Conservation Science W. Aust. 12 : 1 (2017)

Biodiversity in the southern rangelands: variation in biota over time and space on the Black Range and Lake Mason stations, Murchison Bioregion, Western Australia

MARK A COWAN 1, DAPHNE EDINGER 2 AND KEVIN COATE 3 1 Science and Conservation Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983 2 Western Australian Herbarium, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983 3 11 Peak View, Canning Vale WA 6155 Corresponding author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

This biodiversity survey examined the terrestrial vertebrate fauna, avifauna and vascular fora of two adjoining, ex-pastoral stations in the Murchison Bioregion of Western Australia. A diverse native biota was identifed with at least 58 reptiles, 18 terrestrial mammals, 73 birds and 385 vascular plants documented. Few rare species were recorded and most species were typical of the Eremaean Botanical Province. Assemblage structure was assessed for 24 stratifed sampling sites for reptiles, mammals and vascular fora. Signifcant indicator species were resolved for the various assemblage groups. Species accumulation data at the site and landscape scale and for each assemblage group, gained by sampling over two years and several seasons, were used to determine sampling adequacy for reptiles and mammals. By the end of the fve survey periods, between 90–95% of trappable reptile species and 97–100% of mammal species had been recorded. Analysis of assemblage groups showed that three sampling periods for reptiles and four for mammals were adequate to determine the species assemblages of these two groups across all survey sites. Trapping efciency for reptiles and mammals was compared between 20 L buckets and narrow diameter but deeper PVC pipes. Mean maximum temperature had both positive and negative efects on reptile capture rates, which varied with reptile family. Agamids had a strong negative capture association with the number of times the sites had been surveyed. This study provides the frst detailed baseline of biota in the Murchison Bioregion and indicates that relying on fauna trapping over only two sampling periods in arid environments is not adequate to identify the full assemblage of species at the site scale.

Keywords: biodiversity, fora, land systems, Murchison, sampling design, vertebrates

INTRODUCTION and the implications of conficting land uses, such as pastoral grazing and mining activities. More broadly, A comprehensive knowledge of biodiversity values biodiversity surveys contribute to biogeographic and relating to species patterning, composition and taxonomic knowledge of the fora and fauna and can abundance is an essential component for effective elucidate aspects of species’ natural history (for example reserve management. This information is used Burbidge et al. 2000; George et al. 2015). as the basis of monitoring programs that provide Within the arid zone of Western Australia, we improved understanding of the consequences of have only superfcial understanding of distributions management actions, inactions, stochastic processes for many vertebrate taxa and much of the vascular flora. In addition, very little information about © The Government of Western Australia, 2017 species associations, natural history and specific habitat requirements is known. There is almost no knowledge about their individual and collective roles Recommended citation: Cowan MA, Edinger D, Coate K (2017) in maintaining landscape-scale processes. Biodiversity in the southern rangelands: variation in biota over time and space on the Black Range and Lake Mason stations, There are few data relating to biodiversity survey Murchison Bioregion, Western Australia. Conservation Science published for any part of the Murchison Bioregion Western Australia 12: 1 [online]. https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/ (Cowan 2003). The only systematic assessment has been CSWAjournal in the southern portion of the bioregion where several 2 MA Cowan et al.

sites were examined during the Eastern Goldfelds An essential part of any survey is maximising Biological Survey, coordinated by the Western efciency and ensuring data collected are adequate Australian Biological Surveys Commitee from 1978 to in quality and quantity for the desired purpose. 1982 (Biological Surveys Commitee 1984). However, Methodological sampling issues exist for all biota, but even then sampling was sparse and only covered wide- they are especially problematic for fauna, principally spread surface types. An analysis by How and Cowan because of species mobility, variable activity driven (2006) using data from Western Australian Museum by immediate and seasonal climatic conditions and vertebrate collections to assess sampling intensity across overall abundance being affected by longer term the state showed much of the Murchison Bioregion to climatic trends (Environmental Protection Authority have been poorly sampled. Descriptions of vegetation and Department of Environment and Conservation associations have been documented at the scale of 2010). Further complicating these issues are the methods 1:1,000,000 (Beard 1976) for the Murchison, including used for sampling, such as trap type, trap arrangements, this study area, however this is broad and provides sampling duration and timing. Consequently, in this insufcient detail at fne scales. survey, the repetitive sampling design enabled some Black Range and Lake Mason Stations are ex- assessment of sampling adequacy through the use pastoral stations situated just north of the community of species accumulation data, examining changes in of Sandstone in the central Murchison Bioregion, and no assemblage structure with multiple sampling and detailed formal biological survey has been undertaken examining temperature changes on the activity of previously. The Western Australian Museum database diferent vertebrate families. shows records for only seven species of reptiles, two terrestrial mammals, four birds and no frogs (Western STUDY AREA Australian Museum 2010) for either property. The Western Australian Herbarium database contained Lake Mason and Black Range stations in records of 82 individual plants representing 17 the Murchison Bioregion families, 34 genera and 52 species (Western Australian Herbarium 1998–). Prior to this survey, the closest Lake Mason and Black Range Stations are ex-pastoral detailed biodiversity assessment surveys in the vicinity stations that were purchased for the purpose of nature were on Wanjarri Nature Reserve some 150 km to the conservation by the then Department of Conservation east (Hall et al. 1994) and on Yuinmery Station around and Land Management (CALM; now the Department 100 km to the south (Dell et al. 1992). Afer this survey of Parks and Wildlife) in 2000 under the Gascoyne– foristic work was undertaken on local banded ironstone Murchison Strategy (Laurance 1996). They are situated and greenstones formations of Lake Mason (Thompson centrally in the Murchison Bioregion (Thackway & Sheehy 2010). & Cresswell 1995), just north of the community of The primary aim of the current study was to identify Sandstone (Fig. 1). They share a common longitudinal the terrestrial mammals and reptiles, particularly boundary and can be considered as a single land- those with specific conservation values, and their management unit totalling approximately 228,647 ha. habitat associations at Black Range and Lake Mason While these properties are not currently part of the ex-pastoral stations. An assessment of vascular fora state’s formal reserve system they are managed as such and avifauna was also undertaken. Our focus was a under a memorandum of understanding between Parks thorough documentation of the biodiversity values and Wildlife and the Western Australian Department of this signifcant area in the Murchison Bioregion in of Land Administration (DOLA). order to provide a baseline against which changes in Lake Mason Station was established as part of a land use and climate can be assessed, and to provide pastoral enterprise shortly afer 1900 by HGB Mason management guidelines for reclaimed pastoral land. In (Senior 1995). Early stocking was mostly cattle, as addition to this, we aimed to identify the most critical was the case for many pastoral stations at that time, aspects of performing detailed biodiversity assessment but by 1926 this was changed to sheep. Stocking rates including efort, timing, seasonality and the utility of appear to have been relatively stable for much of the land systems as the basis for sampling stratifcation. station’s history with around 13,000 head of sheep During this biodiversity assessment, a secondary being run in 1926 and between 8000–10,000 sheep aim was to examine the efficiency and sampling being shorn annually by 1978. Black Range Station was adequacy of two commonly used trap types across a established as a pastoral lease around 1920 but there broad gradient of habitats in an arid environment. An is litle information of stocking rates throughout its area of continuing debate amongst survey zoologists is history other than an indication through much of the the efciency of diferent trap types. Vertebrate surveys southern area that overgrazing has been quite severe. ofen use two trap types, the narrow and deep PVC pipe The Agricultural Department reported in 1998 that for and the wider but shallower 20 L buckets. Previous the land that had moderate to high grazing potential work by Rolfe and McKenzie (2000) indicated that the (14,168 ha), the vegetation on approximately 43.3% PVC pipe trap was more efective. However, Thompson (6,139 ha) was in poor condition. For Lake Mason Station and Thompson (2007) suggested that the 20 L bucket this fgure was 37.2% (32,357 ha of a total of 86,956 ha; was more efective. Van Vreeswyk et al. 1998). Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 3

Figure 1. Maps showing location of Lake Mason and Black Range Stations in Western Australia and the location of survey sites in relation to land systems. The dashed line shows the station boundaries while dots indicate the location of survey sites numbered 1 to 24.

Climate temperature is 3.6 °C (range 3.6–5.1) and occurs in July. Mean annual rainfall is 242 mm and February is the The climatic regime for the region is that of desert wetest month. (Payne 1997) with long hot, dry summers and cool Mean temperature across all fve of our surveys was winters. Evaporation exceeds mean annual precipitation 32.3 °C (SD = 4.0) while the mean minimum temperature by a factor of >10, with limited rainfall occurring in both was 15.3 °C (SD = 6.4). Average maximum and minimum summer and winter. The closest weather station is at temperatures were cooler in the September sampling Sandstone, approximately 35 km south of the study periods (max 28.2 °C, SD = 2.8; min 8.4 °C, SD = 1.8) area. Records for rainfall date from 1904 to 2010 while than they were in the November and March periods temperature records are available from 1906 to 2010. The (max 35.0 °C, SD = 0.2; min 19.8 °C, SD = 0.8). In the mean maximum temperature is 38 °C (range 35.8–38) months leading up to the frst survey in September and occurs in January while the mean minimum 2004, Sandstone recorded 323 mm of rainfall. The total 4 MA Cowan et al.

rainfall for that year was 349 mm. By late November chenopods including Maireana spp. and Atriplex spp. 2005 a further 163 mm was recorded. There were only Stands of Casuarina pauper with shrubby Acacia spp. two days when any rain fell during a survey period and and chenopod understoreys are found on the calcreted these were both in November 2004, with a total of 7 mm. surfaces. In summary, 2004 was an above average rainfall year while 2005 was below average and trapping periods were warm to hot and comparatively dry. METHODS Geology and vegetation Sampling methods The study area is situated in the central-northern part Twenty-four survey locations (sites) were selected to of the Southern Cross Granite–Greenstone Terrane represent the major diversity in land systems, land of the Yilgarn Craton (Chen 2005), which is covered units and habitat types within the study area on Lake by the Sandstone 1:100,000 and 1:250,000 geological Mason and Black Range stations. Land systems were series map sheets. Relief is subdued and ranges from selected as the primary stratifcation method as they 480–590 m above sea level, but the localised variation are mapped at a useful scale (1:250,000) and represent is considerably less. Granitic rocks occupy or underlie recurring paterns of topography, vegetation and soils much of the area but are generally poorly exposed. across the landscape (Mabbut 1968). Empirical data The most signifcant outcrops are close to and below support the stratifcation of components of biodiversity breakaway escarpments, a common feature throughout across diferent land systems (Oliver et al. 2004). the study area. Large exposures of rounded granite Survey sites were located on 17 of the 28 systems dome surfaces are present, particularly in the south-east. mapped across the study area: these 17 land systems Greenstone formations comprising metamorphosed accounted for 96.5% of the total study area. Land system amphibolites, basalts and fine grained sediments, descriptions, their aerial extent, and land unit and along with banded iron formations, occur in a broad habitat descriptions for each of the 24 survey sites are band almost at the centre of the study area and are summarised in Appendix 1. part of a larger north-westerly trending system known To sample small vertebrates, two pitfall trap-drif as the Gum Creek greenstone belt (Wyche et al. 2004). fence lines were constructed at each site and positioned Surface expression of these formations generally take approximately 80–100 m apart. Each line consisted of the form of undulating hills but with difering amounts a 60 m long and 0.3 m high aluminium fywire fence of bedrock exposed (Tingey 1985), although at the with the botom few centimetres buried in the substrate. southern end of this band there is a low narrow banded At 5 m from each end, and then at 10 m intervals ironstone range, the Jasper Hills. along each fence, a pitfall trap was positioned with its Taking up the central area of the former Lake Mason opening centrally located under the fence and fush to pastoral lease is Lake Mason itself, a large playa lake the ground. The pitfall traps used were 250 mm wide that from its southern end trends north-easterly before by 400 mm deep plastic buckets (20 L) alternating with taking an entirely easterly direction. Its usually dry 150 mm wide by 600 mm deep PVC pipes. Thus each bed spans around 45 km in length and is close to 2 km line had three plastic buckets and three PVC pipes, at its widest. and each site had a total of 12 pitfall traps. Insulating Spinifex (Triodia spp.) sandplain makes up around material made from cut egg cartons or small polystyrene 81.8% of the former Blake Range Station. This may packing trays, along with small amounts of soil and leaf include species such as Eucalyptus kingsmillii, E. liter, were placed in the botom of buckets to provide gongylocarpa and Acacia aneura (mulga), with mulga- protection from both weather and predation. dominated plains contributing 11% and breakaways Six medium sized Elliot traps (type A) were set at and stony plains 4.5% (Van Vreeswyk et al. 1998). approximately 15 m intervals starting from the end of Proportional areas of spinifex are considerably less each pit-trap line. These were baited with ‘universal on Lake Mason (36%) although it is still the dominant bait’, a combination of oats and peanut buter, and this vegetation type. Mulga plains make up 15.8%, lake was replaced every few days. areas 16.5%, with acacia dominated hills, breakaways Traps were checked and cleared each morning and stony plains, and calcreted drainage systems between sunrise and 10 am. All captures were identifed contributing 7.7%, 6.7% and 5.8%, respectively. The to species level. Body mass, sex and reproductive status lower plains and alluvial tracts are dominated by were recorded. For reptiles, snout–vent length was Acacia woodlands with A. aneura the most abundant also recorded with a plastic ruler, while for mammals species. Understoreys often contain a shrub layer cranium and pes length were measured with a set of consisting of species of Eremophila and Senna, along with vernier callipers. All specimens were either processed a variety of grasses. Acacias, including A. aneura and on site and immediately released, or brought back to A. quadrimarginea, are also found scatered around the a central location for processing and returned to their margins and along drainage lines of granite outcrops original location for release prior to the end of the day. and amongst stony hills and ranges. Lake beds are To calculate within-session recapture rates, a small dominated by samphires while the marginal areas mark from a paint pen (xylene free) was applied to the and saline drainage tracts ofen support a variety of outside of one ear for mammals and to the abdomen Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 5

