A Biodiversity Survey of the Adelaide Park Lands South Australia in 2003
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A BIODIVERSITY SURVEY OF THE ADELAIDE PARK LANDS SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN 2003 By M. Long Biological Survey and Monitoring Science and Conservation Directorate Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia 2003 The Biodiversity Survey of the Adelaide Park Lands, South Australia was carried out with funds made available by the Adelaide City Council. The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Adelaide City Council or the State Government of South Australia. This report may be cited as: Long, M. (2003). A Biodiversity Survey of the Adelaide Park Lands, South Australia in 2003 (Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia). Copies of the report may be accessed in the library: Department for Human Services, Housing, Environment and Planning Library 1st Floor, Roma Mitchell House 136 North Terrace, ADELAIDE SA 5000 AUTHOR M. Long Biological Survey and Monitoring Section, Science and Conservation Directorate, Department for Environment and Heritage, GPO Box 1047 ADELAIDE SA 5001 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) ANALYSIS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Maps: Environmental Analysis and Research Unit, Department for Environment and Heritage COVER DESIGN Public Communications and Visitor Services, Department for Environment and Heritage. PRINTED BY © Department for Environment and Heritage 2003. ISBN 0759010536 Cover Photograph: North Terrace and the River Torrens northwards to North Adelaide from the air showing some of the surrounding Adelaide Park Lands Photo: Department for Environment and Heritage ii Adelaide Park Lands Biodiversity Survey PREFACE The importance of this biodiversity survey of the Adelaide Park Lands cannot be overstated. Our Adelaide Park Lands are a unique and invaluable ‘natural’ asset. The Adelaide City Council Park Lands Management Strategy recognises the native biodiversity of the Adelaide Park Lands as an irreplaceable resource that must be protected and enhanced. This biodiversity survey will help us to better manage the Adelaide Park Lands. It will provide a platform from which we can work to enhance this precious resource for the benefit of local flora and fauna and the enjoyment of generations of South [INSERT SIGNATURE] Australians and visitors alike. The survey represents a successful collaboration between Adelaide City Council, the Department of Environment and Michael Harbison Heritage and the community. Lord Mayor of Adelaide A Biodiversity Survey of the Adelaide Park Lands, South Australia is a further product of the Biological Survey of South Australia. The program of systematic biological surveys to cover the whole of South Australia arose out of a realisation that an effort was needed to increase our knowledge of the remaining vascular plants and vertebrate fauna of South Australia and to encourage its conservation. Over the last 18 years, there has been a strong commitment to the Biological Survey by Government and an impressive dedication from hundreds of volunteer biologists. By 2015, It is anticipated that the Biological Survey will achieve complete statewide coverage. The Biological Survey of South Australia will be an achievement for which we can be very proud. We will have substantially improved our knowledge of the biodiversity of South Australia to enable biologists in the future to measure the direction of long-term ecological change. This will greatly enhance our ability to adequately manage nature conservation into the future. JOHN HILL MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION iii iv Adelaide Park Lands Biodiversity Survey ABSTRACT A Biodiversity Survey of the Adelaide Park Lands was commissioned from the Biological Survey and Monitoring Group of the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage by the Adelaide City Council in August 2002. The survey work, carried out from December 2002 to July 2003 involved the collection and collation of biolodiversity records from a wide range of sources. Standard Geographic Information System layers were created to accommodate mapping of the soils and the pre- European natural vegetation. In addition, site data and more general records for particular areas of the Adelaide Park Lands were entered into the Biological Databases of South Australia. In addition to existing data, new information was collected on both native and exotic vascular plant species present in each of the 27 individual Parks within the Adelaide Park Lands area. Bat calls were recorded at five locations across the Park Lands and and the data analysed to determine the species utilizing the area. A data set of standard monthly bird surveys across the Park Lands by Mr Bob Watmough from 1974 to the present provided a very valuable insight into the total bird fauna and changes over time. The existing and, as far as possible, the pre-European flora and fauna of the Adelaide Park Lands was compiled from this data. 514 plant taxa were recorded for the Park Lands of which 60% (309 species) were introduced. With the exception of two remnant River Red Gums known to be part of the pre-European flora, it is difficult to determine which other plants still present might represent the original flora. Using all available data sources, 205 plant species probably indigenous to the area have been recorded. Particular areas of the Park Lands which still contain significant populations of indigenous flora are discussed. There are 33 mammal species recorded from the Adelaide area, nine are now extinct and six are introduced species. The Adelaide Park Lands now supports ten species of native mammals of which six are bats. In addition, five introduced species occur there. One hundred and fifty bird species have been recorded from the Park Lands, but many species have become extinct while others have moved into the area since the changes to the environment brought about by settlement. Eighteen species of reptiles and six species of amphibian are recorded from the Adelaide Park Lands, but a number of reptiles and one frog have not been recorded in the area in recent times. Finally, a series of conservation recommendations are made to conserve and enhance the remaining native biodiversity of the Adelaide Park Lands. v vi Adelaide Park Lands Biodiversity Survey CONTENTS PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................ III ABSTRACT ...........................................................................................................................................V CONTENTS........................................................................................................................................VII FIGURES ............................................................................................................................................. XI TABLES .............................................................................................................................................. XV APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................. XVII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..............................................................................................................XIX INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................1 THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA..................................................................1 Biological Databases of South Australia..........................................................................................1 ADELAIDE CITY COUNCIL ...........................................................................................................2 Integration with other Plans.............................................................................................................2 THE ADELAIDE PARK LANDS ......................................................................................................2 Administrative boundaries/responsibility.........................................................................................4 Physical description .........................................................................................................................6 SURVEY METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................9 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................9 INFORMATION SOURCES .............................................................................................................9 Mapping........................................................................................................................................................9 Historical Records ........................................................................................................................................9 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................................9 Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) ..................................................................................... 10 South Australian Museum........................................................................................................................... 10 Government House ....................................................................................................................................