Regional ecosystem details for 4.5.1
| Regional ecosystem | 4.5.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Extent in reserves | This regional ecosystem is now mapped in part as 4.5.3a, 4.5.3x1b and 4.5.6x1. |
| Short description | Acacia aneura +/- Atalaya hemiglauca +/- Grevillea striata low woodland on sand plains |
| Structure code | Low Woodland |
| Description | [RE not in use]²: This regional ecosystem is now mapped in part as 4.5.3a, 4.5.3x1b and 4.5.6x1. Acacia aneura predominates and forms a distinct but discontinuous canopy (4-6m tall). A. aneura often occurs in diffuse groves, with grasses dominating the intergrove spaces. Atalaya hemiglauca, Acacia excelsa subsp. Angusta and Grevillea striata are frequent canopy or emergent trees. Scattered shrubs may be present, but do not form a conspicuous layer. The ground layer varies from sparse to open, and is dominated usually by Aristida spp. Or Thyridolepis spp. Scattered forbs are present. Occurs on gently undulating plains, formed from Quaternary sands overlying Cretaceous sediments. Soils are moderately deep, massive red earths with lateritic gravel or ironstone occurring throughout the profile or at depth and deep, red, structured gradational soils. The structured soils have a massive sandy clay loam surface grading into a structured sandy to medium clay. Soils are moderate to slightly acid. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 23a). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 4b (1); Wilson and Purdie (1990a), M1 (15 - western) |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Wet to early dry season when soil is moist. INTENSITY: Low. INTERVAL: Mulga should be left long unburnt often for >10 years. There is rarely enough fuel load to burn in these ecosystems. INTERVAL_MIN: 10. INTERVAL_MAX: 50. STRATEGY: Patchy, within the 20-30% range of area burnt. ISSUES: Acacias (e.g., mulga) germinate infrequently following high rainfall events, mature slowly and are long-lived. Acacias are vulnerable to frequent and high-severity fires. Fire in surrounding fire-adapted communities can be used to mitigate against wildfire. Fuel loads within Acacia communities can sometimes also require infrequent patchy burns, particularly following years of good rain, to protect them from wildfire and promote diversity at the ground layer. Long absence of fire can result in canopy closure by Acacias and lead to self-protection of these communities. Introduced invasive grasses (e.g., buffel Cenchrus ciliaris) may increase the risk and severity of fires. |
| Comments | 4.5.1: Winton plateau. |
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.
