The Islands of Macquarie Harbour

MACQUARIE HARBOUR THE ISLANDS OF Resource, Management and Conservation Division Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment THE ISLANDS OF GPO Box 44 Hobart, Tasmania, 7001 MACQUARIE HARBOUR

Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

HAMISH SAUNDERS MEMORIAL TRUST, NEW ZEALAND

Editors Michael Pemberton and Clare Hawkins

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment CITATION: Pemberton, M., Hawkins, C. (2011). THE ISLANDS OF MACQUARIE HARBOUR. Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and Resource Management and Conservation Division, DPIPWE, Hobart, Nature Conservation Report Series 11/01

ISBN (Book): 978-0-7246-6567-9 ISBN (Web): 978-0-7246-6568-6

A partnership program between the Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and Resource Management and Conservation Division, DPIPWE, Tasmania.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT: ILS Design Unit, DPIPWE ILLUSTRATIONS: Brett Littleton OBJECTS PHOTOGRAPHY: Graeme Harrington, Tasphoto Services, DPIPWE COVER: Narrow cobble beach on the east coast of Neck Island. Photo Paul Donaldson. INSIDE COVER: Cape Sorell Lighthouse. Photo Brett Littleton.

This publication is printed on recycled paper.

Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

HAMISH SAUNDERS MEMORIAL TRUST, NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, PARKS, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT

Editors Michael Pemberton and Clare Hawkins TABLE OF CONTENTS Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

FOREWORD 5

Hamish Saunders 6

Acknowledgements 6

Summary of Results 7

INTRODUCTION 9

NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEER REPORTS 13

GEODIVERSITY 19

BIODIVERSITY 37

Flora 37

Fauna 73 FOREWORD Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 5

The Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program was established in 2005 as a result of a partnership agreement between the Tasmanian Government and the Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust following the tragic loss of Hamish while assisting in a conservation survey on Pedra Branca, an island about 20 km south of Tasmania in 2003.

The aim of the program is to Islands play an important role in survey an island each year to nature conservation given they collect information on natural can be remote and difficult to values which will contribute to the access providing natural barriers management and conservation to some threats. Their remoteness of these islands. The survey also means that there is a lack conducted in 2009 in Macquarie of data for these places so the Harbour was the fourth in Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust a series of multi disciplinary Program provides the perfect investigations following work on opportunity to collect information Tasman Island, Three Hummock that can contribute to island Island and Prime Seal Island in conservation but also provide a previous years. lasting legacy to Hamish Saunders.

The Hamish Saunders Memorial Like past surveys the Macquarie Island Survey Program provides Harbour Islands survey has important information on island resulted in the collection of conservation but is also a great a wide range of information opportunity for conservation which will assist in the future scientists, including two New management of these important Zealand volunteers, to visit an places. island for about a week and work cooperatively to assess the natural diversity of these places.

Alistair Scott

General Manager, Resource Management and Conservation Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 6 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Hamish Saunders natural world and conservation Acknowledgements with that of an interest in local Hamish Saunders was a cultures and people. Not only did The Hamish Saunders Memorial New Zealand volunteer who he travel to these places, but he Trust is acknowledged for taking died tragically in 2003 while also took a great interest in the part in the survey. In particular conducting survey work on a people around him. He touched Alan and David Saunders who Tasmanian endangered species many lives. manage the trust in New Zealand program. Hamish graduated and who assisted with the from Waikato University with a Hamish was a remarkable and selection of the two volunteers First Class Honours and Masters talented young man. The passion from New Zealand Briar Hill and degree in marine geology. He and enthusiasm he engendered Natasha Wilson, thanks to you all. later completed a postgraduate in those whom he met and the GIS course with distinction. He gentle leadership he embodied Chris Arthur, Parks and Reserves also achieved qualifications as a is his legacy. This island survey Manager, West Coast who scuba dive instructor, was a good program is dedicated to the suggested the Macquarie Harbour sportsman and was talented, not memory of Hamish Saunders Survey and assisted with the solely academically, but as an all and intended as a platform for logistics and operational side. His round individual. emerging leaders in marine expert boatmanship was also conservation. The Tasmanian appreciated. As an explorer, Hamish achieved Government’s commitment in his 26 years much of which and long-term support for the For assistance in the preparation most only dream. From Antarctica program was endorsed by the of the geodiversity section, thanks to the Galapagos, Central then Minister for Environment and to Mike Comfort, Rolan Eberhard America, South America, South- Planning, The Hon. Judy Jackson and Jason Bradbury for their East Asia, Europe and Australia, MHA, on 8 July 2005. editing and comments on drafts; he combined his passion for the Greg Jordan for his thoughts on plant fossil significance; and all others involved in the islands of Macquarie Harbour expedition.

For flora support thanks to David Storey for his assistance with data analysis, Tim Rudman and Micah Visoiu for their help identifying flora species.

For support in the fauna component, thanks to Bob Mesibov: millipede and centipede identification; Kevin Bonham: snails, collembola identification; Michael Driessen: cave cricket and rodent identification; Lynne Forster: spider and beetle identification; Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 7

Fox Eradication Branch for the Biodiversity – Vegetation been recorded in Macquarie loan of video cameras; Tracey Harbour. Of the newly recorded Hollings for loan of hair tubes; A total of fifteen discrete TASVEG taxa, forty-nine were identified Robert Raven (Queensland vegetation communities were to species level and thirty- Museum): spider identification; recorded during the survey. three were identified as distinct Alastair Richardson: isopod and Of these 3 were Threatened morphospecies, while the rest amphipod identification ; Michael communities listed on Schedule were identified less precisely. Rix (Western Australian Museum): 3a of the Nature Conservation Numerous bird species had Micropholcomma and Hickmanapsis Act (2002). The most significant previously been recorded in spider identification; Barbara Triggs: community was MSP (Sphagnum ‘Macquarie Harbour’, but the mammalian hair identification; peatland) as there are only survey provided more specific finally Stephen Harris is thanked two other known sites for this locations for many of these for his final edit of this report. community at sea level. species.

Summary of Results A total of 122 vascular flora Isopod specimens of the genus species from 56 families were Notoniscus found on three of Geodiversity recorded across the islands the islands were likely to be a surveyed. The species are new species. The findings also The islands of Macquarie comprised of 50 higher plants particularly extended the known Harbour are geologically and (7 monocots and 44 dicots) distribution of two invertebrates: geomorphologically diverse. and 13 lower plants. Of the the land snail Stenacapha species recorded, 14 are endemic vitrinaformis and the weevil The islands are composed of to Australia; 1 occurs only in Mandalotus subterraneus. either poorly consolidated Tasmania. Eighteen species are Tertiary gravels, semi-lithified considered to be primitive. There A few exotic species were Tertiary sandstone or Cambrian were 24 introduced species found identified: most significantly, hair to Precambrian meta-sedimentary with 9 of these being listed weeds. tubes collected hair that was basement rocks. One orchid species was found confirmed as cat hair on Philips that was not known to occur in Island, and suspected as cat hair The morphology of the islands are the south west of the state and on Cat Island. heavily influenced by their lithology, this discovery has considerably ranging from low-lying gravel increased the known range of A sea eagle’s nest was found on islands bound by narrow cobble this species. All vascular species Philips Island. beaches and extensive marshlands recorded are either represented It is recommended that cat to steep bedrock islands with in reserves in each bioregion or eradication is considered, and dominantly cliffed coastlines and are reserved in half the bioregions that disturbance on Philips Island rocky shore platforms. within which they occur. is avoided during eagle breeding An array of earth features of Biodiversity - Fauna season (July to February). interest are dispersed throughout the islands, of which a number One hundred and sixty fauna are to be considered for listing in taxa were recorded during the the Tasmanian Geoconservation survey, of which one hundred Database (TGD). and thirty-two had not previously INTRODUCTION Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 9

Macquarie Harbour is located on the central west coast of Tasmania. It has a number of islands and islets nine of which were surveyed over a five day period from the 7th to the 11th December 2009.

The overall form and shape of the harbours current form was This reflects the complex geology Macquarie Harbour region was in place. This left the islands and of the area and the climatic probably well developed by coastline we see today. variations which occur as a result about 40 to 50 million years ago of proximity to the coast and in early Tertiary times. Many of Many of the plant species in changing altitudes. the major mountain and valley south western Tasmania and systems evident today in the around Macquarie Harbour have A recent discovery at Port Davey area, and in the rest of Tasmania, evolved directly from species is the Port Davey skate which also were probably formed by this that occurred in Gondwana (the occurs in Macquarie Harbour. This time following the breakup of southern super continent) about species is unique as the world’s Gondwana. This resulted in 45 million years ago. The more only brackish water skate, and the development of the broad rugged and mountainous parts has its closest relatives in New valley system now flooded by of south eastern Australia and in Zealand and Patagonia again the harbour’s dark waters with particular Tasmania remained the emphasising the Gondwanan link. sediment provided by the Gordon “most Gondwanan”. Here the River and its tributaries eroding cool, damp climate remained highland areas as far away as Lake similar to the temperate St Clair and the Vale of Rasselas. forests of Gondwana. However there are Macquarie Harbour has had a many other vegetation history of being drained and types represented flooded over the last 2 million in the area ranging years as a result of various from button glaciations and ensuing sea level grass moorland, fluctuations. heathland, a range of wet The mouth of the Gordon river eucalypt was about 20 km out to sea forest types around 20 000 years ago at to coastal the height of the last glaciation. scrub. Glaciers and small ice caps in the catchment started melting after this and by about 6000 years ago 10 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Macquarie Harbour islands locality map. Base map: 1:100,000 map, insert maps: 1:25,000 map (reproduced courtesy of TASMAP, DPIPWE). Map produced by Paul Donaldson. Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 11

With the exception of Sarah Macquarie Harbour has a oceanic Island there has been very limited climate with rainfall spread survey work done on the natural throughout the year with a mean values of the islands in Macquarie annual average of about 1500 Harbour. The Hamish Saunders mm. Daily maximum summer Memorial Island Survey Program temperatures vary between offered an ideal opportunity for a 18.9 and 21.5°C with overnight multi-disciplinary group of experts minimums averaging between 9.3 to visit the area to investigate and 11.2°C. Winter maximum conservation and management daily temperatures average needs of these islands. between 12.2 and 13.2°C with overnight minimums averaging between 5 and 6.1°C. NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEERS REPORT Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 13

Briar Hill We spent the first few days acquainting ourselves with Hobart, Getting There including a cruise on the harbour, visiting the weekend markets and I have been studying ecology and going to the movies. We also conservation for 7 years, and it got taken to the top of Mount has always been my plan to take Wellington, which allowed us to my love for the environment really appreciate the surrounding overseas. When I saw an ad for landscape. Clare Hawkins, who the Hamish Saunders Memorial we were staying with and who Ecological Survey, I applied straight away. It was a while before I heard back and as I got more and more distracted with my research, I forgot about the application. This meant that when I did find out that I had been selected for the Macquarie Island trip, it came as a complete and fantastic surprise. At that time I was experiencing some setbacks with my research, and being given the chance to get away and remind myself why it is that I am doing what I’m doing was so invaluable and allowed me to return to my was also organising the trip, got studies full of enthusiasm and with Natasha and I to help with the a fresh perspective. preparation and packing for the trip; this was fantastic as it gave The preparation for the trip us a chance to become familiar happened very quickly, and with the gear that was to be used before I knew it I was landing in before getting into the field. Melbourne where I met up with Natasha. We got to know each The Island Ecological other before making our way Survey to Hobart, where on arrival we were collected by Mick Illowski Many of the islands within the and taken back to the DPIWE Macquarie Harbour formed office to meet everyone and part of the Macquarie Penal get a briefing on the trip. I was Station during the early 19th overwhelmed at how welcoming century, and was known as one everyone was and how excited of the most notorious and harsh they all were about the trip. penal settlements. Once closed, 14 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

however, the islands were never Over a 5 day period eight of the collecting them in and finding re-occupied and have been left many islands were surveyed by that we had set them correctly virtually untouched since the mid the team of seven scientists. It and managed to capture videos 1800’s. It is only in recent years was the most surreal feeling being to show us what was creeping that tourism has taken off in the on these small islands, knowing around at night. The craziest area, with Sarah Island drawing that few people had been there part of the trip was being filmed thousands of visitors each year to and that until then many of the by ABC, ending up on the news see the old prisons, and Bonnet islands had been left untouched months later, and having an Island now open to tourists for by science. Natasha and I were Australian friend of mine call me penguin viewing. This increase on bug duty. On our first day we up to tell me she had just seen in visitation is a concern as little were left to it and being New me on TV - world famous! is known about the ecological, Zealanders, believing that Australia geological and biological value of is full of snakes, we walked very Personal experiences the islands within the Harbour. slowly and cautiously on that first This trip provided so many The ecological survey undertaken day. It wasn’t until the following amazing experiences, above therefore aimed to investigate day on Philips Island that we all meeting the other scientists the flora, fauna and geology of observed the others thrashing who participated in the trip numerous small islands within through the forest and realised we from whom I learnt invaluable the Macquarie Harbour. The had been a bit too cautious the knowledge and skills; including purpose of this was to establish day before. Lesson learned; we setting hair traps and camera an inventory to help guide better moved a lot faster from then on. traps and learning the saying management and protection of that has now shaped my thesis the islands in the face of increasing The bush was very similar to “absence of evidence is not development. New Zealand, with tree ferns creating a canopy above and evidence of absence”. There was The weather forecast for the ground ferns covering the forest such a vast amount of knowledge, week was not too great, but floor below, and it was easy to enthusiasm and laughter on that didn’t dampen anyone’s forget where you were until you the trip that it was impossible spirits, so on the 7th December spotted an enormous Eucalyptus not to leave feeling completely the boot clad group of 7 took tree towering overhead. The bugs rejuvenated and ready to tackle off from Hobart and drove to also made sure you didn’t forget the world. Being a part of this Strahan. The drive alone was where you were and never in a survey has strengthened my amazing, getting to travel across blue moon did I imagine that I desire to take my skills overseas Tasmania with some of the most would ever roll around on the and experience more new and experienced scientists narrating forest floor in Australia lifting logs exciting environments beyond local history, biology and politics and digging dirt trying to find the New Zealand, and one day to in the background. When we biggest blackest spider, and then be able to make a significant arrived in Strahan we were yelling screams of joy when I did! contribution to the protection of briefed by Chris Arthur (Parks New Zealand’s natural heritage. and Reserves Manager, West By far the most rewarding part I owe an enormous thank Coast - the man with ALL the of the trip was setting out the you to the Hamish Saunders knowledge!), and then it was motion cameras on numerous Memorial Trust for continuing straight out into the field. islands and then a few days later Hamish’s legacy in this way and Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 15

providing this opportunity not on the natural biota to help with animal scat (taking photos of any only for myself but for those identification whilst in the field. interesting finds and collecting before and after me. It truly is Other than that, everything was droppings) and set up hair tubes an opportunity of a life time for fantastic! and camera traps. such young scientists to be able to take their skills and knowledge Natasha Wilson Every island was unique. With overseas and expand on them a total of nine islands in the at such an early stage. Thanks Six months have passed since I survey of Macquarie Harbour, a are also due to all the people at set foot on Tasmania and entered diverse array of flora, fauna and DPIWE and Chris Arthur who a whole new world. Now topography were found. As part made this trip possible and so whenever I see a stray gum tree of the animal species survey team, enjoyable. In particular to Clare or hear an Aussie accent, the our main priority was to be on the Hawkins for taking us in and memories come flooding back. lookout for anything animal, but making our stay fantastic, and Nick A whole week was spent going as our eyes tuned in to all weird Mooney, who provided us with back and forth between islands, and wonderful things we had the so much insight into the natural collecting specimens and setting pleasure of discovering several heritage of Tasmania and also the traps. As part of the animal delicate tree orchids and observing rare opportunity to get up close species survey team, I helped the amazing bark forms on the and personal with devils, quolls collect numerous insects in jars various gum tree varieties. Some and brown falcons. Finally to my (whatever we could find under islands were covered in thick bush volunteer buddy Natasha; thanks tree bark, crawling on the ground that reminded me of any North for all the laughter on the trip! or flying through the air), searched Island forest, but had the added the ground for burrows and danger of snakes and spiders. Improvements that could be made

