Regional ecosystem details for 3.8.4
| Regional ecosystem | 3.8.4 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Endangered |
| Subregion | 3, 2, 5 |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 700 ha; Remnant 2021 600 ha |
| Short description | Heteropogon contortus or Themeda triandra closed tussock grasslands on basalt cones and rises |
| Structure code | Closed Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Heteropogon contortus or Themeda triandra closed tussock grasslands often with Mnesithea rottboellioides. Occurs on basalt cones and rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 3.8.4a: Heteropogon contortus (black spear-grass) closed tussock grassland usually with Setaria surgens and Mnesithea rottboellioides sub-dominant. Indigofera spp. and Crotalaria spp. and Grewia savannicola are also usually present. Scattered emergent shrubs can include Lophostemon suaveolens, Flueggea virosa subsp. Melanthesoides. Occurs on basalt cones and occasionally on basalt rises. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). 3.8.4b: Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) and/or Imperata cylindrica (blady grass) and/or Mnesithea rottboellioides (northern canegrass) closed tussock grasslands. Other ground cover species are Anisomeles sp., Cissus sp., Ipomoea pes-caprae and Jacquemontia paniculata. Scattered emergent shrubs include Wrightia pubescens subsp. penicillata (quinine), Litsea glutinosa, Morinda citrifolia and Flueggea virosa subsp. melanthesoides, with occasional emergents of Barringtonia calyptrata to 10m. Occurs on basalt hill slopes. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 32b). |
| Special values | 3.8.4: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Apluda mutica. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Commence planned burns early in the dry season, after the wet season when dry enough to burn. Use occasional storm burns but generally avoid periods of extremely hot, dry conditions. INTENSITY: Low to moderate with occasional high intensity fire, particularly where seedlings or saplings are overabundant. INTERVAL: 1-3 years. INTERVAL_MIN: 1. INTERVAL_MAX: 3. STRATEGY: Apply a mosaic across the landscape at a range of intervals to create varying stages of post-fire response. Burn 30-60% at the property level. ISSUES: A significant issue to the retention of open grasslands is invasion of trees and shrubs following long periods of fire absence, low frequency of fire or fire applied repeatedly too early in the burning season. Woody thickening is exacerbated by stock grazing combined with repeated early season burns. To mitigate against the impact of late dry season fires, commence burning early in the season and continue through the dry to break up continuity of fuels across the landscape. Invasive high biomass grasses can promote fire and increase severity. Variation in burn seasons and short fire frequencies promote bird diversity. |
| Comments | 3.8.4: Near Hopevale and on basaltic Torres Strait islands. 3.8.4a: Retsricted to basalt cones and hills around Hopevale. Common exotic species include Melinus repens, Mitracampus hirtus, Mesosphaerum suaveolens and Tridax procumbens. 3.8.4b: Basaltic islands in the Torres Strait. Large areas of this community in the Torres Strait are heavily invaded by weed species, including Lantana camara, Passiflora foetida, Senna alata, Calopogonium mucunoides, Sida retusa, S. rhombifolia, Macroptilium atropurpurea, Clitoria ternatea and Bambusa spp. An appropriate fire regime may help to re-establish natural condition. Some areas have also suffered severe topsoil erosion. |
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.
