Understanding Extinction (October-November 2016)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Magazine of National Parks Association of Queensland understanding extinction a great loss: bramble cay melomys beyond the brink of recovery: extinction welford national park wave rock eremophila tetraptera the national park experience Issue 11 October - November 2016 Connect and Protect1 Mission Statement Contents The National Parks Association promotes From the President 3 the preservation, expansion, good management and presentation of National A great loss:bramble cay melomys 4 Parks in Queensland. Beyond the brink: extinction 6 Welford National Park 8 Get Involved in NPAQ: Wave Rock 10 NPAQ welcomes people from all walks of life and offers a variety of ways to be involved: Eremophila tetraptera 12 • Have fun in the bush – come along on a The National Park Experience 13 bushwalk or other activity • Get your hands dirty – participate in on- Spotlight: Ranger of the month 14 ground conservation efforts What’s On 15 • Join us – become a member • Step up – become a National Parks Conservation member Council • Be a National Parks Protector – join our President Michelle Prior regular giving program Vice Presidents Tony O’Brien • Donate – support the work of NPAQ Athol Lester • Participate in exciting projects – volunteer Hon Secretary Debra Marwedel • Subscribe – receive Protected and Asst Hon Secretary Yvonne Parsons Neck of the Woods in your inbox Hon Treasurer Graham Riddell • Connect – like us on Facebook or share Councillors David Ball a photo on Instagram Julie Hainsworth • Stay in touch – read regular updates on Daniel Kelly our website Denis McMullen • Share a bush adventure with children Richard Proudfoot – download NPAQ’s Kids in National Alexsis Wilson Parks Staff Guidelines for Contributors Conservation Principal: Kirsty Leckie NPAQ invites contributions to Protected Business Development Officer: articles. Please email [email protected] Mariika Strand for a schedule of future editions. Project & Office Administrator: Jeannie Rice Contributors, please include contact details Project Officer: and brief personal summary. Articles can Emma Fitzsimmons be submitted via email or hard copy. Digital photos should be minimum 300dpi. Editorial Team Neil Douglas, Kirsty Leckie, Jeannie Rice, Copyright and Disclaimer Michelle Prior Contact Details NPAQ retains copyright of Protected. Articles may be quoted provided that Unit 10/36 Finchley Street, Milton appropriate acknowledged occurs in the PO Box 1040, Milton QLD 4064 reproduction and use of material. ABN: 60 206 792 095 Articles in Protected do not necessarily Phone: (07) 3367 0878 reflect the opinion or position of the National Web: www.npaq.org.au Parks Association of Queensland. Email: [email protected] Advertising Enquiries Advertising Policy Please email [email protected] or phone (07) 3367 0878 Advertisements are required to align with relevant NPAQ policies. NPAQ reserves Images the right to refuse any advertisement at any time. Advertisement in Protected does not Cover and back page - Welford NP (Wendy Bell). imply NPAQ’s endorsement of the products Strip p2 - Mountain White gum bark (Eucalyptus dalrympleana subsp. heptantha). (Paul Donatiu). or services. 2 Connect and Protect FROM THE PRESIDENT Michelle Prior, NPAQ President Welcome to the October/ Thank you to all Councillors for their NPAQ is fortunate to have a small-but November edition of Protected. contribution over the past year. In highly dedicated staff team: Kirsty The Annual Awards Event in particular, I would like to thank the Leckie, Jeannie Rice, Marika Strand September, saw eight members Executive: Debra, Graham, Yvonne and Glenys Wilkinson. Thank you for receiving the Romeo Lahey and Athol. The restructure of last year your enthusiasm and passion for the Recognition Award, for having attained has seen a substantial increase in the Association, the creative solutions that 50 years of NPAQ membership: workload of the Executive, and they you are always finding, your ability to Barbara Brice, Dudley Dagg, Patricia all rose to the challenge superbly, in cope with periods of intense pressure, Lawton, Hazel Noakes, Marjorie addition to regular duties. and the professionalism you bring to Semple, Lea Wood, Richard Wood. Thank you to retiring Councillors your roles. Thank you to these members for their Peter Ogilvie and Des Whybird; and Thank you to the members and involvement and commitment over this Councillors Mike Wilke and Geoff supporters who donated to NPAQ impressive length of time. Lowes who retired during the year. throughout the year, to assist with our On behalf of NPAQ members, I would Peter brought a wealth of protected advocacy and education work. like to extend a hearty welcome to the area knowledge following 46 years Many thanks to our wonderful four new