for reptiles. Vouchers for all species caught were lodged From a community analysis perspective species that with the Western Australian Museum for confrmation were too large to be captured and sampled reliably of identifcation and to provide a permanent and reliable by pit trapping, but had been occasionally captured record of species caught in this study. or observed in the study area, were excluded from Trap lines at all sites were opened and operated subsequent quantitative multivariate analysis. These simultaneously for seven consecutive nights over each exclusions were the larger varanids and snakes (Varanus of the following fve periods: from 15–21 September giganteus, V. gouldii, V. panoptes, V. tristis, Pseudonaja 2004; 25 November to 1 December 2004; 16–22 March mengdeni, P. modesta, Pseudechis australis/butleri), 2005; 14–20 September 2005; and 16–22 November 2005. mammals (Tachyglossus aculeatus, Macropus robustus, M. Elliot traps were used for the frst two survey periods rufus) and frogs (Neobatrachus wilsmorei, Pseudophryne in 2004, however, as only two mammal individuals occidentalis). Similarity analysis of foristic data was were caught from 4032 trap nights, their continued undertaken with the removal of all species having use seemed unlikely to provide useful additional only a single site occurrence (although a full list of all information and therefore they were discontinued. species is provided in Appendix 4). Data were clustered Floristic survey quadrats were established at each using Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic of the 24 sites. These consisted of a 30 × 30 m quadrat Mean (UPGMA) and structures between samples marked in the corners with galvanised fence droppers. were determined using the similarity profling routine They were positioned so as to be representative of the (SIMPROF; Clarke & Gorley 2006). SIMPROF tests for typical vegetation community present at each site and evidence of structure in a set of samples and can be were surveyed once only in September 2004. Species used to objectively defne meaningful groups within presence data was recorded from each site and voucher a dendrogram. Indicator species analysis (Dufrene & specimens of most species were lodged with the Western Legendre 1997) using the PC-ORD Package (McCune Australian Herbarium. & Meford 1999) was used to identify species with Visual bird censuses were undertaken over seven high fdelity within the SIMPROF defned groups and days in both September 2004 and September 2005. All also as a secondary assessment to confrm ecologically sites were surveyed within a 200 m radius of the pitfall appropriate cut point for the dendrograms (McCune et trap lines for at least 30 mins on two diferent mornings al. 2002). Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS) in PRIMER or late afernoons during each survey, except for sites was used to graphically represent sample associations. 4, 12, 15, 19, 21, 22 and 24, which were surveyed once Similarity derived from the dendrograms at the 30% only for a period of approximately 30 mins each in 2004, level for fora and reptiles and 45% level for mammals while sites 4, 12, 15, 19 and 24 were surveyed once only were overlain on the MDS plots. Comparison between for a period of approximately 30 mins each in 2005. multiple resemblance matrices was undertaken using Additional opportunistic bird sightings were recorded 2nd stage MDS in PRIMER whereby a single correlation during the course of the surveys. matrix of p values (Spearman rank correlations) is Nomenclature for all taxa referred to follow that produced defning overall similarity of the matrices with of the Western Australian Museum for fauna and the each other. This was undertaken to test for association Western Australian Herbarium for fora from the most between the site paterns for reptiles, mammals and current lists as of March 2017. vascular fora. An assessment of overall sampling adequacy for the Statistical analyses purpose of diferentiating assemblage structure was also undertaken using 2nd Stage MDS. Here results Permutated species accumulation curves were from each sampling period were combined so data produced in PRIMER for observed data as well as for from sampling period one was compared with the the Chao 1, Jackknife 1 and Bootstrap species richness cumulated data from sampling periods one and two estimators using pitfall captures. These estimators were and then these were compared against the cumulated used as they are considered to give a meaningful view data for sampling periods one, two and three, etc. The of species diversity in an assemblage where abundance statistical package GENSTAT (VSN International) was data is available (Magurran 2004), although in situations used for comparative analysis of the efectiveness of the where rare species represent a signifcant proportion of two pit trap types used in this survey. the total sample Bootstrapping is considered superior (Poulin 1998). Estimations of total species richness with Chao 1 (bias corrected) and Jackknife 1 at each site was undertaken with the program SPADE (Chao & Shen RESULTS 2003). While Bootstrapping estimates were acquired Reptiles and mammals from PRIMER. Assemblage analysis for vertebrate pitfall captures Species richness and foristic quadrat data was undertaken using the Bray–Curtis association measure in PRIMER v6. When We conducted 10,080 pit-trap days over fve separate applied to presence/absence data, as was the case with surveys between September 2004 and November 2005. the floristic data, this index is then the equivalent Seventy-two species of native fauna were recorded of a Sorensen index (Legendre & Legendre 1998). from captures of 2028 individuals over the 35 nights of 6 MA Cowan et al.

trapping (Appendix 2). For reptiles there were 18 skinks A number of vertebrate species that were difcult species, 15 geckos, 9 dragons, 8 snakes, 6 varanids, 2 to detect and document were captured on only pygopods and 2 amphibians. For the mammals there one of the fve survey periods and were generally were 9 dasyurids and 3 rodents. Additional native represented by only one individual. These were species that were not included in trapping data but Ctenophorus salinarum, Ctenotus severus, Ctenotus were observed include two macropods, three bats and uber, Nephrurus laevissimus, Pygopus nigriceps, Suta the echidna. fasciata, Tiliqua occipitalis, Lucasium stenodactylum and The most abundantly trapped species were Gehyra Pseudomys desertor. Other species trapped on only variegata (x¯ = 32.6 captures per survey, SD = 22.05), two occasions and in low abundance were Liopholis Rhynchoedura ornata (x¯ = 25.8, SD = 12.68), Sminthopsis inornata, Brachyurophis semifasciata, Simoselaps bertholdi macroura (x¯ = 25.2 , SD = 11.12), Lucasium squarrosum and Ctenotus grandis. (x¯ = 21 , SD = 15.52), Strophurus elderi (x¯ = 19, SD = 18.19), Five introduced species of vertebrate were recorded Diplodactylus pulcher (x¯ = 19 , SD = 17.59) and Heteronotia during the survey: the fox (Vulpes vulpes), feral cat (Felis binoei (x¯ = 18.4, SD = 9.61). Each of these species had catus), rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), goat (Capra hircus) >90 captures over the course of the survey and was and the house mouse (Mus musculus). Most of these detected in every survey period, although abundance were in low numbers and infrequently seen, apart was highly variable across survey periods. All of these from rabbits which were most abundant around the species were detected on at least 50% of sites except for lake system, and the house mouse which is considered Strophurus elderi, which was confned to the fve sites naturalised and was caught on nine of the trapping with spinifex (Bullimore land system). All the other grids. Past evidence of goats was particularly high species occurred across a range of habitats that generally around the breakaways, banded ironstone ranges excluded spinifex. and exposed granites, although their numbers have Other wide-spread but less abundant taxa reduced to a point where they no longer appear to be included Lerista timida (x¯ = 16.0, SD = 11.6), Sminthopsis an ongoing problem. Evidence of grazing by domestic ooldea (x¯ = 15.2, SD = 5.45), Menetia greyii (x¯ = 14.4, SD stock was also particularly apparent at sites 12 and 13 = 6.58), and Pseudomys hermannsburgensis (x¯ = 5.4, SD where grasses, herbs and small shrubs were almost = 1.14), with all occurring on at least 50% of surveyed entirely absent from the sites and there was evidence sites and all detected every survey period. of loss of surface soil. Species that were even less abundant but were Fify-one reptile species (1538 individuals) were detected on each of the five survey periods were caught, with a mean trap efciency across all survey Cryptoblepharus buchananii, Ctenophorus caudicinctus, periods of 0.1526 (SD = 0.0774; range 0.0565–0.2311) C. nuchalis, Ctenotus leonhardii, C. pantherinus, C. captures per pit trap night. We captured thirteen aff. quattuordecimlineatus, C. schomburgkii, Delma mammal species (470 individuals), with a mean trap butleri, Egernia depressa, Mus musculus, Ningaui ridei, efciency across all survey periods of 0.0466 (SD = Notomys alexis, Sminthopsis crassicaudata, S. hirtipes, S. 0.0105; range 0.0317–0.0565) captures per pit trap night. longicaudata, Strophurus wellingtonae, S. strophurus and Varanus caudolineatus. Community assemblages Several species that are only intermitently caught when pitfall traps are used were recorded during For reptiles, approximately 50% of the total number of this survey. This included the brush-tailed mulgara species had been caught afer 62 individuals and 75% (Dasycercus blythi), which was recorded at sites 8 and had been caught afer 224 individuals (Fig. 3a). The 19, both in the Bullimore land system dominated by Chao 1, Jackknife 1 and Bootstrap estimators are in close spinifex sandplain. agreement on the total number of reptile species at the The long-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis longicaudata) end of the survey with 56.9, 56.9 and 53.8, respectively was captured 29 times from seven sites. This is currently (Fig. 3a). This would indicate that by the end of the listed as a Priority 4 species. Captures were reliable survey between 90–95% of trappable species had been on each survey with a mean capture rate of 5.8 (SD caught. = 1.3) individuals per survey period. The majority For mammals, 50% of species (6.5) had been caught of these occurred in the breakaways (site 23), on the afer 13 individuals and 75% (9.75) afer 44 individuals. Gabanintha land system (site 18) or the Jasper Hills Chao 1, Jackknife 1 and Bootstrap estimators were 13, (site 1). However, individuals were detected at other 13 and 13.4 respectively, suggesting that 97–100% of sites with the common environmental atribute being mammal species had been sampled by the end of the a stony substrate with sparse vegetation. survey period (Fig. 3b). Although not formally considered rare or The grouping in the MDS plot for the reptiles (Fig. endangered the kultarr (Antechinomys laninger) is a 2a) is defined by 30% similarity from Bray–Curtis species that is infrequently encountered. There were abundance data and UPGAMA clustering. This level two records of this species from this survey, both from was used as it closely approximated the split defned by site 20 within the Waguin land system which consists the more objective SIMPROF routine (Clarke & Gorley of a stony substrate with halophytic vegetation and a 2006) and using indicator species analysis (McCune mulga over storey. et al. 2002). The later method identifed four distinct Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 7

Figure 2. An MDS ordination of the sites for (a) reptiles and (b) mammals. Symbol groups are defned by SIMPROF and clusters enclosed with the dashed lines are at the 30% (outer) and 45% (inner) similarity level for reptiles and 45% similarity for mammals. Note that the use of SIMPROF did not resolve any signifcant structure for sites in relation to mammals and therefore there is only a single symbol. 8 MA Cowan et al.

assemblages while the SIMPROF routine identifed group to the mean number of predicted species from a ffh (Table 1). Adequacy of sampling for each of the Chao 1, Jackknife 1 and Bootstrap estimators. For the four groups was determined by comparing the Group A the observed species richness compared to mean number of observed species at each site within a the estimators indicated that between 78% and 88% of

Table 1 Site groupings defned by reptile assemblages and the signifcant indicator species for the groupings. Sampling adequacy for each of the groups is assessed through examination of the observed species and the various species estimators.

A B C D

Sites 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 11 12, 13, 4, 9 and 10 3, 8, 19, 21 and 22 20 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24 Description Stony and/or hardpan Fringing lake sites (sites Spinifex sites: SIMPROF Open alluvial plain plains with acacia 9 and 10) and recently analysis split sites 3 and 8 incorporating chenopod shrublands burnt spinifex sandplain (Mulga overstorey) from shrubs site (site 4) the others Indicator species Diplodactylus pulcher Ctenophorus nuchalis Ctenotus pantherinus No indicator values but and IV value (59.1%)* (93.4%)** (80.0%)* contained highest Lerista timida (65.9)* Ctenotus leonhardii Ctenotus aff. captures for (56.3%)* quattuordecimlineatus Diplodactylus pulcher Lerista desertorum (87.3%)** (33 individuals) and (60.3%)* Delma butleri 100.0%)** D. conspicillatus Strophurus strophurus Strophurus elderi (100.0%)** (11 individuals) (62.9%)* Species observed 11.4 (SD=2.7) 12.3 (SD=4.2) 15.8 (SD=3.1) 15 Chao 1 13.5 (SD=4.4) 15.4 (SD=5.2) 23.6 (SD=13.3) 17.1 Jackknife 1 14.5 (SD=3.8) 16.6 (SD=5.1) 21.9 (SD=5.3) 20.9 Bootstrap 12.9 (SD=3.2) 14.2 (SD=4.5) 18.6 (SD=3.7) 18

* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01

Table 2 Site groupings defned by mammal assemblages and the signifcant indicator species for the groupings. Sampling adequacy for each of the groups is assessed through examination of the observed species and the various species estimators.

