Schouten Island Scientific Expedition • 2011 A partnership program between the Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and the Resource Management and Conservation Division, DPIPWE, Tasmania Editor: Dr Anthony Reid Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Schouten Island Scientific Expedition 2011 A partnership program between the Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and the Resource Management and Conservation Division, DPIPWE, Tasmania. © Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Book ISBN: 978-0-9922694-0-1 Title: Schouten Island Scientific Expedition 2011 Author(s): Anthony Reid (editor) Publisher/Place: Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment/Hobart PDF format for Web publication ISBN: 978-0-9922694-1-8 Title: Schouten Island Scientific Expedition 2011 Author(s): Anthony Reid (editor) Publisher/Place: Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment/Hobart Cite as: Reid, A (2011). Schouten Island Scientific Expedition 2011. Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and Resource Management and Conservation Division, DPIPWE, Hobart, Nature Conservation Report Series 11/2 Cover photo: Nick Page. Inside cover photos: Jason Bradbury. Design and layout by the ILS Design Unit, DPIPWE. This work is copyright. It may be reproduced for study, research or training purposes subject to an acknowledgement of the sources and no commercial use or sale. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Branch Manager, Biodiversity Conservation Branch DPIPWE or the Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, Auckland, New Zealand. Schouten Island Scientific Expedition • 2011 A partnership program between the Hamish Saunders Memorial Trust, New Zealand and the Resource Management and Conservation Division, DPIPWE, Tasmania Editor: Dr Anthony Reid Schouten Island • Scientific Expedition • 2011 4 Bear Hill. Photo by Michael Driessen. Contents Foreword 5 6 Hamish Saunders 6 Acknowledgements 7 Summary of Results Introduction 11 A 375 Million Year History 15 Marine Habitats Of Schouten Island 45 Present Vegetation Of Schouten Island 57 Terrestrial Mammals 79 Birds Of Schouten Island 93 Schouten Island Chytrid And Amphibian Surveys 105 Terrestrial Invertebrates Of Schouten Island 111 Freshwater Fauna Of Schouten Island 127 Travel Award Recipient Report 137 Travel Award Recipient Report 141 Schouten Island • Scientific Expedition • 2011 5 Schouten Island • Scientific Expedition • 2011 6 An embayment on the east coast of Schouten Island. Photo by Nick Page. Foreword Tasmania’s 334 islands are increasingly This report, another in the series of reports recognised as unique havens for our wildlife recording the results of visits to Tasmanian islands by and native flora. this Department in partnership with the Trust, is a comprehensive and illuminating record of detailed They are home to many seabirds, mammals, scientific survey work undertaken by the expedition reptiles and native vegetation, and each has its own team. characteristics and significant historical and natural It confirms that Schouten Island’s location in a climate features. hotspot makes it an ideal site for ongoing monitoring Each island around our coast has its own unique to track the impacts of changes in climate on marine history, signs of which can be seen today. In pre- flora and fauna. European times, our islands were often used Other highlights include the new recording of 13 extensively by the Tasmanian Aboriginal people, and vegetation communities, seven species of bat and the after European settlement, some became whaling endemic Tasmanian froglet. Sixty bird species.were and sealing centres and were used for early farming recorded. ventures. Remarkably, and in very encouraging news, no exotic Some are relatively undisturbed by humans; rodents were found. A rabbit however was recorded, others reflect the use of the land and waters over pointing to the need for a future eradication effort. generations. Our partnership with the Hamish Saunders Memorial The growth in our knowledge and appreciation Trust aims to foster the growth of personal and of the natural values of our islands has been given professional links between scientists in Tasmania a significant boost in recent years through our and New Zealand, and the visit to Schouten Island partnership with the Hamish Saunders Memorial provided another great opportunity for two emerging Trust. New Zealand scientists to work in the field with The Trust, established in memory of Hamish Saunders experienced Tasmanian scientists. I understand Cally who tragically died in April 2003 whilst undertaking Hammond-Tooke and Nick Page gained a great island survey with our staff, has provided both deal from their experience on