DOCSLIB.ORG

Connors River Dam and Pipelines Project for Sunwater

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Connors River Dam and Pipelines Project for Sunwater APPENDIX D-5 BAAM TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATE ASSESSMENT GAP ANALYSIS REPORT CONNORS RIVER DAM AND PIPELINES SUPPLEMENTARY EIS Document Control Sheet File Number: 0177-001 Draft C Project Manager: Terry Reis Client: SunWater Project Title: Terrestrial Vertebrate Assessment Gap Analysis Report – Connors River Dam Project Project Author/s: Terry Reis, Paulette Jones, Brett Taylor & Adam Abbott. Project Summary: Review and summarise existing terrestrial vertebrate data and other information for the study area and surrounds. Provide an analysis of the usefulness of existing data and identify any need to collect additional data to meet the requirements of the Preliminary Terms of Reference for an EIS for the Connors River Dam project. Draft Preparation History Draft No. Date draft completed Reviewed by Issued by 0177-001 Draft A 31/03/07 Paulette Jones Paulette Jones 0177-001 Draft B 22/07/08 Paulette Jones Terry Reis 0177-001 Draft C 30/07/08 Paulette Jones Terry Reis Revision/ Checking History Track Version Date of Issue Checked by Issued by Document Distribution Destination Revision 1 Date 2 Date 3 Date Dispatched Dispatched Dispatched Client Copy 1 - A 31/03/07 B 22/07/08 C 30/07/08 digital Client Copy 1 - hard copy PDF - server A 31/03/07 B 22/07/08 C 30/07/08 PDF – backup – A 31/03/07 B 22/07/08 C 30/07/08 archived Disk/tape Hard Copy - library BAAM Pty Ltd File: 0177-001 Draft C NOTICE TO USERS OF THIS REPORT Copyright and reproduction This report and all indexes, schedules, annexures or appendices are subject to copyright pursuant to the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Subject to statutory defences, no party may reproduce, publish, adapt or communicate to the public, in whole or in part, the content of this report without the express written consent of Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd. Purpose of Report Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd has produced this report in its capacity as {consultants} for and on the request of SunWater (the "Client") for the sole purpose of undertaking a gap analysis of the terrestrial vertebrate assessment component of the Connors River Dam Project (the "Specified Purpose"). This information and any recommendations in this report are particular to the Specified Purpose and are based on facts, matters and circumstances particular to the subject matter of the report and the Specified Purpose at the time of production. This report is not to be used, nor is it suitable, for any purpose other than the Specified Purpose. Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd disclaims all liability for any loss and/or damage whatsoever arising either directly or indirectly as a result of any application, use or reliance upon the report for any purpose other than the Specified Purpose. This report has been produced solely for the benefit of the Client. Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd does not accept that a duty of care is owed to any party other than the Client. This report is not to be used by any third party other than as authorised in writing by Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd and any such use shall continue to be limited to the Specified Purpose. Further, Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd does not make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for any third party's use in whole or in part of the report or application or use of any other information or process disclosed in this report and to the full extent allowed by law excludes liability in contract, tort or otherwise, for any loss or damage sustained by any person or body corporate arising from or in connection with the supply or use of the whole part of the report through any cause whatsoever. Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd has used information provided to it by the Client and governmental registers, databases, departments and agencies in the preparation of this report. Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd does not know, nor does it have any reason to suspect, that the information provided to it was false, inaccurate, incomplete or misleading at the time of its receipt. This report is supplied on the basis that while Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd believes all the information in it is deemed reliable at the time of publication, it does not warrant its accuracy or completeness and to the full extent allowed by law excludes liability in contract, tort or otherwise, for any loss or damage sustained by any person or body corporate arising from or in connection with the supply or use of the whole or any part of the information in this report through any cause whatsoever. Signed on behalf of Date: Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd _____________________ Managing Director BAAM Pty Ltd File: 0177-001 Draft C TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATE ASSESSMENT GAP ANALYSIS REPORT CONNORS RIVER DAM PROJECT Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................1 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES..............................................................................................1 1.3 SCOPE .....................................................................................................................2 2.0 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... 3 3.0 GAP ANALYSIS..................................................................................................... 