It would have been great to have a better brief of the dates for the trip prior to booking the flights. As we were not informed of the survey itinerary until only a couple of days prior to departing New Zealand, we were not able to organise any extended time within Tasmania to explore more after the trip to Macquarie Harbour. This was a shame as it felt very rushed getting back from the field and having only an evening before heading home again. From the Tasmanian end, it also would have been great to have been provided with more resources 16 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

As foreigners in the land, Briar and The entire week was one great the possibility of extending plant I quickly developed a wariness of adventure that guaranteed distribution ranges or finding new all moving things. We only saw a wealth of knowledge and animal species still exists. With an one small snake on the whole conservation ideas for the ongoing interest in conservation trip though. Spiders kept us future. It was a rare insight and ecological research, I hope on our toes a bit more as we into the biology of old; the way to use the knowledge and had no idea which ones were naturalists made discoveries and skills I’ve learnt to continue the poisonous and which weren’t. documented new lands. Being preservation of species for future We learnt one thing for certain one of the first to survey an generations. – never put spiders together in area, like Elizabeth Island, is an the same specimen jar. Several amazing thing and not common Without the support of the of our smaller specimens were in the world today. I gained an Hamish Saunders Memorial consumed or well wrapped up enormous appreciation for the Trust, this amazing experience by the time we got back to the conservation work that goes on in wouldn’t have been part of my base in Strahan at night. One Tasmania and the difficulties they life. Universities have such a large particularly large spider attacked encounter from both mining and portion of learning focussed on its neighbour with its large fangs disease. theories and books that it is easy and we were thankful it hadn’t to forget the field opportunities landed on either of us. Who Clare Hawkins, our lead zoologist, that lie in wait. What better knows what could’ve happened. ensured we knew as much as way is there to understand possible about the project at and expand your knowledge of With a full team of zoologists, hand and how different trapping conservation than to get out in botanists and geologists it methods worked that we hadn’t the field and see for yourself? The was easy to learn a lot about used before. It was my first many differences and similarities Tasmanian flora, fauna and experience using both hair traps that exist between New Zealand topography. Each and every and camera traps but with a quick and Tasmanian bush make you person had something to share. explanation and demonstration think that if there are that many Not only did we learn about the we were ready to go. Many of different species within similar islands, we learnt about Australian our camera traps that returned landscapes, conservation on a wildlife in general. Nick Mooney with dark video footage for global scale really is a diverse field was particularly keen to show the night sections were a waiting for further exploration, off his nature-bound backyard. disappointment but reinforced the research and management. We saw Tasmanian devils as part need to double-check the setup of the breeding program that’s was working on all cameras. I think this program provides in place. We saw wedge-tailed the perfect opportunity for eagles that were preparing for I learnt many important things young New Zealanders to get release back into the wild. We from the whole trip. Not only out and explore conservation in saw two different kinds of quoll. how to set and use new types of another part of the world. It is And to top it all off, we saw traps but also the types of work inspirational to work with such a dozens of potoroos and other conservationists may come across knowledgeable group of people types of wallaby. in the field. It is exciting to know who all share a strong passion that there are still places that for the environment and do their remain relatively unexplored with best on a daily basis to preserve it Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 17

for future generations. It has been And finally, I would like to a useful and insightful journey thank the Hamish Saunders that will act as a good foundation Memorial Trust, and all of the for future study and work in the people involved on the Tasmania ecological field. side of things as well, for this memorable experience that will For future volunteers I set me in good stead for future recommend: conservation work and hopefully further research and a life-long • Providing the opportunity to career in meeting conservation extend the flight back to New needs in both Tasmania and Zealand by a couple of days further afield. I hope to continue as many people in the Wildlife the tradition of passing knowledge Department offered to show onto others in this field, both now us more things and areas of and in the future. conservation interest if we had time. An agreement could be made for volunteers to meet the costs of any extra day’s accommodation and food, and pay for any extra cost incurred with a delayed return.

• Advertising this amazing opportunity in universities, particularly Zoology and Ecology departments GEODIVERSITY Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 19

The Cap Island, Macquarie Harbour. One of the many small islands dispersed throughout the harbour. Photo Paul Donaldson.

Paul Donaldson Macquarie Harbour forms islands with dominantly rocky Tasmania’s largest estuary system coastlines. The variation between Introduction with an area greater than 290 the islands morphology results km 2 (Edgar et al., 1999). The largely from their geological Over 25 islands of varying size are mouth of the harbour (Hells differences. Broadly, the islands can dispersed throughout Macquarie Gates) opens into the high energy be divided into three geological Harbour on the west coast of coastline of the west coast, groups: Tasmania. Geologically, the harbour through a shallow and narrow • the suite of north-western is situated within the Macquarie channel positioned between islands composed of Tertiary Graben, a large down faulted the northern tip of Cape Sorell gravels; structure which formed from Peninsula and the southern end of regional tectonic activity during Ocean Beach spit. The restricted • the central-eastern islands the Early Tertiary in association opening results in little ocean composed of semi-lithified with rifting between Australia swell entering the harbour and a Tertiary sandstone; and and Antarctica (Stacey and Berry, tidal range of less than one metre. The harbour is generally a low 2004). The Macquarie Graben is • the chain of Cambrian to energy environment. However a bound by uplifted older basement Precambrian bedrock islands fetch of up to 30 km along the rocks to the south and filled positioned along the south- harbours northwest-southeast with a thick sequence of semi to western shoreline of the axis commonly results in the unconsolidated Eocene marginal Harbour. marine sediments (Baillie and generation of a locally derived Hudspeth, 1989), of an inferred choppy wind swell. Currents Together, these islands thickness of greater than 500 m in the harbour are complex comprise an array of geological, (Leaman, 1974). The northwest- and variable, dominated by geomorphological and soil southeast trending graben is the Gordon River in the south features of interest, of which 10-12 km wide over most of its and King River in the north only the Sarah Island sea caves length. It includes Ocean Beach (Koehnken, 1996). Evidence for are at present recognised for spit and the general area of the complex hydrodynamics of their conservation significance. Strahan in the north, Macquarie the Harbour is seen in the coastal A number of these features do Harbour and its many associated morphology of a number of the however warrant consideration islands within the central basin harbours island shorelines. for listing in the Tasmanian and extends south of the Harbour, Geoconservation The geomorphology of narrowing to 6 km in a southern Database (TGD). the Macquarie Harbour dog-leg section which includes islands is variable, Birches Inlet (Corbett, 2003). It is ranging from low- both the south-western bedrock lying islands bound boundary of the graben and the by narrow cobble sub-aerial exposures of the thick beaches and sedimentary infill which comprise extensive the geological base of the marshlands, Macquarie Harbour islands. to steep bedrock 20 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Methods Results/Discussion Geomorphology:

A reconnaissance study Bonnet Island Bonnet Island is a small, of the island geology and ovate bedrock island with an geomorphology of Macquarie Geology: approximate north-south axis of Harbour was undertaken for 65 m, east-west axis of 30 m and Bonnet Island comprises a single eight of the harbours largest an maximum elevation of 10 m outcrop of metamorphosed islands over a period of five days above mean sea-level (MSL). The sedimentary (metasedimentary) in December 2009. Each island island’s rocky coastline varies from rocks. This metasedimentary survey consisted of brief field a narrow shore platform with sequence includes a succession examinations (typically three to abundant rocky debris, to low- of interbedded metamorphosed five hours for each surveyed lying cliffs which plunge steeply quartz sandstone and siltstone, island), focussing on the coastline into the sea. Abundant burrows and forms part of the more morphology, bedrock exposures, are found throughout the soils extensive geological unit that known sites of geoconservation of the island, formed by the occupies the northern extent of significance (Sarah Island sea resident colony of Little Penguins. Cape Sorell. This unit is known as caves) and additional features of The surface morphology of the the Mesoproterozoic Rocky Cape interest as interpreted through island centre has undergone Group Correlate (Corbett, 2003). analysis of satellite imagery (e.g. both historic and recent Neck Island tombolo). The islands anthropogenic modification as surveyed were Bonnet, Cat, a result of historic farming by Elizabeth, Magazine, Neck, Philips, past resident lighthouse keepers Sarah and Soldiers Island. Access and the recent development of to the islands was by the PWS tourist infrastructure that includes boat Shearwater. multiple viewing platforms and a central gravel pathway.

Bonnet Island, Macquarie Harbour. Photo Paul Donaldson. Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 21

Earth features of interest/ cross-bedding on Bonnet Island Management issues significance: was noted by the Geological Survey of Tasmania as “well Observations made across the • Herringbone sedimentary developed..., large scale (100- island suggest that the upgraded structures 300 mm)... and indicative of very walking paths have resulted in shallow water deposition” (Baillie the concentration of surface Large scale herringbone cross- and Corbett, 1985). As such, the water runoff down slope of the bedding sedimentary structures outcrop is considered to be of newly gravelled paths. This is are well preserved in the significance for its size, exposure likely contributing to the localised naturally outcropping sequence and its representative value for erosion which was observed along the eastern coastline of this depositional process. This adjacent to the viewing platforms. Bonnet Island. This sedimentary feature is also indicative of the structure formed in a subaqueous geological setting for which the environment where tidal currents metasedimentary Rocky Cape periodically change direction, Group Correlate of the Sorell thus resulting in the deposition Peninsula was deposited. of cross beds dipping in opposite directions. The herringbone

Well developed, large scale herringbone cross-stratification on the eastern side of Bonnet Island (note the camera lens cap for scale). Photo Paul Donaldson. 22 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Cat Island Geomorphology: Earth features of interest/ significance: Geology: Cat Island is a low lying irregularly shaped island with an • Cobble spit Cat Island is composed of a clast approximate north-south axis supported pebble to cobble of 600 m, east-west axis of 630 A narrow cobble to pebble conglomerate sequence with m, and a maximum elevation spit forms at the southern a variable sandy component. of 4 m above MSL. The island is coastline of the island, diverging The unit consists of poorly composed of poorly consolidated perpendicularly from the coast consolidated, non marine sediments, with narrow pebble to for ~100 m. The sediment sandy gravels, likely Tertiary in cobble beaches to the east and composition and geomorphic age. Sediments include well extensive marshland to the west setting of this spit makes this rounded, poorly sorted quartzite, which forms intermittent, irregular landform unique, as pebble sandstone and siliceous gravels. marshy embayment’s. The islands to cobble spits and spits of This island forms part of the coastline is commonly scarped, a sheltered origin are both Macquarie Beds, a thick semi- providing a local source of uncommon landforms in a consolidated sedimentary sediment to the adjacent cobble Tasmanian context. sequence which occupies much of beaches. A sandy organic soil layer

the Macquarie Graben (Baillie and of varying thickness covers the Corbett, 1985). island. This is well exposed along

the scarped shoreline.

Left: A satallite image of Cat Island. The non marine cobble spit is located in the south-western corner of the island. (bottom left). 2005 SPOT satellite image, courtesy of TASMAP, DPIPWE

Right: Narrow cobble to pebble beach, Cat Island cobble spit. Photo Paul Donaldson.

Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 23

Elizabeth Island MSL. The shoreline is mostly the complex polydeformational steep, descending to a rocky coast history of the region. However, Geology: with regular boulder size slope it should be noted that these deposits. A number of small coves structures are a common feature The geology of Elizabeth Island is are found around the island, one of the Rocky Cape Group composed of a deformed siliceous containing a narrow gravel beach Correlate (R. Berry 2010, pers. metasedimentary sequence, which and another housing a small sea comm.), thus their value is forms part of the Cape Sorell cave. The island centre is steep primarily at an aesthetical level. Mesoproterozoic Rocky Cape and undulating with a number of Group Correlate. The geology well exposed outcrops. • Sea cave of Elizabeth Island is structurally complex. The rock sequence is Earth features of interest/ The small shallow sea cave on the strongly foliated with abundant significance: western coast of the island is a well formed deformation textures structurally controlled erosional outcropping along the northern • Deformation structures feature. The cave forms a raised coast. and inactive landform at present, Deformation structures are well with a base of 1 - 2 m above Geomorphology: exposed on bedrock outcrop MSL. This erosional feature likely throughout the northern formed at a time when Elizabeth Elizabeth Island is a small bedrock coastline. Structures observed Island was exposed to marine island with an approximate include complex folding, quartz swell and/or at a time of relative north-south axis of 230 m and vein en echelon arrays and higher sea-level. an east-west axis of 145 m, and crenulations cleavage. These rises steadily out of the harbour structures are a striking example to an elevation of 23 m above of their type and are indicative of

Elizabeth Island, Macquarie Harbour. Photo Paul Donaldson. 24 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Small, shallow joint controlled sea cave on the west coast of Elizabeth Island (note backpack in left midground for scale). The base of this cave is raised above the high tide mark, indicating that it formed at higher relative sea-level.

Quartz en echelon array at Elizabeth Island. Cavities in the semi-brittle rock form through shear tension as a result of regional deformation. Quartz crystals grow incrementally as cavities are formed. This feature is indicative of a localised shear zone.

Crenulation cleavage development in the metasediments, resulting from multiple deformation events. All photos Paul Donaldson. Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 25

Magazine Island m, a northeast-southwest axis Neck Island of 100 m and an elevation of up Geology: to 5 m above MSL. The island Geology: coast varies from dominantly Similar to Cat Island, Magazine narrow south facing cobble to Neck Island is composed of a Island is composed of a poorly pebble shorelines, to thick organic weakly consolidated pebble to sorted conglomerate sequence rich marsh deposits along the cobble conglomerate sequence of the Tertiary Macquarie northern coast. The island body within the Tertiary Macquarie Beds. Sediments are primarily is largely flat with a thin layer of Beds. The sequence includes composed of poorly sorted, organic rich soils mantling the poorly sorted, well rounded, well rounded, siliceous pebble to surface, interspersed with cobble sandstone, quartzite and siliceous cobble clasts with a variably sandy to gravel size siliceous clasts. These conglomerate clasts with a sandy matrix. soils are heavily bioturbated in matrix. places. Historic shallow earth Geomorphology: Geomorphology: works and building remains are Magazine Island is a small, low common in the central west of Neck Island has a unique planform lying Island with an approximate the island, including handmade shape, consisting of a central northwest-southeast axis of 250 bricks and a footing for a building body of approximately 400 m

Left: Narrow cobble beach on the east coast of Neck Island, Macquarie Harbour. Photo Paul Donaldson.