A B C D E F

Sites 4, 21 and 22 3, 8 and 19 2, 10, 20 and 24 6, 15, 18 and 23 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 1 and 5 14, 16 and 17 Description Spinifex including Unburnt spinifex Alluvial plains Breakaway, green- Sandy sites and Ironstone screes recently burnt site and calcreted stone hills and wash plains on and exfoliating as well as dune drainage plains undulating plain hardpan, generally granitic domes crest and base with halophytic all dominated by incorporating tall dominated with site shrublands acacia shrublands acacias. acacia shrubland Large areas of bare ground. Indicator Sminthopsis Ningaui ridei Sminthopsis Sminthopsis No signifcant Pseudantechinus species and hirtipes (80.5%)** crassicaudata longicaudata indicator species woolleyae IV value (87.7%)** Dasycercus blythi (67.2%)** (60.5%)* (100.0%)** (66.7%)* Mus musculus S. macroura (61.1%)* (59.7%)*** Species 5.0 (SD=2.6) 5.7 (SD=1.5) 4.5 (SD=1.9) 3.5 (SD=0.6) 3.8 (SD=1.9) 3.0 (SD=1.4) observed Chao 1 5.5 (SD=3.5) 7.2 (SD=3.3) 5.0 (SD=2.4) 4.1 (SD=1.4) 4.5 (SD=2.3) 3.0 (SD=1.4) Jackknife 1 6.6 (SD=3.8) 8.2 (SD=4.0) 5.4 (SD=2.9) 4.9 (SD=0.8) 4.7 (SD=2.2) 3.0 (SD=1.4) Bootstrap 5.7 (SD=3.3) 6.7 (SD=2.4) 5.0 (SD=2.5) 4.1 (SD=0.5) 4.2 (SD=1.7) 3.1 (SD=1.6)

* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001 Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 9

Figure 3. Permutated species accumulation curves for (a) pit-trapped reptiles and (b) pit-trapped mammals. Solid lines represent observations; dashed lines represent Chao 1 estimates; doted lines represent Jackknife 1 estimate; and dashes and dots represent Bootstrap estimates. species had been sampled. For Group B it was estimated eight signifcant indicator species (Table 2).The mean that 74–87% of species were sampled; Group C, 67–84% for species observed within each group was compared of species and Group D, with a single site, 72–88% of against the range of values provided by each of the species. In almost all cases Bootstrapping had the most estimators for the same data to determine the level of conservative estimations. sampling adequacy for each of the groups. For Group As Chao 1 uses rarity to predict species, the regular A this indicated that 76–91% of species were sampled; occurrence of single representatives of a number of taxa Group B, 70–90%; Group C, 83–90%; Group D, 71–85%; will result in high predictions. Isolated climatic events Group E, 80–90%; and Group F, 96–100%. that stimulate animal activity over short durations From the Spearman Rank correlation matrix (e.g. a single evening of rainfall or high humidity and comparing the combined diferent resemblance matrices temperature) can also have a considerable impact with each other (Table 3), it was possible to determine here as can proximity of a site to other habitat types. how many sampling periods were required before Mammal groups were not readily distinguishable in the additional sampling contributed litle change to the dendrogram through the SIMPROF routine (Fig. 2b) assemblage groups. Afer three sampling periods (r2 = so a cut point was determined using indicator species 0.97), additional sampling of reptiles would not have analysis (Dufrene & Legendre 1997; McCune et al. 2002). resulted in a signifcant diference in the overall reptile This identifed six groups at the 47% similarity level and assemblage grouping. For the mammals, four sampling 10 MA Cowan et al.

Table 3 around each of the 24 survey site locations, these data Spearman Rank correlation matrix for cumulative trapping were not considered robust enough to be analysed to data for reptiles and mammals. the same extent as that of the small ground-dwelling vertebrates and no statistical analyses were undertaken. Reptiles There were two species of particular conservation Trip 1 Trip 2 Trip 3 Trip 4 interest: the hooded robin (Melanodryas cucullata) and Trip 2 0.82 the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). The hooded Trip 3 0.79 0.97 robin, while not listed as threatened, has declined in Trip 4 0.80 0.96 0.98 both range and abundance in south-eastern and south- Trip 5 0.79 0.92 0.95 0.97 western Australia (Barret et al. 2003). We recorded this species on fve sites (Appendix 3) with all of these sites Mammals containing a single foristic assemblage (Group D) as Trip 1 Trip 2 Trip 3 Trip 4 defned by our analysis (Fig. 4). The specially protected Trip 2 0.67 peregrine falcon was also only recorded once, from Trip 3 0.50 0.71 site 23. Trip 4 0.59 0.74 0.98 A species of conservation signifcance that was not Trip 5 0.54 0.76 0.92 0.92 recorded on quadrats but was seen on several occasions during the survey was the malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata), which is listed as Vulnerable. Only eight species were observed on more than half periods were required before a close correlation with of the survey sites: yellow-throated miner (Manorina further sampling was achieved (r2 = 0.98). favigula, 23 sites); singing honeyeater (Lichenostomus virescens, 21 sites); pied butcherbird (Cracticus Comparison of trap types nigrogularis, 17 sites); grey butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus, 23 sites); crested bellbird (Oreoica guturalis, Buckets caught1364 individuals or 64.3% of all captures 20 sites); rufous whistler (Pachycephala rufventris, 13 and this higher capture rate resulted in a signifcant chi sites); Australian ringneck (Platycercus zonarius, 13 sites); squared statistic (χ² = 219.21, p < 0.0001). However, 10 and grey-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis, 13 species were caught in the buckets but not in the PVC sites). Almost 21% (14 species) of the recorded species pipe while PVC pipes caught nine species not caught were only observed on a single site. The majority of sites in the buckets. Where species were caught in both trap had fewer than 20 species recorded although sites 23, types, there were more individuals in the buckets, 20, 17, 15, 14 and 9 were the exceptions with 46, 34, 28, with the exception of Notomys alexis, Varanus panoptes, 21, 23 and 20 species respectively. Tympanocryptis pseudopsephos, Sminthopsis macroura, S. longicaudata, S. hirtipes, S. crassicaudata, Pseudantechinus Vascular plants woolleyae, Nephrurus vertebralis and Egernia depressa, but even for these there was only a statistically signifcant The 301 taxa recorded from the quadrats (Appendix difference for N. alexis (χ2 = 20.22, p < 0.0001). A 4) represented 44 families and 138 genera with the comparison of the entire data set of species abundances dominant families being the Asteracea (34 taxa), in each of the trap types using Wilcoxins matched-pairs Fabaceae (32 taxa), Chenopodiaceae (29 taxa) and test further supports the diference between the two trap Scrophulariaceae (28 taxa). No taxa listed as rare types with a test statistic of 503.5 (p < 0.001) . or endangered were recorded during the surveys. Climatic conditions are thought to influence We recorded four priority-listed taxa from four sampling efectiveness. Spearman Rank correlations families: Labichea eremaea (P1, Fabaceae), Baeckea sp. corrected for ties showed that three families had Sandstone (P3, Myrtaceae), Grevillea inconspicua (P4, significant associations with the mean maximum Proteaceae) and Eremophila arachnoides arachnoides (P3, temperature. These were the Carphodactylidae Scrophulariaceae). (r2 = 0.87, p < 0.08), the Gekkonidae (r2 = 0.90, p < 0.02) Twelve plant taxa from six families could not be and the Elapidae (r2 = 0.78, p < 0.08). Conversely, the identifed with taxonomic certainty, primarily because Pygopodidae had a negative correlation with mean the plants were sterile and a confrmed identifcation maximum temperature (r2 = –0.87, p < 0.08). For was not possible. These were: Chenopodiaceae (3 Agamids there was a signifcant correlation with survey species), Fabaceae (1 species) Malvaceae (4 species), sequence (r2 = –1.0, p < 0.001). Poaceae (1 species), Portulacaceae (2 species) and Zygophyllum (1 species). A further four taxa are Birds awaiting formal descriptions and are currently only atributed manuscript names: Fabaceae (2 species), Sixty-seven of the 73 species of birds from 29 families Myrtaceae (1 species) and Portulacaceae (1 species). recorded during the survey were recorded from within As we only collected presence data for plant taxa, the quadrats (Appendix 3). While the avifauna was we used frequency of occurrence as an indicator of surveyed on at least two days, on and immediately how common each taxa was across our sites. Only Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 11

six taxa were recorded in more than half of the sites and Portulaca oleracea) and sites 9 (P. oleracea) and 23 sampled. These were Acacia aneura and A. tetragonophylla (S. nigrum) one taxa. Site 24 has had considerable (large shrubs or trees); Ptilotus obovatus and Solanum disturbance from grazing and is adjacent to an historic lasiophyllum (low shrubs); and Erodium cygnorum and town site. Site 17 is a shaded mulga patch on a drainage Brachyscome ciliaris (annual or perennial herbs). Just over channel and site 10 is on the lake fringe, both areas that half of the taxa recorded (149) were present in only one were probably favoured by grazing stock. of the 24 quadrats. Floristic groupings in the dendrogram were well Using the Chao 2 estimator, which examines the supported at the 20% cut point with four groups ratios of single occurrence to double occurrence as a identifed using 41 signifcant indicator species (Table 4; proportion of overall richness to predict the sampling Appendix 5), although SIMPROF analysis diferentiated efectiveness, only 64% of taxa were predicted to have one additional group by splitting site 4 from sites been sampled, with the forecast total number being 21 and 22 (Fig. 4.) Only the four groups identifed 467. The Western Australian Herbarium has vouchered through indicator analysis were examined further in material for 413 native and 11 alien taxa from the broader the assemblage comparisons. study site area. Richness for individual quadrats ranged from 11–53 taxa, with the spinifex-dominated sites Assemblage comparisons generally the poorest and fringing lake sites, drainage 2 sites and rocky habitats the richest. The Spearman rank correlation matrix (r values) Nine taxa from nine families recorded from quadrats between the groups exhibited weak correlations with were introduced, with a further two introduced taxa a reptile–mammal comparison of 0.41, reptile–fora known from the study area. Sites 24, 17 and 10 had the of 0.53, mammal–fora of 0.35, avifauna–fora of 0.44, highest richness of introduced taxa, with fve (Sonchus avifauna–reptiles of 0.39, and avifauna–mammals of oleraceus, Sisymbrium orientale, Cuscuta epithymum, 0.16. A resemblance matrix of soil chemistry was also

Erodium aureum and Solanum nigrum) , three (Rostraria tested against each of the biotic groups using 2ndMDS pumila, Rumex hypogaeus and Lysimachia arvensis) and but the resultant values were so low (<0.11 for each three (S. oleraceus, R. hypogaeus and L. arvensis) taxa group) they did not warrant further examination. respectively, while site 14 had two taxa (C. epithymum

Figure 4. An MDS ordination of sites from foristic data (symbol groups defned by SIMPROF and clusters enclosed with dashed line are at the 30% similarity level). Species with a single occurrence were not included in the analysis. 12 MA Cowan et al.

Table 4 Site groupings defned by fora assemblages and the signifcant indicator species for the groupings.

A B C D

Sites 4, 21 and 22 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 19, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 24 1, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17 18, 20 and 23 Description Spinifex including Spinifex shrubland/ Sites located around Dominated by rock (break- recently burnt site as sandplain sites along the periphery of the aways, iron stone ranges well as dune crest and with sandy wash plains lake and or supporting and granitic hills) or have a base site supporting Acacia halophytic vegetation high proportion of broken species rock with shallow soils. Indicator species Daucus glochidiatus Homalocalyx Marsdenia australis Erymophyllum ramosum and IV value (100%)*** thryptomenoides (85%)*** (70%)** Podolepis sp. (85%)** (50%)* Cuscuta epithymum Chrysocephalum Glischrocaryon (IV=64%)* eremaeum (70%)*** favescens (48%)*

* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001

DISCUSSION inundation of the lake, the rainbow bee-eater is likely to be more frequently encountered. Fauna and fora These results are comparable to those recorded within the Sandstone–Sir Samuel, Laverton–Leonora The overall number of species within the various and Youanmi–Leonora study areas of the Eastern families is similar to that of other surveys we have Goldfelds surveys, in which recorded 54 reptile species, conducted using similar methods at Goongarrie Station 10 small mammals and three larger mammals, three and Matuwa (ex-Lorna Glen Station) , located at the frogs and 63 birds from surveyed quadrats (McKenzie southern and northern extent, respectively, of the et al. 1994). Reptile species that were not encountered Murchison Bioregion. The 58 reptile species recorded but would be expected to occur in the area include from this study, along with the predicted vertebrate elapid snakes such as Pseudechis australis and Demansia richness of an additional seven reptile species, indicates psammophis, as well as smaller fossorial species. These the overall reptile assemblage is likely to be about 65 larger and more mobile species are more likely to be species. This fgure is at the upper end of the range encountered through visual observation or with the use for landscape-scale surveys reported in Australia of funnel traps. The four mammal species known from (Thompson et al. 2003; How & Dell 2004). While similar the Murchison Bioregion but not caught (Pseudomys comparisons for mammal surveys have not been bolami, Ningaui yvonneae, Sminthopsis dolichura and undertaken, the 15 terrestrial native mammal species Macropus fuliginosus), are unlikely to occur within the recorded here is only four fewer than the number of study area. P. bolami, N. yvonneae and M. fuliginosus have terrestrial mammal species considered extant for the distributions only just incorporating the southern edge entire Murchison Bioregion (Burbidge et al. 2008). of the Murchison Bioregion (Menkhorst & Knight 2004; Only two species of frog, from six potential species, Van Dyck & Strahan 2008; Western Australian Museum were recorded. This is not surprising, however, as the 2010–), while the study area is just outside the north- conditions throughout most of the survey remained eastern extent of the known range of S. dolichura. warm to hot, and predominantly dry. The majority Most of the species surveyed are comparatively of semi-arid zone frogs form a ‘cocoon’ and aestivate, common and widespread across suitable habitat and buried some distance below the soil surface under these are generally typical of the Eremaean Botanical Province conditions (Lee & Mercer 1967). We recorded 73 species (Menkhorst & Knight 2004; Storr et al. 1983, 1990, 1999, of bird with 67 of these present within the quadrats. 2002; Tyler & Doughty 2009; Van Dyck & Strahan 2008). There are a further 49 species known from the survey However, three mammal species we only recorded twice area that we did not record (Appendix 3). Many of these and these were Antechinomys laniger, Dasycercus blythi are water birds, and given that conditions remained and Pseudomys desertor. All but one of the captures, for P. dry throughout our survey their absence was not desertor, were in PVC pipe, as the 600 mm depth means unexpected. Two species of conservation signifcance that these species cannot escape easily, as they can from for which records exist in the area are the rainbow the shallower buckets. Each of these species frequently bee-eater (Merops ornatus) and the greater egret (Ardea remains undetected or in low numbers for long periods modesta). Both species are listed under international and have what appears to be cyclical peaks of abundance treaties for migratory birds and while the greater egret in the landscape. Populations of the rodent P. desertor would be only a very infrequent visitor coinciding with have been reported to fuctuate in response to rainfall Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 13

