The Flora and Fauna of Vacant Crown Land at White Well, Shire of Dalwallinu, Westernaustralia

The Flora and Fauna of vacant Crown land at White Well, Shire of Dalwallinu, WesternAustralia

Andrerv A Burbidgel, Kinssl€y w Dixon2 and phillip J F.ullerl lDepartment of Conservationand Land Management, Western Australian Wildlife ResearchCentre. P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6065. 2Kiog. P*k -d Botanic Garden, West perth, WA. 6005.

Technical Report No Z October 1989

Published by the Department of Conservationand l-and Management Como Western Aushalia @Departmentof Conservationand Land Management,Western Australia 1989

ISSN 0816-6757

Marianne Irwis Jill Pryde...... page preparation KingsleyW Dixon .....illustration CALM PublicAffairs ...... production and distribution

u CONTENTS

ABSTRACT I

INTRODUCTION I

ENVIRONMENI I

Landforms and Soils I Climate Vegetation 3

Vegetation Formations 5

VERTEBRATEFAUNA t

MammAls Birds 9 Reptilesand Anphibians 9 DISCUSSION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 13 REFERENCES l3 TABLES

1. Plantspecies recorded at WhiteWell 2

2. Taxonomicdistribution of flora recordedin the WhiteWell studyarea J 3. Areasoccupied by vegetationformations. 4 rf. llfammal tlappilg effort. 8 5. Mlmmal speciesrecorded at White Well 8 6. Bird speciesrecorded at White Well 10 7. Anphibiars and reptiles recorded at White Well 12 FIGURE

1. White Well vegetationmap 6

t The Flora and Fauna of vacant Crown land at White Well, Shire of Dalwallinu, WesternAustralia

Abstract A biological survey of the White Well area, a 34 z[()0ha arca of !"acant Cro*n land situated ,10km rlonh-east of Wubin, Westem Austmlia, revealeda dilerse flora and fauna not Ecll repres€nted in existing naturc conservatiod reserves. Fi!€ regetation formations, two combinations of fo.mations and two complexeswere mapped. Of particular impofiance *€re sc$b heath are3swith a rich and diverse flom including many elements tt?ical of the adjacelt wheatbelt sandplains, and arcas of Salmon Gum and York Gum woodland. The vertebrate fauna included 15 indigenous and 6 intrcduccd mammal, 60 bird, 29 reptile and one frog species. Of particular importance were q'ecies now uncommon or of rcstdcted distribution in the wheatbelt, ie White-tailed Dunnart, Pink C-ockatoo,Malleefowl, Regent Parrot, Redthroat and Calamanthus. The Salrnon Gum add Yotk Gum woodlanalswcrc important arcas for nesting by a riety of hollow-nesting bird spcaics, including cockatoo6and parots, and as bat refuges. The declaration of the White Well arca as a naturc rcserve would add significantly to nature conseNation in Westem Australia.

INTRODUCTION This study was carried out in response to proposals to release all or part of the White Well In this paper we assessthe conservationvalue of an vacant Crown lald for cereal farming. The work was area of vacant Crown laad of approxinately 3 439 conducted in order to collect basic biogeographical ha, situated on the frontier of cereal cropping some data and to assessthe nature conservation value of 40 km north-east of Wubin a.nd lying between the area so it could be eva.luatedby the Environmen- latitudes 2937' - 29n57 ard lougitudes Lfe52' - tal Protection Authoriqy's Working Group on Laad 11706'E. Open range pastoral leases occur to the Releases. TVo field trips were conducted, the frst north and north-east while sheep and cereal farms betuteet 27 September a:rd 2 October 1982, ald the occur on the southern boundaries. Lakes Moore secondbetween 6 December and 10 December 1982. (east) ald Monger (west) occur in the vicinity while a complex and uncoordinated syst€m of smaller salt pans and salt lakes htersect the study area roughly ENTVIRONMENT along a south-east- north-west axis. The Great Nor- Highway, the old Emu Proof (or thern which crosses Landform and Soils Barrier) Fence in the study area, provides the only all weather access. Tracks along the barrier fence and occasional ungraded tracks provide ac€ess to some The generalphysiography is suMued with maximum places during dry weather. lopographicalvariation between upland areas with heighl abovemean sea level of 366 m (vicinity of site 10) to Reserveswithin the study area are: Resene 16449, 297 m in salt lakesadjacent to site 26. The latteroccur white well water reserve, 4.0469 h4 vest€d in the in a broad band across the centre of the study area. Minister for Water Resources:Reserve 30865- Emu Their origin, as describedby Beard (1976) from data Proof Fence reserve, (not vested); Reserve 9356, suppliedin Bettenay(1962) and Bettenay and Mulcahy water,80.9371 ha (not vested). (1972), is believed to have resultedfrom a gradual dryingof thecontinent and subsequent ponding ofrivers Nature reservesin the vicinity of the study site are anddeposition of silt.and evaporites. few in nunber and small in area. The closest nature conservation reserves with detailed biological The area is underlain by ancient granite and gneis- resource data are Buntine Nature Reserve(1 919 ha), ses of the Yilgarn block with occasional emergences Nugadong Nature Reserve (8.5 ha), East Nugadong forming areas of special topographic and floristic Nature Reserve (781 ha) a.nd un-named Nature character (as described for site 10). Laterites are en- Reserve 10351 (81 ha) ,lt) to 50 km south-west of countered more commonly at depth than as surface White Well (Kitchener et al. 1979),and Karroun Hill deposits and are late Mesozoic or Early Tertiary in Nature Reserve (3O9 687 ha) 65 km to the east oriein. (Youngson and McKenie 1977). Table1 Plantspcies recordedat White WelL Collecive numbersgiven for sp,ecimersof unc€rtainidentficaiiou-