Right: Narrow gravel beach, Magazine Isalnd. Photo Natasha Wilson. 26 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

in width, extending south into a Earth features of interest/ the northeast shore from both a narrow neck for over 1200 m. significance: southerly and northerly direction. The island is mostly low lying Individually, these two spit like with a maximum elevation of 6 m • Longshore drift derived features are largely uncommon in above MSL. The shoreline line is pebble to cobble coastline. a Tasmanian context due to their dominated by long, narrow gravel sediment composition (primarily Neck Island’s shoreline comprises beaches to the east and thick well rounded, siliceous, cobbles), two distinctive longshore drift marsh deposits overlying a gravel shoreline morphology and aligned pebble to cobble deposits, base to the west. A blanket of soil formation in sheltered, low energy including: a narrow, north-south and gravel cover the central body environments. directed tombolo which connects of the island. the southerly neck of the island • Prograded cobble berm coast. Neck Island has diverse shoreline to the mainland; and the near morphology. The southern neck symmetrical, triangular spit like A set of shore parallel pebble of the island forms a thin gravel feature, which protrudes west to cobble berms have deposited tombolo which connects the from the main body of the island. along the northern coast of Neck island to the mainland at the The tombolo is approximately Island. The berms form a set of distal end of Ocean Beach spit. 100 m in length, narrows to only steeply stacked narrow ridges. The northern end of the Island a few metres wide and adjoins This depositional feature is a good includes a triangular ‘cuspate the recurved hook of Ocean example of a locally prograding foreland’ like spit which protrudes Beach Spit enclosing Swan Basin. coast, with each berm ridge likely west from the islands centre; a This low lying feature is primarily formed in a single depositional (? set of well developed prograded composed of well rounded storm) event. pebble to cobble beach berms; pebble to cobble sized clasts • Buried soil. and a well exposed buried soil and is more formally defined horizon, overlain by a gravelly as a tie-bar, due to its partial A buried fibrous organic rich soil mixture. These features are submergence at high-tide (Bird, soil horizon, overlain by a layer detailed below. 2008). The triangular spit like of pebbly soil is well exposed feature has formed by wave/tide on the eroding west coast of action approaching at an angle to Neck Island. The buried organic soil layer is approximately 15 cm thick and has formed on a pebble Shoreline erosion at mooring site adjacent the shack at Neck Island. to cobble base. This unit is well Photo Paul Donaldson. developed and thus indicative of a significant period of stable paleoenvironmental conditions. The upper boundary of the buried soil forms a sharp, and likely erosional, contact with the overlying deposit, suggesting that the poorly sorted pebbly soil layer was deposited during a high energy (?storm) event. This well Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 27

Clockwise from top left: Siliceous cobble to sandy deposits of Neck Island. This poorly consolidated unit comprises a conglomerate sequence of the (? Tertiary) Macquarie Beds. The geology of Cat and Magazine Island comprise the same, or a very similar sequence (note pencil for scale). Pebble to cobble tombolo, connecting Neck Island to the mainland. Photo is looking south with Neck Island in the foreground, the tie bar in the mid-ground and Ocean Beach spit in background. Palaeosol overlain by a gravelly soil layer on the north western shore of Neck Island (note pencil for scale). A set of sub parallel prograded cobble beach berms on the north coast of Neck Island, indicative of a seaward building coastline. All photos Paul Donaldson. 28 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

exposed feature is indicative of adjacent the shack is obviously Philips Island local paleoenvironmental change. used by visitors for mooring boats. This has lead to the Geology: Management issues erosion of the inherently unstable marshy coastline. Philips Island is primarily A shack is located within a small composed of a semiconsolidated cleared area on the island. The • Tree cutting for fire wood. interbedded sandstone and human impacts from its use There is evidence for siltstone sequence with minor include: firewood collection within coal beds. The basal carbonaceous the vicinity of the shack. This sandstone unit is well consolidated • Local foreshore erosion: is causing degradation of the and highly fossiliferous. A small section of marshy adjacent bush. coastline on the west coast Geomorphology:

Philips Island forms the tallest island within Macquarie Harbour, rising sharply from the shore to a maximum elevation of 41 m above MSL. The island has an ovoid shape with an approximate east-west axis of 530 m and north-south axis of 200m. The northern coast is dominated by a rocky platform composed of fossiliferous carbonaceous sandstone boulders. The southern coastline is dominated by a steep to cliffed shoreline, exposing the semi consolidated sedimentary sequence. Historic earth works and terracing occurs within the island as a result of earlier pig farming practices.

Top: Fossiliferous well consolidated sandstone boulders, with plant stem impressions. North coast of Philips Island. Photo Paul Donaldson.

Bottom: Coalified unit (possible tree stump ?) within a carbonaceous sandstone boulder. North coast of Philips Island. Photo Paul Donaldson. Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 29

Earth features of interest/ Sarah Island siliciclastic, with abundant quartz significance: grains in the sandstone units. Geology: The sub-vertical beds are north • Fossiliferous sandstone striking, young to the east and boulders Geologically Sarah Island is contain regular load structures. composed of an interbedded Sarah Island forms part of the Fossiliferous sandstone boulders siltstone and sandstone larger Noddy Creek Volcanics and form a narrow shore platform sedimentary sequence of correlates, a volcano-sedimentary along the northern coast of Philips Cambrian age (Corbett, 2003). sequence of the eastern Sorell Island. The well consolidated The sequence is predominately Peninsular region (Corbett, 2003). boulders contain fossil flora including plant stems and leaf impressions of which the taxa are unidentified. Tertiary sediments throughout this region are known to be commonly fossiliferous (G. Jordan 2010, pers. comm.), however the age and significance of the plant fossil site at Philips Island is unknown.

Sea caves on the west coast of Sarah Island have developed along plains of weakness within the Cambrian bedrock. Development of this sea cave initiated through preferential erosion of the finer grained (siltstone) sub-vertical sedimentary bed. Photo Paul Donaldson. 30 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Geomorphology: Earth features of interest/ passage including species of the significance: genus Micropathus (M. Driessen Sarah Island forms a lensoidal 2010, pers. comm.). shaped island with an • Sarah Island Sea Caves approximately northeast- An array of secondary mineral southwest axis of 650 m, Multiple sea caves of variable coatings and crystal growths of northwest-southeast axis of 165 size and morphology are located varying mineralogy, colours and m and a maximum elevation of on the west facing coast of textures have formed throughout 18 m above MSL. The islands Sarah Island. The geometry of the cave, including a ferruginous morphology is structurally the many caves are structurally drip water speleothem, multiple controlled with the north striking, controlled, largely forming along small radiating needle like sub-vertical sedimentary beds the north striking sub vertical crystal growths (frostwork forming abundant northerly bedding plain of the outcropping speleothem) and abundant small facing coves which back onto geological unit. The Sarah Island nodular concretions of unknown a north trending hilly terrain. Sea Caves were initially reported mineralogy. The formation of these The island has a predominantly by Bradbury (pers. comm. types of secondary features in a steep rocky coastline, with minor 1995, in Dixon, 1996) and have non carbonate geological unit is sandy beaches located on the been subsequently listed in the an unusual phenomenon and thus southeast coast. The northeast Tasmanian Geoconservation contributes to the conservation coast comprises plunging rocky Database as an outstanding significance of the Sarah Island cliffs with interspersed with geomorphological site of local Sea Caves. deep narrow coves, rocky shore significance (Dixon, 1996). The platforms and cobble to boulder most well developed cave of the • Sea Arch deposits. A sea arch and multiple island will be briefly described A sea arch is located within the sea caves of varying sizes have below. central western coast Sarah also formed along this coastline The largest and most Island. This feature consists of (detailed below). geomorphologically diverse a rounded 2 m wide, 3 m long, Sarah Island has the longest sea cave on Sarah Island is opening through the sandstone history of human occupation approximately 20 m long, 8 m sea cliffs. Tafone (“honeycomb”) of the Macquarie Harbour wide and is located at the foot of weathering has developed on the islands, and as such, exhibits the a steep sea cliff approximately 1 - internal walls of the arch, forming most modified landscape of 2 m above MSL. Two west facing cavernous weathering hollows the islands visited at Macquarie entrances access a long, linear, low of variable size. Sedimentary Harbour. Deforestation, building lying passage which is orientated structures are well exposed construction and general in a northerly direction. Collapse on the outer wall of the arch. earthworks including terracing of the outer cliff has partially These structures are common and quarrying occurred covered the southern entrance throughout the island (discussed throughout the history of the and adjacent floor of the cave. below). Sarah Island penal station in The remainder of the cave floor is • Sedimentary structures the early to mid 1800’s. Many mantled by layer of organic matter, historic remains of the infamous including soil and abundant woody Sedimentary load structures settlement are present today. debris. Large cave crickets were were regularly observed along observed on the roof of the main Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 31

the Cambrian interbedded silt to sandstone sequence, on the west coast of Sarah Island. Load structures form at the time of deposition as a result of differential soft sediment compaction. Flame structures are a specific type of load structure which are common throughout the sequence, resulting from an injection of the underlying finer bed up into the overlying coarser bed during compaction. These structures are indicative of both the depositional environment and younging direction of the sedimentary sequence.

Top: Main passage of largest sea cave at Sarah Island. Note the ferruginous speleothem in the top right of the photo.

Middle: Cave crickets, including the genus Micropathus, on the roof of the large sea cave, Sarah Island.

Bottom: Sub centimetre frostwork speleothems (middle of photo) and nodular concretions (top right of photo) of unknown mineralogy, on the roof of the large Sarah Island sea cave. All photos Paul Donaldson. 32 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Soldiers Island Geomorphology: cliffs dominate the south west coastline. The semi consolidated Geology: Soldiers Island has a unique sediments which make up the duck like planform, up to 700 m island show signs of structural Soldiers Island is composed of long on a northeast–southwest instability, with wide spread semi consolidated sandstone axis and up to 450 m wide. The slumping commonly observed sequence which forms part of terrain is low lying in the north along the cliffed shoreline. A the greater Macquarie Beds. The and rises steadily in the far south number of intertidal sea notches sequence dips slightly to the to a maximum elevation of 21 m have formed in the south eastern north and is well exposed along above MSL. The island is largely cliffs. sea cliffs at the southern tip of the fringed by coastal marsh deposits, island. however, tall sub-vertical sea Earth features of interest/ significance:

• Soldiers Island intertidal notches

A number of intertidal notches have been cut into the semiconsolidated sandstone sea-cliffs at Soldier Island. The series of notches were observed locally along the southeast coast at varying levels within the present tidal range. The abundance of notches observed within a small area along the cliffed coast suggests that further notches may be present along the Soldiers Island coast. Intertidal notches have been widely used as a geomorphic indicator of past relative sea-levels. As such, this coastline warrants further investigation.

Sea arch, Sarah Island. Photo Paul Donaldson. Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 33

Conclusion Soldiers Island, has resulted The similarities within and in an east-west strike ridge diversity between each group, The islands of Macquarie dominating the topographic highlight the influence of Harbour are geologically and highpoints of the island as well underlying geology on the islands geomorphologically diverse. The as the formation of steep and geomorphology, most notably geodiversity of the islands are actively cliffing shorelines along their coastal morphology. attributed to a combination of sections of their variable lithology and structure southern coast. of the underlying geology and on past and present geomorphic • The rocky processes. Broad geomorphic shore platforms similarities are readily observed steep plunging between the islands of a similar bedrock cliffs geological composition. These and structurally include: controlled earth features (e.g. • The longshore drift aligned sea caves) are coastlines have formed in common to the low lying, unconsolidated the Cambrian Tertiary gravel islands, to Precambrian including Neck, Cat and bedrock islands, Magazine Island; including Bonnet, Elizabeth and • The gently northerly dipping Sarah Island. strata of the semi-lithified Tertiary sandstone Philips and

Above: Load structures in the Cambrian sedimentary sequence, resulting from differential soft sediment compaction at the time of deposition. Here the underlying finer unit (bottom) has injected into the overlying coarser sand unit (top) in a flame like pattern (note hand lens for scale).

Left: Intertidal notches cut into the foot of the semi-consolidated sandstone cliffs at Soldiers Island. Photos Paul Donaldson. 34 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

The number of features identified during the island survey indicate Management Recommendations that the Macquarie Harbour islands have a geomorphic history Tasmanian Geoconservation Database (TGD) which includes both past and recommendations: present processes. For example, the well developed and slightly The geodiversity of the Macquarie Harbour islands include raised sea cave at Sarah Island a range of geological and geomorphological features which suggests that the islands present are well developed, uncommon and/or of potential scientific shoreline morphology has formed significance. As such, a number of earth features identified over a period which predates the throughout the 2009 Hamish Saunders islands survey are present sea-level. The age of the deemed worthy of nomination for listing within the TGD. These caves are not known, however features/sites are listed below. their formation presumably dates back to at least the last interglacial • Neck Island’s coastal geomorphology. The island as a stage. Locally raised coastlines whole should be considered for listing due to the diversity are also known to also exist of coastal features which have formed in a sheltered within the greater Macquarie environment. Harbour region, including relic beach deposits within the Ocean • Fossiliferous sandstone boulders on Philips Island. These Beach spit which have been fossil rich boulders have the potential to be of geological attributed to a last interglacial significance, to help better constrain the deposition history age (Banks et al., 1977). The more of the Macquarie Harbour Graben. recent geomorphic features of • Cat Island cobble spit. The Cat Island spit is an uncommon the islands, including the pebble geomorphic feature at the regional scale. to cobble beaches and marshy coastlines, have however formed Also, the current Sarah Island sea caves listing should be in their present state since the updated with additional descriptive information as detailed in culmination of the rising sea- this report. level to its present level some 6000-7000 years ago (Lambeck The following recommendations are made in relation to a and Nakada, 1990; Sloss et al., number of the management issues identified in the field: 2007). Much of this younger coastline shows evidence for • The present shoreline erosion observed on Neck Island continued reworking (e.g. Neck should be documented/mapped and any further erosion Island buried soil horizon), due monitored. If erosion continues, consideration should to the combination of locally be made into the construction of a low impact mooring derived waves, tidal fluctuations structure. and variable harbour currents, indicating that the islands • The impact from surface water runoff from the newly coastlines are continuing to gravelled pathways at Bonnet Island should be monitored, as evolve. there is the potential for an erosion issue to develop. Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 35

References Corbett, K. (2003) A review of Lambeck, K. and Nakada, M. geology and exploration in the (1990) Late Pleistocene and Bird, E. (2008) Coastal Macquarie Harbour-Elliot Bay area, Holocene sea-level change along geomorphology: an introduction. South West Tasmania. Tasmanian the Australian coast. Wiley, West Sussex. Geological Survey, Record 2003/04. Leaman, D. (1974) Gravity profile, Banks, M., Colhoun, E., and Chick, Dixon, G. (1996) A Cape Sorell to Trial Harbour. N. (1997) A reconnaissance of Reconnaissance Inventory of Sites Technical Report, Department of the Geomorphology of Central of Geoconservation Significance Mines Tasmania. 17: 113 – 114 Western Tasmania. In: Banks, M. on Tasmanian Islands, Parks and and Kirkpatrick, J. (Eds), Landscape Wildlife Service Tasmania. Sloss, C, Murray-Wallace, C. and and man: The interaction between Jones, B. (2007) Holocene sea- man and environment in Western Edgar, G., Barrett, N. and Graddon, level change on the southeast Tasmania. The proceedings of D. (1999) A classification coast of Australia; a review. The a symposium organised by the of Tasmanian estuaries and Holocene, 17, 999-1014. Royal Society of Tasmania. assessment of their conservation significance using ecological and Stacey, A. and Berry, R. (2004) The Baillie, P. and Corbett, K. (1985) physical attributes, population and structural history of Tasmania: a Geological atlas 1:50 000 series. land use, December 1999, A report review for petroleum explorers. Sheet 57 (7913N). Strahan. to Marine Research Laboratories PESA Eastern Basins Symposium II, Explanatory Report Geological – Tasmanian Aquaculture and Adelaide. Survey Tasmania. Fisheries Institute, University of

