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Photographer: David Carr Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains Introduction All part of a community Ecological communities are groups of plants, animals and other organisms that naturally occur together. The structure and composition are determined by environmental factors such as climate, landscape position, soil, aspect and altitude. While a particular ecological community will vary in structure and composition across its range, there are common elements that clearly identify one ecological community as distinct from another. Ecological communities also exist in different condition ‘states’, each with defining characteristics. States range from high quality to degraded with several in between. Management affects the state of a community and depending on the type of management action, can cause a community to make a ‘transition’ to a better or worse state. Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains is listed as a threatened ecological community under both the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). Activities which affect the condition or extent of Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains may require consent or approval. Where does the community occur? Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains are usually found on the Liverpool Plains, the Moree Plains and the Darling Downs (Qld). On the Liverpool Plains, the community is usually dominated by Plains grass, while on the Darling Downs, Queensland blue grass dominates. Mitchell grass is usually the dominant species in drier parts of the distribution. Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains is the name given to the threatened ecological community Natural Grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern NSW and southern Queensland. This grassland occurs on fertile alluvial soils across our catchments and is characterised by perennial tussock grasses such as Mitchell grasses, Plains grass and Queensland blue grass. It usually has a diversity of grass species, saltbushes and herbs with occasional shrubs. Large areas of these grasslands have been cleared for cropping in the catchments and remaining fragments are listed as critically endangered. The grassland and its waterways provide an essential home to many of our catchments’ most threatened species. Within the Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment, the community is found in the following IBRA sub-regions: Nandewar North, Peel, Kaputar, Inverell Basalts, Northern Outwash, Northern Basalts and Castlereagh – Barwon. Managing and enhancing biodiversity on your land helps build a resilient landscape that balances production and conservation Description Identification Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains is a community that changes with seasonal conditions. It is a grassland community dominated by perennial tussock grasses. The dominant grass species are usually Mitchell grasses (Astrebla spp.), Plains grass (Austrostipa aristiglumis), Queensland blue grass (Dichanthium sericeum), Kangaroo grass (Themeda australis), Yadbila (Panicum queenslandicum) or one of 13 other indicator grass species. There may be many grass species present, with several co-dominating. The composition of the grassland will change according to seasonal rainfall, temperature, fire and management. These grasslands are usually found on cracking clay soils. The soils where they occur are derived from basalt or are alluvial, quaternary soils. They occur on plains with a slope less than 5o. Natural grasslands have very few trees or shrubs, but will have a diversity of herb species including legumes, orchids, daisies and lilies. What is not Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains? Many other ecological communities have a grassy understorey, with many species in common with Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains. These include Weeping Myall, Coolibah – Black Box Woodland and Box-Gum Grassy Woodland, which are also threatened ecological communities. These communities, and other grassy woodlands like Bimble Box Grassy Woodland, have a higher cover of trees and shrubs than Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains. Photographer: Greg Steenbeeke Profile drawing of Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains community Plants of Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains 1 2 Indicator Grass Species Aristida leptopoda Astrebla elymoides Astrebla lappacea Austrodanthonia bipartita Austrostipa aristiglumis Bothriochloa biloba* Bothriochloa erianthoides Dichanthium sericeum Digitaria divaricatissima Elymus plurinervis Eriochloa crebra Eulalia aurea Panicum decompositum Panicum queenslandicum Thellungia advena Themeda avenacea Themeda australis Walwhalleya proluta Neptunia gracilis Polymeria longifolia Portulaca oleracea Salsola kali Sclerolaena muricata Sida trichopoda Solanum esuriale Vittadinia cuneata Wahlenbergia spp. White speargrass Hoop Mitchell grass Curly Mitchell grass Wallaby grass Plains grass Lobed bluegrass Satin top grass Queensland blue grass Umbrella grass Wheat grass Cup grass Silky brown top Native millet Yadbila grass Coolibah grass Native oat grass Kangaroo grass Rigid panic Associated Woody Species usually absent but may be up to 10% cover Acacia pendula Acacia stenophylla Alectryon oleifolius Atalaya hemiglauca Casuarina cristata Eucalyptus coolabah Eucalyptus largiflorens Eucalyptus populnea subsp. bimbil Myoporum montanum Vachellia farnesiana Other Grass Species Chloris truncata Enteropogon acicularis Eragrostis leptocarpa Eriochloa pseudoacrotricha Iseilema membranaceum Leptochloa divaricatissima Paspalidium jubiflorum Sporobolus caroli Native sensitive plant Clumped bindweed Pigweed Soft rolypoly Black rolypoly Sida Quena Fuzzweed Blue bells Windmill grass Twirly windmill grass Drooping lovegrass Early spring grass Small flinders grass Weeping Myall River Cooba Rosewood Whitewood Belah Coolibah Black Box Poplar Box Western Boobialla Mimosa *Listed as threatened under State and/or Commonwealth legislation Warrego grass Fairy grass Herb Species Alternanthera denticulata Atriplex leptocarpa Atriplex muelleri Atriplex semibaccata Boerhavia dominii Carex inversa Chamaesyce drummondii Cullen tenax Cyperus spp. Desmodium spp. Goodenia glauca Glycine spp. Marsilea spp. Joyweed Slender-fruit saltbush Mueller’s saltbush Berry saltbush Tarvine Knob sedge Caustic weed Emufoot Nutgrasses Trefoil Pale goodenia Glycine spp. Nardoo 4 Photo Key: 1Yadbila grass – Greg Steenbeeke 2 Kangaroo grass – Greg Steenbeeke 3 Queensland blue grass – David Carr 4 Mitchell grass – Greg Steenbeeke 5 Nut grass – Greg Steenbeeke 5 3 Animals of Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains BIRDS Parrots White-throated needletail Restless flycatcher Willie wagtail Red-winged parrot Budgerigar Blue bonnet Pale-headed rosella Eastern rosella Red-rumped parrot Medium to Large bush birds Cockatoos Major Mitchell’s cockatoo Sulphur-crested cockatoo Little corella Cockatiel Galah W Ground feeding and low nesting birds Emu Bush stone-curlew Australian bustard King quail Stubble quail Brown quail Painted button-quail Red-chested button-quail Little button-quail Banded lapwing Masked lapwing Crimson chat White-fronted chat Brown songlark Rufous songlark Golden-headed cisticola Singing bushlark Richard’s pipit Southern whiteface Tawny grassbird Little grassbird Ground feeding birds Peaceful dove Crested pigeon Double-barred finch Plum-headed finch Zebra finch White-winged fairy-wren Variegated fairy-wren Superb fairy-wren Aerial feeding birds Pallid cuckoo Ground cuckoo-shrike White-bellied cuckoo shrike Pied butcherbird Grey butcherbird Australian raven Little raven Torresian crow N Little crow W Australian magpie Magpie-lark Apostlebird Jacky winter Scarlet robin (winter) Flame robin (winter) Small bush birds Inland thornbill Yellow-rumped thornbill Chestnut-rumped thornbill W Birds of prey Wedge-tailed eagle Swamp harrier Spotted harrier Black-shouldered kite Whistling kite Letter-winged kite W Black kite Little eagle Brown falcon Nankeen kestrel Australian hobby Black falcon 2 Nocturnal birds Barking owl Grass owl Barn owl Southern boobook Introduced Feral pigeon Common starling White-breasted woodswallow Black-faced woodswallow Little woodswallow White-backed swallow Welcome swallow Fork-tailed swift KEY: Species, population or community listed as vulnerable or endangered under the EPBC and/or TSC Act Species listed as migratory under the EPBC Act Species identified as present or returning to vegetation communities in good condition N, E, S, W = Regional extent – North, East, South, West of Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment area H = found at high altitude 4 MAMMALS Terrestrial (land dwelling) Paucident planigale