“Hill View”, Morawa Macroinvertebrate and Herpetofauna Inventory Survey September-October 2014, April 2015 Spineless Wonders Macroinvertebrate and Herpetofauna Surveys Executive Summary This macrofaunal and botanical monitoring project was commissioned by Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund on properties owned by Auscarbon in September 2014. The project was funded by the Australian Government in order to demonstrate its commitment to advancing positive conservation and carbon management outcomes across degraded lanscapes for the benefit of local communities, conservation and that part of the private sector seeking carbon offset opportunities. These outcomes require measurement and monitoring programs in order to assess their effectiveness and other values. Spineless Wonders was engaged by InSight Ecology (Andrew Huggett) and Jennifer Borger to record and monitor the largest component of resident native fauna on the Hill View property - the macroinvertebrates. Because of the inherent large size of the macroinvertebrate data pool and the added photographic ID component it was deemed that the Spineless Wonders report be presented as a stand-alone document. Consultants David and Fleur Knowles T/A Spineless Wonders Terrestrial Invertebrate Surveys and Education web: http://www.spinelesswonders.com.au photo library: http://spinelesswonders.smugmug.com 4 Kilmurray Way Balga Western Australia 6061 phone: 08 9247 5772 email: [email protected] Copyright 2015 text and illustrations David Knowles Copyright 2015 all images David Knowles otherwise as credited No part of this document may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from Spineless Wonders. Front cover:(top) - numerous native pollinators were attracted to the light trap including many attractive moth species. Light traps are the single most powerful sampling tool for any biosurveyor charged with exposing resident biodiversity in conservation areas. Front cover (bottom) - the extensive plantings of local native flora are reaching an age where some species are beginning to blossom and attract an array of native flower-visiting insects, their predators and parasites. About Spineless Wonders David and Fleur Knowles are the Spineless Wonders team based in Perth Western Australia. David has always lived and breathed for the environment and its inhabitants. He has had 35+ years of Biosurvey experience in Australia, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Guinea. Alongside surveys David studies, photographs, writes and shares his knowledge of invertebrates and reptiles. His photographic library contains the largest private collection of WA macroinvertebrate images. Some of the collection can be seen at http://spinelesswonders.smugmug.com Fleur was raised on a farm in Western Australia. This laid a solid foundation for her love and respect of the natural world. Among other roles Fleur enjoys being an advocate for invertebrates and wildlife in general. David using a butterfly net to sample pollinators visiting mallee blossom in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Western Australian Land Fauna Fig 1 This revealing pie chart serves as a general guide to the typical ratios of the major faunal groups just about anywhere on vegetated land. Table of Contents Executive Summary About Spineless Wonders Western Australian Land Fauna 1.0 Introduction 5 2.0 Scope 5 3.0 Landform, Climate and Vegetation 5 4.0 Site Codes, Locations & Co-ordinates 8 5.0 Survey Periods 14 6.0 Sampling Methods Release, Identification and Interpretation Aids 14 7.0 Glossary and Abbreviations 16 8.0 -13:0 Results 17 14.0 Conclusions 47 15.0 Recommendations 48 16.0 Acknowledgements 50 17.0 Web Resources 51 18.0 References 52 19.0 Photographic Inventory 56 20.0 Main Table 106 21.0 Common Names 126 1.0 Introduction Note: (headings 1.0, 3.0-3.2.1 Excerpted from parent report: Systematic Biodiversity Monitoring of Hill View, Morawa, 2014-2015 – Final Report (Avifauna and Flora): Introduction to vegetation and flora survey Jennifer Borger & Tanith McCaw) Hill View is located in the northern wheatbelt (IBRA sub-region Avon Wheatbelt P1) which has been heavily cleared for agricultural, pastoral and mining activities. Only 1.63% of the AW1 sub-region is under formal conservation reserve, which places the conservation and protection of the remnant vegetation at Hill View at high importance. The revegetation of cleared areas which will link these remnants is also of significant value as it will further protect and enhance the condition of these areas. 