Tasmania, Tasmania. Baillie, P and Hudspeth, R. (1989) West Tasmania Region. In: Burret, Koehnken, L. (1996) Macquarie C. and Martin E. (Eds), Geology Harbour - King River Study: and mineral resources of Tasmania. Technical Report, Department Geological Society of Australia: of Environment and Land Special publication no. 15, Sydney. Management, Hobart. BIODIVERSITY - FLORA Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 37

VEGETATION Vegetation Mapping Naomi Lawrence and Felicity Hargreaves Introduction The existing vegetation mapping This survey recorded 15 discrete Vegetation mapping and species for the Macquarie Harbour area TASVEG vegetation communities surveys were undertaken on was completed in 2003 with (excluding Entrance Island which 8 of the 10 islands located in little field verification. TASVEG was not mapped) (see table Macquarie Harbour. The two records indicate over 40 TASVEG 1). Of these 3 are threatened islands that were not surveyed communities for the area. communities listed on Schedule were Hallidays Island because it is These range from button grass 3a of the Nature Conservation Act largely devoid of vegetation and moorland, coastal scrub and wet 2002. The published literature Sarah Island which was surveyed and dry eucalyptus forest to pure does not report any of the by Walsh in 1992. rainforest communities. recorded communities to be of The vegetation communities were bio-regional significance. mapped for 7 of the 8 islands and species lists generated for all eight islands. Table 1 Communities recorded for the Islands surveyed The aim was to record what vegetation is currently present TASVEG on the islands and to document Community TASVEG Community Name Status the conservation values of the code vegetation. The relative diversity and conservation values of ARS Saline sedgeland/rushland the flora on the islands was ASS Succulent saline herbland also assessed to assist land Freshwater aquatic sedgeland and ASF managers prioritise conservation rushland and management actions. DNI Dry Eucalyptus nitida forest Recommendations for some FWU Weed infestation management actions have also NLE Leptospermum forest been provided. MSP Sphagnum peatland Listed NCA 2002 NME Melaleuca ericifolia swamp forest Listed NCA 2002 NNP Notelaea-Pomaderris-Beyeria forest Listed NCA 2002 SSC Coastal scrub SMR Melaleuca squarrosa scrub SBR Broad-leaf scrub WNI Wet Eucalyptus nitida forest Eucalyptus nitida over WNL Leptospermum WNR Eucalyptus nitida over rainforest 38 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Descriptions of the communities ericifolia, Banksia marginata, 3-6m of Banksia marginata, found on each island are given Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae, Leptospermum scoparium, below. Islands surveyed include: Monotoca glauca, Leptospermum L. nitidum, Acacia verticillata, Cat Island, Magazine Island, Neck scoparium and Pittosporum bicolor. Pittosporum bicolor, Monotoca Island, Bonnet Island, Elizabeth The understorey is sparse and glauca, Coprosma quadrifida, Island, Philips Island, and Soldiers contains large patches of Dianella Nematolepis squamea, Correa Island. Entrance Island was not tasmanica and occasional shrubs backhouseana and Leptecophylla mapped. of Leptecophylla juniperina, juniperina. On the steeper, rockier Exocarpos syrticola, Pimelea linifolia, sites the understorey changes Neck Island Olearia stellulata, Coprosma to Blechnum wattsii, Microsorum quadrifida, Pteridium esculentum pustulatum and Pteridium The following TASVEG vegetation (bracken) and Drymophila esculentum (bracken). To the communities were recorded for cyanocarpa, reflecting the coastal south, a large area of Dicksonia Neck Island: WNL, NME, NLE, nature of this community. antarctica (tree fern) dominates ARS, and MSP. the understorey. MSP - Sphagnum peatland. A ARS - Saline sedgeland/rushland surprisingly large community of Philips Island occurs on the intertidal fringe MSP is hidden in the centre of the of the island to the north-west. island. There is a sparse canopy The following TASVEG vegetation Species include Juncus kraussii, of Leptospermum scoparium, communities were recorded for Apodasmia brownii, Selliera radicans, Melaleuca squarrosa and Monotoca Philips Island: WNR, WNI, NME, Distichlis distichophylla and Poa glauca to 4m, and an understorey and ARS. poiformis. of Gahnia grandis and Gleichenia Philips Island is dominated by a microphylla. NME - Melaleuca ericifolia swamp main ridge top with steep sides. forest occurs to the west of the Elizabeth Island The island was cleared and the island with Melaleuca ericifolia northern end was farmed in dominating the canopy to 4-5m. The following TASVEG vegetation 1822-1835, but has since been left communities are recorded for to regenerate. The vegetation is NLE- Leptospermum forest Elizabeth Island: ARS and WNL. dominated by mature Eucalyptus surrounds the Sphagnum nitida over rainforest (WNR) to peatlands in the interior of the WNL-Eucalyptus nitida forest 30m in height along the south- island. Species present include over Leptospermum with a eastern half of the ridge top. The Leptospermum scoparium and canopy to 15m, dominates north-western half of the ridge Melaleuca squarrosa to 5m in the island. Its distribution is top changes to wet Eucalyptus height. across the entire island with the nitida forest (WNI) reaching 20m exception of its northern side in height. The ridge is flanked WNL- Eucalyptus nitida forest where occasional inundation by short Eucalyptus nitida over over Leptospermum occurs across occurs and saline sedgeland/ rainforest to 15m in height along the majority of the island. The rushland (ARS) dominates. A few the slopes. Given time, the island main canopy is 7-10m and is scattered individuals of Eucalyptus will revert back to rainforest. In dominated by Eucalyptus nitida. delegatensis are also recorded. the north of the Island a small The mid-storey is between The understorey consists of area of Melaleuca ericifolia swamp 4-5m and consists of Melaleuca scrubby sections between forest (NME) occurs along a flat Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 39

at the water’s edge and includes glauca, Leptospermum scoparium, wattsii to 1.5m until transitioning the community Saline sedgeland/ Dicksonia antarctica and Cyathea to a more diverse understorey of rushland (ARS) where it fringes australis. Pteridium esculentum (bracken), the water. Only a single individual Dianella tasmanica, Microsorum of Eucalyptus brookeriana was ARS - Saline sedgeland/rushland pustulatum, Billardiera nesophila, noted on the island. occurs as several small patches at Clematis aristata. There are the water’s edge. Species found occasional shrubs to 4m of WNR – Eucalyptus nitida over here include Ficinia nodosa, Poa Notelaea ligustrina, Nematolepis rainforest is the main vegetation poiformis, Hydrocotyle sp., Apium squamea, Coprosma quadrifida and type on the island, with a canopy prostratum subsp. prostratum and Leptospermum scoparium. of E. nitida reaching a height of Juncus kraussii. 30m. Nothofagus cunninghamii, Soldier Island Eucryphia lucida and Atherosperma NME -Melaleuca ericifolia swamp moschatum are sub-dominant. forest attaining a height of 6m The following TASVEG vegetation The understorey is carpeted by occurs on the western end of the communities were recorded for Blechnum wattsii to 1.5m and the island with a sparse understorey Soldier Island: NME, WNR, and occasional Dianella tasmanica, of Acacia melanoxylon, Gahnia sp., NNP. Gahnia grandis, Cyathea australis Notelaea ligustrina, Carex sp. and NME - Melaleuca ericifolia forest or Coprosma quadrifida. On Leptocarpus tenax. is found on the neck of the island the side of the ridge the canopy WNI -Wet E. nitida forest to 20m and on the flat land along the reaches 15m and comprises occurs on the western end of coast to the east and west. It is a mix of E. nitida, Nothofagus the island over an understorey dominated by Melaleuca ericifolia cunninghamii, Eucryphia lucida, composed mainly of Blechnum to 12m in height with sparse with shrubs to 4m of Olearia argophylla, Pomaderris apetala, Notelaea ligustrina and Coprosma quadrifida. Here the understorey includes Gahnia grandis, Cyathea australis, Blechnum wattsii, and Drymophila cyanocarpa. At the base of the ridge the understorey is very scrubby and includes Olearia stellulata, Melaleuca ericifolia, Pomaderris apetala, Nematolepis squamea, Prostanthera lasianthos, Leptecophylla juniperina, Pittosporum bicolor, Acacia verticillata, Monotoca

Example of WNR on Philips Island. Photo Naomi Lawrence. 40 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Gahnia grandis and Lepidosperma ericifolia and Melaleuca squarrosa Monotoca glauca, Leptospermum filiforme. on the coast. There is a scrubby scoparium, Coprosma quadrifida, understorey with rainforest Prostanthera lasianthos, Zieria WNR - Wet Eucalyptus nitida elements. On the coast the arborescens, Pimelea ligustrina, forest up to 20m with a mid- understorey contains dense Nematolepis squamea, Olearia canopy up to 12m of Acacia patches of shrubs that open to stellulata, Olearia argophylla, melanoxylon, Phyllocladus areas of thick ground cover of Pomaderris apetala, Pittosporum aspleniifolius, Atherosperma more open wet forest species. bicolor, Anopterus glandulosus, moschatum subsp. Moschatum in The shrubs include Tasmannia Cenarrhenes nitida, Aristotelia inland locations, with Melaleuca lanceolata, Leptecophylla juniperina, peduncularis, Anodopetalum biglandulosum and Notelaea ligustrina with Billardiera nesophila and Sarcochilus australis very common companions to these shrubs. Sarcochilus australis is located on Pomaderris and Melaleuca postings. The groundcover is composed of Dianella tasmanica, Drymophila cyanocarpa, Blechnum wattsii, Pteridium esculentum, Dicksonia antarctica and Gleichenia microphylla.

NNP - Notelaea-Pomaderris- Beyeria forest dominated by Pomaderris apetala and Notelaea ligustrina to 8m was found to occur just south of the headland. The understorey, entirely comprised of the fern Asplenium flabellifolium, is sparse to absent.

Example of WNR on Soldiers Island. Photo Naomi Lawrence. Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 41

Bonnet Island Cat Island community. There is also a cleared semi-cultivated area with The following TASVEG vegetation The following TASVEG vegetation a shack on the north eastern communities were reported for communities were recorded for side of the island that is ringed Bonnet Island: FWU, SSC, and Cat Island: SSC, ARS, NME, SMR, by invasive Rubus fruticosus ASS. MSP, WNL, SBR, and FWU. (blackberry) vines, Genistifolia monspessulana (broom) and fruit ASS - Succulent saline herbland Cat Island has the greatest trees. This has been mapped as is located on the rocky foreshore diversity of vegetation weed invasion (FWU). on the southern perimeter of the communities of the islands visited island. The dominant species are during this survey. The island The ground cover is also diverse Rhagodia candolleana and Selliera shows zonation from the water’s and varies from a pure cover radicans. edge through Saline sedgeland/ of Blechnum wattsii, Dianella rushland (ARS) of Juncus kraussii tasmanica, Pteridium esculentum FWU – Weed infestation. The to Leptocarpus tenax, to Poa or Dicksonia antarctica to patches southern quarter of the island is poiformis to Melaleuca ericifolia of Gahnia grandis and Sphagnum mostly covered by exotic grasses swamp forest (NME). This is bogs to bare ground under and Rubus fruticosus (blackberry). replaced further inland with scrub impenetrable scrub. R. fruticosus also extends along the and a few patches Eucalyptus centre of the island where it has nitida to 10m in height and SSC - Coastal scrub dominates invaded the remnant coastal scrub some very old individuals of the vegetation of the island which serves as a rookery/nesting Banksia marginata (up to40cm with a diverse canopy to 6m of burrows for Penguins. diameter). Pockets of Sphagnum Acacia verticillata, Leptospermum peatland (MSP) occur within this scoparium and L. nitidum, Banksia SSC – Coastal scrub is located on the northern three quarters of the island. Species include Leucopogon parviflorus, Correa backhouseana, Muehlenbeckia gunnii, Leptecophylla juniperina, Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae, Leptospermum nitidum, Pittosporum bicolor, Solanum laciniatum and Nematolepis squamea. Ground cover species include Dianella tasmanica, Poa poiformis, Microsorum pustulatum and Lepidosperma gladiatum.

Example of NME on Cat Island. Photo Naomi Lawrence. 42 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

marginata, Melaleuca ericifolia, ARS - Saline sedgeland/ NME - Melaleuca ericifolia swamp Pomaderris apetala with an rushland rings the western half forest replaces ARS and continues understorey of Zieria arborescens, of Cat Island at the waterline up to 5m inland. Monotoca glauca, Coprosma and includes Juncus kraussii, quadrifida, Pimelea ligustrina, P. Leptocarpus tenax, Apodasmia SSC - Coastal scrub dominates linifolia, Tasmannia lanceolata, brownii, Selliera radicans and Poa the vegetation of Magazine Island. Olearia stellulata, and Leucopogon poiformis. The dominant canopy species parviflorus. include Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia Magazine island verticillata, Banksia marginata, SMR - Melaleuca squarrosa scrub Melaleuca squarrosa Monotoca was observed by its profuse The following TASVEG vegetation glauca, M. ericifolia, Pomaderris yellow flowering on the southern communities were recorded for apetala, Leptospermum scoparium, side of the island from the boat Magazine Island: SSC, ARS, NME, L. nitidum and Nematolepis during departure from the Cat SBR, and FWU. squamea to a maximum height Island. of 6m. ARS - Saline sedgeland/rushland WNL - Wet Eucalyptus nitida rings Magazine Island above its FWU - There are a few exotic forest over Leptospermum occurs water line and contains Juncus weeds on the island at location on the western side of the island. kraussii, Leptocarpus tenax, (0359518E 5328652N). The canopy is up to 10m in height Poa poiformis, Samolus repens, These include Rubus fruticosus and the understorey includes Apodasmia brownii, Schoenus nitens (blackberry) and Hedera helix (ivy Leptospermum nitidum and Acacia and Apium prostratum subsp. vine). verticillata. prostratum. SBR - Broad-leaf scrub is located in the northern part of the island and contains Acacia melanoxylon, Pomaderris apetala, Olearia argophylla and Monotoca glauca.

Landing on Magazine Island. Photo Naomi Lawrence. Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 43

Sarah Island

A previous survey of Sarah Island (Walsh, 1992) mapped 9 types of vegetation. These have been allocated a TASVEG equivalent where possible, based on similar Figure 1. The number of islands each vegetation community occurs vegetation communities mapped on nearby Philips Island.

Based on this none of the vegetation communities recorded on Sarah Island appear to be threatened communities.