5 3.1 EXISTING INFORMATION ............................................................................................5 3.1.1 Terrestrial Vertebrates ...................................................................................5 3.1.2 Habitat Values..............................................................................................12 3.2 INFORMATION GAP IDENTIFICATION .........................................................................17 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................ 17 5.0 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................... 30 List of Tables TABLE 1.1. Terrestrial Fauna ‘Existing Environment’ EIS Components as defined by the Preliminary Terms of Reference TABLE 1.2. Terrestrial Fauna ‘Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures’ EIS Components as defined by the Preliminary Terms of Reference TABLE 2.1. Data Quality/Value Categories TABLE 2.2. Data Quality/Quantity Review Definitions TABLE 2.3. Quality/Value and Quality/Quantity of Terrestrial Fauna Data– Existing Environment TABLE 3.1. List of Fauna of Conservation Significance Recorded from the Inundation Area and its Immediate Surrounds. TABLE 3.2. List of Fauna of Conservation Significance which may occur within the Inundation Area and its Immediate Surrounds. TABLE 3.3. List of Fauna of Conservation Significance Recorded from the Pipeline Route and its Immediate Surrounds. TABLE 3.4. List of Fauna of Conservation Significance which may occur within the Pipeline Route and its Immediate Surrounds. TABLE 3.5. BPA Results and Expert Panel Information for the Inundation Area (EPA 2006). TABLE 3.6. BPA Results and Expert Panel Information for the Pipeline Route (EPA 2006). TABLE 3.7. Existing and Required Information to Address Terrestrial Vertebrate Component of the Preliminary Terms of Reference in regards to the Inundation Area. TABLE 3.8. Existing and Required Information to Address Terrestrial Vertebrate Component of the Preliminary Terms of Reference in regards to the Pipeline Route. BAAM Pty Ltd Page i File: 0177-001 Draft C Terrestrial Vertebrate Assessment Gap Analysis Connors River Dam and Pipeline Project for SunWater List of Appendices Appendix 1 Queensland Museum Database Search Results – Inundation Area and Surrounds Appendix 2 Birds Australia Database Search Results – Inundation Area and Surrounds Appendix 3 EPA Wildnet Fauna Database Search Results – Inundation Area and Surrounds Appendix 4 Commonwealth EPBC Online Protected Matters Search Tool Results – Inundation Area and Surrounds Appendix 5 Queensland Museum Database Search Results – Pipeline Route and Surrounds Appendix 6 Birds Australia Database Search Results – Pipeline Route and Surrounds Appendix 7 EPA Wildnet Fauna Database Search Results – Pipeline Route and Surrounds Appendix 8 Commonwealth EPBC Online Protected Matters Search Tool Results – Pipeline Route and Surrounds Appendix 9 Brigalow Belt North Biodiversity Planning Assessment Results – Inundation Area Appendix 10 Brigalow Belt North Biodiversity Planning Assessment Results – Pipeline Route Appendix 11 BAAM Pty Ltd proposed terrestrial vertebrate study methodology to supplement existing data and meet the Preliminary Terms of Reference for the EIS – Inundation Area Appendix 12 BAAM Pty Ltd proposed terrestrial vertebrate study methodology to supplement existing data and meet the Preliminary Terms of Reference for the EIS – Pipeline Route BAAM Pty Ltd Page ii File: 0177-001 Draft C Terrestrial Vertebrate Assessment Gap Analysis Connors River Dam and Pipelines Project for SunWater 1.0 INTRODUCTION has been based on an understanding of the project as derived from the study brief. 1.1 BACKGROUND 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The Connors River Dam and Pipelines project involves the construction of a new The overall aim of this study is to: review water supply dam
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Cravens Peak Scientific Study Report
    Geography Monograph Series No. 13 Cravens Peak Scientific Study Report The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc. Brisbane, 2009 The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc. is a non-profit organization that promotes the study of Geography within educational, scientific, professional, commercial and broader general communities. Since its establishment in 1885, the Society has taken the lead in geo- graphical education, exploration and research in Queensland. Published by: The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc. 237 Milton Road, Milton QLD 4064, Australia Phone: (07) 3368 2066; Fax: (07) 33671011 Email: [email protected] Website: www.rgsq.org.au ISBN 978 0 949286 16 8 ISSN 1037 7158 © 2009 Desktop Publishing: Kevin Long, Page People Pty Ltd (www.pagepeople.com.au) Printing: Snap Printing Milton (www.milton.snapprinting.com.au) Cover: Pemberton Design (www.pembertondesign.com.au) Cover photo: Cravens Peak. Photographer: Nick Rains 2007 State map and Topographic Map provided by: Richard MacNeill, Spatial Information Coordinator, Bush Heritage Australia (www.bushheritage.org.au) Other Titles in the Geography Monograph Series: No 1. Technology Education and Geography in Australia Higher Education No 2. Geography in Society: a Case for Geography in Australian Society No 3. Cape York Peninsula Scientific Study Report No 4. Musselbrook Reserve Scientific Study Report No 5. A Continent for a Nation; and, Dividing Societies No 6. Herald Cays Scientific Study Report No 7. Braving the Bull of Heaven; and, Societal Benefits from Seasonal Climate Forecasting No 8. Antarctica: a Conducted Tour from Ancient to Modern; and, Undara: the Longest Known Young Lava Flow No 9. White Mountains Scientific Study Report No 10.
