Fauna Assessment (Ecologia)
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Photos at least 1 up to 3 project/survey specific to completely fill the white box, DO NOT CHANGE SIZE OF WHITE BOX BEAGLE BAY BIG TREE COUNTRY TROPICAL TIMBER PLANTATION PROJECT Fauna Assessment Survey March 2004 ecologiaecologia E N V I R O N M E N T i TROPICAL TIMBER PLANTATIONS PTY LTD. Beagle Bay: Big Tree Country Project Vertebrate Fauna Assessment Survey Document Status Rev Author Reviewer/s Date Approved for Issue No. Name Distributed To Date A Alexander Garry Connell G.Connell DoE, CALM, 10/01/04 Larcombe, Mitchell 8/01/04 Environs Kimberley Ladyman B Alexander Belinda Barnett G.Connell J. Brennan 10/03/04 Larcombe, Mitchell 10/03/04 Ladyman C Alexander Mitchell Ladyman 11/03/04 G. Connell Stakeholders 01/04/04 Larcombe, Mitchell John Brennan Ladyman Myles Menz 31/03/04 D Belinda Barnett 20/12/04 G. Connell CALM Peer Review 20/12/04 0 Jessica Oates 08/02/05 © ecologia Environment (2004). Reproduction of this report in whole or in part by electronic, mechanical or chemical means including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, in any language, is strictly prohibited without the express approval of ecologia Environment and/or Tropical Timber Plantations Pty Limited. Restrictions on Use This report has been prepared specifically for Tropical Timber Plantations Pty Limited. Neither the report nor its contents may be referred to or quoted in any statement, study, report, application, prospectus, loan, or other agreement document, without the express approval of ecologia Environmental Consultants and/or Tropical Timber Plantations Pty Limited. ecologia Environment 76 Thomas Street West Perth WA 6005 Ph: 08 9322 1944 Fax: 08 9322 1599 Email: [email protected] ecologia ii TROPICAL TIMBER PLANTATIONS PTY LTD. Beagle Bay: Big Tree Country Project Vertebrate Fauna Assessment Survey TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY...................................................................................................................................................................IV 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 BEAGLE BAY – BIG TREE COUNTRY PROJECT ................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Background............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Location.................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................................ 4 2.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .....................................................................................................................4 2.1.1 Climate ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.2 Geology and Soils..................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.3 Hydrogeology........................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................................. 5 2.2.1 Vegetation................................................................................................................................................. 5 2.2.2 Fire History............................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.3 Previous Biological Surveys..................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.4 Landuse History........................................................................................................................................ 6 2.2.5 Trial Tropical Timber Plantation .............................................................................................................. 7 3.0 SURVEY METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 SURVEY PROGRAMME ............................................................................................................................ 9 3.2 SITE SELECTION........................................................................................................................................ 9 3.3 SAMPLING METHODS ............................................................................................................................ 11 3.3.1 Systematic Data ...................................................................................................................................... 12 3.3.2 Non-systematic Data............................................................................................................................... 13 3.4 TAXONOMY AND NOMENCLATURE................................................................................................... 14 3.5 DATA ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................................................... 14 3.5.1 Species richness...................................................................................................................................... 14 3.5.2 Multivariate Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 14 3.6 ZOOGEOGRAPHY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY........................................................................................... 15 4.0 VERTEBRATE FAUNA ............................................................................................................................... 17 4.1 VERTEBRATE FAUNA WITHIN THE STUDY AREA........................................................................... 17 4.1.1 Fauna Habitat Composition and Use ...................................................................................................... 17 4.1.2 Site Specific Survey Effort ..................................................................................................................... 20 4.1.3 Sampling Adequacy................................................................................................................................ 20 4.2 FAUNA RECORDED................................................................................................................................. 21 4.2.1 Mammals ................................................................................................................................................ 21 4.2.2 Avifauna ................................................................................................................................................. 22 4.2.3 Herpetofauna .......................................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.4 Feral Fauna ............................................................................................................................................. 23 4.3 BIOGEOGRAPHIC AFFINITIES .............................................................................................................. 24 4.4 SURVEY LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS..................................................................................... 24 5.0 RARE AND SPECIALLY PROTECTED FAUNA .................................................................................... 27 5.1 SPECIES PROTECTED BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS........................................................... 27 5.2 COMMONWEALTH EPBC ACT .............................................................................................................. 27 5.3 WA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT .................................................................................................. 29 5.3.1 Schedule 1 Species ................................................................................................................................. 29 5.3.2 Schedule 4 Species ................................................................................................................................. 29 5.4 CALM PRIORITY FAUNA........................................................................................................................ 29 5.5 SPECIES OF REGIONAL OR LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE.......................................................................... 31 6.0 CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE........................................................................................................... 33 6.1 INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE................................................................................... 33 ecologia iii TROPICAL TIMBER PLANTATIONS PTY 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Beagle Bay: Big Tree Country Project Vertebrate Fauna Assessment Survey 6.2 STATE SIGNIFICANCE...........................................................................................................................