Narrow-nosed planigale Striped-faced dunnart Fat-tailed dunnart Common dunnart Red kangaroo Eastern grey kangaroo Short-beaked echidna Microbats Gould’s wattled bat Inland broad-nosed bat Little broad-nosed bat Little forest bat Southern freetail bat Inland freetail bat White-striped freetail-bat Yellow-bellied sheath-tailed bat Lesser longeared bat 5 Introduced European cattle Goat Dingo Domestic dog Fox Horse Cat Brown hare Rabbit House mouse Black rat Pig 1 6 7 3 Photo Key: 1 Pale headed rosella Photographer: M Coulton 2Spotted harrier Photographer: Phil Spark 3Bush stone curlew Photographer: Phil Spark 4Red rumped parrot Photographer: Iestyn Taylor 5Yellow-bellied sheath-tailed bat Photographer: Leah Mackinnon 6Striped-faced dunnart Photographer: Phil Spark 7 Planigale Photographer: Phil Spark REPTILES Dragons Burn’s dragon Eastern bearded dragon Long-tailed earless dragon W Turtles Eastern snake-necked turtle Snakes 9 Yellow-faced whip snake De Vis’s banded snake Red-naped snake Grey snake W Mulga snake Spotted black snake Red-bellied black snake Eastern brown snake Variable black-naped snake Curl snake 8 Geckos Tessellated gecko Box-patterned gecko Blind snakes Prong-snouted blind snake Robust Blind Snake W Brown-snouted blind snake Legless lizards Patternless delma Excitable delma Burton’s snake-lizard AMPHIBIANS Ephemeral dams, ponds, wetlands 10 Frogs & froglets Water-holding frog Rough frog Striped burrowing frog N Green tree frog Broad-palmed frog Peron’s tree frog Desert tree frog Eastern sign-bearing froglet Common eastern froglet Sloane’s froglet Bullfrog Long-thumbed frog Ornate burrowing frog Salmon striped frog Spotted marsh frog Painted burrowing frog Skinks 11 Five-clawed worm-skink Robust ctenotus Common dwarf skink South-eastern morethia skink Common bluetongue Shingleback lizard Toads & toadlets Holy cross toad Wrinkled toadlet 12 KEY: Species, population or community listed as vulnerable or endangered under the EPBC and/or TSC Act Species listed as migratory under the EPBC Act Species identified as present or returning to vegetation communities in good condition N, E, S, W = Regional extent – North, East, South, West of Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment area H = found at high altitude Photo Key: 8Shingle back lizard 9 Five-clawed worm-skink 10Eastern brown snake 11Desert tree frog 12Sloane’s tree frog Photographer of all photos on this page: Phil Spark Threats and Management Photographer: Greg Steenbeeke Threats Management Clearing – conversion of native grasslands to cultivation for cropping is now illegal under the Native Vegetation Act 2003, but still occurs due to a lack of awareness of the conservation significance of grasslands. Before converting any pasture to cropping or sewn pasture, consult the CMA about your responsibilities. The aim of management of Natural Grasslands is to maintain or increase the extent of the community and to maintain or improve its condition. Clearing for mining is also a significant threat. Grazing – knocks out highly palatable or vulnerable species such as legumes. There can also be a change in the dominant species from Austrostipa and Dichanthium to Chloris species, then Sporobolus species and finally a mixture of unpalatable weeds. Undergrazing can also be a threat, as tussock grasslands will become simpler unless the biomass of the dominant tussock grass species are occasionally reduced by fire or grazing. Weed invasion – weedy perennial grasses present the greatest threat to this community. The main threatening species are: Coolatai grass (Hyparrhenia hirta), African love grass (Eragrostis curvula), Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and Green Panic (Panicum maximus). The establishment of some of these species as ‘improved’ pastures adjacent to grassland communities is a significant threat. Lippia (Phyla nodiflora) is a major threat in periodically-inundated areas. Mimosa (Vachellia farnesiana) and African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissima) are less of a threat but do displace grassland species. Grazing Management – should aim to increase the diversity of species in degraded stands, and to allow natural fluctuations in species composition in response to seasonal conditions to occur. A mix of occasional short, heavy grazing and regular light stocking is likely to favour optimal stand development and survival. Avoid grazing when the soil is saturated