    [Show full text]
  • Known Impacts of Tropical Cyclones, East Coast, 1858 – 2008 by Mr Jeff Callaghan Retired Senior Severe Weather Forecaster, Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
    ARCHIVE: Known Impacts of Tropical Cyclones, East Coast, 1858 – 2008 By Mr Jeff Callaghan Retired Senior Severe Weather Forecaster, Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane The date of the cyclone refers to the day of landfall or the day of the major impact if it is not a cyclone making landfall from the Coral Sea. The first number after the date is the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) for that month followed by the three month running mean of the SOI centred on that month. This is followed by information on the equatorial eastern Pacific sea surface temperatures where: W means a warm episode i.e. sea surface temperature (SST) was above normal; C means a cool episode and Av means average SST Date Impact January 1858 From the Sydney Morning Herald 26/2/1866: an article featuring a cruise inside the Barrier Reef describes an expedition’s stay at Green Island near Cairns. “The wind throughout our stay was principally from the south-east, but in January we had two or three hard blows from the N to NW with rain; one gale uprooted some of the trees and wrung the heads off others. The sea also rose one night very high, nearly covering the island, leaving but a small spot of about twenty feet square free of water.” Middle to late Feb A tropical cyclone (TC) brought damaging winds and seas to region between Rockhampton and 1863 Hervey Bay. Houses unroofed in several centres with many trees blown down. Ketch driven onto rocks near Rockhampton. Severe erosion along shores of Hervey Bay with 10 metres lost to sea along a 32 km stretch of the coast.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrestrial Ecology Impact Assessment
    Wandoan Coal Project Western coal seam methane water supply pipeline Terrestrial ecology impact assessment November, 2008 Wandoan Joint Venture Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia Pty Limited ABN 80 078 004 798 Level 4, Northbank Plaza 69 Ann Street Brisbane QLD 4000 GPO Box 2907 Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia Telephone +61 7 3854 6200 Facsimile +61 7 3854 6500 Email [email protected] NCSI Certified Quality System ISO 9001 2133006C-RPT031-B:pm Western coal seam methane water supply pipeline Terrestrial ecology impact assessment Contents Page Number Acronyms .....................................................................................................................................................v Executive summary....................................................................................................................................vi 1. Introduction..........................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Context and scope of this assessment 1 1.2.1 Structure of the environmental impact assessment and the ecological assessments 1 1.3 Western CSM water supply pipeline details and study area 6 2. Relevant legislation .............................................................................................................................8 2.1 State assessment framework 8 2.1.1 State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 Act 8 2.1.2 Mineral Resources Act 1989 9 2.1.3 Integrated Planning Act 1997 9 2.1.4 Environmental
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Animal Keepers Species List
    Revised NSW Native Animal Keepers’ Species List Draft © 2017 State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage With the exception of photographs, the State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. Specific permission is required for the reproduction of photographs. The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has compiled this report in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. OEH shall not be liable for any damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication. Readers should seek appropriate advice when applying the information to their specific needs. All content in this publication is owned by OEH and is protected by Crown Copyright, unless credited otherwise. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), subject to the exemptions contained in the licence. The legal code for the licence is available at Creative Commons. OEH asserts the right to be attributed as author of the original material in the following manner: © State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2017. Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000 PO Box A290,
    [Show full text]
  • Fitzroy Basin Resource Operations Plan
    Fitzroy Basin Resource Operations Plan September 2014 Amended September 2015 This publication has been compiled by Water Policy—Department of Natural Resource and Mines. © State of Queensland, 2015 The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. Note: Some content in this publication may have different licence terms as indicated. For more information on this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The Queensland Government shall not be liable for technical or other errors or omissions contained herein. The reader/user accepts all risks and responsibility for losses, damages, costs and other consequences resulting directly or indirectly from using this information. Contents Chapter 1 Preliminary .............................................................................. 1 1 Short title ............................................................................................................. 1 2 Commencement of the resource operations plan amendment ............................. 1 3 Purpose of plan ..................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Surface Water Ambient Network (Water Quality) 2020-21
    Surface Water Ambient Network (Water Quality) 2020-21 July 2020 This publication has been compiled by Natural Resources Divisional Support, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. © State of Queensland, 2020 The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. Note: Some content in this publication may have different licence terms as indicated. For more information on this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The Queensland Government shall not be liable for technical or other errors or omissions contained herein. The reader/user accepts all risks and responsibility for losses, damages, costs and other consequences resulting directly or indirectly from using this information. Summary This document lists the stream gauging stations which make up the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME) surface water quality monitoring network. Data collected under this network are published on DNRME’s Water Monitoring Information Data Portal. The water quality data collected includes both logged time-series and manual water samples taken for later laboratory analysis. Other data types are also collected at stream gauging stations, including rainfall and stream height. Further information is available on the Water Monitoring Information Data Portal under each station listing.