over the preceding six months (Masters 1993; Dickman At least one reptile species in the study area is et al. 1999) while Haythornthwaite (2006) recorded taxonomically unresolved. Recent phylogenetic analysis temporal variability for the detection of Dasycercus has indicated that the species currently identifed as cristicauda which, afer a recent taxonomic revision Ctenotus quaturodecimlineatus at our study area is likely (Woolley 2005), is now considered to be D. blythi. A to be a cryptic species Ctenotus af. quaturodecimlineatus study of D. blythi at Mt Keith Station east of Sandstone (Rabosky et al. 2009). The current known distribution recorded sharp temporal variation in abundances (D. Ctenotus af. quaturodecimlineatus is confned to the Pearson pers. comm.). A targeted survey undertaken by study area although no systematic survey has been BHP’s Leinster Nickel operation (approximately 130 km conducted in immediately adjacent areas. All collection east of Lake Mason) recorded 15 Antechinomys laniger records have been from spinifex sand plain and sand from just 40 Elliot traps set for fve nights in a sampled dunes (Bullimore land system sites 3, 4, 8, 19, 21, 22) area of <1 ha (Hughes 2003). However, when a survey with the exception of site 20 (Waguin land system), with more than seven times this efort was conducted which supports halophytic shrubs and mulga on a in the same area and season two years later only one small stony plain. This relatively insular sampling site is individual was caught. For mammal taxa that have restricted in extent and surrounded by Bullimore, thus highly dynamic populations correlated with seasonal the possibility of this individual being non-resident in or even longer temporal scales associated with rainfall, this habitat is high. absence or rarity cannot necessarily be inferred from Within the dasyurids there are potential identifcation non-detection or low abundance. This is particularly the problems with Sminthopsis ooldea, partially because case with short-term sampling over a 15-month period there is frequently some level of confusion in the feld as with this study. between the identity of this species and that of S. While a number of reptile species were also captured dolichura, and the full extent of its geographic range infrequently, none of these are considered rare and is unclear. There remains a question as to whether the low capture rates can be atributed to one or more or not the WA population of S. ooldea fts the type of the following: limited sampling within suitable description which comes from specimens collected habitat (e.g. Ctenophorus salinarum); species towards from Ooldea Siding on the trans Australian Railway in the limits of their range (e.g. Ctenotus severus); climatic South Australia (N Cooper & L Umbrello pers. comm.). conditions not amenable to activity during the surveys Current investigations suggest that S. macroura may (e.g. Brachyurophis semifasciata and Simoselaps bertholdi be a complex of at least three taxa (Blacket et al. 2001) and all frog species); and species known to have low but these are yet to be formally described. Blacket et abundances (e.g. Tiliqua occipitalis and Liopholis inornata). al. (2001) examined limited material from WA, with Only two species of ground vertebrates recorded none from central or southern parts of the known are listed as Priority species, the brush-tailed mulgara distribution, and suggested that WA populations (Dasycercus blythi) and the long-tailed dunnart require further analysis. (Sminthopsis longicaudata). D. blythi was caught only on We recorded 385 taxa of vascular native fora (301 two occasions. Pit trapping is not an efcient method taxa within the quadrats) and lodged 379 of these for detecting D. blythi due to its size, but given that its with the Western Australian Herbarium. The known preferred habitat of spinifex sandplain is widespread taxa for the study area now stands at 467. The fgure and extensive across the study area, it is likely that this from the quadrats is considerably less than either species is more widespread and abundant than can be the currently known fora for the stations (Western concluded from this study. The preferred habitat of Australian Herbarium 1998–) or the predicted species S. longicaudata is sparsely vegetated stony substrates, richness from accumulation data. This arises from the including gibber felds, breakaways and rocky ranges. single sampling of the quadrats in combination with This study has greatly increased our understanding of the absence of a variety of ephemeral or annual taxa the habitat preferences and variation in the species. It due to the dry conditions. Six species of priority plant was detected on almost all survey sites (Appendices 1 from four families are known from the study area but and 2) with these substrate features and is likely to be not recorded in this study and these are: Lamiaceae - found in additional areas where these habitat features Pityrodia canaliculata (P1), Fabaceae - Acacia burrowsiana are present. (P3) and Bossiaea eremaea (P3), Goodeniaceae - Dampiera A number of species recorded were towards the plumosa (P1) and the Myrtaceae - Euryomyrtus infata (P3) geographic limit of their known distribution. Species and E. patrickiae (P3). An increase in recorded taxa would converging on their north, east or north-eastern limit be expected through repetitive sampling following good include Ctenophorus salinarum, Ctenotus severus, Tiliqua winter rain and by sampling additional land systems occipitalis, Lerista macropisthopus, Neobatrachus wilsmorei, and other minor landscape features. Pseudophryne occidentalis, Anilios waitii, Morethia butleri The survey of the Sandstone–Sir Samuel area of the and Strophurus assimilis. Species close to the south, west Eastern Goldfelds, which was approximately 70 km or south-western extent of their ranges include Ctenotus east of Lake Mason and on Wanjarri Nature Reserve, quaturodecimlineatus, Lerista desertorum, Varanus eremius, described the fora and vegetation of the area as having Diplodactylus conspicillatus, Ningaui ridei, Sminthopsis afnity with the Great Victoria Desert, particularly in longicaudata, Strophurus elderi and Sminthopsis ooldea. respect to the sandplain communities (Keighery et 14 MA Cowan et al.

al. 1994). This is conspicuously the case here with the somewhat surprising, however there are similarities presence of species such as Eucalyptus gongylocarpa in that substrate material is sand or sandy loam with and Xanthorrhoea thorntonii, both occurring close to no rocky elements and structurally sparse shrubs are their western extent on the sandplains of Black Range present with litle ground cover. Almost no species Station, although X. thorntonii was not present in any show any site fdelity other than the burrowing agamid quadrats. The richest foristic communities were those Ctenophorus nuchalis, and to a lesser extent an arboreal associated with drainage tracts, run-on areas and gecko, Strophurus strophurus with the later present fringing lake environments, primarily as a result of on most sites other than those with hard surfaces. As the higher ephemeral or annual taxa counts than those vegetation recovers on site 4 post fre the assemblage obtained at other sites. This was particularly the case at structure is likely to show greater resemblance with site 10, a sandy bank adjacent to Lake Mason, where the that of the other spinifex sites within the Bullimore taxa incorporated elements of both the lake community land system. The numeric prevalence of D. conspicillatus as well as taxa from the surrounding broad valley. and D. pulcher, both species that occupy spider burrows The spinifex dominated sites had comparatively low (Pianka & Pianka 1976), is what defnes site 20 (Group overall taxa richness, although the taxa associated with D), an alluvial plain with chenopod shrubs. As cover is the dune system, sites 21 and 22, varied considerably quite limited in this environment the capacity to either from those of other sites except site 4. This appears to burrow or use the burrows of other species is likely to be driven by fre successional species that have greater be important. prevalence on the dune complexes than they do on the The overall paterning of mammals groups was also long-unburnt spinifex sand plains as at each of these similar to that documented by (McKenzie et al. 1994) sites there was evidence of fre within the last several and, as for reptiles, there was separation amongst the years. It was evident that a number of sites dominated spinifex sites. The burnt spinifex site was more strongly by tall acacia (7, 12 and 13) had a long history of grazing associated with the sites located on the crest and at the and this was refected in the reduction or near absence of base of a dune than with other spinifex sites. This was any perennial understorey and consequently the lowest largely owing to the association of Sminthopsis hirtipes species richness values. with sandy sites having relatively open spinifex cover found within group A and Ningaui ridei with sandy Community composition sites comprising relatively mature dense spinifex found within B sites. While there were fewer mammal than In their survey of Sandstone – Sir Samuel and Laverton– reptile species, their high fdelity to a particular habitat Leonora study areas, McKenzie et al. (1994) recorded meant that there was greater diferentiation between the strong relationships between species composition sites for mammal assemblages. The exception to this and surface lithology. Their sites were located was Group E, which included sites that are structurally along topographic gradients across the landscape simple and generally contain large areas of bare ground associated with geomorphic sequences. We found or pebbles with little understorey. This simplified similar relationships between species composition habitat provides limited cover and would appear to and environmental factors, but not across all sites. For primarily provide opportunity for generalist species example, the sites that clustered together in Group A such as Sminthopsis macroura, S. ooldea and, to a lesser were located across a range of landscape positions and degree, Pseudomys hermannsburgensis. on diferent geological substrates but tended to have The four primary foristic groups identifed here stony or hard surfaces with sparse vegetation cover. were broadly related to surface geology. Sites on aeolian These sites supported a comparatively low richness of sands derived from the weathering of granitic rocks habitat generalist species of reptiles (Pianka 1969) such supported spinifex communities. Sites with aeolian as Diplodactylus pulcher, Lerista timida, Rhynchoedura sands that also include mixed alluvial and colluvial ornata, Menetia greyii and Ctenotus schomburgkii. Sites surfaces where the material has also been derived from that clustered together in Group C had a sandy granitic breakaways and exposed bedrock supported substrate with spinifex cover and this environment spinifex shrubland and Acacia spp. Sites dominated has the highest overall species richness. It supports a by valley calcretes which are associated with central number of habitat specifc species such as Strophurus channels of former main drainage lines and also occur elderi, Delma butleri, Ctenotus pantherinus and Ctenotus where drainage lines enter the lake system (Tingey 1985) aff. quattuordecimlineatus. While all these sandy supported halophytic vegetation. These sites may also spinifex sites were mapped as Bullimore land system, consist of clay, gravel and gypsiferous alluvial deposits. there was variation in the community structure that Exposed granitic rock and associated colluvial material, correlated with diferences in overstorey vegetation and metabasalts and banded ironstone formations tend to topographic features between the sites. This variability have shallow soils with a high proportion of exposed within spinifex communities has been reported by bedrock and support only sparse vegetation cover. ecologists for many years (Pianka 1986; James 1994) The correlation data between the assemblages but is infrequently considered in management, resolved for the plants, birds, reptiles and mammals particularly in relation to fre. The clustering of sites showed no signifcant relationships with each other adjacent to lake areas with site 4 to form group C is and, consequently, in this ex-pastoral landscape no Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 15

one group is a reasonable or reliable indicator of any diferences in pit trap array design for each of the other group. trap types. In other examinations, the interpretation of relative efciency of trap types has been confused Methodological considerations by testing three trap types simultaneously along a single fence line and thus negating independence of Accumulation analysis of fauna each of the trap types (Thompson & Thompson 2007). There has been much debate about how much sampling While the infuence of trap types on data interpretation is enough to derive meaningful assemblage structures was also assessed by Thompson et al. (2005), we only or to determine predicted species lists. While overall examined diferences in overall species detection and species accumulation curves for a study area may conclude that while buckets were superior in overall go some way in demonstrating comprehensiveness captures of individuals, both trap types complement of assemblages at coarse scales, reduced effort at each other and each were responsible for detecting as the site scale, particularly in short-term or brief many as 10 species not caught in the other trap type. studies, means that the data are usually inadequate to This represents a signifcant proportion of the overall identify assemblages. Afer the fve sampling periods, species richness (ca. 20%). If a selection of one trap depending on which estimator is used, more than type was to be made over the other, however, our data 80% of the predicted fauna had been recorded for would support the use of buckets in preference to the most sites. This has implications for environmental narrow PVC pipe, particularly where short-duration impact assessment and indicates that relying solely surveys are undertaken as the buckets accumulated on trapping alone over only two sampling periods in species richness more rapidly due to higher overall these types of environments will provide signifcantly captures. In this study the total richness assessed by less than the full assemblage of species at the site scale, each trap type was almost equivalent but relative particularly for reptiles and mammals. Bootstrapping abundance for most species remained higher with the was the most conservative of these estimators, followed buckets. The implication of sampling techniques was by Jackknife 1 and then by Chao 1 (bias-corrected). The also highlighted for captures of S. longicaudata. This later estimator was particularly poor in estimating species was considered to have disappeared across the number of species at the dune site (site 22) where more than 90% of its pre-European Range (Lomolino & despite recording 19 species the prediction was that Channell 1995); however, data from this study and other this represented only 41% of the site’s fauna. As Chao 1 unpublished surveys that we have conducted within the calculates richness based on species appearing as either Murchison Bioregion indicate that recorded declines in singletons or doubletons, in a linear feature such as a species can sometimes be atributed to inappropriate dune it is quite likely the proportion of singletons will be sampling techniques or to sampling incorrect parts high as a result of occasional incursions or dispersal of of the landscape. We readily caught this species in species from the surrounding landscape. In contrast to pits (buckets and PVC pipe) when they remained the low percentage predicted by Chao 1, Bootstrapping undetected in Elliot traps, despite equivalent efort at predicted 82% of the reptiles had been sampled at the the same sampling locations. We conclude, therefore, same site. that the use of Elliot traps is not an efcient means for sampling this species. Faunal assemblages Survey timing The correlation matrix between assemblages for reptiles and mammals derived from the cumulative data showed Our sampling spanned multiple seasons and that at least three sampling periods for reptiles and four incorporated an early- and late-spring sampling period sampling periods for mammals were required before in both years, with an additional autumn sampling the structure of the assemblages showed litle change period in year two. While we did not specifically with additional sampling. This indicates that despite examine seasonal efects, the greatest abundance of incomplete inventories at the site scale, at least for trapped vertebrates occurred in both spring samples reptiles, it is possible to derive comparatively robust of year one, following an above average rainfall year. baseline assemblage structures over relatively short Throughout trapping in year two, captures declined temporal scales. While this is not unexpected, it provides from those in year one irrespective of season. From the confdence in the paterns ascertained from the data. data evaluated here, late spring sampling following a season of above average rainfall was most productive, Comparison of trap types but early spring was also beter than the same time, or autumn sampling, in a particularly dry year. Although buckets and PVC pipe have been compared Mean maximum temperature was shown to in other studies, ofen the experimental design has be highly correlated to capture rates for a several had limitations that have made interpretation of the reptile families. This is an important consideration results problematic. For example Rolfe and McKenzie in any sampling design where documenting the full (2000) found PVC pipe to be more effective than assemblage of the reptile fauna is a target. An interesting 20 L buckets but their results were confounded by correlation emerged for the Agamids but this was in 16 MA Cowan et al.