Figure 1 shows the number of islands on which each vegetation community occurs (this does not included Sarah Island for reasons provided above). Five of the seven islands surveyed (Neck, Philips, Soldiers, Cat, Magazine) contained the threatened community NME. Two islands, Neck and Cat have the threatened community MSP. Only Soldiers Island contained the threatened community NNP.

Table 2. TASVEG equivalents for communities recorded on Sarah Island by Walsh 1992

Vegetation Community description in Sarah Island site plan 2006 Approximate TASVEG Equivalent Rock foreshore and shore platform ORO Pebbly beaches ORO Eucalyptus nitida, Pomaderris apetala Dicksonia antarctica wet forest WNR Acacia melanoxylon, Pomaderris apetala wet forest NAR Leptospermum scoparium, Melaleuca ericifolia wet scrub NLE Gahnia grandis and exotic species grass community FRG Juncus kraussii rush community ARS Main area of weed control under Acacia melanoxylon trees FWU Rubus fruticosus, Muehlenbeckia gunnii infestation FWU Lawn area FAG 44 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica) frond. Illustration Brett Littleton.

The most common TASVEG covers a quarter of the island. community recorded was ARS The sphagnum community followed by SSC and FWU. recorded on Neck and Cat Islands is highly significant as there are Figure 2 shows that Cat Island has only two other known sites in the greatest diversity of vegetation Tasmania of this community that communities, followed by Neck occur at sea level. Cat Island has and Magazine Islands. The lowest the second largest area of NME number of TASVEG communities recorded however this covers was recorded for Elizabeth only a small portion (8%) of the Island. While Soldiers Island Island. has low diversity of vegetation communities, two of the three TASVEG communities present on this island are threatened.

Table 3 shows the approximate area of the threatened Figure 2 . Number of vegetation communities on each island surveyed communities recorded on the islands. There are only small areas (less than a hectare in total) of NME on Magazine, Neck and Philips Islands. However on Magazine Island NME covers a quarter of the island. Soldiers, Cat and Neck Islands are significant as they each have two threatened communities recorded. Soldiers Island has one of the largest areas recorded for NME . It

Table 3. Approximate area, (Ha) of each of the threatened vegetation communities on each Island of occurrence.

NME NNP MSP No Total % No Total % No Total % patches Ha Coverage patches Ha Coverage patches Ha Coverage Cat 2 2.2 8.1 0 0 0 1 <0.5 <2.0 Magazine 1 0.6 25.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Neck 3 0.96 5.3 0 0 0 1 <0.5 <11.0 Philip 1 0.25 5.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Soldiers 4 4.52 34.0 1 0.25 1.9 0 0 0 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 45

Flora Surveys The most studied island is Sarah Results Island. This island has had several Introduction plans developed that have A total of 122 vascular flora included flora surveys but have species from 56 families were There have been few flora focused on the historical value of recorded across the islands surveys undertaken in the the island. The NVA holds some surveyed. The species are Macquarie Harbour area. Data on observations but the species list comprised of 50 higher plants the Natural Values Atlas (NVA) is not as comprehensive as that (7 monocots and 44 dicots) shows that observations for given in the plans. The Sarah and 13 lower plants. Of the this area are sourced from the Island Visitor Services Site Plan species recorded 14 are endemic Herbarium, projects undertaken (2006) cites a survey undertaken to Australia; 1 occurs only in by DPIPWE (or its predecessors) by Walsh (1992). The species Tasmania. Eighteen species are such as the Huon Pine Survey recorded for Sarah Island have considered to be primitive. There and the Millennium Seed Bank been added to some of the tables were 24 introduced species found Collection project. Other data in this report. with 9 of these being listed weeds. has been added to the NVA as One orchid species was found part of composite data sets such Survey Method that was not known to occur in as Tasforhab and wetforest data the south west of the state and the sources of which are not Botanical surveys were this discovery has considerably easily traceable. undertaken for the following increased the known range of islands in Macquarie Harbour: this species. All vascular species Early observations for the area Soldiers Island, Neck Island, Cat recorded are either represented go as far back as 1819 and Island, Magazine Island, Elizabeth in reserves in each bioregion or were lodged with the Tasmanian Island, Entrance Island and Philips are reserved in half the bioregions Herbarium by A. Conningham. Island. Each island was traversed within which they occur. The most recent observations and surveyed on foot. Areas with were recorded in 2002 by Micah different vegetation communities A species list for each of the Visoiu as part of the Millennium were strategically targeted to islands is provided on the Seed Bank Project. Currently ensure that as many of the following pages. the NVA holds approximately species present were recorded. 446 flora records for the All vascular plant species area immediately surrounding encountered were recorded until the harbour, 30 of which are it was evident no further species non-vascular flora species, 47 were being added to a list. Only introduced vascular species and a few non-vascular species were 369 native vascular flora species. recorded. All data was collected The diversity of the species using a Garmin GPS. This data reflects the range of community was incorporated into the NVA types recorded: from coastal to and re-extracted using the stored wet forest vegetation. biometric values for the species. 46 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Table 1. Soldiers Island Species List

Soldiers Island Species List Bio Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Uncommon Geographic Status Species Origin Asplenium flabellifolium necklace fern Aspleniaceae 2 Olearia argophylla musk daisybush Asteraceae 2 Olearia stellulata sawleaf daisybush Asteraceae 3a Atherosperma moschatum sassafras Atherospermataceae 2 subsp. moschatum Blechnum nudum fishbone waterfern Blechnaceae 2 Blechnum wattsii hard waterfern Blechnaceae 2 Anodopetalum horizontal Cunoniaceae 3a y endemic biglandulosum Ficinia nodosa knobby clubsedge Cyperaceae 3a Gahnia grandis cutting grass Cyperaceae 2 Lepidosperma filiforme common Cyperaceae 2 rapiersedge Histiopteris incisa batswing fern Dennstaedtiaceae 2 y Pteridium esculentum bracken Dennstaedtiaceae 2 Dicksonia antarctica soft treefern Dicksoniaceae 2 y Rumohra adiantiformis leathery shieldfern Dryopteridaceae 2 Aristotelia peduncularis heartberry Elaeocarpaceae 3a endemic Leptecophylla juniperina pinkberry Epacridaceae 2 Monotoca glauca goldey wood Epacridaceae 2 Anopterus glandulosus tasmanian laurel Escalloniaceae 2 endemic Pultenaea daphnoides heartleaf bushpea Fabaceae 2 Gleichenia microphylla scrambling coralfern Gleicheniaceae 2 y Sticherus tener silky fanfern Gleicheniaceae 2 y Selliera radicans shiny swampmat Goodeniaceae 3a Grammitis billardierei common fingerfern Grammitidaceae 3a Juncus kraussii sea rush Juncaceae 3a Prostanthera lasianthos var. christmas mintbush Lamiaceae 2 lasianthos Dianella tasmanica forest flaxlily Liliaceae 2 Drymophila cyanocarpa turquoise berry Liliaceae 2 Lycopodium conifer clubmoss Lycopodiaceae 2 y deuterodensum Acacia melanoxylon blackwood Mimosaceae 2 Eucalyptus nitida western peppermint Myrtaceae 3a endemic Leptospermum scoparium common teatree Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca ericifolia coast paperbark Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca squarrosa scented paperbark Myrtaceae 3a Notelaea ligustrina native olive Oleaceae 2 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 47

Soldiers Island Species List Bio Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Uncommon Geographic Status Species Origin Sarcochilus australis gunns tree-orchid Orchidaceae 3a Y Billardiera nesophila coastal appleberry Pittosporaceae 3a endemic Pittosporum bicolor cheesewood Pittosporaceae 2 Poa poiformis blue tussock grass Poaceae 3a Phyllocladus aspleniifolius celerytop pine Podocarpaceae 3a y endemic Microsorum pustulatum kangaroo fern Polypodiaceae 2 y subsp. pustulatum Samolus repens creeping Primulaceae 3a brookweed Cenarrhenes nitida native plum Proteaceae 3a y endemic Lomatia polymorpha mountain Proteaceae 2 y endemic guitarplant Clematis aristata southern clematis Ranunculaceae 2 Apodasmia brownii coarse twinerush Restionaceae 3a Pomaderris apetala dogwood Rhamnaceae 2 Coprosma quadrifida native currant Rubiaceae 2 Nematolepis squamea satin wood Rutaceae 2 Zieria arborescens stinkwood Rutaceae 2 Pimelea ligustrina tall riceflower Thymelaeaceae 3a Tasmannia lanceolata mountain pepper Winteraceae 2

For Soldiers Island a total of 51 has been assessed as uncommon range of this species considerably. species from 37 families were because it only occurs in small There have been anecdotal recorded. Of these 4 were localised populations with no reports of Sarcochilus australis endemic, 9 were considered sub population with an area of occurring around the Pieman primitive and there were no occupancy greater 1ha or more River area but these have yet to introduced species recorded. than 1000 mature individuals. It be confirmed. All native species recorded is widely distributed in Tasmania, had examples reserved in all occurring in two main clusters bioregions in which the species in the north west and east coast occurred or were reserved in and is recorded on King and half or more of the bioregions Flinders Islands. This is the first in which the species occurs. A official record for this species for species of note on this island is the west coast. This observation Sarcochilus australis. This species extends the known geographical 48 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Table 2. Cat Island Species List

Cat Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Phormium tenax new zealand flax Agavaceae Introduced Environmental weed on Tas Weed Act Apium prostratum subsp. sea celery Apiaceae 3a prostratum Cassinia aculeata dollybush Asteraceae 2 Hypochoeris radicata rough catsear Asteraceae introduced Olearia stellulata sawleaf daisybush Asteraceae 3a Senecio minimus shrubby fireweed Asteraceae 2 Sonchus sp. sowthistle Asteraceae Alnus sp. alder Betulaceae Blechnum wattsii hard waterfern Blechnaceae 2 Buddleja davidii butterflybush Buddlejaceae Introduced Environmental weed on Tas Weed Act Wahlenbergia sp. bluebell Campanulaceae Ficinia nodosa knobby clubsedge Cyperaceae 3a Gahnia grandis cutting grass Cyperaceae 2 Schoenus nitens shiny bogsedge Cyperaceae 3a Histiopteris incisa batswing fern Dennstaedtiaceae 2 y Pteridium esculentum bracken Dennstaedtiaceae 2 Dicksonia antarctica soft treefern Dicksoniaceae 2 y Drosera peltata pale sundew Droseraceae 2 Rumohra adiantiformis leathery shieldfern Dryopteridaceae 2 Leptecophylla juniperina pinkberry Epacridaceae 2 Leucopogon parviflorus coast beardheath Epacridaceae 2 Monotoca glauca goldey wood Epacridaceae 2 Genista monspessulana canary broom Fabaceae Introduced On Tas Weed & Quarantine Act and WRA score sheet & WONS nominated Trifolium dubium suckling clover Fabaceae introduced Trifolium repens white clover Fabaceae introduced Selliera radicans shiny swampmat Goodeniaceae 3a Ribes sanguineum flowering currant Grossulariaceae introduced in Australia, naturalised in Tasmania only Gonocarpus teucrioides forest raspwort Haloragaceae 2 Hymenophyllum rarum narrow filmyfern Hymenophyllaceae 2 y Juncus kraussii sea rush Juncaceae 3a Dianella tasmanica forest flaxlily Liliaceae 2 Drymophila cyanocarpa turquoise berry Liliaceae 2 Acacia melanoxylon blackwood Mimosaceae 2 Acacia verticillata prickly moses Mimosaceae 2 Eucalyptus nitida western peppermint Myrtaceae 3a endemic Leptospermum nitidum shiny teatree Myrtaceae 3a endemic Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 49

Cat Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Leptospermum scoparium common teatree Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca ericifolia coast paperbark Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca squarrosa scented paperbark Myrtaceae 3a Chiloglottis sp. bird-orchid Orchidaceae Pterostylis sp. greenhood Orchidaceae Billardiera nesophila coastal appleberry Pittosporaceae 3a endemic Holcus lanatus yorkshire fog Poaceae introduced Poa poiformis blue tussock grass Poaceae 3a Muehlenbeckia gunnii forest lignum Polygonaceae 3a Rumex crispus curled dock Polygonaceae Introduced Environmental weed on Tas Weed Act Microsorum pustulatum kangaroo fern Polypodiaceae 2 y subsp. pustulatum Anagallis arvensis scarlet pimpernel Primulaceae Introduced Samolus repens creeping Primulaceae 3a brookweed Banksia marginata silver banksia Proteaceae 2 y Apodasmia brownii coarse twinerush Restionaceae 3a Pomaderris apetala dogwood Rhamnaceae 2 Malus sp. apple Rosaceae Introduced Prunus domestica plum or european Rosaceae Introduced plum Prunus persica flowering peach Rosaceae Introduced Rubus fruticosus blackberry Rosaceae Introduced Coprosma quadrifida native currant Rubiaceae 2 Nematolepis squamea satinwood Rutaceae 2 Zieria arborescens stinkwood Rutaceae 2 Exocarpos syrticola coast native-cherry Santalaceae 2 Veronica calycina hairy speedwell Scrophulariaceae 3a Solanum laciniatum kangaroo apple Solanaceae 3a Sphagnum sp. peat moss Sphagnaceae Pimelea ligustrina tall riceflower Thymelaeaceae 3a Pimelea linifolia slender riceflower Thymelaeaceae 2 Viola hederacea ivy-leaf violet Violaceae 1 or 2 Tasmannia lanceolata mountain pepper Winteraceae 2

For Cat Island 67 species from 41 had examples reserved in all families were recorded. Of these bioregions in with the species 3 were endemic, 5 considered occurred or were reserved in primitive and 13 were introduced, half or more of the bioregions in 4 of which are listed weeds. which the species occurs. All native species recorded 50 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Table 3. Bonnet Island Species List

Bonnet Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Zantedeschia aethiopica arum lily Araceae Introduced Tas Weed Act & WONS nominated Senecio biserratus crosscut fireweed Asteraceae 2 Senecio glomeratus purple fireweed Asteraceae 3a Sonchus oleraceus common sowthistle Asteraceae Introduced Ozothamnus sp. everlasting bush Asteraceae Raphanus raphanistrum wild radish Brassicaceae Introduced Rhagodia candolleana coastal saltbush Chenopodiaceae 2 subsp. candolleana Lepidosperma gladiatum coast swordsedge Cyperaceae 3a Pteridium esculentum bracken Dennstaedtiaceae 2 Leucopogon parviflorus coast beardheath Epacridaceae 2 Leptecophylla juniperina pinkberry Epacridaceae 2 Selliera radicans shiny swampmat Goodeniaceae 3a Dianella tasmanica forest flaxlily Liliaceae 2 Acacia longifolia subsp. coast wattle Mimosaceae 3a sophorae Melaleuca ericifolia coast paperbark Myrtaceae 2 Leptospermum nitidum shiny teatree Myrtaceae 2 e Pittosporum bicolor cheesewood Pittosporaceae 2 Dactylis glomerata cocksfoot Poaceae Introduced Holcus lanatus yorkshire fog Poaceae Introduced Poa annua winter grass Poaceae Introduced Poa poiformis blue tussock grass Poaceae 3a Muehlenbeckia gunnii forest lignum Polygonaceae 3a Microsorum pustulatum kangaroo fern Polypodiaceae 2 y subsp. pustulatum Acaena novae-zelandiae common buzzy Rosaceae 2 Prunus cerasus caproniana kentish red cherry Rosaceae Introduced Naturalised in Tas only Rubus fruticosus blackberry Rosaceae Introduced Correa backhouseana var. velvet correa Rutaceae 2 backhouseana Nematolepis squamea satin wood Rutaceae 2 Solanum laciniatum kangaroo apple Solanaceae 3a

