CALM Occasional Paeen Research on the Impact of Forest Management in South-West Western Australia
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CALM Occasional Paeen Research on the Impact of Forest Management in South-West Western Australia Occasional Paper 2/92 July 1992 Published by the Department of Conservation and Land Management Como Western Australia ©Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia 1992 ISSN 1031-4865 Marianne Lewis ................................................ Series Editor CALM Corporate Relations Division ................ Production and distribution ii LOCALITY MAP Western Australia SOUTHERN OCEAN INDIAN OCEAN KEY -- KARRI OCCURRENCE _ WARREN BOTANICAL SUBDISTRICT * NATIONAL PARK 20 40 60 80 100 I I I I I scale In kilometres / LEEUWIN NATURALIST! NAT. PK. \ Boranup Hill Karrldal SOUTHERN OCEAN Map of the south-west of W.A. showing karri occurrence and Warren Botanical Subdistrict iii iv Contributors Dr I. Abbott Department of Conservation and Land Management, Research Centre, P.O. Box 104, Como, W.A. 6152 }.R. Bartle Department of Conservation and Land Management, Research Centre, P.O. Box 104, Como W.A. 6152 J.D. Blyth Department of Conservation and Land Management, Hackett Drive, Crawley, W.A. 6009 Dr A.A. Burbidge Department of Conservation and Land Management, Wildlife Research Centre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, W.A. 6065 Dr. P.E.S.Christensen Department of Conservation and Land Management, Brain Street, Manjimup, W.A. 6258 Dr S.A. Halse Department of Conservation and Land Management, Wildlife Research Centre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, W.A. 6065 Dr S.D. Hopper Department of Conservation and Land Management, Wildlife Research Centre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, W.A. 6065 G.J. Keighery Department of Conservation and Land Management, Wildlife Research Centre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, W.A. 6065 Dr J.F. McGrath Department of Conservaton and Land Management, 14 Queen Street, Busselton, W.A. 6280 Dr B.L. Shearer Department of Conservation and Land Management, Research Centre, P.O. Box 104, Como, W.A. 6213 G. Stoneman Department of Conservation and Land Management, Research Centre, Dwellingup, W.A. 6213 G. Wardell-Johnson Department of Conservation and Land Management, Brain Street, Man jim up, W.A. 6258 v vi Contents PAGE PREFACE ix CHAPTER 1 Flora of the karri forest and other communities in the Warren Botanical Subdistrict of Western Australia S.D. Hopper, G.J. Keighery and G. Wardell-Johnson ............................................................ ] CHAPTER2 A review of the effects of disturbance on wildlife of the karri forest Grant Wardell Johnson and Per Christensen ....................................................................... 33 CHAPTER3 Impact of timber harvest and regeneration on nutrition of the jarrah and karri forests of south-west Western Australia John Bartle and John McGrath ........................................................................................... 59 CHAPTER4 Review of the impact of logging and regeneration on the hydrology of the southern forest of Western Australia Geoff Stoneman ................................................................................................................... 67 CHAPTERS Ecological implications of insect pests in jarrah and karri forests Ian Abbott ........................................................................................................................... 77 CHAPTER6 The ecological implications of disease in the southern forest of south-western Australia B L. Shearer ........................................................................................................................ 99 CHAPTER 7 Aquatic fauna of the karri forest S.A. Halse and J.D. Blyth .................................................................................................. 115 vii viii Preface On 28 September 1988 the Minister for the Environment approved a proposal by W.A. Chip and Pulp Pty Ltd (W ACAP) for a renewal of their licence for woodchipping, subject to a number of conditions. Condition No. 10 states: The proponent shall, in consultation with the Department of Conservation and Land Management, contribute to or participate in monitoring and management with respect to the environmental impact ofthis proposal to the satisfaction of the Minister of Environment. The detailed objectives and priorities for research into this monitoring and management shall be determined by the Steering Committee for Research on Land Use and Water Supply,following wide consultation, including the public. As precursor to agreeing on research requirements with WACAP and the Steering Committee, CALM (the Department of Conservation and Land Management) has prepared a review of existing knowledge written by experts in relevant fields. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Report and Recommendations 1 on the woodchip industry listed on p. 32 a number of topics that the EPA believed should be addressed. Consequently the following issues have been reviewed: Flora of the karri forest and other adjacent vegetation types Long term composition of the flora and fauna of the forest in relation to forest management The impact of timber harvesting on nutrition of the karri and jarrah forests The impact of forest management on the hydrology of the southern forests Ecological implications of insect pests in jarrah and karri forests Ecological implications of plant diseases in southern forests Aquatic fauna of the karri forest 2 A review of fire is not included here because such a review has been recently published · EPA (1988). The Western Australian Woodchip Industry. Environmental Protection Authority Bulletin No. 329. Christensen, P. and Abbott, I. (1989). Impact of fire in the eucalypt forest ecosystem of southern Western Australia: a critical review. Australian Forestry 52, 103-121. ix Authors of the reviews were asked to structure their papers around three headings: • Past research and current knowledge • Current research • High priority additional research requirements As is customary with all CALM scientific publications, these reviews were each refereed by two scientists external to CALM. Because the authors of the reviews have recommended many additional research requirements, these have been ranked by a group of CALM senior research scientists. Those recommendations considered of highest priority are: Flora Production of a Flora of Warren District Taxonomic studies on poorly known plant groups Enhanced survey effort, especially surveys of poorly known areas Effects of timber harvesting and regeneration on flora and fauna Study effects on selected vertebrates and invertebrates Study hollow formation in karri, marri and jarrah Study effects of thinning on fauna Nutrition Quantify fertilizer response during early growth of jarrah and karri Extend later age fertilizer experiments in jarrah and karri to a greater range of sites Research role of prescribed burning in nitrogen economy of karri forest Hydrology None Insect Pests Study impact of repeated chronic defoliation on nutrient levels in and physiological condition of jarrah Clarify reasons for the initiation and continuation of insect outbreaks Study insect pests of Eucalyptus globulus Plant diseases Develop a database of susceptibility of plants to Phytophthora species and determine long term effects of infection on community diversity In addition, the Group believed that research on wood rots (not covered in the review) was a high priority Aquatic fauna Develop an inventory of aquatic invertebrates Study impact of logging and regeneration on aquatic communities I am confident that these reviews provide the essential technical background information necessary to allow agreement on the allocation of research resources. Andrew A. Burbidge Director of Research January 1992 X CHAPTER 1 Flora of the Karri Forest and other .Communities in the Warren Botanical Subdistrict of Western Australia S.D. Hopper G.J. Keighery and G. Wardell-Johnson Abstract A review is provided of current knowledge, ongoing research and future research requirements for the Warren Botanical Subdistrict flora. Although a thorough survey of the flora has yet to be undertaken, current literature, herbarium collections and unpublished survey data indicate that some 1947 taxa (species, subspecies or varieties) have been collected. This total comprises 1628 native and 319 introduced taxa. Important families include Papilionaceae (165 taxa), Orchidaceae (152), Myrtaceae (125) and Proteaceae (115). The largest genera include Acacia (64 taxa), Stylidium (55), Ca/adenia (46), Leucopogon (41), Eucalyptus (26) and Drosera (24). The Subdistrict has 99 known endemic taxa, and many more near endemics or geographical outliers. It is the most important centre of endemism for conservative relictual high rainfall taxa in the State. There are 19 species of Declared Rare Flora, 46 poorly known taxa in urgent need of further survey to assess their conservation status, and 16 adequately surveyed taxa additional to those declared as rare that require monitoring. Coastal heath, granite outcrops, swamps and woodlands contain the majority of endemics and threatened taxa. The main karri forest has few of the endemics, and none of the Declared Rare Flora nor those requiring monitoring. The most important priority for future research is the production of a published Flora of the Warren Subdistrict. Such a project would stimulate taxonomic and biogeographic research, and enable a better assessment of conservation requirements to be made. Survey and biological studies of threatened taxa and of poorly known and rare habitats at risk are also needed to design appropriate management