relation to survey sequence rather than temperature. there are too many to name. We are grateful to them all. While this may have resulted from declining rainfall Parks and Wildlife’s Landscope Expeditions enabled and a reduction in overall abundance, particularly for access to additional feld expertise on two surveys and annual species such as Ctenophorus isolepis, it is also we gratefully acknowledge Kevin Kenneally and Ric possible that it was a response to repeated site sampling How whose involvement on these occasions improved and that there was a trap avoidance mechanism in train all aspects of this work. Gilbert Marsh worked tirelessly in the feld on many occasions establishing quadrats Site stratifcation and sampling the fora. David McQuie of Bulga Downs provided support in the initial phase of seting up and While land systems were used as a partial method his insight, knowledge of the region and enthusiasm for stratifying survey sites in this study, their utility was very much appreciated. We thank Sally Senior for this very much depends on their diferentiation for providing historic records of the birds and for her from each other through the constituent land units. accounts and knowledge of the area. Leonie Valentine For example, there are clear diferences between land provided useful comments on an earlier draft. In systems comprising greenstone hills (e.g. Gabanintha) addition to his contribution on two sampling periods as opposed to systems incorporating playa lakes (e.g. we are indebted to Ric How for his guidance throughout Carnegie) but ofen the land units within other systems the work and particularly for his insightful review of are repeated across multiple systems. As a result it is successive drafs at short notice. The review comments possible to fnd signifcant diferences in assemblages from John Dell and an anonymous reviewer greatly within some land systems, while litle variation exists assisted in improving the manuscript. between others. This was particularly evident within the Bullimore land system, which is the primary system consisting of spinifex on these ex-pastoral stations. Here many sites showed considerable variation between REFERENCES assemblage structures, and this was the case for all the biotic groups. This was particularly infuenced by Barret G, Silcocks A, Barry S, Cunningham R, Poulter topographic position, for example dune crests, slopes, R (2003) The New Atlas of Australian Birds. Royal swales or plains, and for elements such as soil type, Australasian Ornithologists Union, Melbourne. dominant vegetation and fre history. As this is the Beard JS (1976) The Vegetation of the Murchison Region. primary system that has had fre management applied Vegetation Survey of Western Australia, 1:1,000,000 to it, there needs to be careful decision-making to Series, Sheet 6 and Explanatory Notes. University of identify and incorporate these elements in fre planning Western Australia Press, Perth. scenarios. Without this there is a risk of inadvertently Biological Surveys Commitee (1984) Biological survey afecting the persistence and ecological function of a of the Eastern Goldfelds of Western Australia. Part number of the more restricted assemblages and species. 1. Introduction and methods. Records of the Western The Murchison Bioregion continues to lack a Australian Museum Supplement 18, 1–19. formal comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system, while much of the land use of this Blacket MJ, Adams M, Cooper SJB, Krajewski C, region remains incompatible with ensuring the long- Westerman M (2001) Systematics and evolution term viability of all of the constituent ecosystems or in of the Dasyurid Marsupial genus Sminthopsis: I. The macroura species group. Journal of Mammalian supporting all their component species. Lake Mason Evolution 8, 149–170. and Black Range stations, therefore, remain essential for conservation. They also provide a comprehensive Burbidge AH, Harvey MS, McKenzie NL eds (2000) set of benchmark sites, in conjunction with those Biodiversity of the southern Carnarvon Basin. intensively assessed on other stations of the Gascoyne Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement and Murchison such as Goongarrie, Matuwa, Muggon 61, 1–595. and Waldburg, that will allow us to assess how future Burbidge AA, McKenzie N, Brennan K, Woinarski management actions and environmental change afect J, Dickman C, Baynes A, Gordon G, Menkhorst ecological communities in the region. P, Robinson A (2008) Conservation status and biogeography of Australia’s terrestrial mammals. Australian Journal of Zoology 56, 411–422. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Chao A, Shen T (2003) User’s guide for program SPADE We would like to thank the traditional owners, the (species prediction and diversity estimation). Koara native title claimants, who allowed and advised National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. Available at on suitable locations for this survey. This project was htp://chao.stat.nthu.edu.tw/wordpress/wp-content/ uploads/sofware/SPADE_UserGuide(20160621).pdf funded through Parks and Wildlife’s Goldfelds Region [accessed November 2016]. and we thank the Regional Manager, Ian Kealley, for his support. Many regional staf assisted in both the Chen SF (2005) Geology of the Atley , Ray Rocks, and establishment and subsequent monitoring of sites and Southern Sandstone 1:100 000 Sheets. 1:100 000 Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 17

Geological Series Explanatory Notes. Western Australia Hughes M (2003) ‘Eleven mile well project fauna Geological Survey, Perth. trapping survey’. Unpublished report for BHP Leinster Nickel Operation, Leinster, Western Clarke KR, Gorley RN (2006) Primer v6 User Manual/ Australia. Tutorial. Primer-E Ltd, Plymouth. James CD (1994) Spatial and temporal variation in Cogger HG (1984) Reptiles in the Australian arid zone. structure of a diverse lizard assemblage in arid In Arid Australia (eds HG Cogger, EE Cameron), pp. Australia. In Lizard ecology: Historical and Experimental 235–252. Australian Museum, Sydney. Perspectives (eds LJ Vit, ER Pianka), pp. 287–317. Cooper NK, Teale RJ, Kendirck PG (2006) Recently Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. observed increase in the distribution of the desert Keighery G, Hall N, Milewski A (1994) Vegetation mouse, Pseudomys desertor, in Western Australia. and fora. In The Biological Survey of the Eastern Western Australian Naturalist 25, 169–186. Goldfelds of Western Australia. Part 10 Sandstone Cowan M (2003) Murchison 1 (Mur1–Eastern Murchison – Sir Samuel and Laverton–Leonora Study Areas Subregion). In A Biodiversity Audit of Western (eds NJ Hall, NL McKenzie, GJ Keighery). Records of Australia’s 53 Biogeographic Subregions in 2002 (eds the Western Australian Museum Supplement 47, 24–50. JE May, NL McKenzie), pp. 466–479. Department of Laurance I (1996) ‘Gascoyne–Murchison rangeland Environment and Conservation, Perth. strategy’. Draft report for Gascoyne-Murchison Dell J, How RA, Milewski AV (1992) Biological Survey Rangeland Strategy Steering Group, Department of of the Eastern Goldfelds of Western Australia. Part 6. Agriculture Western Australia, Perth. Youanmi-Leonora Study Area. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 40, 1–63. Lee A, Mercer E (1967) Cocoon surrounding desert- dwelling frogs. Science, 157, 87–88. Dickman C, Mahon P, Masters P, Gibson D (1999) Long-term dynamics of rodent populations in arid Legendre P, Legendre L (1998) Numerical Ecology. Australia: The infuence of rainfall. Wildlife Research Elsevier, Amsterdam. 26, 389–403. Lomolino MV, Channell R (1995) Splendid isolation: Dufrene M, Legendre P (1997) Species assemblages Paterns of geographic range collapse in endangered and indicator species: The need for a flexible mammals. Journal of Mammalogy 76, 335–347. asymmetrical approach. Ecological Monographs 67, Mabbutt JA (1968) Review of concepts of land 345–366. classifcation. In Land Evaluation (ed GA Stewart), Environmental Protection Authority and Department pp. 11–28. MacMillan, Melbourne. of Environment and Conservation (2010) Technical Magurran AE (2004) Measuring Biological Diversity. Guide – Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Surveys for Blackwell Publishing, Malden, Massachusets. Environmental Impact Assessment (eds BM Hyder, J Dell and MA Cowan). Environmental Protection Masters P (1993) The efects of fre-driven succession Authority and Department of Environment and and rainfall on small mammals in spinifex grassland Conservation, Perth. at Uluru National Park, Northern Territory. Wildlife Research 20, 803–813. George AS, McKenzie NL, Doughty P eds (2011) A biodiversity survey of the Pilbara region of McCune B, Grace JB, Urban DL (2002) Analysis of Western Australia, 2002–2007. Records of the Western Ecological Communities. MjM Software Design, Australian Museum Supplement 78, 1–311. Gleneden Beach, Oregon. Hall NJ, McKenzie NL, Keighery GJ eds. (1994) The McCune B, Meford M.J. (1999) PC-Ord Multivariate biological survey of the eastern goldfelds of Western Analysis Of Ecological Data for Windows (sofware) Australia. Part 10, Sandstone–Sir Samuel and Version 5. MJM Sofware, Oregon. Laverton–Leonora study area. Records of the Western McKenzie N, Keighery G, Gibson N, Rolfe J (2000) Australian Museum Supplement 47, 1–166. Paterns in the biodiversity of terrestrial environments Haythornthwaite AS, Dickman CR (2006) Distribution, in the southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. abundance, and individual strategies: A multi scale Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement analysis of Dasyurid Marsupials in arid central 61, 511–546. Australia. Ecography 29, 285–300. McKenzie NL, Rolfe JK, Youngson WK (1994) Vertebrate How RA, Cowan MA (2006) Collections in space and Fauna. In The Biological Survey of the Eastern time: Geographical patterning of native frogs, Goldfelds of Western Australia. Part 10 Sandstone mammals and reptiles through a continental – Sir Samuel and Laverton–Leonora Study Areas gradient. Pacifc Conservation Biology 12, 111–133. (eds NJ Hall, NL McKenzie, GJ Keighery). Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 47, 51–84. How RA, Dell J (2004) Reptile assemblage of the Abydos Plain, north-eastern Pilbara, Western Australia. Menkhorst PW, Knight F (2004) A Field Guide to the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 87, Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press, 85–95. Melbourne. 18 MA Cowan et al.

Morton SR, James CD (1988) The diversity and Storr GM, Johnstone RE, Smith LA (2002) Snakes of abundance of lizards in arid Australia: a new Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, hypothesis. American Naturalist 132, 237–256. Perth. Oliver I, Holmes A, Dangerfeld JM, Gillings M, Pik AJ, Thackway R, Cresswell ID (1995) An Interim Biogeographic Briton DR, Holley M, Montgomery ME, Raison M, Regionalisation for Australia: A Framework for Seting Logan V, Pressey RL, Beatie AJ (2004) Land systems Priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative. as surrogates for biodiversity in conservation Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Reserve planning. Ecological Applications 14, 485–503. Systems Unit, Canberra. Payne AL (1997) An Inventory and Condition Survey of Thompson GG, Thompson SA (2007) Usefulness the Sandstone – Yalgoo – Paynes Find Area, Western of funnel traps in catching small reptiles and Australia. Department of Agriculture, Perth. mammals, with comments on the efectiveness of the alternatives. Wildlife Research 34, 491–497. Pianka ER (1969) Habitat specifcity, speciation, and species density in Australian desert lizards. Ecology Thompson GG, Thompson SA, Withers PC, Pianka 50, 498–502. ER (2003) Diversity and abundance of pit-trapped reptiles in Australian arid and mesic habitats: Pianka ER (1986) Ecology and Natural History of Desert Biodiversity for environmental imapct assessment. Lizards. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Pacifc Conservation Biology 9, 120–135. Jersey. Thompson WA, Sheehy N (2010) Flora and vegetation Pianka ER (1996) Long-term changes in lizard of banded iron formations of the Yilgarn Craton: assemblages in the Great Victoria Desert. In Long- the Lake Mason Zone of the Gum Creek Greenstone Term Studies of Vertebrate Communities (eds ML Cody, Belt. Conservation Science Western Australia 8, 77–94. JA Smallwood), pp. 191–215. Academic Press, New York. Tingey RJ (1985) Sandstone, Western Australia. 1:250,000 Geological Series, Sheets G/50-16: Map and Explanatory Pianka ER, Pianka HD (1976) Comparative ecology of Notes. Australian Government Publishing Service, twelve species of nocturnal lizards (Gekkonidae) Canberra. in the Western Australian desert. Copeia 1976(1), 125–142. Tyler MJ, Doughty P (2009) Field Guide to Frogs of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth. Poulin R (1998) Comparison of three estimators of species richness in parasite component communities. Van Dyck S, Strahan R (2008) The Mammals of Australia. The Journal of Parasitology 84, 485–490. New Holland Publishers, Sydney. Rabosky DL, Talaba AL, Donnellan SC, Lovete I (2009) Van Vreeswyk AME, Payne AL, Leighton KA (1998) Molecular evidence for hybridization between to Pastoral Resources and their Management in the Australian desert skinks, Ctenotus leonhardii and Sandstone – Yalgoo – Paynes Find Area of Western Ctenotus quatuordecimlineatus (Scincidae: Squamata). Australia. Western Australian Department of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 53, 368–377. Agriculture, Perth. Senior SL (1995) Sandstone, From Gold to Wool and Western Australian Herbarium (1998–) Florabase – The Back Again, A District History. Shire of Sandstone, Western Australian Flora, Department of Parks and Sandstone, Western Australia. Wildlife. Available at htps://forabase. dpaw.wa.gov. au/ [accessed March 2017]. Storr GM, Smith LA, Johnstone RE (1983) Lizards of Western Australia II: Dragons and Monitors. Western Western Australian Museum (2010–) Vertebrate Australian Museum, Perth. databases, Western Australian Museum, Perth [accessed February 2017, not available online]. Storr GM, Smith LA, Johnstone RE (1990) Lizards of Western Australia: Geckos and Pygopods. Western Woolley P (2005) The species of Dasycercus Peters, 1875 Australian Museum, Perth. (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 62, 213–221. Storr GM, Johnstone RE, Smith LA (1999) Lizards of Western Australia I: Skinks. Western Australian Wyche S, Chen SF, Doyle MG (2004) Recent Mapping Museum, Perth. in the Sandstone Region: Implications for Gold Mineralization. Record 2004/5, Western Australian Geological Survey, Perth. Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 19

