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Vegetation Assessment and Mapping of South Islet Coral Sea Marine Park

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Vegetation Assessment and Mapping of South Islet Coral Sea Marine Park Report Vegetation Assessment and Mapping of South Islet (Willis Islets), Coral Sea Marine Park Prepared by Joy Brushe For Parks Australia, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment January 2021 Acknowledgements Organising and undertaking the vegetation survey field trip to Willis Island required the assistance of many people. The contribution of following people and organisations are acknowledged: My husband Larry for assisting in preparation for and participation during the field survey and for proof reading the report. Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) for providing the opportunity to undertake the survey and particularly the staff of the BoM hub in Cairns and the officers stationed on Willis Island for their hospitality and assistance prior to and during the field visit and during our day in Cairns after arriving back from the voyage. The captain and crew of the “Spirit of Freedom” who looked after us very well during our sea voyage and provided assistance in loading and unloading gear. Staff and Management of Parks Australia (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) particularly Stephanie Lemm (Senior Marine Parks Officer, Marine Parks Branch) and Narelle Southam for obtaining the necessary permits, organising the required training and certifications for the survey participants and assisting with purchase and supply of field gear; Carolyn Armstrong for GIS support and Stephanie Lemm for proof reading and providing input into the report. SGS Cairns International analyses of the soil samples. i Table of Contents Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................... 6 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Objectives of the Willis Island Vegetation Survey .............................................................. 7 1.2 Limitations of the Vegetation Survey and Mapping ........................................................... 7 1.3 Nomenclature and Naturalised Status ............................................................................... 9 2.0 Background Information................................................................................................... 9 2. 1 Location and Physical Environment ................................................................................... 9 2. 2 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 11 2. 3 Management Background ................................................................................................ 11 2. 4 Ecological Values .............................................................................................................. 12 2. 5 Existing Information ......................................................................................................... 13 3.0 Methodologies ............................................................................................................... 13 3.1 Vegetation Mapping ......................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Site Data Recorded ........................................................................................................... 13 3.3 Permanent Vegetation Monitoring and Biocondition Assessment Sites ......................... 14 3.4 Reference GPS Coordinates .............................................................................................. 15 3.5 Soil Analyses ..................................................................................................................... 16 4.0 Results and Discussion ................................................................................................... 16 4.1 Prevailing Climatic Conditions .......................................................................................... 16 4.2 Floristic Composition ........................................................................................................ 17 4.3 Vegetation Communities .................................................................................................. 21 4.4 Permanent Monitoring Sites ............................................................................................ 39 4.5 Seabirds ............................................................................................................................ 40 4.6 Turtles ............................................................................................................................... 40 Page ii 4.7 Soils Analyses .................................................................................................................... 41 5.0 Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 44 5.1 Weed Management .......................................................................................................... 44 5.2 Follow up Vegetation Assessment ................................................................................... 46 6.0 References ..................................................................................................................... 46 Appendix 1 Vegetation Structure ............................................................................................................... 49 Appendix 2 Plot Orientation of the Permanent Monitoring Sites and List of the Data Recorded at these Sites ....................................................................................................................................... 50 Appendix 3 Location and Coordinates of Reference Points ....................................................................... 53 Appendix 4 List of Plant Species Recommended for Rehabilitation Planting on Willis Island ................... 55 Appendix 5 Soil Analyses Methods ............................................................................................................ 56 List of Tables Table 1 Current and long term temperature and rainfall records for Willis Island (Australian Bureau of Meteorology, 2020) ........................................................................................................ 11 Table 2 Comparison of species recorded on Willis Island with species records for Coral Sea Marine Park cays and previous records for Willis Island ................................................................. 19 Table 3 Results of Soils Analyses ........................................................................................................... 42 Page iii List of Figures Figure 1 Location of Willis Island .......................................................................................................... 10 Figure 2 Location of vegetation data recording sites and permanent monitoring sites ...................... 15 Figure 3 Comparison of monthly rainfall data for the preceding 12 months with long term averages (Australian Bureau of Meteorology, viewed November 2020) .......................................... 16 Figure 4 The red dots mark the location of weed species recorded outside the mown area during the October 2020 vegetation survey. ....................................................................................... 21 Figure 5 Vegetation map of Willis Island based on patterns visible on 2019 drone image and field data recorded in October 2020 ........................................................................................... 23 Photographs Photo 1 Dry conditions at Willis Island during the October 2020 survey ............................................... 8 Photo 2 Profile of Willis Island .............................................................................................................. 10 Photo 3 Growth form and dieback of Argusia argentea on Willis Island ............................................. 22 Photo 4 Littoral open herbland ............................................................................................................. 25 Photo 5 Sparse herbland on accreting shoreline .................................................................................. 26 Photo 6 Lepturus repens grassland ....................................................................................................... 27 Photo 7 Sporobolus virginicus closed grassland ................................................................................... 28 Photo 8 Stenotaphrum micranthum grassland ..................................................................................... 29 Photo 9 Argusia argentea dwarf shrubland.......................................................................................... 30 Photo 10 Site 8 Argusia argentea dwarf open shrubland .................................................................... 30 Photo 11 Site 13 Sporobolus virginicus closed grassland ..................................................................... 31 Photo 12 Site 42 Sporobolus virginicus grassland ................................................................................. 32 Photo 13 Site 36 Sporobolus virginicus closed grassland with emergent Argusia argentea low shrubs ............................................................................................................................................ 33 Photo 14 Site 46 Achyranthes aspera/Sporobolus virginicus open herbland ......................................
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