the island, and I thank specialist staff from this Department and emerging them and their Tasmanian counterparts for their New Zealand natural scientists with a fantastic contributions to this report opportunity to visit and study our islands. The expedition to Schouten Island from 12 to 16 Alistair Scott December 2011 has contributed greatly to our understanding of the natural values on the island. General Manager, Resource Management and Conservation Division. Schouten Island • Scientific Expedition • 2011 7 Hamish Saunders Acknowledgements Hamish Saunders was a New Zealand volunteer who Thanks is again due to the Hamish Saunders died tragically in 2003 while conducting survey work Memorial Trust for participating in the program, on a Tasmanian endangered species program. Hamish particularly Alan and David Saunders, and the graduated from Waikato University with a First Class Trust’s travel award recipients Nick Page and Cally Honours and Masters degree in marine geology. He Hammond-Tooke. later completed a postgraduate GIS course with Sincere thanks must also be extended to the Institute distinction. He also achieved qualifications as a scuba of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) for the loan dive instructor, was a good sportsman and was of a commercial marine vessel and towing vehicle for talented, not solely academically, but as an all round the duration of the trip. The trip would not have been individual. as successful without the exclusive use of a vessel. As an explorer, Hamish achieved in his 26 years Thanks must also be extended to the Gorse much of which most only dream. From Antarctica Gnashers and the Friends of Freycinet volunteer to the Galapagos, Central America, South America, groups for sharing the campsite and island facilities, South-East Asia, Europe and Australia, he combined and also imparting extensive knowledge on the island his passion for the natural world and conservation and its recent historical events. with that of an interest in local cultures and people. Not only did he travel to these places, but he also Fionna Bourne, Mike Pemberton and Steve Harris took a great interest in the people around him. He provided Agency support. We also thank the Parks touched many lives. Hamish was a remarkable and and Wildlife Service, for allowing access to and use of talented young man. The passion and enthusiasm he the onsite campgrounds, huts and facilities. engendered in those whom he met and the gentle leadership he embodied is his legacy. We thank the many people who provided their time and expertise, some in a volunteer capacity, across the This island survey program is dedicated to the range of specialties dealt with in this report – they memory of Hamish Saunders and intended as a are acknowledged separately in the individual reports platform for emerging leaders in nature conservation. herein. The Tasmanian Government’s commitment and long- term support for the program is reaffirmed in the The editor especially thanks participants for writing publication of each of the expedition reports. up the results of their work promptly following the expedition. Thanks to Brett Littleton of Information and Land Services Division in the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment for his design and layout of the report. Schouten Island • Scientific Expedition • 2011 8 Summary of Results 7. The detail and accuracy of the previous mapping of Schouten Island was greatly improved and 1. The present work has provided observations 13 new vegetation communities were recorded, enabling revision and enhancement of the including two new threatened communities of geoscientific information content of existing TGD Callitris rhomboidea forest (NCR), and Seabird listings for Moulting Lagoon - Great Oyster Bay, rookery complex (SRC). Schouten Island Fault, Schouten Island Landslip. 8. The vegetation of the entire island is 2. The Schouten Island granite is mainly characterised by diverse heathy, sedgy unfoliated, implying a post orogenic absence understoreys and the ubiquitous shrubby Callitris of any significant stress field at the time of rhomboidea pines. The heathy understorey varies crystallisation. from pure Lasiopetalum bicolor, to pure Gahnia filum to diverse coastal heath. 3. In “join the dots fashion” the fault zone bisecting Schouten Island can be traced south through 9. Approximately 90% of the large area of bare Maria Island and north along the Freycinet rock on the island resulting from the 1987 fires Peninsula as the eastern margin of Great Oyster has been recolonised (mainly by SDU) and Bay. It parallels much of the east coast of approximately 80% of the regenerating farmland Tasmania, trending slightly east of north. It can in the west had been recolonised by