Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description Citation: Cibilic, A
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Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description Citation: Cibilic, A. and White, L., 2011. Ecological Character Description for Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance. Report prepared for the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra, by WetlandCare Australia, Ballina, NSW. Steering Committee The authors would like to acknowledge the valuable input of the steering committee in the development and review of this document: Ian Krebs - Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Georgina Usher - Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Brian Leahy - NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Justin Kreis - NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Dorothy Bell - Scientific Representative, University of New England John Clifton-Everest - Community Representative, Armidale, NSW Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank the following for assistance with the preparation of this document: Robert Haworth, University of New England (Retired) – for assistance in providing information and in interpreting geological and geomorphological reports. Peter Croft, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service – local and historical knowledge of the site. Craig Woodward, University of Queensland – for providing water quality data and information related to recent research (into sediments, chironomid larvae and current and historical ecosystem health) at the site. Introductory Notes This Ecological Character Description (ECD Publication) has been prepared in accordance with the National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australia’s Ramsar Wetlands (National Framework) (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008). The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) prohibits actions that are likely to have a significant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland unless the Commonwealth Environment Minister has approved the taking of the action, or some other provision in the EPBC Act allows the action to be taken. The information in this ECD Publication does not indicate any commitment to a particular course of action, policy position or decision. Further, it does not provide assessment of any particular action within the meaning of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), nor replace the role of the Minister or his delegate in making an informed decision to approve an action. This ECD Publication is provided without prejudice to any final decision by the Administrative Authority for Ramsar in Australia on change in ecological character in accordance with the requirements of Article 3.2 of the Ramsar Convention. 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 Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities 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. i Ecological Character Description - Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve Cover photo acknowledgements: Flying Cormorants (Alan Cibilic), Austral Toadflax (Thesium austral) (Alan Cibilic), Little Llangothlin Lagoon (Alan Cibilic) and Common reed (Phragmites australis) (Alan Cibilic). Ecological Character Description - Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve ii Contents Contents ......................................................................................................................... iii Glossary .......................................................................................................................... v Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. vii Executive summary .......................................................................................................viii 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... xvii 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Site details ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Statement of purpose ........................................................................................................ 3 1.4 Relevant treaties, legislation, and regulations ................................................................... 4 2. Site Description ........................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Site location ...................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve Ramsar site .................................................................. 6 2.3 Drainage division ............................................................................................................ 10 2.4 Catchment ...................................................................................................................... 10 2.5 Land tenure and management framework ....................................................................... 10 2.6 Wetland types ................................................................................................................. 11 2.7 Ramsar criteria ............................................................................................................... 14 3. Ecosystem components and processes .................................................................... 16 3.1 Geomorphology .............................................................................................................. 16 3.2 Hydrology ....................................................................................................................... 22 3.3 Climate ........................................................................................................................... 25 3.4 Water Quality .................................................................................................................. 28 3.5 Flora ............................................................................................................................... 32 3.6 Fauna ............................................................................................................................. 44 4. Benefits and services ................................................................................................ 51 4.1 Supports representative near-natural wetlands ............................................................... 51 4.2 Provides refuge during drought conditions ...................................................................... 51 4.3 Supports TECs and nationally threatened species .......................................................... 52 4.4 Supports significant biodiversity ...................................................................................... 53 4.5 Aboriginal cultural heritage .............................................................................................. 54 4.6 Provides recreation and tourism opportunities ................................................................ 56 4.7 Scientific and educational significance ............................................................................ 56 5. Critical components, processes and services ............................................................ 57 6. Limits of acceptable change ...................................................................................... 61 7. Threats ...................................................................................................................... 66 7.1 Weeds ............................................................................................................................ 67 7.2 Pests ............................................................................................................................... 67 iii Ecological Character Description - Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve 7.3 Soil disturbance and erosion ........................................................................................... 68 7.4 Hydrological interference and modification ...................................................................... 68 7.5 Climate change ............................................................................................................... 70 7.6 Summary of key threats .................................................................................................. 72 8. Changes in ecological character since designation ................................................... 73 8.1 Hydrology ....................................................................................................................... 73 8.2 Flora ............................................................................................................................... 74 8.3 Fauna ............................................................................................................................