Acacia acuaria W.Fitz. + D. sp. Kd 539 O, propinqua S.Moore A. acuminataBeitth. Ecdeiocoleamonoslachyd F.Muell. Osteospemum (IJis.) 'A. clandestinum aff. coolgardiensisKD @ Eremq)hila aff. clarkei KD 535 Norlindh A. andlewsii W.Fitz. E. alternifolia R.Br. yar. angustifolia Petrophile dilaricata RBr. A. ancuraF.Muell, E. decipiensOstenf. Phcbaliumcanaliculatum (F.Muell & A. cochlocarpaMeissner E. drummondiiF.Muell. Tate) J.H.Willis A. colletrioidesBenth. E. oppositifolia RBr. P. lepidotum(Iufz.) Paul c. Wilson A. coolgardiensisMaiden Eriostemon glaber P6ul G. Wilson P. microphyllum Tuicz. A. erinaceaBenth. E. thryptomenoidesS.Moore Pimeleaaeruginosa F.Muell. A. hemitelesBenth. E. tomentellusDiels P. angustifolia RBr. A. ligulata Cunn. ex Benth. Ercdium cygnorum Nees P. leucanthaDiels A. loflgispinea Morrison Eucalt?tus foecundaSchauet 'P. 6p.nov. KD 552 A. resilomarginca w'Fitz. E. gracilisF.Muell. Platysacemarwellii (F.Muell.) Noman A, signataF.Muell. E. leptopodaBenth. PlectrachnemeMllei C.E.Hubb. A. stercophrlla Meissner E. loxophlebaBenth. + P. sp, KD 559 A. stowadii Maiden E. oleosaF.Muell. ex Miq. Podothecaangustifolia (I-abill.) tA. Irss. 6p. 1 KD 665 E. reduncaSchauer Prostantheraecke$leyana 'A. F.Muell. sp- 2 KD 659 E. salmonophloiaF.M!ell. P. selpyllifolia (RBr.) Briq. A. uncinellaBenth. E. stowardii Maiden Psammomotachoretroides (F.Muell.) Allocasuadna acutivalvis (F.Muell.) E. stdaticaryYW.Fitz. Diels & Loes. LJohnson +E. sp. KD 540 'Pterostylis sp. I(D 575 A. campestris(Diels) L.Johnson E. transcontiientalisMaiden Ptilotusheliptercides (F.Muell,) A. comiculata(F.Muell.) L.Johnsotr Exocarposaphyllus RB!. F.Muell. Alt da buxifolia RB!. + Frankeniasp. KD 65 P. obovatus(Gaudich.) RMuell. Amphipogon debilis RBr. Gastrolobium laytonii J.White P. schwartzii F.Muell. ex Tate + Arthrccnemum sp. KD 562 Glischlocaryon aureum (Lindley) Rhagodiadrommondii Moq. + Atriplex sp. KD 655 Orch. Ricinocarpos rosmarinifolius (Cunn.) Baeckeabehrii (Schildl.) F.Muell. Grevillea candolleanaMeissner Benlh. B. cryptandmides F.Muell. G. eriostachy" Lindley Santalumacuminatum (RBr.) A.DC. + B. sp. KD 547 G. judcifoliaHook. S.spicatum (RBr.) '8. A.DC. sp.nov. KD 581 G. sari6saS.Moore Sauropuscrassifolius (Muell. Ajg. Bankia benthamianaC.Gardner + G, sp KD 667 Airy Shaw Boronia ogtantha Tursz. Hakea kippistiana M€issner Scaevolaspinescels RBr. + B. sp. I(D 590 H. multilineataMeissner Schoeniaca6sioiana (Gaudlich.) Steetz. Borya mnsrricta D.M. Churchill H. scopariaMeissner Seneciolautus G.Forster ex Willd. Calandrinia primulifl ora Diels Halganiaintegerdma Endl. Stackhousiamonosma Irbill. Callitriscolumellaris F.Muell. Hemigeniasp. KD 611 Stipa elegantissimaIrbill. Calothamnus gilesii F.Mu€ll. Hibbertiahuegelii (Endl.) F.Muell. Stylidiurn macrccarpum (B€nth.) Crlytrix stipulosa W.Fitz. H. subwginata(Steudel) F.Muell. REiickon & J.H.Willis C,assianemophila Cunn. ex Vogel Keraudrenia integ.ifolia Steudel S.ilgamensc E Pritzel C. sturtii RBr. + IC sp. KD 616 Tcmpletoda sulcata (meissnei) Benth. Crphalipte$m drummondii A.Gray IJchenaultia macranthaKmuse Thellmitra antennifera (Lindley) Chamelauciumciliatum Desf. Irptomeria pEissiana (Miq.) A.DC. J,D.Hook. Cheiranthera fi lifolia Tursz. Irbelia winftidae Diels T. nuda RBr. Choretrum glomemlum RBr. I-ogania fl avifl ora F.Muell. +Thornasia sp. KD 578 Crmesperma ac€ro6umStleeg. + Maireana sp. KD 522 ThryptomeDeasp€ra E.Pdtzcl C$Ttandra gracilipes (Diels) M. thesioides(C.Gardnet) Paul c, T. australis Endl. c.Gardner Wilsod T. dccussata(W.Fitzg.) J.W.cIeen C. nutila Nees ex Reiss€k Malleqstemon ro6eus(E Pritzel) T. kochii E.Pritzel C. polyclada Diels J.W.Grcen +T. sp. KD 561 Dampiera eriocephalaVrie-se Melaleucaconothamnoides C.Cardner Thysanotuspatersonii R-Br. D. incada RBr, M. cordata Turz. Velleia discophora F.Muell. D. la lrdulaceaLindley M. filifolia F.Muell. V. rc6ea S.Moore D. luteiflora F.Muell. M. latciiflora Benth. Vertimrdia picta Endl. Dianella leioluta RBr. M. pauperiflora F.Muell. V. sp. KD 579 Dichopogon stiictus (RBr.) Baker M. thyoidesTulcz. Waitzia acuminata Steetz Disphyma crassifolium (1.)LBolus M. uncinataRBr. W. citrina(Benth.) Steetz Dodonaea adenophom Miq. Neumchnealopecurcide a RB!. Wehliacoarctata F.Muell. D. bursaliifoliaF.Muell. Olealia calcarcaF.Muell ex B€nth. ZygophyUumiodocarpum F.Muell. D. concinna Benth. O. muelleri (Sonder) Be h.