Councillors elected at the in state government; Des brought sponsors: Scenic Rim Trail by Spicers, AGM in September: Denis McMullen, extensive governance and strategic Yuraygir Walking Experiences, O’Reillys Dr Alexsis Wilson, Daniel Kelly and skills; Mike brought valuable strategic Rainforest Lodge, Binna Burra Lodge, David Ball. and governance skills; and Geoff Allure Stradbroke Resort, Australia Zoo, brought professional legal skills. Thank you to all Councillors who Great Walks magazine, Wild magazine, were re-elected: Tony O’Brien NPAQ is fortunate to have 62 Avid Reader Bookstore, Easy Oven, (Vice-President), Athol Lester (Vice- members and supporters who Go Camping Australia magazine, Out President), Debra Marwedel (Honorary are active volunteers: Committee and About for Kids magazine, and Secretary), Graham Riddell (Honorary convenors and members, activities Rosco Canoes and Kayaks. Treasurer), and Yvonne Parsons leaders, Boombana Vegetation Group, Thank you to all members and (Assistant Secretary). Two Councillors archives, Protected contributors, supporters for your passion and continue in office for a further librarians; and those who provide commitment to NPAQ, for caring about year: Richard Proudfoot and Julie professional or technical support, or national parks and for understanding Hainsworth. assist with promotions, fundraising, their value. National parks matter! mailouts and events. Thank you for your generosity. I would like to thank retiring (Acting) Activities Convenor, Athol Lester. Athol has been involved in Activities since becoming a member in 2007, and has unfailingly led the Activities Committee for a number of years. Bringing about necessary change is not always easy, and Athol did not shirk away from the task. A popular leader, well known for going that extra mile (such as serving billy tea and damper on a walk with wife Maria), he devised innovative activities such as camel treks and retracing Cunningham’s footsteps. 3 BRAMBLE CAY MELOMYS: A GREAT LOSS Kirsty Leckie, Conservation Principal Nestled in the vast expanse of the Barrier Reef’s only endemic mammal There is also a history of European Great Barrier Reef is the small coral species. It is officially listed as development on the island, including island of Bramble Cay. The relatively endangered under both the Nature extraction of phosphatic rock and flat island has been subjected to Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation harvesting of biological resources. periods of inundation over recent 2006 and the Commonwealth’s Bramble Cay has been the site of years. With rising sea levels came Environment Protection and several navigational aids due the a loss of habitat and sources of Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. island’s location at the northern food. For one of the island’s smallest Interestingly, the International Union entrance to the Great North East residents this has had a catastrophic for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Channel. effect. lists the melomys as Critically How did the Bramble Cay The Bramble Cay melomys (Melomys Endangered. melomys become extinct? rubicola), once reportedly abundant In the most recent survey of the In 2014, an expert team conducted on the island has disappeared. island (2014), vegetative cover was surveys to further understand the Scientists say this is a cause for patchy and limited in area. Only cay’s physical environment, and alarm as the world witnesses the two plant species were recorded, a with the explicit aim of establishing first modern mammal driven to succulent perennial herb (Portulaca whether the species was still extinction by climate change. This oleracea) and an unidentified sedge inhabiting the island (Gynther, Waller article examines the extinction of the (Cyperus sp.). Vegetation sustained and Leung, 2016). Bramble Cay melomys and attempts damage due to trampling (birds), to understand what caused this great erosion and deposition. Woody The team embarked on a thorough loss. debris was also noticeably different survey program including 900 small from previous surveys, resulting in mammal trap nights, camera-trap Bramble Cay and the biology of surveys (where a motion-sensor the Bramble Cay melomys further disturbance to the island’s available habitat. infra-red camera is placed in key To understand this alarming extinction locations) and daytime searches. Bramble Cay’s natural resources event, it is worthwhile examining the These extensive efforts did not ecology of the Bramble Cay melomys have been harvested and exploited over the years. The traditional produce any positive signs of the and the coral atoll on which it was mammal’s presence on the island. once endemic. custodians of the island are the Erubum Le (also known as the Erub Anecdotal evidence indicated that Bramble Cay, also known as Maizab