Tarkine Tasmania 27 January–6 February 2015
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Tarkine Tasmania 27 January–6 February 2015 Bush Blitz Species Discovery Program Tarkine, Tasmania 27 January–6 February 2015 What is Bush Blitz? Bush Blitz is a multi-million dollar partnership between the Australian Government, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities and Earthwatch Australia to document plants and animals in selected properties across Australia. This innovative partnership harnesses the expertise of many of Australia’s top scientists from museums, herbaria, universities, and other institutions and organisations across the country. Abbreviations ABRS Australian Biological Resources Study ANIC Australian National Insect Collection CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation DPIPWE Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (Tasmania) EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) QM Queensland Museum TMAG Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery TSP Act Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tasmania) UNSW University of New South Wales Page 2 of 32 Tarkine, Tasmania 27 January–6 February 2015 Summary A Bush Blitz survey was conducted in various reserves in the Tarkine region in north-western Tasmania between 27 January and 6 February 2015. The Tarkine region can be defined roughly as the area bounded by the Southern Ocean to the west, the Arthur River to the north, the Pieman River to the south, and the Murchison Highway to the east. Reserves in the region that were surveyed included: Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, Donaldson River Nature Recreation Area, Meredith Range Regional Reserve, Pieman River State Reserve, Savage River National Park, Savage River Pipeline Regional Reserve, and Savage River Regional Reserve. The Bush Blitz also extended slightly to the south of this area, with some surveys conducted in Mount Dundas Regional Reserve and Mount Heemskirk Regional Reserve. The Tarkine includes a diverse array of vegetation communities, among them button-grass plains and moorlands, tall eucalypt forests, eucalypt woodlands and heathlands. It encompasses the largest tract of temperate rainforest in Australia and provides habitat for more than 60 listed threatened species, including the Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Crayfish (the world’s largest freshwater crustacean), the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle and the Tasmanian Devil. The Bush Blitz recorded 1430 species (885 fauna and 545 flora species), of which 34 species are putatively new to science, including two vascular plants, one lichen, 20 spiders and 11 other invertebrates. No fauna or flora listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 were encountered. However, the survey did record four species of vascular plants that are listed as protected under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. Twenty-three exotic or pest fauna species were recorded, including one fish (Brown Trout). The survey found 23 pest or exotic flora species; however, no declared weeds listed under Tasmanian legislation (Tasmanian Weed Management Act 1999) were recorded within the reserves. Two species of significant environmental weeds, Euphorbia paralias and Cakile maritima, were widespread and common in coastal areas. The lack of exotic species at inland sites highlights the pristine condition of much of the Tarkine. An exception was the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, where exotic species were common: the majority of these were herbaceous annuals and perennials recorded from the Dago Plains area, which has a history of cattle grazing and recreational use. Page 3 of 32 Tarkine, Tasmania 27 January–6 February 2015 Contents What is Bush Blitz? 2 Summary 3 Introduction 5 The Tarkine Bush Blitz 5 Acknowledgements 5 Reserve overview 6 Description 6 Conservation values 6 Methods 7 Taxonomic groups studied and personnel 7 Site selection 8 Survey techniques 8 Identification 9 Results 10 Species lists 11 Discussion 12 Putative new species 12 Threatened species 16 Exotic and pest species 17 Range extensions 23 Other points of interest 28 Glossary 30 Page 4 of 32 Tarkine, Tasmania 27 January–6 February 2015 Introduction This is a report for the Bush Blitz program, which aims to improve our knowledge of Australia’s biodiversity. Bush Blitz is an initiative of the Australian Government, through the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), in partnership with BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities and Earthwatch Australia. Bush Blitz aims to: • promote, publicise and demonstrate the importance of taxonomy through species discovery • undertake a national species discovery program • support the science of taxonomy in Australia through training of students and