to prevent pugging, particularly on grey clays. Where possible, avoid grazing when plants are flowering and setting seed. Not converting to cropping – before ploughing new areas for cropping, assess whether or not the site supports Natural Grassland. Seek advice from the CMA if you are unsure. Don’t allow cultivation to creep into adjacent grassland areas. Restoration – natural grasslands can be re-established over time through assisted regeneration and revegetation. Previously cropped areas can be left to regenerate, provided invasive grasses are controlled. Avoid planting trees or dense shrub cover into areas of Natural Grasslands. Seed of many grassland grasses is available from commercial seed suppliers. Changed fire regimes – affect grassland communities by changing species composition and relative abundance. Too frequent fire can encourage fire tolerant species like Coolatai grass over native species. Increasing awareness – become more aware of the occurrence and extent of Natural Grasslands on your property and in your district. Many of the few remaining stands are located on stock routes and roadsides and can be inadvertently destroyed by road maintenance, grading, dumping soil or inappropriate fire or grazing regimes. Natural grasslands are most likely to occur on parts of your property where cropping does not occur, such as adjacent to waterways, in rocky areas or around areas of other native vegetation. Feral animals – pigs can cause significant localised damage to grasslands by uprooting plants and creating opportunities for weed invasion. The house mouse competes with grassland fauna for food and habitat, particularly during high population outbreaks. Disturbance from rabbit burrowing and grazing can also alter species composition. Controlling and not spreading weeds – spot spray small outbreaks of invasive grasses in and around patches of Natural Grassland. Cut and paint the stumps of invasive shrubs such as African boxthorn with glyphosate. When maintaining roads avoid bringing machinery from weedy areas into stands of grassland and avoid cutting drains or dumping soil in grassland patches. Changed flooding regimes – alter the species composition of natural grasslands, often favouring weed species. These changes may come about through irrigation, road construction, building of floodplain structures or channel construction. Climate change – can result in changes to water availability and fire regimes. It is also likely to change the distribution and impact of weed species. Lack of awareness – of the importance or scarcity of this vegetation community is a major threat as some farmers carry out destructive acts without even knowing the significance of grassland communities. Ecosystem function: how healthy grasslands work for you Healthy Natural Grasslands on Alluvial Plains provide a wide range of benefits that are often called ‘ecosystem services’. These include traditional services like grazing for livestock, but also other services such as: • • • • • • • • • • • financial benefits soil formation and cycling nutrient cycling water capture, filtration and delivery to water bodies pollination pest management (e.g. reducing pest pressure on crops) regional climate buffering shade and shelter (e.g. for livestock) breakdown and absorption of wastes a sense of place scenery IMAGE FURTHER INFORMATION Look for “Natural Grasslands” on the EPBC Species Profiles and Threats database (SPRAT) at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html. Commonwealth Listing Advice on Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/pubs/88listing-advice.pdf Nadolny C., Hunter J. & Hawes W. (2010) Native grassy vegetation in the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment: diversity, distribution, use and management. In: Report to the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA. Photographer: Greg Steenbeeke www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au [email protected] Photographer: Greg Steenbeeke Inverell Moree Glen Innes Armidale Goondiwindi 15 Vivian Street PO Box 411 Inverell NSW 2360 66-68 Frome Street PO Box 569 Moree NSW 2400 68 Church Street PO Box 380 Glen Innes NSW 2370 UNE Trevenna Road PO Box U245 Armidale NSW 2351 Waggamba Square, Brook Street Goondiwindi QLD 4390 T: 02 6728 8020 T: 02 6757 2550 T: 02 6732 2992 T: 02 6773 5269 T: 07 4671 4302 F: 02 6728 8098 F: 02 6757 2570 F: 02 6732 5995 F: 02 6773 5288 F: 07 4671 5072