    [Show full text]
  • Testing the Relevance of Binary, Mosaic and Continuous Landscape Conceptualisations to Reptiles in Regenerating Dryland Landscapes
    Testing the relevance of binary, mosaic and continuous landscape conceptualisations to reptiles in regenerating dryland landscapes Melissa J. Bruton1, Martine Maron1,2, Noam Levin1,3, Clive A. McAlpine1,2 1The University of Queensland, Landscape Ecology and Conservation Group, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, St Lucia, Australia 4067 2The University of Queensland, ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, St. Lucia, Australia 4067 3Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Geography, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel, 91905 Corresponding author: [email protected] Ph: (+61) 409 875 780 The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10980-015-0157-9 Abstract: Context: Fauna distributions are assessed using discrete (binary and mosaic) or continuous conceptualisations of the landscape. The value of the information derived from these analyses depends on the relevance of the landscape representation (or model) used to the landscape and fauna of interest. Discrete representations dominate analyses of landscape context in disturbed and regenerating landscapes; however within-patch variation suggests that continuous representations may help explain the distribution of fauna in such landscapes. Objectives: We tested the relevance of binary, mosaic, and continuous conceptualisations of landscape context to reptiles in regenerating dryland landscapes. Methods: For each of thirteen reptile groups, we compared the fit of models consisting of one landscape composition and one landscape heterogeneity variable for each of six landscape representations (2 x binary, 2 x mosaic, and 2 x continuous), at three buffer distances. We used Akaike weights to assess the relative support for each model. Maps were created from Landsat satellite images.
    [Show full text]
  • FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM for the BURNETT RIVER
    Bureau Home > Australia > Queensland > Rainfall & River Conditions > River Brochures > Burnett FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM for the BURNETT RIVER This brochure describes the flood warning system operated by the Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology for the Burnett River. It includes reference information which will be useful for understanding Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins issued by the Bureau's Flood Warning Centre during periods of high rainfall and flooding. Contained in this document is information about: (Last updated September 2019) Flood Risk Previous Flooding Flood Forecasting Local Information Flood Warnings and Bulletins Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins Flood Classifications Other Links Burnett River at Mundubbera Flood Risk The Burnett River is located on the southern Queensland coast with the mouth of the river sited just north of the City of Bundaberg. The total area of the catchment is about 33,000 square kilometres. The Burnett River rises in the Dawes Range, just north of Monto and flows south through Eidsvold and Mundubbera. Along the way it is joined by the Nogo and Auburn Rivers which drain large areas in the west of the catchment. Just before Mundubbera, the main river is joined by the Boyne River draining areas from the south and then begins its northeasterly journey to the coast. Between Gayndah and Mt Lawless, the Barker-Barambah Creeks system joins the Burnett River. Major flooding in the Burnett River is relatively infrequent. However, under favourable meteorological conditions such as a tropical low pressure system, heavy rainfalls can occur throughout the catchment which can result in significant river level rises and floods.