early career researchers, and by providing grants for species description and resolution of taxonomically problematic, nationally important groups • promote partnerships between scientific institutions, government, industry and non- government organisations • inform reserve managers and other stakeholders of the results of Bush Blitz projects. The Tarkine Bush Blitz The Tarkine Bush Blitz ran from 27 January to 6 February 2015. It involved surveys in the following reserves: Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, Donaldson River Nature Recreation Area, Meredith Range Regional Reserve, Mount Dundas Regional Reserve, Mount Heemskirk Regional Reserve, Pieman River State Reserve, Savage River National Park, Savage River Pipeline Regional Reserve, and Savage River Regional Reserve. The 14-strong scientific team included representatives from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG); the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment; the University of New South Wales; and the Queensland Museum. Conditions during the survey were mild and unusually dry. The weather station at Strahan Aerodrome, a little south of the study area, recorded an average daily maximum of 20.4°C (range 17.5°C – 25.4°C), an average daily minimum of 8.7°C (range 3.9°C – 12.8°C), and a rainfall of 0.6 mm during the survey period. Acknowledgements The ABRS acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to their elders both past and present. The Bush Blitz organising team comprised Kate Gillespie, Brian Hawkins and Bella Miras. They would like to thank the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service for advice, assistance, and access to the reserves; the owners and managers of Corinna, particularly Euan Wiseman and Peter Stuart, are thanked for a fruitful and enjoyable stay; and Tim Cain (helicopter pilot) of Osborne Aviation is thanked for his participation. Page 5 of 32 Tarkine, Tasmania 27 January–6 February 2015 1 Reserve overview Reserve names: Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, Donaldson River Nature Recreation Area, Meredith Range Regional Reserve, Mount Dundas Regional Reserve, Mount Heemskirk Regional Reserve, Pieman River State Reserve, Savage River National Park, Savage River Pipeline Regional Reserve, and Savage River Regional Reserve Area: These reserves have a combined area of approximately 447,000 ha. Description The Tarkine region is located in coastal north-western Tasmania, and may be roughly defined as the area bounded by the Southern Ocean to the west, the Arthur River to the north, the Pieman River to the south, and the Murchison Highway to the east. The Tarkine Bush Blitz also extended slightly south of this area, with some surveys conducted in Mount Dundas Regional Reserve and Mount Heemskirk Regional Reserve. The elevations span from sea level to over 800 m. The region is bounded by farmland to the north, forestry activity to the east, mining and water impoundment to the south and the Great Southern Ocean to the west. Although affected in some parts by roads and mines, the area encompasses significant tracts of wilderness. A history of Indigenous burning and wildfires has led to the development of a mosaic of vegetation types. Conservation values The Tarkine is an area of great biological and historical significance. It includes a diverse array of vegetation communities, among them button-grass plains and moorlands, tall eucalypt forests, eucalypt woodlands, heathlands, and the largest tract of temperate rainforest in Australia. Other vegetation types include sandy littoral communities, wetlands, grasslands and sphagnum swamps. The Tarkine provides habitat for more than 60 listed threatened species, including the Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Crayfish (the world’s largest freshwater crustacean), the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle and the Tasmanian Devil. 1 Information sourced from NRS information and assessments, www.discovertasmania.com.au. Page 6 of 32 Tarkine, Tasmania 27 January–6 February 2015 Methods Taxonomic groups studied and personnel A number of taxonomic groups were selected as targets for study. Table 1 lists the groups surveyed and the specialists who undertook the fieldwork. Table 1 Taxonomic groups surveyed and personnel Group Common name Expert Affiliation Pisces Fishes Scott Hardie DPIPWE Chris Bobbi Lepidoptera Butterflies Abbey Throssell TMAG Lepidoptera Moths Catherine Byrne TMAG Kirrily Moore Coleoptera Beetles, general Simon Grove TMAG Chrysomelidae Leaf beetles David de Little TMAG Heteroptera True bugs Anna Namyatova UNSW Odonata Damselflies and dragonflies Abbey Throssell TMAG Other insects Simon Grove TMAG Arachnida Spiders and harvestmen Robert Raven QM Gastropoda Snails and slugs Kevin Bonham TMAG Vascular plants Vascular plants Matthew Baker TMAG Miguel de Salas Bryophytes