Acacias & Eremophilas ell wooded sandplain ashout below breakaway in mulga woodland Stony plain at base of Jasper Hills Shrubland on gibber plain Spinifex shrubland Granite apron Rocky quartz area Acacia (bowgada)-Eremophila shrubland W Casuarina woodland Mulga shrubland, bare ground Bare mulga woodland over Eremophilas Eremophila shrubland over gibber plain Eremophila shrubland over gibber plain Drainage line below hill, stony quartz ironstone Herbfeld by drainage line Bare mulga shrubland, washout over clay fat Sand dune and swale below W Herbfeld under Site description

Hill, ridge and breakaway plateau sclerophyll shrubland or woodland habitats Stony plain and low rise chenopod shrubland (and occasional woodland) habitats Sandplain hummock grassland habitats Hill, ridge and breakaway plateau sclerophyll; shrubland or woodland habitats Stony plain and low rise sclerophyll shrubland habitats Broad sheet food hardpan plain sclerophyll shrubland or woodland habitats Alluvial plains with conspicuous chenopod shrubland (and occasional woodland) habitats. Calcrete or kopi associated shrubland woodland habitats Plains transitional to sandplain with sclerophyll shrubland or woodland habitats Broad sheet food hardpan plain sclerophyll shrubland or woodland habitats Broad sheet food hardpan plain sclerophyll shrubland or woodland habitats Hill, ridge and breakaway plateau sclerophyll; shrubland or woodland habitats Stony plain and low rise sclerophyll shrubland habitats Broad sheet food hardpan plain sclerophyll shrubland or woodland habitats Alluvial plains with conspicuous chenopod shrubland (and occasional woodland) habitats. Sandplain sclerophyll shrubland habitats Hill, ridge and breakaway plateau sclerophyll; shrubland or woodland habitats Calcrete or kopi associated shrubland woodland habitats Habitat description

Land unit Banded Ironstone stony plain Saline stony plain Sand sheet Hills, domes and tor felds Stony plains Loamy plains Sandy banks Calcrete platforms Hardpan plains/loamy plains Hardpan plains Stony-gravelly hardpan plains Hillslopes Stony plains and interfuves Drainage tracts Drainage foor Sand dune Lower footslopes Calcrete platforms and plains

19990 19990 1824 Area of land system within the study area (ha) 426 238 1 297 668 3256 24901 6969 1608 32867 2906 4135 6078 4449 1638 1 1 1200

oodline aguin iolet anganoo Land system Brooking Nubev Bullimore Norie Challenge Kalli Carnegie Cunyu W Y V Gabanintha Wiluna Jundee W Bullimore Sherwood Mileura

Appendix 1 Survey site details including land systems, units, habitat descriptions and description for each of the 24 survey sites. Site no. 1 2 3,4,8,19 5 6 7 9,10 11 12 13 14 15,18 16 17 20 21,22 23 24 20 MA Cowan et al. 1 1 1 5 5 5 4 2 2 5 3 4 9 3 3 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 sites 19 20 15 10 12 16 of Number

1 1 8 5 2 8 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 95 15 32 36 41 16 13 53 40 95 92 27 39 otal 163 129 105 T individuals

------1 1 1 3 7 10 44 24

------5 5 8 2 1 4 10 23

------1 4 1 1 1 7 2 3 4 34 22 f individuals caught at each sites, total

------3 1 1 6 5 2 1 30 21 ed in analysis or summations and indices;

------2 2 2 1 2 10 33 20

1 ------2 5 5 1 9 9 1 2 5 1 1 18 19

------3 4 1 2 1 4 18

------8 8 1 1 1 7 1 17

------3 2 1 2 13 22 16

1 ------3 1 2 7 1 5 2 1 15

------3 4 1 4 8 21 14

------1 2 6 6 2 3 13

------1 6 7 2 4 17 12

1 1 ------9 2 3 9 2 1 1 15

------1 1 8 6 6 1 17 10

------4 1 1 1 9 27 13 33 10 18 10

------2 4 2 1 2 1 8

------3 2 1 2 5 2 1 7 14

------2 7 2 9 1 1 6 1

1 ------3 2 1 2 1 5 1 22

------3 2 1 4 1 4 22 12

------2 2 2 1 9 3 1 1 3 2 12

------1 3 2 1 1 2 1 2 5 6 1 12 22 12

------1 1 3 9 22

Appendix 2 List of frogs, reptiles and mammals recorded in the 24 survey sites on Black Range and Lake Mason stations, indicating number o includ not but recorded species indicates * in. recorded was species each sites of number the and caught, individuals of number ** indicates alien species; and *** species listed as a priority. Species FROGS Limnodynastidae Neobatrachus wilsmorei* Myobatrachidae Pseudophryne occidentalis* REPTILES Agamidae Ctenophorus caudicinctus Ctenophorus isolepis Ctenophorus nuchalis Ctenophorus reticulatus Ctenophorus salinarum Ctenophorus scutulatus Moloch horridus Pogona minor pseudopsephos Tympanocryptis Carphodactylidae Nephrurus laevissimus Nephrurus vertebralis Nephrurus wheeleri Diplodactylidae Diplodactylus conspicillatus Diplodactylus granariensis Diplodactylus pulcher Lucasium squarrosum Lucasium stenodactylum Rhynchoedura ornata Strophurus assimilis Strophurus elderi Strophurus strophurus Strophurus wellingtonae Gekkonidae Gehyra variegata Heteronotia binoei Pygopodidae Delma butleri Pygopus nigriceps Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 21 5 7 4 4 9 2 7 1 1 7 1 2 7 6 4 4 1 1 2 4 2 1 7 2 7 8 2 1 2 1 2 2 3 3 9 8 17 12

2 9 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 4 7 2 1 3 1 3 1 7 2 9 14 29 25 38 32 76 33 13 19 72 80 26 73 36 10 20 13 14

------2 1 4 3 1 10

------5 1

------3 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 5 1

------1 2 7 1 3 1 1 2 2 1 10

------1 1 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 1 2 2 12

------5 7 3 1 2 4 1 1 23

------3 2 4 1 17

1 ------6 1 4 1 4 1

------7 7 1 2 24

------1 1 5 1 1 1

------1 7 2 1 1 3 1

------6 9 9 4 1 5 2 1

1 ------2 1 1 3 1

------2 6 2 1 1 1 1 6 10 16

1 ------2 1 1 1 15

------4 1 2 2 2 1 1 51 13

------1 1 1 2 21 15 18

------1 1 8 1 3

------2 1 5 1 4 1

------2 1 1 6 4 2

------1 1 1 5 2

------3 2 1 2 1 3 27 12

------2 2 1 4 3 6

------

1 3 5 4 3 4

***

***

*

.quattuordecimlineatus

aff

Scincidae Cryptoblepharus buchananii Ctenotus grandis Ctenotus helenae Ctenotus leonhardii Ctenotus pantherinus Ctenotus Ctenotus schomburgkii Ctenotus severus Ctenotus uber Egernia depressa Liopholis inornata Eremiascincus richardsonii Lerista desertorum Lerista macropisthopus Lerista timida Menetia greyii Morethia butleri occipitalis Tiliqua Varanidae caudolineatus Varanus eremius Varanus giganteus* Varanus gouldii* Varanus panoptes * Varanus tristis Varanus Boidae Antaresia stimsoni* Elapidae Brachyurophis semifasciata Pseudonaja modesta* Pseudonaja mengdeni* Simoselaps bertholdi Suta fasciata Typhlopidae Anilios hamatus Anilios waitii MAMMALS Dasyuridae Antechinomys laniger Dasycercus blythi Ningaui ridei Pseudantechinus woolleyae Sminthopsis crassicaudata Sminthopsis hirtipes Sminthopsis longicaudata 22 MA Cowan et al. 1 1 1 9 sites 1 18 12 18 of Number

1 2 31 34 76 27 otal 126 T individuals

------9 7 3 24 20 12 84

------1 2 7 4 23 20 12 35

------8 4 1 3 22 73 19

------9 1 2 1 8 1 21 28 66 16

------3 2 7 3 20 24 66 16

------1 7 3 1 1 19 31 91 18

------1 3 18 31 10 13 25

------5 3 5 3 17 13 13 54

1 ------5 1 4 2 16 1 84

------1 3 15 17 15 41 13

------3 7 3 2 14 12 57 13

------1 4 2 13 25 57 20 14

1 ------1 8 1 2 3 1 5 12 1 55

1 ------2 9 3 1 5 1 96 16 16

1 ------9 5 3 10 1 59 25

------9 1 5 4 2 8 18 17 193

1 ------8 6 2 1 3 1 1 49 29

------7 1 5 8 2 43 24 12 12

------6 4 2 1 36 28 12 24

1 ------5 5 2 1 12 52

------4 8 3 9 4 48 17

------3 6 4 4 57 39 16

------2 2 6 1 5 84 12 17

1

------1 4 2 2 8 1 48

**

ies (Reptiles) viduals (Mammals) Species Sminthopsis macroura Sminthopsis ooldea Macropodidae Macropus robustus* Macropus rufus* Tachyglossidae aculeatus* Tachyglossus Muridae Mus musculus Notomys alexis Pseudomys desertor Pseudomys hermannsburgensis Emballonuridae Saccolaimus faviventris* Vespertilionidae Chalinolobus gouldii* Nyctophilus geoffroyi* Spec Individuals (Reptiles) Species (Mammals) Indi Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 23 - 1 ------2 5 8 1 8 4 1 1 3 1 2 2 4 1 sites 10 13 of Number

------+ 24

------+ + + + + + + + + + 23

------22

------21

------+ + + + + + + + + + + 20

------+ + 19

------+ + + 18

------+ + + + + + + 17

------+ 16

------+ + + + + 15

------+ + + + 14

------+ + + + + + 13

------+ + + 12

1 ------+ 1

------+ + + 10

------9 +

species known from survey area but not recorded during this work ; and *** specially protected, priority protected, specially *** and ; work this during recorded not but area survey from known species ------8 + + + + **

------7 + + + +

------6

------5 + +

------4 +

------3 +

------2 + + + +

------1 + +

Appendix 3 List of birds recorded in the 24 survey sites on Black Range and Lake Mason stations, indicating presence (+) and the number of sites each species was recorded in. * indi summations; or analysis in included not but recorded species cates species or protected through international agreement. Species Acanthizidae Acanthiza apicalis Acanthiza chrysorrhoa Acanthiza robustirostris Acanthiza uropygialis Aphelocephala leucopsis Calamanthus campestris Gerygone fusca** Pyrrholaemus brunneus Smicrornis brevirostris Accipitridae Accipiter fasciatus** Aquila audax Haliastur sphenurus** Aegothelidae Aegotheles cristatus** Alcedinidae pyrrhopygius Todiramphus Anatidae Anas superciliosa** Anas gracilis** Chenonetta jubata** Cygnus atratus** Malacorhynchus membranaceus** tadornoides** Tadorna Ardeidae Ardea modesta*** Artamidae Artamus cinereus Artamus minor Artamus personatus** Burhinidae Burhinus grallarius Campephagidae Coracina maxima Coracina novaehollandiae Lalage tricolor 24 MA Cowan et al. ------4 4 7 4 1 3 2 5 4 3 9 5 1 2 2 sites 17 10 23 10 of Number

------+ + + + 24

------+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + 23

------+ + + 22

------+ + + 21

------+ + + + + + + + + 20

------+ + 19

------+ + + 18

------+ + + + + + + + 17

------+ + + + 16

------+ + + 15

------+ + + + + + 14

------+ + + + + 13

------+ + 12

1 ------+ + + + 1

------+ + + + 10

------9 + + + + + + +

------8 + + + +

------7 + +

------6 + + +

------5 + + + + + +

------4 + + + +

------3 + + + + +

------2 + + + + + +

------1 + + + + +

Species Caprimulgidae Eurostopodus argus Casuariidae Dromaius novaehollandiae Charadriidae Charadrius rufcapillus** Elseyornis melanops** Erythrogonys cinctus** Peltohyas australis** Stiltia isabella** tricolor** Vanellus Cinclosomatidae Cinclosoma marginatum Psophodes occidentalis** Climacteridae Climacteris affnis** Columbidae Geopelia cuneata** Ocyphaps lophotes Phaps chalcoptera Corvidae Corvus bennetti Corvus orru Cracticidae Cracticus nigrogularis Cracticus tibicen Cracticus torquatus Strepera versicolor Culculidae Chrysococcyx basalis Chrysococcyx osculans Cacomantis pallidus Dicaeidae Dicaeum hirundinaceum Dicruridae Grallina cyanoleuca Rhipidura leucophrys Falconidae Falco berigora Falco cenchroides Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 25 ------2 1 1 2 6 2 2 1 2 4 1 3 3 1 2 5 20 19 13 23 21