For Bonnet Island 29 species introduced, 1 of which is a listed occurred or were reserved in from 17 families were recorded. weed. All native species recorded half or more of the bioregions in Of these 1 was endemic, 1 had examples reserved in all which the species occurred. considered primitive and 8 were bioregions in with the species Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 51

Table 4. Entrance Island Species List

Entrance Island Species List Reservation Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Tetragonia implexicoma bower spinach Aizoaceae 2 Pteridium esculentum bracken Dennstaedtiaceae 2 Dianella tasmanica forest flaxlily Liliaceae 2 Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae coast wattle Mimosaceae 3a Acacia verticillata prickly moses Mimosaceae 2 Leptospermum scoparium common teatree Myrtaceae 2 Fuchsia magellanica fuchsia Onagraceae Introduced Environmental weed on Tas Weed Act Pinus radiata radiata pine Pinaceae Introduced Environmental weed on Tas Weed Act Dactylis glomerata cocksfoot Poaceae Introduced Muehlenbeckia gunnii forest lignum Polygonaceae 3a Rubus fruticosus blackberry Rosaceae Introduced Coprosma repens mirrorbush Rubiaceae Introduced Environmental weed on Tas Weed Act Correa backhouseana var. velvet correa Rutaceae 2 backhouseana Hebe sp. hebe or veronica Scrophulariaceae Introduced Solanum laciniatum kangaroo apple Solanaceae 3a

For Entrance Island 15 species from 15 families were recorded. Of these none were endemic, none considered primitive and 6 were introduced, 4 of which are listed weeds. All native vascular species recorded had examples reserved in all bioregions in with the species occurred or were reserved in half or more of the bioregions in which the species occurred. 52 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Table 5. Elizabeth Island Species List

Elizabeth Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Tylimanthus sp. moss Acrobolbaceae Apium prostratum subsp. sea celery Apiaceae 3a prostratum Hydrocotyle hirta hairy pennywort Apiaceae 2 Asplenium obtusatum shore spleenwort Aspleniaceae 3a Senecio sp. fireweed Asteraceae Blechnum wattsii hard waterfern Blechnaceae 2 Ficinia nodosa knobby clubsedge Cyperaceae 3a Pteridium esculentum bracken Dennstaedtiaceae 2 Dicksonia antarctica soft treefern Dicksoniaceae 2 Rumohra adiantiformis leathery shieldfern Dryopteridaceae 2 Leptecophylla juniperina pinkberry Epacridaceae 2 Leucopogon parviflorus coast beardheath Epacridaceae 2 Monotoca glauca goldey wood Epacridaceae 2 Selliera radicans shiny swampmat Goodeniaceae 3a Juncus kraussii sea rush Juncaceae 3a Dianella tasmanica forest flaxlily Liliaceae 2 Drymophila cyanocarpa turquoise berry Liliaceae 2 Lycopodiella lateralis Slender clubmoss Lycopodiaceae 3a y Acacia melanoxylon blackwood Mimosaceae 2 Acacia verticillata prickly moses Mimosaceae 2 Eucalyptus delegatensis stingy bark Myrtaceae 2 Eucalyptus nitida western peppermint Myrtaceae 3a endemic Leptospermum scoparium common teatree Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca ericifolia coast paperbark Myrtaceae 2 Leptospermum nitidum shiny teatree Myrtaceae 3a endemic Ulota sp. moss Orthotrichaceae Billardiera nesophila coastal appleberry Pittosporaceae 3a endemic Pittosporum bicolor cheesewood Pittosporaceae 2 Poa poiformis blue tussock grass Poaceae 3a Rumex sp. dock Polygonaceae Introduced Microsorum pustulatum kangaroo fern Polypodiaceae 2 y subsp. pustulatum Samolus repens creeping Primulaceae 3a brookweed Banksia marginata silver banksia Proteaceae 2 Ptychomnium aciculare moss Ptychomniaceae Apodasmia brownii coarse twinerush Restionaceae 3a Pomaderris apetala dogwood Rhamnaceae 2 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 53

Elizabeth Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Coprosma quadrifida native currant Rubiaceae 2 Correa backhouseana var. velvet correa Rutaceae 2 backhouseana Zieria arborescens stinkwood Rutaceae Nematolepis squamea satinwood Rutaceae 2

For Elizabeth Island 40 vascular species from 25 families were recorded. Of these two were endemic, 2 considered primitive and 1 was introduced. The only weed recorded on Elizabeth Banksia marginata. Island, a dock, was found on shore Illustration Brett Littleton. at the land site and was removed and destroyed. All native vascular species recorded had examples reserved in all bioregions in with the species occurred or were reserved in half or more of the bioregions in which the species occurred. 54 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Table 6. Magazine Island Species List.

Magazine Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Apium prostratum subsp. sea celery Apiaceae 3a prostratum Hedera helix ivy Araliaceae Introduced Environmental weed on Tas Weed Act Cassinia aculeata dollybush Asteraceae 2 Olearia argophylla musk daisybush Asteraceae 2 Olearia ramulosa twiggy daisybush Asteraceae 2 Senecio linearifolius fireweed l Asteraceae 2 Ficinia nodosa knobby clubsedge Cyperaceae 3a Schoenus nitens shiny bogsedge Cyperaceae 3a Pteridium esculentum bracken Dennstaedtiaceae 2 Rumohra adiantiformis leathery shieldfern Dryopteridaceae 2 Leucopogon parviflorus coast beardheath Epacridaceae 2 Monotoca glauca goldey wood Epacridaceae 2 Genista monspessulana canary broom Fabaceae Introduced On Tas Weed & Quarantine Act and WRA score sheet & WONS nominated Pultenaea daphnoides heartleaf bushpea Fabaceae 2 Pelargonium australe southern storksbill Geraniaceae 2 Selliera radicans shiny swampmat Goodeniaceae 3a Gonocarpus teucrioides forest raspwort Haloragaceae 2 Juncus kraussii sea rush Juncaceae 3a Dianella tasmanica forest flaxlily Liliaceae 2 Drymophila cyanocarpa turquoise berry Liliaceae 2 Acacia melanoxylon blackwood Mimosaceae 2 Acacia verticillata prickly moses Mimosaceae 2 Leptospermum nitidum shiny teatree Myrtaceae 3a Leptospermum scoparium common teatree Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca ericifolia coast paperbark Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca squarrosa scented paperbark Myrtaceae 3a Acianthus sp. mayfly orchid Orchidaceae Chiloglottis sp. bird-orchid Orchidaceae Gastrodia procera tall potato-orchid Orchidaceae 3a Pterostylis sp. greenhood Orchidaceae Billardiera nesophila coastal appleberry Pittosporaceae 3a Endemic Plantago triantha saltspray plantain Plantaginaceae 3a Within Australia occurs only in Tasmania Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 55

Magazine Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Holcus lanatus yorkshire fog Poaceae Introduced Poa poiformis blue tussock grass Poaceae 3a Microsorum pustulatum kangaroo fern Polypodiaceae 2 y subsp. pustulatum Samolus repens creeping Primulaceae 3a brookweed Banksia marginata silver banksia Proteaceae 2 y Apodasmia brownii coarse twinerush Restionaceae 3a Leptocarpus tenax slender twinerush Restionaceae 3a Pomaderris apetala dogwood Rhamnaceae 2 Rubus fruticosus blackberry Rosaceae Introduced Coprosma quadrifida native currant Rubiaceae 2 Nematolepis squamea satin wood Rutaceae 2 Veronica calycina hairy speedwell Scrophulariaceae 3a Solanum laciniatum kangaroo apple Solanaceae 3a Pimelea linifolia slender riceflower Thymelaeaceae 2 Viola hederacea ivy-leaf violet Violaceae 1 or 2

For Magazine Island 48 vascular species from 31 families were recorded. Of these 1 was endemic, 1 occurs only in Tasmania, 2 are considered primitive and 4 are introduced, 2 of which are listed weeds. All native vascular species recorded had examples reserved in all bioregions in with the species occurred or were reserved in half or more of the bioregions in which the species occurred. 56 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Table 7. Neck Island species list.

Neck Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Olearia stellulata sawleaf daisybush Asteraceae 3a Senecio biserratus crosscut fireweed Asteraceae 2 Lobelia anceps angled lobelia Campanulaceae 3a Wahlenbergia sp. bluebell Campanulaceae Cladia sp. coral lichen Cladoniaceae Gahnia grandis cutting grass Cyperaceae 2 Pteridium esculentum bracken Dennstaedtiaceae 2 Drosera peltata pale sundew Droseraceae 2 or 3a Leptecophylla juniperina pink berry Epacridaceae 2 Leucopogon ericoides pink beardheath Epacridaceae 2 Leucopogon parviflorus coast beardheath Epacridaceae 2 Monotoca glauca goldey wood Epacridaceae 2 Aotus ericoides golden pea Fabaceae 2 Genista monspessulana canary broom Fabaceae Introduced On Tas Weed & Quarantine Act and WRA score sheet & WONS nominated Gleichenia microphylla scrambling coralfern Gleicheniaceae 2 y Sticherus tener silky fanfern Gleicheniaceae 2 y Selliera radicans shiny swampmat Goodeniaceae 3a Gonocarpus teucrioides forest raspwort Haloragaceae 2 Hypopterygium rotulatum moss Hypopterygiaceae Juncus kraussii sea rush Juncaceae 3a Dianella tasmanica forest flaxlily Liliaceae 2 Drymophila cyanocarpa turquoise berry Liliaceae 2 Acacia genistifolia spreading wattle Mimosaceae 2 Acacia longifolia subsp. coast wattle Mimosaceae 3a sophorae Acacia melanoxylon blackwood Mimosaceae 2 Acacia verticillata prickly moses Mimosaceae 2 Eucalyptus nitida western peppermint Myrtaceae 3a Endemic Leptospermum scoparium common teatree Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca ericifolia coast paperbark Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca squarrosa scented paperbark Myrtaceae 3a Chiloglottis sp. bird-orchid Orchidaceae Pterostylis sp. greenhood Orchidaceae Billardiera nesophila coastal appleberry Pittosporaceae 3a Endemic Pittosporum bicolor cheesewood Pittosporaceae 2 Distichlis distichophylla australian saltgrass Poaceae 3a Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 57

Neck Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Poa poiformis var. poiformis coastal tussockgrass Poaceae 2 Phyllocladus aspleniifolius celerytop pine Podocarpaceae 3a y Endemic Banksia marginata silver banksia Proteaceae 2 y Baloskion tetraphyllum tassel cordrush Restionaceae 3a subsp. tetraphyllum Apodasmia brownii coarse twinerush Restionaceae 3a Pomaderris apetala dogwood Rhamnaceae 2 Coprosma quadrifida native currant Rubiaceae 2 Zieria arborescens stinkwood Rutaceae 2 Exocarpos syrticola coast native-cherry Santalaceae 2 Schizaea fistulosa narrow forkfern Schizaeaceae 2 y Sphagnum sp. peat moss Sphagnaceae Thuidium sp. moss Thuidiaceae Pimelea linifolia slender rice-flower Thymelaeaceae 2 Tasmannia lanceolata mountain pepper Winteraceae 2

For Neck Island 49 vascular species from 29 families were recorded. Of these 3 are endemic, 5 considered primitive and 1 is a listed introduced species. All native vascular species recorded had examples reserved in all bioregions in which the species occurred or were reserved in half or more of the bioregions in which the species occurred. 58 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Table 8. Philips Island Species List.

Phillips Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status pium prostratum subsp. sea celery Apiaceae 3a prostratum Hydrocotyle sp. pennywort Apiaceae Olearia argophylla musk daisybush Asteraceae 2 Olearia stellulata sawleaf daisybush Asteraceae 3a Atherosperma moschatum sassafras Atherospermataceae 2 subsp. moschatum Blechnum wattsii hard waterfern Blechnaceae 2 Cyathea australis subsp. rough treefern Cyatheaceae 3a y australis Carex appressa tall sedge Cyperaceae 2 Ficinia nodosa knobby clubsedge Cyperaceae 3a Gahnia grandis cutting grass Cyperaceae 2 Schoenus nitens shiny bogsedge Cyperaceae 3a Carex sp. sedge Cyperaceae Pteridium esculentum bracken Dennstaedtiaceae 2 Dicksonia antarctica soft treefern Dicksoniaceae 2 y Rumohra adiantiformis leathery shieldfern Dryopteridaceae 2 Aristotelia peduncularis heartberry Elaeocarpaceae 3a Endemic Leptecophylla juniperina pink berry Epacridaceae 2 Monotoca glauca goldey wood Epacridaceae 2 Eucryphia lucida leatherwood Eucryphiaceae 3a y Endemic Nothofagus cunninghamii myrtle beech Fagaceae 2 y Gleichenia microphylla scrambling coralfern Gleicheniaceae 2 y Sticherus tener silky fanfern Gleicheniaceae 2 y Selliera radicans shiny swampmat Goodeniaceae 3a Hymenophyllum rarum narrow filmyfern Hymenophyllaceae 2 y Juncus krausii sea rush Juncaceae 3a Prostanthera lasianthos var. christmas mintbush Lamiaceae 2 lasianthos Dianella tasmanica forest flaxlily Liliaceae 2 Drymophila cyanocarpa turquoise berry Liliaceae 2 Lycopodium conifer clubmoss Lycopodiaceae 2 y deuterodensum Acacia melanoxylon blackwood Mimosaceae 2 Acacia verticillata midlands wattle Mimosaceae 2 Eucalyptus brookeriana brookers gum Myrtaceae 3a Endemic Eucalyptus nitida western peppermint Myrtaceae 3a Endemic Leptospermum scoparium common teatree Myrtaceae 2 Melaleuca ericifolia coast paperbark Myrtaceae 2 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 59

Phillips Island Species List Reservation Primitive Species Name Common Name Family Bio Geographic Origin Status Status Notelaea ligustrina native olive Oleaceae 2 Chiloglottis gunnii tall bird-orchid Orchidaceae 3a Endemic Gastrodia sesamoides short potato-orchid Orchidaceae 3a Pterostylis nutans nodding greenhood Orchidaceae 2 Pterostylis sp. greenhood Orchidaceae Billardiera nesophila coastal appleberry Pittosporaceae 3a Endemic Pittosporum bicolor cheesewood Pittosporaceae 2 Poa poiformis blue tussock grass Poaceae 3a Microsorum pustulatum kangaroo fern Polypodiaceae 2 y subsp. pustulatum Tmesipteris obliqua common forkfern Psilotaceae 2 y Clematis aristata southern clematis Ranunculaceae 2 Apodasmia brownii coarse twinerush Restionaceae 3a Pomaderris apetala dogwood Rhamnaceae 2 Coprosma quadrifida native currant Rubiaceae 2 Nematolepis squamea Rutaceae 2 Pimelea linifolia slender rice-flower Thymelaeaceae 2 Tasmannia lanceolata mountain pepper Winteraceae 2

For Philips Island 53 vascular australis subsp. australis. It is species from 36 families were the most common of the three recorded. Of these 6 were Cyathea species which occur in endemic and 10 considered Tasmania. There are currently primitive. No introduced species 484 observations for this species were recorded. All native vascular in the NVA. Its distribution is species recorded had examples concentrated in the northwest, reserved in all bioregions in north and north east of the state, which the species occurred or and extends down the east coast were reserved in half or more to the south east. There are few of the bioregions in which the observations for this species in species occurred. A species of the west and southwest where it note for this island is Cyathea is relatively uncommon.

