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Subterranean Ecology Pty Ltd Scientific Environmental Services www.subterraneanecology.com.au CHRISTMAS CREEK LIFE OF MINE PROJECT Terrestrial SRE Invertebrate Survey Prepared for Fortescue Metals Group Limited 16 July 2012 CHRISTMAS CREEK LIFE OF MINE PROJECT TERRESTRIAL SRE INVERTEBRATE SURVEY FINAL REVISION 0 Subterranean Ecology Pty Ltd Scientific Environmental Services ABN 91 131 924 037 Suite 8, 37 Cedric St STIRLING WA 6021 Email: [email protected] www.subterraneanecology.com.au Report No. 2011/08 Prepared for Fortescue Metals Group Limited 16 July 2012 COVER: Juvenile specimen of Antichiropus sp. ‘christmas’, collected from Christmas Creek. Photo copyright Subterranean Ecology 2011. COPYRIGHT: This document has been prepared to the requirements of the client identified above, and no representation is made to any third party. It may be cited for the purposes of scientific research or other fair use, but it may not be reproduced or distributed to any third party by any physical or electronic means without the express permission of the client for whom it was prepared or Subterranean Ecology. LIMITATIONS: This survey was limited to the requirements specified by the client and the extent of information made available to the consultant at the time of undertaking the work. Information not made available to this study, or which subsequently becomes available may alter the conclusions made herein. VERSION PREPARED BY REVIEWED BY RECIPIENT DATE Rev B S. Callan & S. Danti R. Keogh (peer review) 15 June 2011 Rev C S. Callan & S. Danti S. Callan L. Egerton, T. Edwards 17 June 2011 Rev D S. Callan A. Lyons T. Edwards 21 December 2011 Rev E S. Callan S. Callan S. Grein, T. Edwards 22 June 2012 Rev0 S. Callan S. Callan T. Edwards 16 July 2012 Subterranean Ecology FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD Scientific Environmental Services Christmas Creek Life of Mine Project [COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE] SRE Invertebrate Survey Executive Summary Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (Fortescue) proposes to expand its Chichester Hub mining operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. As part of the expansion, Fortescue has redefined the ‘Life of Mine’ (LOM) footprint of the Christmas Creek mine, approximately 110 km north west of the town of Newman. Subterranean Ecology was commissioned to conduct a survey (the Survey) for terrestrial short-range endemic (SRE) invertebrates for the Christmas Creek LOM Expansion Project (the Project). The aims and objectives of the Survey were to: • Identify and describe prospective SRE habitats within the Survey area; • Investigate the occurrence of SRE species via field sampling of prospective habitats; • Identify all target SRE species and assess their conservation (SRE) status; and • Describe potential impacts to SRE species and habitats which may arise from the Project. The Survey was undertaken between March and April 2011 (end of wet season) utilising sampling methods such as wet pitfall trapping, active foraging and leaf litter / soil sifting. The sampling methods and survey design have met the recommendations of the EPA (2009) Guidance Statement 20 for terrestrial SRE invertebrates. Twenty-eight (28) sites were chosen for sampling, based on land systems, landforms, drainage, and vegetation types, with the aim of providing representation of potential SRE habitats throughout the Survey area. Within each site, prospective SRE micro-habitats such as leaf litter, tree bark, wood piles and debris, rock cracks and crevices, and rock piles, were targeted for sampling. The main findings of the Survey were: • Twenty-seven (27) target taxa from 6 invertebrate orders (spiders, pseudoscorpions, scorpions, myriapods, isopods and snails) were collected; • Key habitats identified within the Survey area included drainage lines, floodplains, rocky hills and gullies, gorges, and to a lesser extent, isolated groves of Mulga vegetation; • There is a high level of confidence in the faunal results, for the following reasons: o The Survey has met the recommendations of EPA (2009) Guidance Statement 20 for terrestrial SRE fauna; o The Survey achieved a high rate of detection, with 76% - 93% of the predicted species richness detected; and o The Survey achieved good coverage of vegetation types, land systems, drainage and landforms throughout the Survey area, excluding the Samphire flats surrounding Fortescue Marsh that were inaccessible due to flooding. • The majority of taxa were widely distributed species (i.e. not SRE), that have been recorded outside of the Survey area; • No conservation listed species were found (under relevant legislation); • Two (2) species were of potential significance to the Project: o Karaops sp. ‘christmas’ (selenopid spider); a potential SRE species, which is also known to occur at Bonney Downs Station, outside of the Survey area to the immediate north; and Page | 1 Subterranean Ecology FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD Scientific Environmental Services Christmas Creek Life of Mine Project [COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE] SRE Invertebrate Survey o Antichiropus sp. ‘christmas’ (millipede); a likely SRE species found frequently in most of the habitat types present throughout the Survey area. This species has not been recorded outside of the Survey area to date; • Antichiropus sp. ‘christmas’ was found in alluvial/ colluvial plains, gorges, rocky hills and gullies, Mulga vegetation groves, and drainage lines. These types of habitats are not locally restricted, and are well represented in the wider local area surrounding the Survey area. Although unconfirmed by sampling data, there is no reason to suggest that this species would not occur in these types of habitats, beyond the boundaries of the Survey area. Page | 2 Subterranean Ecology FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD Scientific Environmental Services Christmas Creek Life of Mine Project [COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE] SRE Invertebrate Survey Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Aims and Objectives ........................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Location and Survey Area .................................................................................................. 8 2 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................................... 10 3 SHORT-RANGE ENDEMISM ...................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Definitions and Criteria .................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Origins and Processes ...................................................................................................... 11 3.3 Target SRE Taxa ................................................................................................................ 12 3.4 Target SRE Habitats .......................................................................................................... 12 3.5 SRE Status ......................................................................................................................... 13 4 REVIEW OF EXISTING KNOWLEDGE ......................................................................................... 13 4.1 Conservation Significant Fauna ........................................................................................ 16 5 SURVEY AREA ........................................................................................................................... 16 5.1 Climate ............................................................................................................................. 16 5.2 Biogeography ................................................................................................................... 18 5.3 Land Systems .................................................................................................................... 18 5.4 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................ 20 6 METHODS ................................................................................................................................. 24 6.1 Site Selection .................................................................................................................... 24 6.2 Sampling Methods ........................................................................................................... 26 6.3 Species Identifications ..................................................................................................... 27 6.4 Assessment of Survey Adequacy ..................................................................................... 28 6.5 Constraints and Limitations ............................................................................................. 28 7 RESULTS.................................................................................................................................... 30 7.1 SRE Habitat Assessment ................................................................................................... 30 7.2 Invertebrate Fauna Collected .......................................................................................... 35 7.3 Abundance and Frequency of Occurrence ...................................................................... 42 7.4 Species Distributions and Habitat Associations ..............................................................