2.0 Scope Spineless Wonders was contracted to Auscarbon to provide an inventory of macroinvertebrate and herpetofauna of its Hill View property north of Morawa Western Australia. It was deemed that the primary focus be directed towards recording and photographing flower-visiting insects and those associated with the revegetation project on Hill View. 2.1 Location Name Hill View property via Morawa Western Australia. 2.2 Regional Aim To undertake a preliminary and multiseasonal inventory of the terrestrial macroinvertebrate/reptile and amphibian biodiversity on Auscarbon farming leases in the Morawa/Perenjori subregion of the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia. 2.3 Target Species Survey target species were the terrestrial macrofauna (macroinvertebrates/reptiles and amphibians). Microfauna (microinvertebrates and vertebrate ectoparasites) were agreed as being beyond the scope of this survey due to financial limitations. Particular focus areas included insect pollinators and macroinvertebrates associated with revegetated parts of the property. 3.0 Landform Hill View is located at the northern end of the Moonagin Range, which forms the northern extension of the Koolanooka Hills and Milhun Range. They are located on the Yilgarn Craton which is composed chiefly of granites and gneiss, with mafic (e.g. dolerite) intrusions. Koolanooka Hills and the northern part of the Moonagin Range have outcropping banded ironstone formation with haematite which is present in some areas at Hill View. The property is located in the upper catchment with drainage chiefly to the west, but also some to the north and south east. Drainage from the site discharges into a broad gently sloping drainage system which then discharges into the regional Yarra Yarra system near Morawa. 5 © David Knowles Spineless Wonders Fauna Surveys 2015 3.1 Climate Ex-cyclones are sometimes recorded during the summer in this region. Daily rainfall peaks of up to 117.4mm (March 2000); 116mm (February 2011) have been recorded over the last 15 years at Canna, 20 km to the north (Bureau of Meteorology, BOM Climate Data 2015). Typical significant falls usually range from 10 to 30mm. at Canna and Morawa Airport (20 km south). Average monthly rainfall and data for the last six years are presented in Table 1. Below average rainfall in 2010 could have contributed to low survival rates in some areas of revegetation at Hill View. 2011 received much higher than average annual rainfall (Canna 506.2mm; Morawa 460.0mm) with significant falls in January and February, followed by higher than average winter rainfall. This resulted in high density groundcover of forbs including orchids at Hill View (J.Borger 2011). Rainfall received during 2014 prior to the surveys was mostly below average (September received higher than average with 41.8mm against the average of 22.9mm). The drier than average June – August resulted in poor germination/recruitment of annuals as well as poor flowering and seed set. This trend was noted at several locations in the area. Table 1: Monthly rainfall totals received at Canna (Station No. 8157) (BOM 2015) Year/ Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total 2010 0.0 8.4 27.0 25.6 26.0 34.2 38.2 75.2 11.8 0.0 0.0 51.6 298.0 2011 37.8 116.0 5.4 4.4 86.8 63.6 52.8 52.2 29.6 26.8 15.2 15.6 506.2 2012 50.8 29.8 3.0 13.6 16.4 104.6 23.0 29.4 22.2 1.6 34.4 30.6 359.4 2013 10.2 0.4 22.6 8.2 74.6 3.6 24.4 52.0 29.2 16.8 3.4 2.8 248.2 2014 .4 14.0 6.2 57.0 52.2 22.6 35.0 16.8 41.8 8.8 34.8 2015 11.4 23.6 114.8 22.4 Mean 15.8 19.2 24.1 23.7 46.2 66.0 58.9 42.6 22.9 13.6 11.7 10.5 353.5 Table 2: Monthly rainfall totals received at Morawa Airport (Station No. 8296) (BOM 2015) Year/ Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total 2010 0.0 6.8 34.8 1.0 26.4 19.8 37.0 62.2 8.8 0.0 1.2 55.6 253.6 2011 39.0 91.2 8.4 14.6 62.6 62.2 63.4 46.2 25.4 22.6 13.6 10.8 460.0 2012 14.0 6.8 2.4 4.4 10.2 97.2 32.0 20.8 16.4 3.6 31.4 56.8 296.0 2013 8.2 0.0 23.8 7.2 79.2 14.8 29.2 44.6 20.0 13.6 2.4 1.0 244.0 2014 7.4 3.0 3.6 69.4 36.8 20.0 29.4 18.8 52.0 12.6 8.8 0.0 261.8 2015 2.6 0.6 73.2 20.6 Mean 21.3 19.1 14.8 16.2 40.2 38.8 43.5 31.7 25.8 9.4 9.3 14.5 285.3 The rainfall pattern prior to the 2015 survey (April 20th – 23rd) showed a very dry spell from November 2014 to January 2015 at Canna, and November to February at Morawa.