------+ + + +

------+ + + + + + + + + + + + +

------+ + + +

------+ + + +

------+ + + + + + +

------+ + + +

------+ + + + +

------+ + + + + + + + +

------+ + +

------+ + + + + + + +

------+ + + + + + +

------+ + + + + +

------+ + + +

------+ + + +

------+ + + + + +

------+ + + + + + +

------+ + + + +

------+ + + + + + +

------+ + + +

------+ + + + +

------+ + + +

------+ +

------+ + + + +

------+ + + + + + +

Falco longipennis Falco peregrinus*** Halcyonidae sanctus** Todiramphus Hirundinidae Hirundo neoxena* Petrochelidon ariel Petrochelidon nigricans* Laridae Sterna hybrida** Maluridae Malurus lamberti* Malurus leucopterus Malurus splendens Megapodiidae Leipoa ocellata*/*** Meliphagidae Acanthagenys rufogularis Certhionyx variegatus Epthianura aurifrons** Epthianura tricolor Gavicalis virescens Lichmera indistincta Manorina favigula Ptilotula penicillata** Ptilotula plumula Purnella albifrons Sugomel nigrum Meropidae Merops ornatus*** Motacillidae Anthus australis Neosittidae Daphoenositta chrysoptera Otididae Ardeotis australis** Pachycephalidae Colluricincla harmonica Oreoica gutturalis Pachycephala rufventris Pardalotidae Pardalotus rubricatus** Pardalotus striatus Passeridae Emblema pictum guttata Taeniopygia 26 MA Cowan et al. ------3 5 7 5 1 2 1 9 sites 13 13 14 of Number

------+ + + + 24 13

------+ + + + + + + + 23 46

------7 22

------7 21

------+ + + + + + + 20 34

------8 19

------+ + + 18 14

------+ + + + 17 28

------+ + + 11 16

------+ + + + + 15 21

------+ + + + + + 14 23

------+ + 13 19

------+ + + + + 12 14

1 ------+ + + + 1 13

------+ 10 14

------9 + + + + + 20

------8 + 14

------7 13

------6 + + + + + 12

------5 + + + + 17

------4 9

------3 9 +

------2 + + 17

------1 + + + 17

Species Pelecanidae Pelecanus conspicillatus** Petroicidae Melanodryas cucullata Petroica goodenovii Podargidae Podargus strigoides** Podicipedidae novaehollandiae** Tachybaptus Pomatostomidae Pomatostomus superciliosus Pomatostomus temporalis Psittacidae Cacatua roseicapilla Cacatua sanguinea** Cacatua leadbeateri** Melopsittacus undulatus Neophema bourkii Nymphicus hollandicus** Platycercus varius Platycercus zonarius Ptilonorhynchidae Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis Rallidae ventralis** Tribonyx Recurvirostridae Cladorhynchus leucocephalus** Himantopus himantopus** Recurvirostra novaehollandiae** Strigidae Ninox boobook Sylviidae Megalurus mathewsi* Threskiornithidae Platalea favipes** Threskiornis spinicollis** Tytonidae alba** Tyto number of species recorded Total Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 27 1 ------6 3 1 2 4 1 1 1 2 5 5 1 5 1 3 3 1 2 1 1 sites 14 of Number

------+ + + + 24

------+ + 23

------+ 22

------21

------+ + + + + + + 20

------+ + 19

------+ + + + + + 18

------+ + + + 17

------+ + + + + 16

------+ + + + 15

------+ + + + 14

------+ + 13

------+ + 12

1 ------+ + + 1

------+ + + + + + 10

------9 +

------8 alien species; *** priority listed species; and **** species recorded prior to this survey or after this survey.

------** 7 +

------6 + + + +

------5 + + +

------4

------3 + + +

------2 + + +

------1 + + + + + +

.

subsp

. robusta eremita subsp Appendix 4 was taxa each sites of number the and (+) presence indicating stations, Mason Lake and Range Black on sites survey 24 the at quadrats the in recorded plants vascular of List recorded in. * taxa recorded during survey but not on quadrats; Note- taxa that were only identifed to genus are recorded here but not included in analysis. Species Aizoaceae Carpobrotus modestus Disphyma crassifolium * Gunniopsis quadrifda * Gunniopsis rodwayi * cristata Tetragonia eremaea Tetragonia Amaranthaceae Alternanthera nodifora **** Ptilotus albidus Ptilotus divaricatus * Ptilotus gaudichaudii Ptilotus helichrysoides **** Ptilotus helipteroides Ptilotus macrocephalus Ptilotus nobilis Ptilotus obovatus Ptilotus polystachyus Ptilotus roei Ptilotus schwartzii Rhagodia drummondii Apiaceae Daucus glochidiatus Apocynaceae Marsdenia australis Rhyncharrhena linearis Araliaceae bialata * Trachymene ornata Trachymene Asparagaceae Lomandra leucocephala Thysanotus exiliforus Thysanotus manglesianus Bulbine semibarbata 28 MA Cowan et al. ------1 7 6 2 5 6 1 1 5 3 4 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 sites 15 of Number

------+ + + + + + 24

------+ + + 23

------+ 22

------21

------+ + + + + 20

------+ 19

------+ + 18

------+ + + + + + + + + 17

------+ + + 16

------+ + + + 15

------+ + + + + + 14

------13

------+ 12

1 ------+ 1

------+ + + + + 10

------9 + + + + + + +

------8 +

------7 +

------6 + + + + + +

------5 + + + + + +

------4

------3 + +

------2 + + + +

------1 + + + +

sp.

. splendida subsp Species Asteraceae Actinobole uliginosum * Angianthus cornutus Brachyscome ciliaris Calocephalus multiforus Calotis hispidula Calotis multicaulis Cephalipterum drummondii Chrysocephalum apiculatum * Chrysocephalum eremaeum Chrysocephalum puteale * Cratystylis subspinescens * Erodiophyllum acanthocephalum **** Erymophyllum ramosum Gnephosis angianthoides * Gnephosis arachnoidea Gnephosis brevifolia * Gnephosis tenuissima Helipterum craspedioides Isoetopsis graminifolia * Lawrencella davenportii Lemooria burkittii * Millotia incurva * Myriocephalus guerinae Myriocephalus pygmaeus * Olearia humilis Olearia pimeleoides Olearia plucheacea Olearia stuartii * Podolepis Podolepis capillaris Podolepis gracilis Podolepis kendallii * Podolepis lessonii * Pogonolepis muelleriana Rhodanthe battii Rhodanthe charsleyae Rhodanthe chlorocephala Rhodanthe foribunda Rhodanthe humboldtiana Rhodanthe maryonii Rhodanthe propinqua Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 29 ------2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2

------+ + + +

------

------+

------+

------+

------

------+

------+ + + + +

------+

------+ +

------+ + +

------

------

------+ + + +

------+ + +

------

------

------

------+

------

------

------

------

------+

**** ****

var. Allambi Stn var.

Mt Keith

sp. (BW Strong 676) (G Cockerton & G O’Keefe 11017) Roebuckia ciliocarpa Schoenia cassiniana * Senecio glossanthus Sonchus oleraceus** Streptoglossa liatroides corrickiae * Tietkensia skirrophorum Trichanthodium eremaea Vittadinia sulcata **** Vittadinia acuminata Waitzia Boraginaceae Convolvulus clementii Halgania cyanea Halgania integerrima * Heliotropium heteranthum **** Brassicaceae Cuphonotus andraeanus Lepidium muelleri-ferdinandii Lepidium oxytrichum Lepidium phlebopetalum Lepidium platypetalum Menkea australis * Sisymbrium orientale ** Stenopetalum anfractum * Stenopetalum flifolium Campanulaceae Isotoma petraea Lobelia winfridae tumidifructa Wahlenbergia Caryophyllaceae Spergularia marina * Spergularia rubra */** Casuarinaceae Casuarina pauper Celastraceae Macgregoria racemigera **** Stackhousia megaloptera Stackhousia monogyna * Stackhousia muricata * Stackhousia ftzgibbonii Waitzia 30 MA Cowan et al. ------1 3 2 7 1 4 1 6 1 1 2 1 2 5 1 2 2 7 2 1 2 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 sites of Number

------+ + + 24

------+ + 23

------22

------21

------+ + + + 20

------+ + 19

------18

------17

------+ + + + + 16

------+ + + 15

------+ + + + 14

------+ + 13

------+ + + 12

1 ------+ 1

------+ + + + + + + + + + + + + 10

------9 + + + +

------8

------7 + +

------6 + + +

------5

------4

------3 + + +

------2 + + + + + + +

------1 + + + +

subsp.

bidens

subsp.

subsp. subsp.

sp. sp. sp.

eremaea rhadinostachya leiostachya **** Species Chenopodiaceae Atriplex bunburyana * Atriplex holocarpa Chenopodium gaudichaudianum Dissocarpus paradoxus Dysphania cristata * Dysphania glomulifera Dysphania kalpari Dysphania melanocarpa Dysphania rhadinostachya Einadia nutans Enchylaena tomentosa Maireana amoena Maireana carnosa Maireana convexa Maireana georgei Maireana glomerifolia Maireana oppositifolia **** Maireana planifolia Maireana planifolia/villosa * Maireana pyramidata Maireana Maireana thesioides Maireana triptera Maireana villosa * Rhagodia preissii * Rhagodia Salsola australis Sclerolaena cuneata Sclerolaena densifora Sclerolaena diacantha Sclerolaena eurotioides * Sclerolaena fusiformis Sclerolaena obliquicuspis **** Sclerolaena patenticuspis * Sclerolaena disarticulata Tecticornia halocnemoides Tecticornia indica Tecticornia indica Tecticornia Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 31 ------2 3 2 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 4 2 1 1 1 12

------+ + +

------+ +

------+ +

------+ +

------+ +

------+ + +

------+ + + +

------+ +

------

------+ +

------+ +

------+ +

------+

------+

------+ + +

------+ + +

------+ +

------+

------+

------+ +

------+

------+

------+

------+ +

(KA (KA

****

prolixa **** (hybrid)

**** eremophila ****

var.

var.

sp. Dennys Crossing sp. Great Victoria Desert sp. Great Victoria Shepherd & J English KS 552) * (GJ Keighery 7501) Tecticornia Tecticornia undulata **** Tecticornia Colchicaceae Wurmbea Cuscuta epithymum ** Duperreya commixta * Duperreya sericea Crassulaceae acuminata Crassula colorata var. Cupressaceae Callitris columellaris * Callitris preissii Cyperaceae Chrysitrix distigmatosa * Schoenus subaphyllus Droseraceae Drosera macrantha Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia australis Euphorbia boophthona Euphorbia drummondii Fabaceae Acacia aneura Acacia aptaneura Acacia aulacophylla Acacia ayersiana Acacia burkittii Acacia burrowsiana ***/**** Acacia caesaneura Acacia craspedocarpa Acacia craspedocarpa Acacia effusifolia Acacia eremophila Acacia fuscaneura Acacia grasbyi * Acacia heteroneura Acacia jennerae **** Acacia incurvaneura Acacia ligulata Acacia nyssophylla Convolvulaceae Bonamia rosea 32 MA Cowan et al. ------8 1 1 1 2 1 6 1 4 2 1 2 1 1 3 2 4 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 3 sites 14 of Number

------+ + 24

------+ + + 23

------+ + 22

------+ + + + + 21

------+ + + 20

------+ + + 19

------+ + + + + + 18

------+ + + 17

------+ + + + 16

------+ + + + + 15

------+ + 14

------+ 13

------12

1 ------+ + + 1

------+ + + + 10

------9 + + +

------8

------7 + +

------6 + + +

------5 + +

------4 + + +

------3 + + +

------2 + + +

------1 +

helmsii

. flifolia

victoriae

subsp. subsp subsp.