    [Show full text]
  • Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description
    Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description 2010 Disclaimer While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this ECD are correct, the Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of the Environment does not guarantee and accepts no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to the currency, accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of the information in this ECD. Note: There may be differences in the type of information contained in this ECD publication, to those of other Ramsar wetlands. © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2010. The ‘Ecological Character Description for the Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar Site: Final Report’ is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This report should be attributed as ‘BMT WBM. (2010). Ecological Character Description of the Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar Site. Prepared for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.’ The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright, [name of third party] ’. Ecological Character Description for the Shoalwater and
    [Show full text]
  • AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD ______2007 (No 2) ISSN 1325-2992 March, 2007 ______
    AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD ______________________________________________________________ 2007 (No 2) ISSN 1325-2992 March, 2007 ______________________________________________________________ Some Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Considerations on the Class Reptilia in Australia. Some Comments on the Elseya dentata (Gray, 1863) complex with Redescriptions of the Johnstone River Snapping Turtle, Elseya stirlingi Wells and Wellington, 1985 and the Alligator Rivers Snapping Turtle, Elseya jukesi Wells 2002. by Richard W. Wells P.O. Box 826, Lismore, New South Wales Australia, 2480 Introduction As a prelude to further work on the Chelidae of Australia, the following considerations relate to the Elseya dentata species complex. See also Wells and Wellington (1984, 1985) and Wells (2002 a, b; 2007 a, b.). Elseya Gray, 1867 1867 Elseya Gray, Ann. Mag. Natur. Hist., (3) 20: 44. – Subsequently designated type species (Lindholm 1929): Elseya dentata (Gray, 1863). Note: The genus Elseya is herein considered to comprise only those species with a very wide mandibular symphysis and a distinct median alveolar ridge on the upper jaw. All members of the latisternum complex lack a distinct median alveolar ridge on the upper jaw and so are removed from the genus Elseya (see Wells, 2007b). This now restricts the genus to the following Australian species: Elseya albagula Thomson, Georges and Limpus, 2006 2006 Elseya albagula Thomson, Georges and Limpus, Chelon. Conserv. Biol., 5: 75; figs 1-2, 4 (top), 5a,6a, 7. – Type locality: Ned Churchwood Weir (25°03'S 152°05'E), Burnett River, Queensland, Australia. Elseya dentata (Gray, 1863) 1863 Chelymys dentata Gray, Ann. Mag. Natur. Hist., (3) 12: 98. – Type locality: Beagle’s Valley, upper Victoria River, Northern Territory.
    [Show full text]
  • Survey of Reptiles and Amphibians at Bimblebox Nature Reserve - Queensland
    Summary of an Observational Survey of Reptiles and Amphibians at Bimblebox Nature Reserve - Queensland Graham Armstrong – May, 2016 Objective - to provide an updated and more complete list of the herpetofauna recorded from Bimblebox Nature Refuge. Approach - 1. Review available data and records pertaining to the herpetofauna at Bimblebox Nature Refuge. 2. Visit Bimblebox Nature Refuge during Spring, Summer and Autumn seasons to make observational and photographic records of the herpetofauna observed. Methodology - In order to maximise the number of species recorded, 3 successive 2.5 day visits were made to BNR, one in September 2015, Jan 2016 and the end of April 2016. This approach potentially broadens the range of weather conditions experienced and hence variety of reptiles and amphibians encountered when compared to a single field visit. Survey methodology involved walking and driving around the nature refuge during the day and after dark (with the aid of a head torch to detect eye-shine). Active reptiles including those that ran for or from cover while passing by were recorded. Frequently, in situ photographic evidence of individuals was obtained and the photographs are available for the purpose of corroborating identification. To avoid any double counting of individual animals the Refuge was traversed progressively and the locations of animals were recorded using a GPS. During any one visit no area was traversed twice and when driving along tracks, reptiles were only recorded the first time a track was traversed unless a new species was detected at a later time. Available Records The most detailed list of reptiles and amphibians recorded as occurring on Bimblebox Nature Reserve comes from the standardised trapping program of Eric Vanderduys of CSIRO in Townsville.
    [Show full text]
  • Brigalow Belt Bioregion – a Biodiversity Jewel
    Brigalow Belt bioregion – a biodiversity jewel Brigalow habitat © Craig Eddie What is brigalow? including eucalypt and cypress pine forests and The term ‘brigalow’ is used simultaneously to refer to; woodlands, grasslands and other Acacia dominated the tree Acacia harpophylla; an ecological community ecosystems. dominated by this tree and often found in conjunction with other species such as belah, wilga and false Along the eastern boundary of the Brigalow Belt are sandalwood; and a broader region where this species scattered patches of semi-evergreen vine thickets with and ecological community are present. bright green canopy species that are highly visible among the more silvery brigalow communities. These The Brigalow Belt bioregion patches are a dry adapted form of rainforest, relics of a much wetter past. The Brigalow Belt bioregion is a large and complex area covering 36,400 000ha. The region is thus recognised What are the issues? by the Australian Government as a biodiversity hotspot. Nature conservation in the region has received increasing attention because of the rapid and extensive This hotspot contains some of the most threatened loss of habitat that has occurred. Since World War wildlife in the world, including populations of the II the Brigalow Belt bioregion has become a major endangered bridled nail-tail wallaby and the only agricultural and pastoral area. Broad-scale clearing for remaining wild population of the endangered northern agriculture and unsustainable grazing has fragmented hairy-nosed wombat. The area contains important the original vegetation in the past, particularly on habitat for rare and threatened species including the, lowland areas. glossy black-cockatoo, bulloak jewel butterfl y, brigalow scaly-foot, red goshawk, little pied bat, golden-tailed geckos and threatened community of semi evergreen Biodiversity hotspots are areas that support vine thickets.
    [Show full text]