'poorly mllected or undescribed +sterile specimen,mo6t accurateaffidity Soils are complex ald have been mapped as part Keighery 1979), as well as undescribed tax4 high- of the Mount Gibson Soil Survey (Plaa Offrce, lighted. Table 2 gives the taxonomic distribution of Department 6f l41d ;{dminisflation). Details of soils the flora and Table 3 shows the extent of the vegeta- are contained in memots accompanyingthe regional tion formations in the study area. Finally, an attempt soil map. The reliability of this map was tested was made to define conservation priority areas in during field surveys ald it was found to be seriously terms of their botanical uniquenessand practicalities deficient on numerous occasions. However, the sur'- of managementand to assessthe impact of possible vey is usefi.rl as a crude indicator of broad caternary subdivisionon the biological integrity of these areas. relationships and for summarization of soil types. Soils comnonly encounteredin the study area include Table 2. red to red-brown sandy loams, ofton changing to clay Taxonomic distribution of flora recorded in the loam overlying granite or siliceoushardpan, or clay or White Well study area. calcium carbonate impregnated hardpan. The latter FAMILY NUMBER NUMBER is a frequent component of clay loams, which are OF GBNERA OF often associatedwith salmon gum woodla:rds. Sand SPECIES heaths, scrub and thicket favour light brown to y€llow Casuarinaceae 1 sandy loams tending to loarny sands, often with Mimosaceae 1 19 Proteaceae 10 laterite pebbles, overlying laterite at depths ranging Myrtaceae 10 g from 12 cn to 100 cm or deeper. Lithosols are pre- Apogflace3e 1 1 dictably associatedwith areas of exposedrock, rocky Poaceae surface or subsurface rock and consist of a gritty, Chelropodiaceae ) Rutaceae 2 ) frse-dlaining soil. Soil lensestrapped on exposed Liliac€ae 5 7 rock are typically deep-brown fertile loams supporting Pofiulacaceac 1 1 a rich annual flora and mossswards. Cupressaccae 1 1 Caesalpiniaccae I Asteraceae 7 10 Climate Pittosporaceae 1 1 santalaceae The area has a mediterranean clinate, with a sunmer Po[galaceae 1 1 temperature range of 19-36'C and winter range of 6- Rhamnaceae 1 3 Goodeniaceac 18"C (Commonwealth 8 Meteorological Bureau data). Aiz@ceae 1 Two-thirds of the annual rainfall comes as gentle Sapindaceae 4 soaking rains in winter a-ndresult from the inlluence Restionaceae 1 of southern low pressure systemsand associatedcold Myoporaccae 5 Gelaniaceae I fronts. Summer rain occurs as sporadic thunder- Frankeniaceae I showers or more rarely from tropical cyclonic distur- Fabaceae 2 bances or rain-bearing depressions. A:raual Halomgaceae 1 precipitation records are not available for the study Bolaginaceae 1 bmiaceae area but Meteorological Bureau data from adjacent Dilleniaceae 2 stations indicate that the mean annual rainfall is about Sterculiaceae 3 300 mm. Irbeliaceae 1 l-oganiaceae 1 Euphotiaceae 2 Vegetation Itymelaeaceae Apiaceae 1 Vegetation was assessedand classilied according to Celastraceae 1 the method of Muir (197). Twenty-seven sample Orchidaccae possible, Afiamnthaceae sites were chosen to represent, as far as all Stackiousiaceae 1 accessible vegetation types and sanpled for floristic Sttidiaceae 2 composition by collection, where possible, of ap- Zygophyllaceac 1 propriate diagnostic parts. The data for these are available on request. The region has been visited by botanists since ex- The distribution of the selected formations was ploration and development sf fsming areas ilr the mapped from air photographs (Fig. 1). Table 1 shows central wheatbelt began in the late 19th century. the plant speciesrecorded at White Well, with those More recently, Beard (1976) has assessedthe vegeta- elements of the flora considered rare (Rye and Hop- tion as part of his 1:250 000 map series, while per 1981; Patrick and Hopper 1982), geographically Kitchener et al. (199) undertook a detailed survey of restricted (Rye 1982),poorly collected (Marchant and flora and fauna on four reserveswithin 50 km of the