**** - terete

subsp.

juliforae

sp. sp. Austin (A Strid 20210) Austin (A sp. sp. Meekatharra sp. artemisioides Eremaean Region (D Edinger et al. 30) ? (E Bailey 1-26) Species Acacia oswaldii Acacia prainii Acacia pteraneura Acacia pruinocarpa Acacia quadrimarginea ramulosa Acacia ramulosa var. Acacia rhodophloia * Acacia sibina Acacia sibirica Acacia Acacia Acacia tetragonophylla Acacia victoriae Acacia xanthocarpa Bossiaea eremaea ***/**** Daviesia grahamii Gastrolobium laytonii * Glycine canescens **** Indigofera georgei Kennedia prorepens * Labichea eremaea *** Leptosema chambersii Lotus cruentus Mirbelia microphylla * Mirbelia seorsifolia Petalostylis cassioides * Phyllota humilis Senna artemisioides Senna artemisioides Senna artemisioides Senna artemisioides Senna glaucifolia * Senna glutinosa Senna Senna Swainsona affnis **** Swainsona beasleyana **** Swainsona canescens * Swainsona halophila Swainsona kingii **** Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 33 ------2 8 6 2 2 4 1 3 5 1 1 4 4 1 5 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 15

------+ + + + +

------+

------+ + + + + +

------+ + + + + +

------+ + +

------+ +

------+ + + + + + +

------+ + + + + +

------+ + + + + + +

------+ + + +

------+ + + + +

------+

------+ +

------

------+ + +

------+ + +

------+

------+

------+ + +

------+ + +

------+ + +

------+ + +

------+ +

------+ +

acuminata parvifolia

divaricata

subsp. subsp.

var. var.

sp. Swainsona paradoxa * Swainsona paucifoliolata * Swainsona rostellata **** Swainsona Frankeniaceae Frankenia cinerea Frankenia fecunda * Frankenia laxifora **** Frankenia paucifora Geraniaceae Erodium aureum ** Erodium cygnorum Goodeniaceae Brunonia australis Dampiera eriocephala Dampiera plumosa */*** Dampiera roycei * Goodenia havilandii Goodenia macroplectra Goodenia maideniana Goodenia mimuloides Goodenia mueckeana Goodenia occidentalis * Goodenia peacockiana Goodenia tenuiloba Goodenia triodiophila * Scaevola parvifolia Scaevola parvifolia Scaevola spinescens connata * Velleia hispida Velleia rosea Velleia Gyrostemonaceae Gyrostemon ramulosus * Haloragaceae Glischrocaryon favescens Haloragis odontocarpa Haloragis trigonocarpa Hemerocallidaceae Dianella revoluta Lamiaceae Hemigenia tomentosa * Dicrastylis brunnea Hemiphora elderi Newcastelia hexarrhena 34 MA Cowan et al. ------1 1 5 1 2 5 1 7 2 1 2 4 1 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 3 1 3 1 sites of Number

------+ + + 24

------+ + + 23

------+ + 22

------+ 21

------+ + + + 20

------19

------+ + + + + 18

------+ + + 17

------16

------15

------+ + + 14

------+ + 13

------+ + 12

1 ------1

------+ + + 10

------9 + + +

------8

------7 +

------6 + + + + +

------5 + + + + +

------4 + + + + +

------3

------2 +

------1 +

althoferi

subsp. exocarpi ****

gibberula

subsp.

subsp. Prostrate

var. var.

grandiforus

subsp.

var.

sp. Gardneri sp.

sp. Dark green fruits (S van sp. Excedentifolia (JL Egan 1925) sp. Excedentifolia (JL (AA Mitchell PRP 1266) Mitchell PRP (AA quadrivalvis Leeuwen 2260) Species Pityrodia canaliculata ***/**** Prostanthera albifora **** Prostanthera althoferi Prostanthera althoferi/campbellii * Prostanthera althoferi/sericea * Prostanthera campbellii Prostanthera sericea Spartothamnella teucriifora Loranthaceae Amyema ftzgeraldii **** Amyema gibberula Amyema miquelii * casuarinae **** Lysiana exocarpi Lysiana murrayi Lysiana Malvaceae Abutilon cryptopetalum Abutilon fraseri * Abutilon otocarpum Abutilon oxycarpum Abutilon Alyogyne pinoniana Androcalva loxophylla Brachychiton gregorii * Hannafordia quadrivalvis Hibiscus Hibiscus sturtii Seringia elliptica Lawrencia helmsii Radyera farragei **** Sida calyxhymenia Sida cardiophylla * Sida ectogama Sida fbulifera Sida sp. Sida Sida Sida spodochroma Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 35 ------2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

------

------

------+ + +

------+ + + + + +

------

------+

------

------+

------+

------

------+

------

------

------+

------

------+ +

------+

------

------

------+

------+

------

------

------

auriculata

amaryssia plenissima

subsp.

subsp. ***

subsp. subsp.

sp. Little Sandy Desert Burbidge & A A Burbidge & sp. C Evol. Fl. Fauna Arid sp. C Evol. Fl. Fauna sp. Sandstone (CA Gardner sp. Sandstone (CA Desert sp. Great Victoria s.n. 26 Oct. 1963) 14813) * (AS Weston kingsmillii (D Nicolle & M French DN 4304) * Kanis 8158) * Aust. (NT Myrtaceae Aluta maisonneuvei Baeckea Baeckea Calytrix amethystina * Calytrix carinata * Calytrix erosipetala * Calytrix uncinata * Corymbia lenziana **** Enekbatus eremaeus Eucalyptus carnei Eucalyptus gongylocarpa Eucalyptus gypsophila Eucalyptus kingsmillii Eucalyptus kochii Eucalyptus kochii Eucalyptus lucasii **** Eucalyptus oldfeldii Eucalyptus Eucalyptus striaticalyx **** Eucalyptus trivalva Euryomyrtus infata */*** Homalocalyx thryptomenoides Melaleuca pauperifora * Melaleuca xerophila Micromyrtus sulphurea * Thryptomene costata Parmeliaceae Xanthoparmelia antleriformis **** Xanthoparmelia reptans **** Phrymaceae Peplidium muelleri * Peplidium Pittosporaceae Pittosporum angustifolium Plantago drummondii Plumbaginaceae Muellerolimon salicorniaceum * 36 MA Cowan et al. ------7 7 1 1 6 1 5 1 2 2 7 2 1 1 2 4 3 5 1 2 1 4 1 1 1 sites of Number

------+ + + + 24

------+ + + 23

------+ 22

------+ + 21

------+ + + 20

------+ + 19

------+ + + 18

------+ + + + + + + 17

------+ + 16

------+ + + + + 15

------+ + + + + + 14

------+ 13

------+ + 12

1 ------+ + + 1

------+ + + + + 10

------9 + + + + + +

------8 + +

------7 +

------6

------5 + +

------4 + + + +

------3 +

------2 + +

------1 + +

pulchella

holathera

subsp. mucronata *

var.

?

sp. Eremaean

sp.

(F Hort, J Hort & J Shanks 3248) */*** Species Poaceae Amphipogon caricinus Aristida contorta Aristida holathera Austrostipa elegantissima Austrostipa nitida * Austrostipa platychaeta Austrostipa scabra Austrostipa Austrostipa trichophylla * Austrostipa tuckeri * Bromus arenarius Cymbopogon ambiguus * Cymbopogon obtectus Dactyloctenium radulans * Digitaria brownii **** Enneapogon caerulescens Eragrostis dielsii Eragrostis eriopoda Eragrostis lacunaria Eragrostis lanipes **** Eragrostis pergracilis Eriachne benthamii **** Eriachne helmsii Eriachne mucronata Eriachne pulchella Monachather paradoxus Paspalidium basicladum Paspalidium clementii **** Paspalidium rarum * Rostraria pumila ** Setaria dielsii * basedowii Triodia Polygonaceae Rumex hypogaeus ** Portulacaceae Anacampseros Calandrinia creethiae Calandrinia eremaea Calandrinia polyandra Calandrinia ptychosperma Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 37 ------2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 3 1 2 2 1 5 1

------

------+

------+ + +

------+ + +

------+ + +

------

------+ + + + +

------+ +

------

------+ + + + + +

------+ + + +

------

------+

------

------+ +

------+ + + +

------

------

------+ +

------+ + +

------+

------+

------+ + +

------+ + + +

sieberi acrolobata * temulenta sericipes

brevifolia * brucei *

subsp. subsp.

arida

var. nana *

subsp.

subsp.

subsp.

subsp. subsp.

subsp. subsp.

sp. The Pink Hills (F sp. Obbens FO 19/06) * didymobotrya supraplana Calandrinia schistorhiza Calandrinia sculpta * Calandrinia Calandrinia Portulaca oleracea ** Primulaceae arvensis ** Lysimachia Proteaceae Grevillea acacioides Grevillea didymobotrya Grevillea extorris * Grevillea inconspicua *** Grevillea juncifolia Grevillea nana Grevillea nematophylla Grevillea sarissa subsp. Hakea francisiana Hakea leucoptera Hakea lorea * Hakea preissii Hakea recurva Pteridaceae Cheilanthes lasiophylla Cheilanthes sieberi Rubiaceae Psydrax latifolia Psydrax rigidula Psydrax suaveolens Synaptantha tillaeacea * Rutaceae Philotheca brucei Philotheca brucei Santalaceae Exocarpos aphyllus Exocarpos sparteus Santalum lanceolatum Santalum spicatum Sapindaceae Dodonaea adenophora Dodonaea microzyga Dodonaea pachyneura **** Dodonaea petiolaris Dodonaea rigida 38 MA Cowan et al. 1 ------2 5 6 4 1 1 1 3 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 2 3 1 7 sites 1 of Number

------+ + 24

------+ + 23

------+ 22

------+ 21

------+ + + 20

------+ + + 19

------+ + + + 18

------+ + + + 17

------+ + + + 16

------+ + + 15

------+ 14

------+ + 13

------+ + + + 12

1 ------+ + + 1

------+ 10

------9 + + + + + +

------8 + +

------7 + +

------6 + + +

------5 + +

------4

------3 + + +

------2 + + +

------1 + + + + +

hughesii *

Jucunda

forrestii glabra **** glabra * tomentosa

subsp. gilesii *

subsp.

subsp.

subsp.

subsp.

subsp. subsp. subsp.

subsp. subsp.

subsp.

subsp. subsp.

subsp.

arachnoides *** decipiens hastieana **** latrobei **** angustifolia angustifolia platycalyx Species Scrophulariaceae Eremophila alternifolia Eremophila arachnoides Eremophila clarkei Eremophila conglomerata **** Eremophila decipiens Eremophila enata Eremophila eriocalyx Eremophila exilifolia Eremophila falcata Eremophila foliosissima Eremophila forrestii Eremophila forrestii Eremophila fraseri Eremophila galeata **** Eremophila gilesii Eremophila glabra Eremophila glabra Eremophila granitica * Eremophila hughesii Eremophila hygrophana * Eremophila jucunda Eremophila lachnocalyx * Eremophila latrobei Eremophila latrobei Eremophila latrobei Eremophila longifolia Eremophila mackinlayi Eremophila maculata * Eremophila malacoides Eremophila metallicorum Eremophila oldfeldii Eremophila oppositifolia Eremophila pantonii Eremophila pendulina Eremophila platycalyx Fauna and fora communities in rangelands 39 ------2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 7 3 2 2 18

------+ + + + 40

------+ + + 25

------+ + + + 27

------+ + 29

------+ + 40

------+ 20

------+ + + 46

------+ + + 49

------+ + 34

------+ + 40

------+ + 43

------+ 14

------+ 19

------+ + + 23

------+ + + + + 53

------+ + + + + + 48

1 ------+ + 1

------+ 13

------+ 32

------+ + 31

------+ 19

------+ 21

------+ 30

------32

. lanata

shonae *

subsp.

rosulata

subsp

subsp.

subsp.

subsp.

subsp.

sp. platythamnos orbiculatum microcephala Eremophila platythamnos Eremophila scoparia Eremophila serrulata Eremophila shonae Eremophila spuria * Eremophila subfoccosa Solanaceae Anthotroche pannosa Duboisia hopwoodii * australe Lycium Nicotiana cavicola * Nicotiana rosulata Nicotiana rotundifolia * Solanum coactiliferum Solanum cleistogamum Solanum hoplopetalum * Solanum lasiophyllum Solanum nigrum ** Solanum orbiculatum Solanum plicatile * Stylidiaceae Stylidium induratum Stylidium limbatum Thymelaeaceae Pimelea microcephala Pimelea trichostachya * Urticaceae Parietaria cardiostegia * Xanthorrhoeaceae Xanthorrhoea thorntonii * Zygophyllaceae astrocarpus Tribulus terrestris */** Tribulus Zygophyllum compressum * Zygophyllum eichleri * Zygophyllum halophilum * Zygophyllum ovatum Zygophyllum simile * Zygophyllum Zygophyllum tetrapterum * No of species on quadrats 40 MA Cowan et al.

Appendix 5 Indicator analysis results for signifcant species within each of the four major botanical groups. Indicator value is the proportion of sites within each group where the spe- cies is represented, and the p value is the proportion of randomised trials in which the indicator equals or exceeds those of the observed values.

Species Group Indicator p value value

Daucus glochidiatus A 100 0.0002 Podolepis sp. A 85 0.0018 Atriplex holocarpa A 66 0.0098 Callitris preissii A 66 0.0152 Dysphania melanocarpa A 66 0.0098 Lepidium platypetalum A 66 0.0098 Maireana convexa A 66 0.0098 Maireana glomerifolia A 66 0.0098 Maireana pyramidata A 66 0.0098 Rhodanthe chlorocephala A 66 0.0098 Rhodanthe foribunda A 66 0.0098 Rhodanthe propinqua A 66 0.0098 Stackhousia megaloptera A 66 0.0098 Wahlenbergia tumidifructa A 66 0.0098 Acacia nyssophylla A 62 0.0178 Homalocalyx thryptomenoides B 50 0.0454 Glischrocaryon favescens B 48 0.035 Hibiscus gardneri B 46 0.0422 Newcastelia hexarrhena B 46 0.0362 Marsdenia australis C 85 0.0002 Cuscuta epithymum C 64 0.0134 Pogonolepis muelleriana C 60 0.0046 Duperreya sericea C 51 0.0144 Maireana triptera C 51 0.0124 Seringia elliptica C 47 0.0438 Alyogyne pinoniana C 45 0.0416 Hemiphora elderi C 45 0.036 Aluta maisonneuvei C 40 0.0452 Austrostipa elegantissima C 40 0.0482 Plantago drummondii C 40 0.0482 Sida spodochroma C 40 0.0452 Eriachne mucronata C 35 0.0484 Chrysocephalum eremaeum D 70 0.0006 Erymophyllum ramosum D 70 0.0014 Sclerolaena cuneata D 60 0.0132 Acacia prainii D 50 0.0188 Acacia victoriae D 50 0.0188 Mirbelia seorsifolia D 50 0.0194 Phyllota humilis D 50 0.02 Trachymene ornata D 50 0.0002 Eucalyptus oldfeldii D 45 0.0452