Transcript DAY 1 Terrestrial Env. Fauna of the Kimberly

Fauna of the Kimberley
Thanks to all the traditional owners who guided and
assisted during the fauna survey work at
Perpendicular Head, Gourdon Bay and Packer Island
Fauna of the Kimberley
• Few biological studies – our recent fauna records are
valuable
– ENV Australia surveyed Gourdon Bay, Coulomb Point –
Quondong Point, Perpendicular Head and Packer Island
– ecologia Environment surveyed Koolan Island
– Biota Environmental Sciences surveyed Wilson Point
• Other work includes
– McKenzie (1983) Wildlife of the Dampier Peninsula, south-west
Kimberley, Western Australia
– Mckenzie et al (1995) Biological Inventory of Koolan Island, W.A.
Fauna of the Kimberley
• Transitional zone between Western Australia’s desert
and tropical zones
• Much of the fauna is either Torresian (high rainfall
tropical Australia), and therefore towards the southern
limits of their ranges, or eryean species, and therefore
towards the northern limits of their ranges
Fauna of the Kimberley
Mammal fauna of Conservation Significance
Northern Quoll
• Endangered under the EPBC Act
• Rocky areas, gullies and drainage lines
• Can be common where it occurs, such as Koolan
Bilby
• Vulnerable under the EPBC Act
• Once widespread - now sparse desert populations
Golden Bandicoot
• Vulnerable under the EPBC Act
Fauna of the Kimberley
Mammal fauna of Conservation Significance
Golden-backed Tree Rat
• DEC Priority 4
• Restricted to the north-west Kimberley
• Likely to occur in the northern site options
Water Rat
• DEC Priority 4
• More likely to occur in the northern site options
Little Northern Freetail-bat
• inhabits mangroves along the northern coast of WA
Fauna of the Kimberley
Mammal fauna of Conservation Significance
Spectacled Hare-wallaby
• extremely rare in WA - reduced to a few isolated populations in the
Pilbara and the Kimberley
Scaly-tailed Possum
• DEC Priority 4
• Known to occur at the northern site options
Fauna of the Kimberley
Reptile fauna of Conservation Significance
Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Flatback Turtles
• Vulnerable under the EPBC Act
• utilise the Peninsula’s beaches (especially Roebuck Bay)
Dampierland burrowing snake
• known only from the Dampier Peninsula
• a DEC Priority 2 species
• Little is known of its biology
Airlie Island Ctenotus
• Vulnerable under the EPBC Act
• known only from Airlie Island and the vicinity of Roebuck Bay
Fauna of the Kimberley
Birds Birds Birds!
• and lots of them! ENV reports over 300 bird species from
the Dampier Peninsula
• Red Goshawk - Vulnerable under the EPBC Act
• Painted Snipe - Vulnerable under the EPBC Act
• Yellow Chat - Endangered under the EPBC Act
• Gouldian Finch - Endangered under the EPBC Act
• And many, many, many more
Fauna of the Kimberley
Roebuck Bay
• a Ramsar Wetland of International Significance
• a site for migratory shorebirds
• estimated to support approximately 170 000 migratory
shorebirds from19 of the most common species
Fauna Habitats – Coastal Dunes
• Common to all sites
• Fragile and subject to
disturbance by vehicles
• Potential to support Scheduled
and Priority Fauna
– Airlie Island Ctenotus Ctenotus
angusticeps (a skink)
– Dampierland Burrowing Snake,
Simoselaps minimus
Fauna Habitats – Vine Thicket
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Common to all sites except Gourdon Bay
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Relict fauna habitat that epitomises the
transitional zone from Torresian to Eyrean
DEC Priority Ecological Community
Most likely habitat to support Short Range
Endemic taxa
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Scorpions and trapdoor spiders
Habitat shows clinal variation
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Substrate and location varies significantly
comparing Dampier Peninsula thickets from
thickets off the peninsula
Promotes biodiversity
Not present as a true Vine Thicket at Gourdon
Bay
Fauna Habitats – Samphire and Mangal
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Present at most sites
Prolific at Gourdon Bay, Perpendicular
Head and Packer Island
High degree of local variation because
of number of mangrove species
present
Supports Scheduled and Priority
species including
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Samphire - Airlie Island Ctenotus,
Ctenotus angusticeps
Mangrove – Little Northern Freetail Bat,
Mormopterus loriae cobourgiana
Fauna Habitats – Coastal Rock Outcrops
• Present, though variable, at all
sites
• Important fauna refuges
– Scaly-tailed Possum
– Kimberley Cave Bat
• Poorly represented
– Present only on exposed headlands
• Disjunct, therefore likely to
harbour local endemics
Fauna Habitats – Pindan Woodland
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Very well represented on the Dampier
Peninsula
Heterogeneous habitat supporting a
variety of fauna
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Arboreal
Fossorial
Burrowing
Highly variable structure because of fire
effects
Fauna of conservation significance are
broadly distributed or transient
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Australian Bustard, Ardeotis australis
Fauna Habitats – Tidal Flats
• Present at most sites
• Prolific at Gourdon Bay,
Perpendicular Head and Packer
Island
• Supports high species richness
• Supports large populations
• Unspoilt and undisturbed
• Very dynamic
Perpendicular Head
Packer Island
Gourdon Bay
James Price Point to Quondong Point
Koolan Island
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Comparative survey undertaken by
ecologia Environment in 2004
Trapping sites established in
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Rocky slopes covered in Eucalyptus
woodland
Slopes cover in Vine forest
Sandstone gorges
Sandstone hilltops
Monsoon / Vine Thickets
Other habitats present included
sandy beach and mangrove
Maret Island
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Very little previous work
Only opportunistic fauna survey work
Terrestrial snail records indicate potential number of
new species
– New Genus 3, new species 43 – only known
from N & S Maret
– New Genus 2, new species 79 – on N & S Maret,
and two adjacent islands
– Damochlora new species 42 – only known from
N Maret
– Setobaudinia new species 58 – on both N & S
Maret and two adjacent islands
– Setobaudinia new species 57 – only known from
S Maret
– Amplirhagada alta intermedia – on both N & S
Maret and three adjacent islands
Wilson Point
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Comparative survey undertaken by
Biota in 2007
Trapping sites established in
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Eucalyptus woodland
Eucalyptus woodland over dolerite
Sandstone hilltops and slope with spiny
wattle
Mangrove
Coastal Monsoon Vine Thickets
Potential Short Range Endemics
Common attributes among the study site
• Limited previous survey work
• High possibility of the discovery of new taxa
• Very restricted and disjunct habitats (e.g. vine thickets)
• Easy to formulate a rigorous survey regime
Fauna of Conservation Significance
Perpendicular Head
Species of Conservation
Significance
Mammals
EPBC, WC, DEC and
Locally significant species Reptiles
Wilson
Point
Koolan
Island
2
6
3
1
2
4
2
4
1
0
1
0
1
0
57
46
55
22
3
Mammals
0
1
3
2
1
Reptiles
1
2
1
1
1
Amphibians
0
0
0
0
0
Birds
3
3
4
1
0
Mammals
1
20
21
3
14
6
29
32
40
~45
22
25
3
6
1
0
4
2
135
101
120
~90
40
60
Birds
Total Captures and
Recordings
Maret
Islands
Gourdon Bay
0
Amphibians
Species protected by
State Legislation only
WC and DEC listed
species
Packer Island
Reptiles
Amphibians
Birds
Fauna of the Kimberley
What conservation measures should be taken?
• There is a great deal we don’t know
• Potential for many short-range endemic species in
isolated habitats
• The precautionary principle – we must tread with care!