Cyathea australis on Philips Island. Photo Naomi Lawrence. 60 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Figure 1 shows a comparison of Figure 1. Comparison of the Percentage Composition by Family Groupings the percentage composition of between islands. family groupings, higher plants (then divided by dicots and monocots) and lower plants, to give an indication if there were any marked differences in the species composition between Islands. This shows that the composition is similar between Magazine, Neck, Cat, Bonnet and Entrance Islands (those Islands closest to the open sea), while Soldiers, Philips and Elizabeth Island, which were further east, are very similar. The main difference between these island groups is that those closest to the sea ward (western) end of the harbour had fewer fern species Figure 2. Comparison of the number of species for each of the biometric recorded and more higher plant values recorded between islands. species than those further east. The percentage of monocots to dicots is similar between all islands.

Figure 2 is a comparison of the number of species with biometric values between the islands. Soldiers and Philips Islands had no weed species recorded and had the highest number of endemics and primitive species recorded. Cat Island had the highest number of weed species recorded, followed by Bonnet, Entrance, Magazine, Neck and Elizabeth Figure 3. Number of native vascular species recorded for each island surveyed. Islands. Entrance Island had no endemic or primitive species recorded. Sarah Island (according to Walsh 1992) has had a higher number (17) of weed species recorded.

Figure 3 shows that Cat, Philips and Neck Islands had the largest number of native vascular species recorded and Entrance and Bonnet Islands the least. Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 61

Table 9 Presence/absence data for the occurrence of the native vascular species on all islands.

SPECIES NAME Entrance Bonnet Neck Cat Magazine Elizabeth Philips Soldiers Sarah

Acacia dealbata 1 Acacia longifolia 1 1 1 subsp. sophorae Acacia melanoxylon 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Acacia verticillata 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Acaena novae- 1 1 zelandiae Acianthus sp. 1 Anodopetalum 1 biglandulosum Anopterus 1 glandulosus Aotus ericoides 1 Apium prostratum 1 1 1 1 subsp. prostratum Apodasmia brownii 1 1 1 1 1 1 Aristotelia 1 1 peduncularis Asplenium flabellifolium Asplenium obtusatum 1 Atherosperma 1 moschatum subsp. moschatum Baloskion 1 tetraphyllum subsp. tetraphyllum Banksia marginata 1 1 1 1 Billardiera nesophila 1 1 1 1 1 1 Blechnum nudum 1 Blechnum wattsii 1 1 1 1 Carex appressa 1 1 Cassinia aculeata 1 1 1 Cenarrhenes nitida 1 Chiloglottis gunnii 1 Chiloglottis sp. 1 1 1 Clematis aristata 1 1 Coprosma quadrifida 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Correa backhouseana 1 1 1 var. backhouseana Cyathea australis 1 1 subsp. australis 62 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

SPECIES NAME Entrance Bonnet Neck Cat Magazine Elizabeth Philips Soldiers Sarah

Dianella tasmanica 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Dicksonia antarctica 1 1 1 1 Distichlis 1 distichophylla Drosera peltata 1 1 Drymophila 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 cyanocarpa Epacris impressa 1 Eucalyptus 1 brookeriana Eucalyptus 1 delegatensis Eucalyptus nitida 1 1 1 1 1 1 Eucryphia lucida 1 Exocarpos syrticola 1 1 Ficinia nodosa 1 1 1 1 1 Gahnia grandis 1 1 1 1 1 Gastrodia procera 1 Gastrodia sesamoides 1 Gleichenia 1 1 1 microphylla Gonocarpus 1 1 1 teucrioides Grammitis billardierei 1 Histiopteris incisa 1 1 Hydrocotyle hirta 1 Hydrocotyle sp. 1 Hymenophyllum 1 1 rarum Juncus kraussii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Lepidosperma 1 filiforme Lepidosperma 1 gladiatum Leptecophylla 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 juniperina Leptocarpus tenax 1 1 Leptospermum 1 glaucescens Leptospermum 1 1 1 1 nitidum Leptospermum 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 scoparium Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 63

SPECIES NAME Entrance Bonnet Neck Cat Magazine Elizabeth Philips Soldiers Sarah

Leucopogon ericoides 1 Leucopogon 1 1 1 1 1 1 parviflorus Lobelia anceps 1 1 Lomatia polymorpha 1 Lycopodiella lateralis 1 Lycopodium 1 1 deuterodensum Melaleuca ericifolia 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Melaleuca squarrosa 1 1 1 1 Microsorum 1 1 1 1 1 1 pustulatum subsp. pustulatum Monotoca glauca 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Muehlenbeckia gunnii 1 1 1 1 Nematolepis 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 squamea Notelaea ligustrina 1 1 Nothofagus 1 cunninghamii Olearia argophylla 1 1 1 Olearia ramulosa 1 Olearia stellulata 1 1 1 Ozothamnus sp. 1 Pelargonium australe 1 Phyllocladus 1 1 1 aspleniifolius Pimelea ligustrina 1 1 Pimelea linifolia 1 1 1 1 Pittosporum bicolor 1 1 1 1 1 1 Plantago triantha 1 Poa poiformis 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Pomaderris apetala 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Prostanthera 1 1 lasianthos var. lasianthos Pteridium esculentum 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Pterostylis nutans 1 Pterostylis sp. 1 1 1 1 Pultenaea daphnoides 1 1 1 Rhagodia candolleana 1 subsp. candolleana 64 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

SPECIES NAME Entrance Bonnet Neck Cat Magazine Elizabeth Philips Soldiers Sarah

Rumohra 1 1 1 1 1 adiantiformis Samolus repens 1 1 1 1 Sarcochilus australis 1 Schizaea fistulosa 1 Schoenus nitens 1 1 1 Selliera radicans 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Senecio biserratus 1 1 Senecio glomeratus 1 Senecio linearifolius 1 Senecio minimus 1 Senecio sp. 1 Solanum laciniatum 1 1 1 1 Sphagnum sp. 1 1 Sticherus tener 1 1 1 1 Tasmannia lanceolata 1 1 1 1 Tetragonia 1 implexicoma Tmesipteris obliqua 1 Veronica calycina 1 1 Viola hederacea 1 1 Wahlenbergia sp. 1 1 Zieria arborescens 1 1 1 1

Table 10 shows the presence/ Tasmanica was not recorded by around the harbour on the absence of the native vascular Walsh (1992) for Sarah Island. mainland (records extracted from species recorded on the islands A number of species were only the NVA) with those recorded on which includes the list of species recorded on 1 island. Table 10 the islands. All species record on recorded for Sarah Island by provides a list of these species. the islands (except for Sarcochilus Walsh (1992). This information The islands that recorded the australis) were also recorded on was used to help determine greatest number of species the mainland however not all the the similarity or difference of occurring on no other island species recorded on the mainland the suit of species which were were Philips (8) while Cat and were recorded on the islands. recorded for each island. Of Entrance Islands each recorded the species recorded, only two, the presence of only one species Pteridium esculentum and Dianella that did not occur on any of the tasmanica were present on all other islands. A comparison was the islands surveyed. However, D. done with the species recorded Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 65

Table 10. List of species which were recorded on only one of the Macquarie Harbour Islands.

Species Island

Acacia dealbata Sarah Acianthus sp. Magazine Anodopetalum biglandulosum Soldiers Anopterus glandulosus Soldiers Aotus ericoides Neck Asplenium obtusatum Elizabeth Atherosperma moschatum subsp. moschatum Philips Baloskion tetraphyllum subsp. tetraphyllum Neck Cenarrhenes nitida Soldiers Chiloglottis gunnii Philips Distichlis distichophylla Neck Epacris impressa Sarah Eucalyptus brookeriana Philips Eucalyptus delegatensis Elizabeth Eucryphia lucida Philips Gastrodia procera Magazine Gastrodia sesamoides Philips Hydrocotyle hirta Elizabeth Lepidosperma filiforme Soldiers Lepidosperma gladiatum Bonnet Leptospermum glaucescens Sarah Leucopogon ericoides Neck Lomatia polymorpha Soldiers Lycopodiella lateralis Elizabeth Nothofagus cunninghamii Philips Olearia ramulosa Magazine Ozothamnus sp. Bonnet Pelargonium australe Magazine Plantago triantha Magazine Pterostylis nutans Philips Rhagodia candolleana subsp. candolleana Bonnet Sarcochilus australis Soldiers Schizaea fistulosa Neck Senecio glomeratus Bonnet Senecio linearifolius Magazine Senecio minimus Cat Tetragonia implexicoma Entrance Tmesipteris obliqua Philips 66 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

An analysis of the correlation vegetation community diversity Elizabeth, Philips and Cat) despite between vegetation diversity and vice versa. Again no trends of the differences in elevation, size (species & communities) with a any significance were evident. and position in the harbour. number of biophysical parameters Bonnet and Sarah Islands have was undertaken. These To confirm this, a cluster analysis split out as a cluster of one island parameters are shown below in was undertaken of all islands using each. Table 11. There was no observed the biophysical characteristics of increase or decrease in diversity elevation, size, position, species Further analysis revealed that of in relation to any of these composition and vegetation the 6 like islands (see figure 5), parameters for species recorded. community composition. Figure two main clusters are evident, Also included was the correlation 4 shows that there is strong with Neck, Philips and Soldiers of species diversity in relation to similarity between 6 of the eight Islands being the most similar islands (Magazine, Soldiers, Neck, to each other and the other

Tablel 11. List of Biophysical attributes used for analysis

Maximum No. Native Position in No. Veg Island Size (Ha) elevation m Geology Vascular Harbour Communities (ASL) Species Bonnet 0.17 10 Entrance Bedrock Meta- 21 3 sedimentary Cat 27.26 4 Lower Poorly 52 8 consolidated sediments Elizabeth 2.12 23 Middle Bedrock Meta- 38 2 sedimentary Entrance 0.61 4 Entrance ? 9 ? Magazine 2.37 5 Lower Poorly 43 5 consolidated sediments Neck 18.22 6 Lower Weakly 49 5 consolidated Pebble conglomerate Philips 8.99 41 Upper Semi-consolidated 52 4 sandstone/siltstone Sarah 8.29 18 Upper Inter-bedded 34 7 siltstone/sandstone sediment Soldiers 12.98 21 Upper Semi –consolidated 44 3 sandstone sequence Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 67

Figure 4. Biophysical cluster analysis

Bonnet

cluster showing Cat, Magazine and Elizabeth Islands to be most similar to each other. Interestingly Sarah Soldiers and Philips Islands split out again from the second cluster as being most similar to each other. 2

Ax To summarize the results, the islands were given a ranking (see table 12), 1 being least and 10 being most, diverse for species and communities, values, and disturbance. This shows that Philips Island is the most diverse, had the most values and was one of the least disturbed of the Magazine Soldiers Neck Elizabet Phillip Cat islands, followed by Soldiers and Axis 1 Cat Islands, whilst Bonnet and Entrance Islands were ranked Figure 5. Cluster analysis dendrogram for eight Islands. lowest for all these values.

Macq_Harb_Eight_Is_Cluster Distance (Objective Function) 3.4E-02 2.6E-01 4.9E-01 7.1E-01 9.4E-01 Information Remaining (%) 100 75 50 25 0

Bonnet Neck Phillip Soldiers Cat Magazine Elizabet Sarah

Table 13. Ranking of diversity and values for all islands surveyed

Island Diversity Values Disturbance Rank total Entrance 1 1 2 4 Bonnet 2 2 1 5 Elizabeth 3 4 7 14 Magazine 5 4 5 14 Neck 6 5 4 15 Cat 8 6 3 17 Soldiers 4 7 8 19 Philips 7 8 8 23 68 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Discussion trees and other “garden plants”. conservation in high quality forests Three of the weed species in the Woolnorth, Ben Lomond Of the islands surveyed Cat Island recorded are listed on the and Freycinet bioregions and is had the most diverse flora but Tasmanian Weed Management Act classed as poorly reserved in the ranked lower for diversity and 1999 thus there is a legislative North East of Tasmania by the value (table 12) than Philips and requirement for their control. Forestry Division (Smith 2007). Soldiers Island. This is because Cat Management required is mainly Island was the most disturbed weed control focusing on The record for this species on island, which lowered the total the small patches which have Soldiers Island considerably ranked value. Cat Island should be established in native vegetation. extends the geographic range the focus of management actions The shack still appears to be of this species and is the most to protect the values recorded. used and it is recommended that western occurrence of the species Neck & Magazine Islands some form of awareness raising in the state. Sarcochilus australis should be given high priority for and/or conservation program prefers moist habitats, such as management whilst Entrance and be considered for shack users permanently moist gullies and Bonnet have lower priorities for regarding the introduction and moist forest types. As an epiphyte management as there are few spread of exotic species. Sarcochilus australis requires a flora values, diversity is low and host species to anchor on. Smith they are both very disturbed. The most important value on (2007) found that S. australis used Philips Island is the threatened 10 tree and shrub species as hosts The most important values on community NME. There is only but was found 80% of the time Cat Island are the threatened a small patch of approximately on either Coprosma quadrifida or communities (NME & MSP) and 0.25 hectares which covers Pomaderris apetala. On Soldiers the diversity of the communities approximately 5.2% of the Island. Island most individuals were on and species present on the island. A species of note on this island is either Pomaderris apetala or Though MSP is not currently Cyathea australis subs. australis for Melaleuca ericifolia. Individuals included in the definition of the reasons discussed earlier. were flowering at the time of sphagnum community listed the survey and there was a large on the EPBC 1999 it is listed The most important values on variation in the size of individuals on the TSPA 1995. Cat Island Soldiers Island are the vegetation suggesting that reproduction has the second largest area of communities NME & NNP and and recruitment are occurring NME recorded for the islands the uncommon species Sarcochilus in the population. The plants but it only represents 8% of australis (gunns tree-orchid). were widespread on the island the vegetation coverage on the Soldiers Island has the largest area, with the largest concentration island. The disturbance on Cat approximately 4.52 ha of NME on the eastern end of the island Island was concentrated mainly which covers 34% of the Island extending into the southwest. The around the shack area with small and a very small patch, about 0.25 total population size is somewhere patches of weeds encountered ha of NNP which covers about between 100-200 individuals. in other locations. Most of these 1.9% of the island. have probably originated from This species does not tolerate Sarcochilus australis is Tasmania’s the shack area. Most of the disturbance from forestry only epiphytic orchid. It is listed introduced species recorded operations or any other activity by the Forest Practices Authority from the shack area were fruit that removes preferred hosts. as a priority species for a level of Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 69

It is susceptible to exposure infested with exotic species. One The occurrence of MSP on to sun and drying winds and of these is listed on the Tasmanian Cat and Neck Island is of great clearing around habitat can cause Weed Management Act 1999. interest as sphagnum bog permanent drying out of the Entrance Island was in a similar communities are in general habitat (Jones et al. 1999). condition and three introduced rare and most commonly occur species Tasmanian Weed above 600m. There are only The most important values for Management Act 1999. Again two other known occurrences Neck Island are the threatened there is a legislative requirement of sphagnum bogs at sea level communities NME and the to control these weeds. which are located behind dune MSP. There are 3 small patches swales in the north east of of NME totalling 0.96 hectares Overall the values of most note Tasmania. Currently sphagnum covering 5.2% of the island. MSP were the presence of the listed bogs below 600m do not fit the is important as it is not common communities NME, NNP and MSP community description listed vegetation type in Australia as a on some of the islands. According on the Environment Protection whole and is a community which to Pannell (1992) most swamp and Biodiversity Conservation Act does not tolerate disturbance, forest in Tasmania has been 1999 but efforts are in progress particularly disturbance which disturbed with only small areas left to address this (Jennie Whinam causes drying out of the habitat. which are unaffected by logging or pers. comm.). There is a need drainage operations. The floristic to identify the Sphagnum species The most important value for and structural character of what and another sample is required to Magazine Island is the threatened remains has been altered by fire do this as the one collected was community NME where there is resulting in a decline in the floristic overlooked. one small patch of 0.6 ha which and structural heterogeneity of covers 25% of the Island. This swamp forests in general. Thus it Island had been reportedly been is important to conserve the full substantially cleared (Chris Arthur range of structural and floristic pers. comm.). While regeneration diversity of swamp forests. The has occurred, some very weedy, communities of NME on Neck, disturbed areas are still evident. Philips and NME and NNP Two of the weed species present on Soldiers Islands have been are listed on the Tasmanian Weed undisturbed and retain the full Management Act 1999 thus there structure and floristic diversity of is a legislative requirement for this community type. Although their control. disturbed on Magazine and Cat Island, NME is still in good Elizabeth Island has no recorded condition. Though small, the biometric values, however it is in patches of NME and NNP on the very good condition. Only one Macquarie Harbour islands are weed species was recorded which important representatives of these was removed and destroyed communities in the reserve system. during the survey.

