Regional ecosystem details for 4.5.7
| Regional ecosystem | 4.5.7 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 7, 1.1, 3, 1.3, (1), (2) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 52000 ha; Remnant 2021 52000 ha |
| Short description | Acacia georginae (or A. cambagei), Sida platycalyx, Sclerolaena cornishiana tall open shrubland on Quaternary sand sheets |
| Structure code | Tall Open Shrubland |
| Description | Acacia georginae (or A. cambagei) tall open shrubland. A number of Senna spp. and Eremophila spp. are present, and form a distinct, open, low shrub layer (1-1.5m tall) in places. The ground layer is open and dominated by the forbs Sida platycalyx and Sclerolaena cornishiana, and tussock grasses Aristida holathera var. holathera and Eragrostis eriopoda. Occurs on flat Quaternary sandplains. Soils deep, sandy red earths and sandy surfaced texture contrast soils. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 26a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 4.5.7a: Acacia cambagei and/or A. georginae tall open shrubland to low open woodland, occasionally with Corymbia terminalis and Atalaya hemiglauca. A shrub layer may occur, including Acacia spp., Senna spp. and Eremophila spp. The ground layer is tussock grasses. Occurs on level to undulating early Quaternary sand deposits, above active flood levels. Red sands and loams, commonly gravelly. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 26a). 4.5.7b: Acacia cambagei low open woodland, occasionally with Corymbia terminalis, Atalaya hemiglauca. A shrub layer of Acacia cambagei may occur. The ground layer is tussock grasses. Occurs on broad, level, early Quaternary sand deposits (abandoned levees), above active flood levels. Red sands, occasionally gravelly. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 26a). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 28a (25); Wilson and Purdie (1990a), S2 (10) |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Wet to early dry season when soil is moist. INTENSITY: Low. INTERVAL: Broad interval range of 6-10 years for open acacia with grassy understorey. INTERVAL_MIN: 6. INTERVAL_MAX: 10. STRATEGY: Patchy, within the 20-30% range of area burnt. ISSUES: Acacias (e.g., gidgee) 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. |
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.
