Regional ecosystem details for 6.5.3
| Regional ecosystem | 6.5.3 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Of concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | Of concern |
| Subregion | 1, 2, 6, (11.26), (11.29), (11.37), (3), (5), (4.4) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 614000 ha; Remnant 2021 166000 ha |
| Short description | Eucalyptus populnea +/- Acacia spp. woodland on sandy plains in the east |
| Structure code | Woodland |
| Description | Eucalyptus populnea woodland, occasionally with Acacia spp. A secondary tree and or tall shrub layer including Acacia aneura, Eremophila mitchellii and Geijera parviflora usually occurs. A low shrub layer of varying density may occur. The ground layer is dominated by perennial grasses, including Bothriochloa decipiens, Enteropogon acicularis, Aristida spp., Eragrostis spp. and Chloris pectinata. Forbs are seasonally abundant. Occurs on sandy plains overlying clay deposits, predominantly in the east of the bioregion. The soils are red earths and surfaces are hard setting. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17a). Vegetation communities in this regional ecosystem include: 6.5.3a: [RE not in use]²: This vegetation community is now mapped as 6.5.3. Eucalyptus populnea woodland to open woodland to Acacia aneura tall shrubland with emergent E. populnea. Other scattered tree species such as Corymbia terminalis, Ventilago viminalis, Eremophila mitchellii and Eremophila bignoniiflora are sometimes present. Scattered low shrub species such as Senna spp. and Eremophila gilesii subsp. gilesii are often present. The ground layer is variable and composed of grasses and forbs. Frequent species include the grasses Aristida inaequiglumis, A. jerichoensis, Dichanthium sericeum, Digitaria brownii, Enteropogon acicularis, Panicum decompositum and Themeda avenacea and the forb Solanum ellipticum. Occurs in run-on areas in gently undulating flat plains formed from Quaternary deposits over the Tertiary surface. Associated soils are deep to very deep, red, texture contrast soils. Neutral, red clay loams with a bleached A2 horizon overlie alkaline, red sandy, clay loam to sand clay subsoils. Surfaces are hard setting. Structure massive throughout. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 17a). |
| Supplementary description | Galloway et al. (1974), LU49 (in part); Mills (1980), M4 (LU 14); Neldner (1984), 23a (43) |
| Protected areas | Narkoola NP, Thrushton NP |
| Special values | 6.5.3: High diversity of arboreal mammals and bird species. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Various (wet season or winter). a: Late wet/dry season when there is good soil moisture. Early storm season or after good spring rains. INTENSITY: Low to moderate. a: Various. INTERVAL: Interval will depend on need for burning, seasonal conditions and grazing pressure. Not to be targeted for burning unless in need of protection. a: 3-5 years. 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. a: Burn less than 30% in any year. Burn under conditions of good soil moisture and when plants are actively growing. ISSUES: Acacia aneura may be killed by high intensity fire. There is rarely enough fuel load to burn in these ecosystems. a: Avoid fires at the hottest and/or driest time of the year, when the extent of fires cannot be controlled. Low intensity fires with good soil moisture will be useful in reducing fuel loads and fire spread in later fires. Moderate fires may assist in regeneration of hard-seeded spp. Brigalow is soft-seeded, so germination is not promoted by fire. Casuarina cristata is fire sensitive, although germination can be good in bare areas. Best protection from wildfires is probably the creation of a multi-aged mosaic and perimeter burning. Fire increases risk from invasion by buffel grass. These REs often make up shade lines in paddocks and are heavily grazed. |
| Comments | 6.5.3: There is a wide variation in structure of the Acacia aneura mid-layer associated with past management history. Vegetation community 6.5.3a has been amalgamated into this regional ecosystem. Occurs predominantly east of the Warrego River (subregion 1 and as outliers in the western Brigalow Belt bioregion) and as scattered areas in the north of the bioregion (subregion 6). Extensively cleared and/or thinned particularly in subregion 1. 6.5.3a: Naturalised species associated with this regional ecosystem include *Malvastrum americanum. |
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.
