Subterranean Fauna Survey
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Warrawoona Gold Project: Subterranean Fauna Survey Warrawoona Gold Project: Subterranean Fauna Survey Biologic Environmental Survey Report to Calidus Resources Limited August 2019 Page | 1 Warrawoona Gold Project: Subterranean Fauna Survey Document Status Revision Review / Approved for Approved for Issue to Author No. Issue Name Date Tabitha Rudin, Shae Callan, Dave Reeves 1 Brad Durrant August 2019 Dean Main Kate George 2 Dave Reeves Final Tabitha Rudin, Dean Main Brad Durrant August 2019 Kate George “IMPORTANT NOTE” Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this report, its attachments or appendices may be reproduced by any process without the written consent of Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd (“Biologic”). All enquiries should be directed to Biologic. 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Page | 2 Warrawoona Gold Project: Subterranean Fauna Survey TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary .................................................................................................... 7 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................. 10 1.2 Legislation and guidance ....................................................................................... 11 1.3 Subterranean fauna ................................................................................................ 11 2 Environment ........................................................................................................ 14 2.1 Biogeography .......................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Climate..................................................................................................................... 14 2.3 Geology ................................................................................................................... 15 2.4 Surface drainage and indicative catchments ........................................................ 15 2.5 Hydrogeology .......................................................................................................... 16 2.6 Suitability for subterranean fauna habitat ............................................................ 16 3 Methods ............................................................................................................... 21 3.1 Database search and review of previous reports ................................................. 21 3.2 Survey timing .......................................................................................................... 21 3.3 Site selection and survey effort ............................................................................. 23 3.4 Sampling methods .................................................................................................. 27 3.4.1 Troglofauna trapping .............................................................................................. 27 3.4.2 Troglofauna scraping ............................................................................................. 27 3.4.3 Stygofauna net-hauling .......................................................................................... 27 3.4.4 Water physicochemistry ......................................................................................... 28 3.4.5 Sorting and taxonomy ............................................................................................ 28 3.4.6 Conservation status and SRE classification ........................................................... 28 4 Results ................................................................................................................. 31 4.1 Database searches ................................................................................................. 31 4.3 Previous survey results ......................................................................................... 37 4.4 Current survey results ............................................................................................ 39 4.4.1 Troglofauna results ................................................................................................ 39 4.4.2 Stygofauna results ................................................................................................. 43 5 Subterranean Habitat assessment .................................................................... 51 5.1 Troglofauna habitats .............................................................................................. 51 5.1.1 Klondyke ................................................................................................................ 51 5.1.2 Copenhagen .......................................................................................................... 51 Page | 3 Warrawoona Gold Project: Subterranean Fauna Survey 5.2 Stygofauna habitats ................................................................................................ 55 5.2.1 Klondyke ................................................................................................................ 55 5.2.2 Copenhagen .......................................................................................................... 55 5.2.3 Potential habitat in the wider local area .................................................................. 55 5.3 Groundwater characteristics ................................................................................. 56 6 Risk Assessment ................................................................................................ 58 6.1 Impacts to troglofauna ........................................................................................... 58 6.2 Risks to troglofauna species ................................................................................. 58 6.3 Impacts to stygofauna ............................................................................................ 62 6.4 Risks to stygofauna species .................................................................................. 63 7 Key findings ........................................................................................................ 70 7.1.1 Risks to Troglofauna Species ................................................................................ 70 7.1.2 Risks to Stygofauna Species ................................................................................. 70 8 References .......................................................................................................... 72 9 Appendices ......................................................................................................... 75 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1: Regional location and IBRA sub-regions ............................................................................... 13 Figure 2.1: Long-term monthly average rainfall and temperature from Marble Bar (BoM 2019) ............. 14 Figure 2.2: Geology of the Study Area and surrounds (GSWA 1:250,000) ............................................. 18 Figure 2.3: Surface drainage of the Study Area and surrounds .............................................................