Bonnet Island was very disturbed Sarcochilus australis. with a large area of the Island Photo Peter Tonelli. 70 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Biophysical similarity had a suite of similar species is probably more related to the occurring on them, each one degree of human disturbance The cluster analysis undertaken was surprisingly different and of these islands than any of the to determine how similar the each island had one or more other biophysical characteristics islands were to each other and species occurring on it that did and is supported by the data what, if any biophysical attributes not occur on any of the others. It which showed that these islands were influencing this “likeness” might be expected that as most have more introduced species grouped the islands into 4 islands are close to the mainland and communities recorded than clusters. Interestingly the islands that birds are easily able to fly any of the other islands. This one might expect to be most between islands and the mainland result indicates that each island similar for flora composition, potentially bringing seeds with should be treated as unique and because of their position in the them attached to feathers or as that management may best be harbour, altitude and/or size were regurgitate. This may account in undertaken on a case by case not. Thus something other than some part for the divergence of basis for each island rather that a these attributes are having a the species composition between one rule fits all approach. stronger influence on the species the islands. The fact that Bonnet and community composition of and Sarah Islands split out on these Islands. Though all islands their own as a cluster of 1 island

Shack and surrounding area on Cat Island. Photo Naomi Lawrence Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 71

References Management Recommendations Jones, D., Wapstra, H., Tonelli, P. Implement hygiene measures when visiting the islands to Harris, S. (1999). The Orchids of limit further weed establishment. Tasmania. Melbourne University Press, Victoria. Undertake control measures for listed weeds and remove other weed incursions. Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania (2006) Sarah Island Visitor Services Monitor islands for further weed incursions Site Plan. Department of Tourism, Arts and the Environment. Consider implementing a conservation management program with shack users of Cat Island. Pannell, J. R. (1992) Swamp Forests of Tasmania. Forestry Commission Adopt a no camp fire policy on the islands. Tasmania.

In the event of wildfire, suppression would be a priority Smith, T. J. (2007). The Ecology of for Neck and Cat Islands to protect MSP which is a Sarcochilus australis, Tasmania’s only fire sensitive community, Soldiers Island to protect the epiphytic orchid. Honours Thesis, population of Sarcochilus australis (gunns tree-orchid) and School of Plant Science, University Philips as it is mainly wet forest with fire sensitive species of Tasmania. and to protect Cyathea australis. Walsh D. (1992) Sarah Island W.H.A. Visitor Service Site, Vegetation Survey. Unpublished report for the Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage.

BIODIVERSITY - FAUNA Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 73

Yellow-throated honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavicollis). Illustrations Brett Littleton.

Clare E. Hawkins, that was confirmed as cat hair (for Philips) and suspected as Nick Mooney, cat hair (for Cat). A sea eagle’s Natasha Wilson and nest was found on Philips Island. Briar Hill It is recommended that cat eradication is considered, and that disturbance on Philips Island Summary is avoided during eagle breeding species season (July to February). Fauna surveys were carried out if they were closer to the coast across 8 islands in Macquarie or larger in area (MacArthur & Harbour in December 2009: Introduction Wilson 1967). Nonetheless it Bonnet, Cat, Elizabeth, Entrance, remained possible that one or Prior to the survey described Magazine, Neck, Philips and more islands might host relict in this report, very limited data Soldiers Islands. Of one hundred populations of species which had were available on the fauna of the and sixty fauna taxa identified been lost from the nearby coast. Macquarie Harbour islands, apart by the survey, one hundred and Cat, Magazine and Neck Islands, from those available from two thirty-two (primarily invertebrate) since they had similar geology and reports for Sarah Island (Phillips taxa had not been previously were close neighbours, would be 1992; Mallick 2000). Almost all recorded. These included forty- expected to show a great deal of data were confined to the birds nine taxa identified to the level overlap in species compositions. of the area. of known species and thirty- Philips and Soldiers were also expected to host similar species three taxa identified as distinct Natural Values Atlas data on due to their similar geology, while morphospecies, while the rest fauna on the islands were almost the same assumption held for were identified less precisely. exclusively confined to a bird list Bonnet, Elizabeth and Sarah Island. A species of the isopod genus for the Harbour (Table 2), with However, the level of disturbance Notoniscus appeared to be new no precise location provided for would be expected also to affect to science, though this could the majority of the records. The species number and composition. not be confirmed at the time of exception to this was for Sarah writing. Numerous bird species Island, where two studies (Phillips had previously been recorded 1992; Mallick 2000) provide bird Methods in ‘Macquarie Harbour’, but the records specifically for this island. survey provided more specific While some fauna groups, such locations for many of these It was therefore timely to survey as birds, can easily be identified species. The findings particularly the fauna of the other large from calls and sightings during a extended the known distribution islands in the Harbour, to guide simple traverse of a survey area, of two invertebrates: the land snail their management by the Parks & others, such as many mammal Stenacapha vitrinaformis and the Wildlife Service. species, are difficult to identify weevil Mandalotus subterraneus. to species level without trapping. A few exotic species were It was expected that islands would Within the available time (9th - identified: most significantly, host a subset of the species 11th December 2009), and given hair tubes laid on Philips Island as found on the nearby coast, the unreliable weather conditions, and Cat Island collected hair hosting a greater number of trapping was not possible since each island could not be visited 74 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

for trap-checking each day. Island traverses, hand islands and approximately four Instead, other techniques were collection, direct hours in the case of the larger used which required only a single observation, call surveys, islands. A second opportunistic return visit. Eight islands were field signs traverse was possible for Neck surveyed, of which four were Island. During these traverses visited twice (Table 1). Additionally, During the first visit to each of (and where possible on the Sarah Island was visited for a the eight islands, four people four islands re-visited to collect geological survey, and some fauna walked independently across equipment), all fauna species data were provided from this. it for approximately one hour observed were recorded, along in the case of the smallest with all identifiable bird calls and mammalian field signs. Small numbers of each species of invertebrate observed which could not be immediately identified were collected by hand and stored in alcohol for subsequent identification by specialists.

Hair-tubes, camera traps, pitfall traps

For the four islands which were to be re-visited, various arrangements of hair tubes, camera traps and pitfall traps were placed.

Hair-tubes were made of polypropylene tubes, 90 mm in diameter and 400 mm in length, with stiff plastic netting, containing peanut butter mixed with oats,

Hair-tube in place, Elizabeth Island. A peanut butter bait is placed within netting in the centre of the tube. Three strips of double-sided sticky tape are evenly spaced around the inside of the tube, oriented from each end towards the centre, to catch hairs of visiting mammals. Photo Clare Hawkins Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 75

wired into the centre of each. At disposable plastic food container were identified by Kevin Bonham both ends of each hair tube, lid supported by wooden skewer (molluscs and collembolans), three strips of double-sided sticky pieces placed above each cup to Lynne Forster (spiders and gaffer tape were placed at 60° limit falling vegetation and rain beetles) and Alastair Richardson angles to one another, to catch entering the trap. Invertebrates (amphipods and isopods). the hair of visiting mammals. Hairs collected by hand or pitfall trap subsequently collected were identified by expert consultant Barbara Triggs. These were scattered widely across Elizabeth and Soldiers Islands, and a small number were also put in areas where rodent signs (digging and scats) were observed on Cat and Magazine Islands.

A small number of video camera traps were set across Philips Island, and also on Soldiers Island and Magazine Island where signs of rodent digging were observed. A bait of walnut oil mixed with water in which mushrooms had been soaked was dribbled in a position in front of each camera such that visiting animals would trigger filming. Michael Driessen assisted with identifying filmed mammals.

Pitfall traps were scattered widely across Soldiers Island, and small numbers were also placed in areas of Cat and Magazine Islands. Each trap comprised a disposable plastic drinking cup half filled with alcohol, with a little

Top: Signs of rodent digging on Cat Island.

Bottom: Successful hair-tube. Photos Clare Hawkins 76 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

The various traps and hair-tubes made available to the Tasmanian would be reported for recording were left on each island for 2-3 Museum and Art Gallery in on the Natural Values Atlas. days. Hobart and the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Results After identification for the Launceston, with the request purposes of this report, all that any samples subsequently The results of the fauna survey invertebrate samples were identified to species level are presented in Table 2. One hundred and sixty fauna taxa were identified during the survey, of which one hundred and thirty-two had not been previously recorded in Macquarie Harbour in the Natural Values Atlas, Phillips (1992) or Mallick (2000) (Table 2). Forty-nine of these newly recorded taxa were identified with confidence to species level, with thirty-three additional taxa identified as separate morphospecies. The rest were identified less precisely. One hundred and fifteen taxa were invertebrates, including 32 spiders, 19 beetles and 14 gastropods identified to species level as well as 14 collembolans identified at least to genus level.

Top: Pitfall trap in place: a plastic cup half filled with ethanol, protected from the rain by a lid suspended with cocktail sticks.

Bottom: Setting up a video camera trap. Walnut oil and mushroom- soaked water is dribbled on the ground one to two metres in front of the camera, such that movement in that area will trigger the video camera to start operating for one minute. Photos Clare Hawkins Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 77

Scarlet Robin (Petroica multicolor). Illustration Brett Littleton.

Isopod specimens of the genus Eighteen spider morphospecies with many being common and Notoniscus found on three of were named during the survey by widespread across Tasmania. the islands were exceptionally Lynne Forster. Morphospecies are Similarly, most of the named large and also likely to be a new taxa which are morphologically spider species are not only species. However no Australian distinct from currently known widespread in Tasmania, but taxonomist is currently working species; they may therefore also found on the mainland on onoscideans, and those constitute separate species, eg Novodamus nodatus and elsewhere in the world were but await formal description to Prostheclina amplior. Even the currently unavailable to examine confirm this. However, none endemics (Ommatauxesis the specimens. of these were newly identified, macrops, Stanwellia pexa) have a

Table 1. Dates on which each island was visited (bold = main visit)

Maximum Position in Island Size (Ha) elevation Geology Date Method harbour m (ASL) Bedrock Meta- Bonnet 0.17 10 Entrance 10 Dec 2009 Traverse sedimentary Traverse, 4 hair- 9 Dec 2009 Poorly consolidated tubes, 4 pitfalls Cat 27.26 4 Lower sediments Collect pitfalls, hair 11 Dec 2009 tubes Bedrock Meta- Elizabeth 2.12 23 Middle 10 Dec 2009 Traverse sedimentary not Entrance 0.61 Entrance no information 11 Dec 2009 Traverse recorded Traverse, set 2 hair 9 Dec 2009 Poorly consolidated tubes, 1 camera Magazine 2.37 5 Lower sediments Collect hair tube, 11 Dec 2009 camera Weakly consolidated 7 Dec 2009 Traverse Neck 18.22 6 Lower Pebble conglomerate 9 Dec 2009 Traverse Traverse, set 3 8 Dec 2009 cameras, 20 hair- Semi-consolidated Philips 8.99 41 Upper tubes sandstone/ siltstone Collect cameras & 11 Dec 2009 hair-tubes Inter-bedded siltstone/ Sarah 8.29 18 Upper 11 Dec 2009 Traverse sandstone sediment Traverse, set 3 8 Dec 2009 cameras,15 hair- Semi –consolidated Soldiers 12.98 21 Upper tubes, 10 pitfalls sandstone sequence Collect cameras, 11 Dec 2009 hair-tubes, pitfalls 78 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster). Illustration Brett Littleton.

widespread distribution across and it is quite surprising that they In addition to the cat records, Tasmania. Similarly, the beetle were not already recorded on the introduced species newly morphospecies and species Natural Values Atlas. At least four recorded in Macquarie Harbour identified on the islands have in species of rodent were identified included the black rat, rabbit, general been found fairly widely by the hairtubes and on one of four land snails, one collembolan, across the state. the video cameras. Cat hairs were an amphipod and a spider. The found on Philips Island; hairs found earwigs, which were not identified The four bird species newly on Cat Island were also suspected to species, were also likely to be recorded were all common to be cat. A sea eagle nest was exotic. species well known from the area, newly identified on Philips Island. The highest numbers of fauna taxa were identified on Cat and Soldiers Islands, and the lowest on Bonnet Island. Island area could explain almost 65% of the variation in number of fauna and flora taxa identified on each island (Fig. 1a), though correlations were weaker when vertebrate and invertebrate taxa were considered independently (Fig. 1b), especially in the case of the vertebrates.

No taxon was found on all of the islands, although the black currawong and forest raven were recorded on seven of them.

Setting off for Cat Island. Photo Clare Hawkins Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009 79

Top: Sea eagle nest, Philips Island. Eagle nests should not normally be approached so closely during the breeding season; this nest was identified for the first time at the time the photograph was taken. Photo Clare Hawkins

Bottom: Tree ferns Cyathea australis, Philips Island. Photo Clare Hawkins 80 Hamish Saunders Memorial Island Survey Program 2009

Table 2 Taxa recorded on the islands of Macquarie Harbour. Unless marked with a grey diamond, all taxa were recorded during the present survey. Data from ‘Macquarie Hbr (pre Dec 2009)’ are taken from the Natural Values Atlas. Data from previous surveys on Sarah Island are from Phillips (2000) and Mallick (2000).

Phylum Arthropoda Class Acari (mites and ticks) Bonnet Cat Elizabeth Entrance Magazine Neck Philips Sarah Soldiers (pre Dec09) Macquarie Hbr