3 TaHe3. Areas (ha) occupiedby vegetatiouformations in eachoffour'sectors'formed @ the interse4ionof Great Northern Higlway with tbe Emu Barrier Fence.From Frg.l the'sectcs'are numbered14 startingftom the top,left-handconer, in a clockwisedirection. SECTOR VEG( ) TOTAL

T 2 829 6454 801 644 10738 s I r07 108 122 y5 M 80 4t]6L 5L8 799 6258 SC 87 240 4L2 8t2 WL 2 503 3705 594 624 7 4:26 WS 59 1 450 56 1 565 T&M 762 2n8 3 5,l8 WS&WL 16?2 78 r1ffi SH 96 T4 7TI 2047 TOTAL 6328 21 693 2905 3 5r2 34 439 (a)T : thicket; S : salinas,salt pans and other hypersalineenvironments; M : mallee shrubland; SC = vegetationof intersalina d"nes, lunettes;WL : york gsm,(Eucafutus lunphleba) woodland;WS : salmongum (8. salmonphloia) woodland; T & M : thicket with mallee;WS & WL = salmonand york gum mixed woodland; SH : scrub heath.

White Well study area. The latter provide the most sandplain flora) in the south-westernparts of the comprehensiveinventory of plant speciesand vegeta- study area in the former, with the latter showing tion in the vicinity of the study area. Analysis of strongest developnent in the c€ntral and north- speciessinilarities indicates that only one of the three eastern areas, However. it is common to filrd sites, Buntine Nature Reserve, mntains more plalt traditional Erenaean species such as mulga species than White Well. However, less than 1.5per (Acacia aneura) and spinifex species(Plectrachne cent of speciesare common to both areas,even if the spp.) frequenting'sandplain-type'vegetation ad- specieslists for the nearby NugadongNature Reserve jacent to the Emu Barrier Fence. are included. This conparison highlight5 the unique flora of transitional woodland" which, although Species richness is greater in southern parts of agrononically wheatbelt, contains few of the plant the study area, particularly in sand-heath type elements commonly associatedwith nearby wheatbelt vegetation reminiscent of the flora of wheatbelt nature reserves. Examination of botanical collections sandplaim. Althoryh lnorly represented on the in the Western Australian Herbarium (PERTH) fron whole, annual specieswould be expected to have areas extending into drier regions to the north-east do been strongly developed in open woodland for- show a higher percentage of comnon species (<25 mations in the central and northern regions of per cent) in common with the study area. This figure the study area, thereby boosting the speciesrich- would probably be higher if systematic botanical ness index for these areas. The paucity of an- resources studies were undertaken in the south-west nual speciesmay be an artefact of the drought- Eremaean. Currendy, however, no significant reser- like conditions experienced in the region over ves exist that would suffrciently preserve these the two to tbree years prior to the survey. Erenaean speciesoutside the White Well locality. Six specieswere recorded which do not coincide By reference to Figue 1 and Tables 1 and 2, ald with any known taxa. Three of these occur in the descriptions of the vegetation for the 27 sample southern regions of the study area and include a sites, certfi floristic features becameevident. Baeckza,a nmeba and a Pterostylis. Ttree uadescribed Acocia speaes were fould in the 1. The study area contains elementsof both wheat- southern a:rd central regions. belt and Eremaean floras; these being located in sand heath or scrub formations (viz. wheatbelt -

Only the northern efremities failed to produce with certain stands containing both tall tree and mal- any undescribed species. All uadescribed taxa were lee forms of the york gum. This is a common forma- refened to the following for inclusion in taxonomic tion in the study area with height and diameter of revisions: trunks decreasingwith increasing aridity. Acacia spp. B. Maslin (Perth) MALLEE SHRUBLAND (M) : Next most widespreadformatiou and characterisedby 2-4 m tdl, Baeckeasp. tov. M. Trudgeon(Perth) sparseto densemallee Eucafuns over a complex and Pimelea sp. nov. B. Rye (Perth) rich substratum of 0.5-1.0 m tall shrubs containing mixed dominants. Soils variable though usually deep Ptercstylis sp. M. Clements(Canberra) sandyloarns. A comprehensivespecies list for the study area is SCRUB HEATH (SH) : Restricted to southern provided in Table 1, with a breakdown of families and regions of the study area where soils are deep sands genera given in Table 2. These illustrate the diverse or sandy loams or clays, typically low heath with oc- nature of the flora. For exanple, no single fanily casional emergent mall.ee(Eucalypns, Acacia or AI- contributes more than 20 per cent of the species locasuarina). Flora rich and diverse sharing many recorded for the study area. In comparison, GriIIin, elements in common with typical wheatbelt or Hnatiuk and Hopper (1982) showed that in northern sandplain flora. sand-heathvegetations nearly half of the speciescame from the families Proteaceae. Mwtaceae and SALMON GUM WOODI-AND (WS) : Conspicuous, lrguminosae. with large 20-30 m tall salmon gums (Eucalypus salmonophloia) over a sparse multi-strata understorey. Vegetation Formations Soils red to red brown loamy sandsover a hardpaa of clay or calcium carbonate concretion. A widespread Beard (1976) in his vegetatio! map of the Perenjori but infrequent formation. region rationalized the vegetation of the study area Vegetation complexesrecorded were: into two formations, viz. 'mixed Acacia thic*et oD, sandplain' and'Eucafuus loxophleba sclerophyll SATINA VEGETATION (S) and INTERSALINA woodland', and a system which included saline DUNE VEGETATION (SC) : (S) is extremely vari- habitats. Although adequatefor the scale of mapping able with seasonallyinundated areas either barren or used by him, this was found to be inadequate for the vegetatedwith sparseto very dense samphhe heath to purposes of this study. 0.5 m. (SC) variable, from open shrublald to closed thicket all to 4 m, Melaleuca and Acacia species are Five vegetation formations, two combiqations of comnon dominants. Soils free dpining gey sands to formations and two complexes were delineated and red brown sandyloams and clays. described for the White Well study ar:ea. A breakdown of these veg€tation units and their respective LITHIC AND LITHOSOL VEGETATION. As- contributions (by area) are provided in Table 3 and in sociated with exposed sheet rock, breakaways ald the vegetation map in Figure 1. rocky soils. Vegetation variable from moss swards with annualsin loamy soil lensesto dense,3 m thicket The formations recorded were: on deeper soils. THICKET (T): Representedby dense to very dense, Two formation combinations are mapped, one 2-5 m tall shrubs of.4cacra and Allocasuarina. As- consisting of thicket interspersed with mallee sociations with other genera, chiefly Melaleuca and, shrubland (T + M), the other, york gum woodland Eucalwtus, may occur on laterite. Although l.ul- with scattered occrurences of salmon gum nerable to repeated burning this is the most codominantwith york gums (WS + WL). widespread and common formation in the study area. Acacia dominated thicket occurs alone the drier eastern perimeter of the area. VERTEBRATE FAUNA YORK GUM WOODLAND (WL): 8-20 m tall single or multi-stemmed york gums (Eucafuns Mammals loxophleba) of varying density over a sparse to dense understorey consisting of a variety of dominants. Some maramalswere recorded by direct observation Typically developed on sandy loan or more rarely on during day tine, and at nigbt from vehicles with the grey salds (intersalina dunes for example). This for- aid of a spotlight. Maly species could only be mation showsremarkable physiognomicheterogeneity

