Regional ecosystem details for 6.7.1
| Regional ecosystem | 6.7.1 |
|---|---|
| Vegetation Management Act class | Least concern |
| Wetlands | Not a Wetland |
| Biodiversity status | No concern at present |
| Subregion | 6, 2, 4.4, 11.26, 11.29, 4, (5) |
| Estimated extent1 | Pre-clearing 70000 ha; Remnant 2021 37000 ha |
| Short description | Acacia catenulata and/or A. shirleyi +/- Eucalyptus spp. open scrub on crests and slopes in the north |
| Structure code | Open Scrub |
| Description | Acacia catenulata and/or A. shirleyi open scrub. Occasional canopy species include A. petraea, Acacia aneura and A. ensifolia. Emergent Eucalyptus melanophloia, E. thozetiana and E. exserta may occur. A low shrub layer may occur, including Dodonaea sinuolata subsp. acrodentata, Prostanthera suborbicularis and Eremophila latrobei and Acacia sparsiflora. Other shrubs include Acalypha eremorum, Croton phebalioides and Carissa ovata. The ground layer is dominated by tussock grasses such as Aristida caput-medusae, Paspalidium rarum and Urochloa foliosa. Occurs on scarps and adjacent tops and slopes of dissected lateritic tablelands, mesas and buttes in the north of the bioregion. The soils are shallow to very shallow, acidic, yellow-brown to red, lithosols with surface stone and boulders. Not a Wetland. (BVG1M: 24a). |
| Supplementary description | Galloway et al. (1974), LU 22; Neldner (1984), 5, 41; Mills (1980), R1 (LU 31); Mills and Lee (1990), R2 (LU 58) |
| Special values | 6.7.1: Potential habitat for threatened plant species Cadellia pentastylis and other dry rainforest species which are at the western limits of their geographical distribution. |
| Fire management guidelines | SEASON: Various (wet season or winter). INTENSITY: Low to 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 (A. shirleyi, A. aneura) and may be killed by high intensity fire. There is rarely enough fuel load to burn in these ecosystems. |
| Comments | 6.7.1: This regional ecosystem is contiguous with a similar ecosystem in the Brigalow Belt bioregion (11.7.2). In places, Eremophila latrobei may form a very dense low shrub layer with foliage cover up to 60%, and density up to 6 000 shrubs/ha. Some clearing is occurring where this regional ecosystem extends onto adjacent areas with deeper soils. |
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.
