and Terminalia canescens. A sparse shrub layer may occur, including Acacia lysiphloia and A. hammondii. The ground layer is dominated by Triodia pungens. Occurs on surfaces of Tertiary lateritic plateaus. Brown skeletal sandy soils over ferricrete. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19a). 2.7.3x5: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as part of 2.7.15. Mixed low woodland including combinations of the species Melaleuca citrolens, Petalostigma banksii, M. viridiflora, Terminalia canescens, Corymbia setosa, Eucalyptus leucophloia, Eucalyptus pruinosa subsp. pruinosa, Hakea arborescens and Terminalia oblongata subsp. volucris. A variable shrub layer commonly occurs, including canopy species, Flueggea virosa, Acacia spp. and Carissa lanceolata. The ground layer is dominated by Triodia pungens. Occurs on surfaces of Tertiary lateritic plateaus. Brown skeletal clay loam soils over ferricrete. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 19a). 2.7.3x6: [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped as 2.7.4x2. Springs. Occurs on margins of Tertiary lateritic plateaus and deeply weathered mudstone formations. Palustrine. (BVG1M: 34e). |
| Supplementary description | Perry et al. (1964), Cowan, Punchbowl, Donors, Korong, Manrika, Normanton |
| Special values | 2.7.3x6: Provincial refuge for flora and fauna. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Burn in the wet season or very soon after. x6: not relevant. INTENSITY: Low to moderate, although spinifex will naturally burn with high intensity in some areas. x6: not relevant. INTERVAL: 2-7 years. Fire-killed acacias produce seed at 5 years, so some longer unburnt patches need to be retained. x6: not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 2. INTERVAL_MAX: 7. STRATEGY: Apply fire at sufficient intervals such that hummocks do not form a continuous fuel layer across the landscape. Use broad scale mosaic burning. Burn when the soil is moist as it promotes post-fire recovery of spinifex. x6: Do not burn deliberately. Low intensity fire in surrounding fire-adapted areas will reduce fire encroachment. ISSUES: Spinifex is highly flammable. Green spinifex will also burn readily. x6: Ensure sufficient soil moisture to protect peat layer and fire-sensitive softwood species. Presence of high biomass grasses and rubbervine may increase fire risks. |
| Comments | 2.7.3x1: 2.5.7 was amalgamated into this RE. 2.7.3x6: A rare ecosystem. |
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.
