Regional ecosystem details for 5.7.10
| Regional ecosystem | 5.7.10 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 2, 4, (1), (4.2), (10), (3), (5), (4.1), (4.3), (11) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 280000 ha; Remnant 2021 280000 ha |
| Short description | Aristida latifolia +/- Aristida contorta sparse grassland wooded with Acacia tetragonophylla +/- Senna spp. on weathered Cretaceous sediments |
| Structure code | Open Tussock Grassland |
| Description | Aristida latifolia predominates forming a sparse to open tussock grassland. In places, the soil is virtually devoid of vegetation. Aristida contorta and sparsely scattered tussocks of Astrebla pectinata are frequent. Ephemeral grasses such as Enneapogon avenaceus and Tripogon loliiformis, and forbs such as Rhodanthe floribunda, Minuria leptophylla, Salsola australis and Stenopetalum nutans may be seasonally prominent and codominant. Scattered low shrubs of Acacia tetragonophylla and Senna spp. are very sparsely scattered. Occurs on flat to gently undulating plains formed from weathered Cretaceous sediments. Soils generally shallow to deep, crusted red clays with small amounts of ironstone, chalcedony, laterite or silcrete gravel in profile and on surface. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 31b). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 5.7.10x1: Aristida contorta dominates this sparse herbland. Other short grasses such as Enneapogon avenaceus, Tripogon loliiformis may be codominant. Forbs such as Heliotropium filaginoides, Ptilotus spp., Rhodanthe floribunda, Maireana dichoptera and Sclerolaena lanicuspis may predominate after winter rain. Sparsely scattered shrubs may occur in places. Short grasses build up after wet summers, while forbs common after winter rainfall. Occurs on rises, low hills, rocky outcrops and scarps of deeply weathered Tertiary Marion, Cretaceous Winton and Mackunda Formations. Soils very shallow, loamy, gravelly, hard setting, lithosols with lateritic outcrops, widespread gravel. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 31b). 5.7.10x2: A variety of shrub species occur together to form an open shrubland including Senna artemisioides subsp. helmsii, Senna artemisioides subsp. oligophylla, Senna glutinosa subsp. pruinosa, Eremophila freelingii, Eremophila latrobei, and Dodonaea microzyga. Other frequent shrubs include Maireana georgei, Acacia tetragonophylla, Acacia sibirica and Scaevola spinescens. The sparse ground layer is dominated by the short grasses Aristida contorta, Enneapogon avenaceus, Digitaria brownii and Enneapogon polyphyllus, and the forbs Abutilon fraseri, Ptilotus spp. and Sclerolaena spp. Shrub density highest in drainage lines on residual scarps. Rises, low hills, rocky outcrops and scarps of deeply weathered Tertiary Marion, Cretaceous Winton and Mackunda Formations. Soils very shallow, loamy, gravelly, hard setting, lithosols with lateritic outcrops, widespread gravel. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24b). 5.7.10x3: A variety of low shrub species occur together to form an open shrubland. Senna artemisioides subsp. oligophylla, Acacia calcicola, Senna glutinosa subsp. pruinosa, Eremophila tetraptera usually dominate the low shrub layer. Other frequent shrubs include Eremophila freelingii, Eremophila oppositifolia subsp. rubra, Dodonaea microzyga, Acacia sibirica, Senna artemisioides subsp. helmsii and Scaevola spinescens. The sparse ground layer is dominated by the short grasses Aristida spp., Enneapogon avenaceus, Digitaria brownii and Enneapogon polyphyllus, and the forbs Euphorbia australis var. subtomentosa, Anemocarpa podolepidium, Lawrencia glomerata, Abutilon fraseri, Ptilotus spp. and Sclerolaena spp. Shrub density is highly variable, highest in drainage lines and on scarps, herb dominated or bare areas are common. Occurs on flat to undulating tops and low scarps of dissected tablelands where deeply weathered Tertiary limestones of the Springvale formation outcrop. Soils are very shallow, crusted calcareous lithosols with limestone fragments and gypsum deposits. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24b). |
| Supplementary description | Neldner (1991), 46d (98) |
| Protected areas | Diamantina NP, Pullen Pullen SWR |
| Special values | 5.7.10: Potential habitat for NCA listed species: Eremophila tetraptera. 5.7.10x3: Habitat for threatened plant species including Eremophila tetraptera. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Various (wet season or winter). INTENSITY: Low - moderate. INTERVAL: Fire return interval not relevant. INTERVAL_MIN: 100. INTERVAL_MAX: 100. STRATEGY: Aim to exclude fire by fuel reduction in adjacent vegetation communities where possible. Undertake partial burns when necessary to reduce fuel loads and protect against severe wildfire. Burn with high soil moisture (i.e., after rain/storms) or in winter. ISSUES: Some Acacias can be fire sensitive (e.g., A. shirleyi, A. aneura) and may be killed by high intensity fire. There is rarely enough fuel load to burn in these ecosystems. |
| Comments | 5.7.10x3: Springvale Formation, Hamilton Range. |
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.