THIS IS A BLANK PAGE - WHITEWELL VEGETATIONMAP c € t DECEMBEF1982 .t (REVTSEDJANUARY 1983)

LEGENO wL r Eucalyplus loxophleba woodland L iLnhrccomplexes WS : E. salmonophlola woodlands SC: Scrubassoc. wrth 'ntersarrna M : Mallee shrubland dunes and runetles T: Thrcket (otl€n wrth matlee destgnaled T&M) EPF:Emu-prool le.ce

@-sampresneslseeren)-O @ O @ @ @ @ repres€nllraplrne srle numbe.s

APPROXSCALE 1:25 000 va^

T&M @ I @

) \ r&!

l N recorded by trapping. Pit-fence and metal (medium Species recorded are shown in Table 5. Fifteen Elliott and Break-back) traps were set as ia Table 4. indigenous a:rd six introduced specieswere recorded during the two brief visits to the area. It is likely that Voucher specirnens of the smaller species were more extensive field work over a wider range of collected and deposited in the Western Australian seasonswould reveal additional specieseg Fat-tailed Museum with accessionnumbers M174U-23, L7426- D-nnart (Sminthopsisoassicaudata), Western N, t7442, 17452-54,r7ffi-1\ 17473-74,24549 and $gmy u553. Posslm (Cercafteh.rconcinnus), Western Grey Kan- garco (Macropusfuliginosus), Little Mastiff-bat (Mor-

Tabk 4 Mammaltrapping effort Vegetation complex Sanple Site Nos TraP'nigh6 Pit-fence Metal

Woodland, E. lmophleba (WL) L3 160 Woodland, E salmonophloia (VS) 25 ,a 7m Scrub Heath (SH) 2 78 Mallee (M) 18 Thicket (T) I,L1,U ln', 72 Thicket and Mallee (T&M) 3,19 89 Scrub associatedwith intersalina dunesand n 54 lutrettes (SC)

Tol!l 430 Note: 1 pit-fenc€ trap-night is 1 pit, usuallyin a line of 6 pits along 50 m of drift fence, for 1 night.

Table5 Mammalsoecies recorded at White Well

SCIENTIFICNAME ENGLISHNAME HABITAT Indigenous Species

Tachyglossusacukants Echidna wL,ws Sminthopsisgilberti Gilbert's Dunnart T,M,TM,WL S. granulipes White-tailed Dunnart T Mauopus robustus Euro WL,L M.tufus Red Kangaroo S Tadarids australis White-striped Mastiff-bat WL,S Nycnphilus major Greater Long-earedBat WL N. gouldi Gould's l-ong-earedBat WL N. geofftoyi Lesser Long-earedBat WL Chalinolobusgoudii could's WattledBat WL C. morio Chocolatewattled Bat WL ScotorcWnsbehtoni Western Broad-nosedBat WL Eptesicusrcgulus King River Eptesicus WL Pseudomys hermannsbwgensis SandyInland Mouse M Noamys mitchellii Mitchellis Hopping-mouse T,TM,M Introduced Species

