Level 2 vertebrate fauna survey for the Wonmunna Iron Ore Project Prepared for Wonmunna Iron Ore Ltd Final report - July 2014 Level 2 vertebrate fauna survey for the Wonmunna Iron Ore Project Wonmunna Iron Ore Ltd Level 2 vertebrate fauna survey for the Wonmunna Iron Ore Project Prepared for Wonmunna Iron Ore Ltd. Final report Authors: Guillaume Bouteloup, Jarrad Clark, Ryan Ellis Reviewers: Melanie White, Karen Crews Date: 23 July 2014 Submitted to: Gay Bradley and Ray Gerrard (Piacentini & Son) Chain of authorship and review Name Task Version Date R. Ellis Rev 1 to client 1.0 30/01/2012 G. Bouteloup 2014 update for editorial review 1.1 22/07/2014 K. Crews Final submitted to client 2.0 24/07/2014 ©Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd 2014 The use of this report is solely for the Client for the purpose in which it was prepared. Phoenix Environmental Sciences accepts no responsibility for use beyond this purpose. All rights are reserved and no part of this report may be reproduced or copied in any form without the written permission of Phoenix Environmental Sciences of the Client. Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd 1/511 Wanneroo Rd BALCATTA WA 6021 P: 08 9345 1608 F: 08 6313 0680 E: [email protected] Project code: 1049-WON-AR-FAU Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd i Level 2 vertebrate fauna survey for the Wonmunna Iron Ore Project Wonmunna Iron Ore Ltd Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ VI 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Scope of work and survey objectives .............................................................................. 1 2 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT ................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Commonwealth ............................................................................................................... 5 2.2 State ................................................................................................................................ 6 3 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................... 7 3.1 Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) region ................................. 7 3.2 Land systems ................................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Climate and weather ..................................................................................................... 11 3.4 Land use ........................................................................................................................ 12 3.5 Biological context .......................................................................................................... 12 3.5.1 Vertebrate fauna ........................................................................................................... 12 3.5.2 Threatening processes .................................................................................................. 13 4 METHODS .................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Desktop review and database searches ........................................................................ 15 4.2 Habitat assessment and site selection .......................................................................... 16 4.3 Field survey ................................................................................................................... 16 4.3.1 Trapping for ground-dwelling mammals, reptiles and amphibians .............................. 19 4.3.2 Avifauna surveys ........................................................................................................... 20 4.3.3 Bat echolocation recordings ......................................................................................... 20 4.3.4 Spotlighting ................................................................................................................... 20 4.3.5 Motion camera trapping ............................................................................................... 21 4.3.6 Active searches ............................................................................................................. 23 4.3.7 Opportunistic records ................................................................................................... 23 4.3.8 Targeted searching ........................................................................................................ 23 4.3.9 Aquatic vertebrate trapping ......................................................................................... 23 4.3.10 Targeted trapping for Northern Quoll .......................................................................... 23 4.3.11 Additional targeted survey............................................................................................ 24 4.4 Statistical analysis ......................................................................................................... 24 4.5 Taxonomy and nomenclature ....................................................................................... 25 4.6 Survey personnel........................................................................................................... 25 5 RESULTS ...................................................................................................................... 26 5.1 Desktop review ............................................................................................................. 26 5.2 Field survey ................................................................................................................... 28 5.2.1 Habitat descriptions ...................................................................................................... 28 5.2.2 Summary of fauna records ............................................................................................ 30 5.2.3 Fish ................................................................................................................................ 32 5.2.4 Amphibians ................................................................................................................... 32 Phoenix Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd ii Level 2 vertebrate fauna survey for the Wonmunna Iron Ore Project Wonmunna Iron Ore Ltd 5.2.5 Mammals ...................................................................................................................... 32 5.2.6 Reptiles .......................................................................................................................... 34 5.2.7 Birds .............................................................................................................................. 36 5.2.8 Statistical analysis ......................................................................................................... 40 5.3 Survey limitations.......................................................................................................... 42 6 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................. 44 6.1 Conservation significant species recorded ................................................................... 44 6.1.1 Western Pebble-mound Mouse (Pseudomys chapmani) ............................................. 44 6.1.2 Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis) ......................................................................... 46 6.1.3 Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) ....................................................................... 46 6.1.4 Star Finch (Neochmia ruficauda subclarescens) ........................................................... 47 6.1.5 Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) ........................................................................... 48 6.1.6 Other significant species potentially occurring in the study area ................................ 49 6.2 Important fauna habitats .............................................................................................. 54 6.3 Impacts and recommendations .................................................................................... 55 6.3.1 Habitat loss and fragmentation .................................................................................... 55 6.3.2 Loss of individual fauna and strike mortalities ............................................................. 56 6.3.3 Displacement of individuals .......................................................................................... 56 6.3.4 Hydrological impacts ..................................................................................................... 57 6.3.5 Spread of introduced fauna and flora ........................................................................... 57 6.3.6 Pollution events ............................................................................................................ 57 6.3.7 Light spill ....................................................................................................................... 58 6.3.8 Fire ...............................................................................................................................