Mus muscalus HouseMouse M Oryctolaguscuniculus Rabbit all Equus eEtus Horse T Bos taurus Cattle all Ovis aries Sheep T,WS Vulpeswlpes Red Fox M,TM,T mopterus planiceps) and, possibly, the Ash-grey Cockatoo, Golden Whistler and Rufous Tree-creeper Moidse(Pseudomys albocinereus ). are at the limit of their raages. The mammal fauna we recorded from the White Further study would undoubtedly increase the Well area is a mixture of widespread species, eg specieslist for this area. Basedon our experiencewe Echtdna (Tachyg/ossusotuleatus), Irsser Long-eared suggestthat work in other seasonswould add the fol- Bat (Nyctophilus geoflioyi) and Gould's Wattled Bat lowing species: ffifu1ling Kite, Collared Spar- (Chalinolobus gouldii), species of arid regions near rowhawk, Little Button-quail, Mulga Parrot, Bourke's their south-western limit, eg Red Kangaroo (Macro- Panot, Black-eared Cuckoo, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, pus rufus), Sandy Inlaad Mouse (Pseudomysherman- Rainbow Bee-eater, Ground Cuckoo-shrike, White- nsburyensis) and Western Broad-nosed Bat winged Triller, Hooded Robin, Grey Fantail, White- (Scotorepensbalstoni) and species of th€ south-west browed Babbler, Slaty-backed Thornbill, Shy eg cilbert's Dtnnart (Sminthopsis gihem), Wlnte- Hylacola, White-winged Fairy-wren, Variegated tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis ganulipes), Godd's Fairy-*re4 Australian Sitella, Mistletoebird Brown Long-eared Bat (Nyctohilus gouldi) and King River Honeyeater,Yellow-fronted Honeyeater, White-eared Eptesicus (Eptesicusregulus). Ol. partjcular note are Honeyeater,Brown-headed Honeyeater, Red Wat- the records of White-tailed Dttn".ara (Sminthopsis tlebird and Masked Woodswallow. 455uming that all granuliyns), an uncommonly recorded species of the these species occur in the study area, it has a total inland parts of the south-west,and of Gould's Wat- bird fauna of around 85 species. tled Bat (Chalinolobusgouldii), which is at the inland periphery of its range. The Salnon Gum and York Gum woodlands are especially important breeding places for hollow-nest- The woodlands were particularly rich is bats. A ing species, eg Phk (or Major Mitchell) Cockatoo, bat trap set at water for tbree nights (6-7-8 December Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Galah, Little Corella. 1982)captured 83 individualsof sevenspecies. Port Lincoln Parrot (or pingneck), Regent Parot, Tree Martin, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Rufous Tree- Birds creeper a.ndStriated Pardalote. This q"e of vegetation is now very limited in the adjacent wheatbelt. Birds were recorded opportunistically during the whole survey. Reptilesand Anphibians In the species list (Table 6) birds are listed with Reptiles and Amphibiam were recorded by capture the vegetation complex(es) (see p. 6) in which they in pit-fence traps and Elliott traps as well as by op- were sighted. Breeding records are marked. portunistic searching. Table 7 shows the speciesand Scientific and common namesfollow Blakers et al. the vegetation formation(s) ir which they were (1e84). recorded.

Table 6 lists 60 species from the study area, in- Voucher specinens were deposited in the Western sluding 26 non-passerines and 34 passerines- The Australian Museum with accessionnumbers R81609 - number of species recorded in each vegetation com- 81644and R8m2 - 81928. olex was: We recorded one (possibly two) species of frogs WL Eucalypns loxophlebawoodla:rd and 29 speciesof reptiles. More work would undoub- WS Eucalptus salmonophloia woodland 22 tedly add to the known fauna. However, the species SH Scrub Heath diversity compares favourably with Karroun Hill Na- M Mallee Shrubland lz ture Reserve,which has a known herpetofauna of one T Thicket (inclucling T&M) 22 frog and 24 reptile species(Yonngq6a and McKenzie L Lithic conplexes 2 1977),wrah Buntine Nature Reserve,which has 4 frog S Salinas 5 and 23 reptile species(Kitchener et al, 1979) and wlth sc Scrub associatedwith inter-salina other nearby nature resenes. dunes and lutrettes One species, the Emu (Dmmaius novaehollan- DISCUSSION diae), was seenonly along the Emu Barrier Fence. The White Well area possesseselements of both the Almost all species recorded have a widespread South West and Eremaean Botanical Provhces (Bur- distribution and could be expected to occur in the bidge 1960;Beard 1980)considered by Erickon er a/. study area. The Regent Parrot, Red-tailed Black- (1973) to coDstitute a vegetation unit terned 'transitional woodland'. This vegetation, with its unique

9 Tabh 6 Bird speciesrermded at White WeU

SPECIES VEGETATION BREEDING? FORMATION

CASUARIDAE D rcmaius novae h o I Iatr di ac, Emt All B ACCIPITRIDAE Accipiter fosciatus,Brown Goshawk WL B Aquila auda4 W edge-tailedEagle WL old nest HienaetusmorphnorZes, Little Eagle T,S FALCONIDAE Falco peregrinus,Peregrene Falcon WL F. longipennis,Australian Hobby WL,SH F. berigora, Brown F alcan T,WL,WS,TM F. cenchroides,Australian Kestrel M,WS,WL MEGAPODIIDAE Leipoa ocellata,Malleefowl T OTIDIDAE Ardeotis awtralis, Australian Bustard S CI'{RADRIIDAF Vanellustticolor, Banded Lapwing wLx COLUMBIDAE Phapschalcoptera, Common Bronzewing T,WL,T&M Ocyphapslophotes, Crested Pigeon WS,SH CACATUIDAE Calytorhynchus magnifrcus,Red-adled Black-Cockatoo WL,WS B Cacantaroseicapilla, G alah M,WL,WS B C. sanguinea"Little Corella WL,WS B C. leodbeatei, Pink Cockatoo WL,WS B OLYTELITIDAE Polytelisanthopeplur, Regent Parrot WL,WS PI.ATYCERCIDAE Bamardiuszonaius, Port Lincola Ringneck WL,WS B CUCULIDAE Cuculuspallidus, Pallid Cuckoo S,M,WL Chrysococcyrbasalis, Horsefield's Bronze-Cuckoo SC,WL STRIGIDAE Ninox novaeseelandiae.Southern Boobook WL PODARGIDAE Podaryusstrigoides, Ta$Dy Frogmouth WL,SC AEGOTHELIDAE Aegothelescistatus, Australian Owlernightjar WL CAPRIMULGIDAE Capimulgus guttafits,Spotted Nightjar S ALCEDINIDAE Halcyonpynhopygia, Red-backed Kingfisher WL HIRUNDIMDAE Cherunoecaleucostemum, White-backed Swallow T Cecropisnigricans, Tree Martin WL,WS,T&M B 10 MOTACHILIDAE Anthus novaeseelandrae,Richard's Pipit S CAMPEPHAGIDAE Coracins novaehollandiae,Black-facndCuckooo-shrike T,WL MUSCICAPIDAE Petroicagoodenovii, Red-capped Robin T,SC,WL, WS,T&M B PACHYCEP}IALIDAE Miooeca leucophaea,Jacky Winter WL Pachycephalapectoralis, Golden Whistler T P. rufiventris,kntous Whistler T,WS,WL,M&T Colluicincla harmonrca,Grey Shrike-thrush T,M,WS Oreoicagutturalis, Crested Bellbird T,M,WL Rhipi&tm leucophrys,Willie Wagtail WL,WS,L ORTHONYCHIDAE Cinclosomacastsnotum, Chestnut Quail,tirush T,M MALURIDAE Malurus splendens,Spendid Fairy-wren SC ACANTHIZIDAE Seicomis brunneus,Redthroat T,M,T&M B S./uft3znosls,Calamanthus M Smiuomis brevirosrzs,Weebill WL,WS Acanthiza apicalis, Inland Thornbill WL A. umryglalis, Chestnut-rumpedThornbill WL,WS,SH A. chrysonhoa,Yellow-rumped Thornbill , L,WL B Aphelocephalaleucopsri SouthernWhiteface T CLIMACTERIDAE Climacteis rufq Rufous Tree-creeper WL,WS B MELIPHAGIDAE Acanthagenysrufogulazs, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater WL,WS,T&M Manorina Ilsvigula, Yellow-tbroated Miner M,WL Lichenostomusvbescenr, Singing Honeyeater T,M,WL Phylidonyis albifronr, White-fronted Honeyeater M EPHTT{IANURIDAE Ephthianura olbilronr, White-fronted Chat adj. paddock T PARDALOTIDAE Pardalotusstriatus, Striated Pardalote WL,WS GRALLINIDAE Grallina qnnokucq Australial MagprieJark WL ARTAMIDAE Aftamus cinereus,Black-faced Woodswallow T CRACTICIDAE Cracticustorquatus, Grey Butcherbird WL,WS,T B C. nigrogulais,Pied Butcherbird T,M,WL,T&M Gymnorhinatibicen, Australian Magpie WL Strepemvenicolor, Grey Currawong WL CORVIDAE Corws bennetti"Little Crow WS B

Note: Crows were uncommonand were seldomidentified to soecies. *flying overhead Table7 Amphibiansand Reptiles recorded at White Well

SPECIES VEGETATION FORMATION

Amphibia

LEPTODACTYLIDAE NeobaVachuscentralis, Tr;llirrg Frog M N. sp. T,M

R€ptilia

GEKKONIDAE, Geckoes Diplodactylusgranarienis M,WL D. intermedius M D.maini T,WL D. pulcher T,T&M Gehyravaiegata, Tree Dtella M,WL Haeronotia binoei, Blmoe'sGecko SC,WL Oe drrc reticulat a. Reticulated Velvet Gecko WL Mynchoedta omafa, Beaked Gecko SC

PYGOPODIDAE, LeglessLizards Delma austalis SC

AGAMIDAE, Dragon Lizards Ctenophorusomatus, Rock Dragon L C. scutulatu4 l-ozenge-markedDragon T,M,SC,T&M C. ci$atus, CrestedDragon WL Molach honidus,Thorny Devil T,M,T&M Pogonatninor minoi! Western Bearded Dragon T

SCINCIDAE, Skinks Cryptob I epharusp Ia gioc ephalus WL,WS Ctenotusmimetes M,WL C.pantheinus pontheinus T C. schomburgkii T,M,WL,T&M Leista genardii SC Menetiagreyii SC,WL Morethia butlei WL M. obscwa M TIli qua occipit alis, Western Blue-tongue M T. rugosa,Bobtail SC

VARANIDAE, Goannas Varanusgouldii, Burgarra T V. coudolineatus T,L

TYPHLOPIDAE. Blind Snakes Ramphouphlopshamatus

ELAPIDAE, Elapid Snakes DenisoniaIasciatq Rosen'sSnale T,S Pseudonajanuchalrs, Gwardar S

t2 'goldfields blend of species enriched by stately Botany Department of The University of Western woodlands'is not well representedin existingnature Australia and Malcolru Trudgeon provided generous conservationreserves. assistancewith the sorting and identification of plant specimens. The vegetationof the area is in good condition. Except for minor disturbance around the White Well water source, the area showed little disturbance from REFERENCES rabbits, weed incursions or too-frequent burning. The saline areas are pristine ald the vegetation is stable Beard, J.S. (1976). Vegetation survey of Western compared with the usual degraded and expanding Australia 1:250fiX) series.The vegetationof the salinasin the wheatbelt. Perenjori are4 Western Australia. Vegmap Publications,Applecross. The unusually poor rainfall experienced in the area immediately prior to the survey resulted in an Beard, J.S. (1980). A new phytogeographic map of understatement of its floristic richaess a'lld additional Western Australia. Western Australian Herbariurn work would be repaid, especiallyin a good season. Research Notes No. 3, 37-58. Department of Agriculture, Perth. The vertebrate fauna is also a mixture of south- west and arid zone species. Nevertheless,it protects Bettcnay,A.E. (1%2). The salt lake systemsa.nd their many wheatbelt sp€cies that are now becoming in- associated aeolian features in the semi-arid creasingly rare in the remnants of bush remaining in regions of Western Australia. toumal of Soil that largely cleared landscape. Examples include Science13, 10-17. Gilbert's Dunnart, White+ailed Dunnart, Pinl Cock- atoo, Malleefowl, Regent Parrot, Redthoat and Bettenay,A.E, and Mulcaly, MJ. (1972).Soil and Calamanthus. landscapestudies in W€sternAustralia. 2. Yalley form and surface features of the south-west The gum salmon and york gum woodlands are drainage division. .Ioumal oI the GeologicalSociety particularly important areas for a number of hollow- of Australia 18, J59-K9 . nesting birds, including th€ Pink Cockatoo, which is a declared rare speciesin Western Australia. The vast Blakers,M., Davies,SJJ.F. and Reilly, P.N. (1984). majority of these vegetation gpes have been cleared The Atlas of Austnlian birds. Melbourne itr the wheatbelt and the number of nest hollows ia University Press,Melbourue. remnants is falling (Saunders et al. 1982, 1985; Burbidge, N.T. (1960). The phytogeography Saundersand Ingram 1987). of the Australian rcglor.. Ausnalian loumal of Botany E, There are few nearby nature conservationreserves 75-2L1. (see Introduction). The declaration of the White Erickou, R., George, A.S., Marchant, N.G. Well area as a nature reserve would add significantly and Morcombe, M.IC (1973). lVidflowen plants to nature conservationin Western Australia. The ex- and of WestemAustralia. cision of even small areas adjacent to existing farms A.H. ald A.W. Reed, Sydney. could destroy vegetation q?es and speciesnot found Griffin, E.A., Hnatiul, RJ. and Hopper, S.D. (1982). elsewherein the area. Flora conservation values of vacaat Crown lald R€commendatiotr: We recommend that the whole of south of Mou:rt Adams, Western Australia. the area of vacant Crown land be declared a ClassA W€stern Australian Herbarium Research Notes reserve for the Conservation of Flora and Fauna and No. 7, 31-47.Department of Agriculture,Perth. that it be vestedin the National Park and Nature Kitchener,DJ., Chapma!,A., Dell, J. and Muir, B.G. Consewation Authority. (1979). Biological survey of the Western Ausbalian wheatbelt. Part 10: Buntine, Nugadong, and East Nugadong Nature ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Reserves and Nugadong forest reserve. Records of the Westem We thank Terry Wells and Ken Cashin for assistaace Austrslian Museum SupplementNo. 9. in the field. Laurie Glen Storr and Smith of the Marchant, N.G. and Keighery, GJ. (1979). Poorly Western Australian Museun conlirmed the identifica- collected and presumably rare vascular plants of tion of the reptiles and Darrell Kitchener of the Western Australia. Kings Pa* ResearchNotes No. Westerd Australian Museum confirmed our mammal 5. KingsPark Boar4 Perth. identifications. The Curator and staff of the Western Australian Herbarium, staff and students of the

l3 Muir, B.G. (197). Biological survey of the Western woodlands:ecology consenation, management,(ed Australia[ wheatbelt. Part 2: Vegetation and by A. Keast, H. Recher, H. Ford and D. habitat of Bendering reserve. Records of the Saunders).Surey Beatty and Sons,Sydney. WestemAusbalian Musellm SupplementNo. 3. Saunders, D.A.. and Ingram, J3.. (1987). Factors Patrick, SJ. and Hopper, S.D. (1982). A guide to the affecting survival of Carnaby's Cockatoo gM.etted we flora of Western Australia. Cslyptorhyncasfunereus latirosnis in remnants of Supplement 1. Report No. 54, Department of native vegetation. In Nature consenalion: the role Fisheries and Wildlife, Perth. of rcmnants of native vegetation, (ed by DA. Saunders, G.W. Arnold, A.A,. Burbidge and Rye, B.L. (1982). Geographically restriced plants of AJ.M. Hopkins). Surey Beatty and Sons,Sydney. southern Western Australia. Report No. 49. Department of Fisheriesand Wildlife, Perth. Saunders,DA., Snith, G.T. and Rowley, L (1982). The availability and dimensions of tree hollows Rye, B.L. and Hopper, S.D. (1981). A guide to the ttrat provide nest sites for cockatoos gazgtted lare flora of Western Australia. Report (Psittaciformes) in Western Australia. Australian No. 42, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, WAnife Research9, 54I-56. Perth. Youngson, W.K. and McKenzie, N.L. (1977). The Saunders, D-A., Rowley, I. and Smith, c.T. (1985). wildlife of the proposed Karroun Hill Nature The effects of clearing for agriculture on the Reserve, Western Australia. Report No, 30, distribution of cockatoos in the south-west of Department of Fisheriesand Wildlife, Perth. Western Australia.In Birds of eucalyptforests and

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