Jack Lakes Wetlands Biodiversity Assessment, November 2007 & June 2008 CYMAG Environmental Inc. March 2009 CYMAG Environmental CYMAG Environmental Inc. Cooktown, Queensland (CYMAG Environmental is the operational sector of CYMAG - Cape York Marine Advisory Group) Compiled by Kim Stephan and Christina Howley, December 2008 Copies are available from: CYMAG Environmental Inc. P.O. Box 300 Cooktown, Qld, 4895 Phone: (07) 4069 5300 Email: [email protected] This document and Appendices can be viewed on the CYMAG Environmental website at www.cymag.com.au Acknowledgements CYMAG Environmental wishes to thank: • Tim McGreen, Ester Henderson, Michael Ross, Kieran Ross, Adelaide Salt and Traditional Owners from the Kalpowar Land Trust for sharing their knowledge and welcoming the survey team to Jack Lakes • Queensland Parks & Wildlife for in kind support of the project, especially Russell Best, Andrew Hartwig and Keith McDonald • The scientific consultants for their experienced and insightful contributions • Michael Stephan for technical assistance • Jason Carroll for map production • Dr Murray Evans (Parks, Conservation and Land, ACT Government), Prof. Anne Magurran (School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK) and Dr Sue Briggs (NSW Dept. Environment and Climate Change c/ CSIRO) who advised on methods for assessing biodiversity Editing and design: Julie Hinchliffe (Great Sandy Publications) Cover photo: Top Lake, Jack Lakes (April 2008) Unless otherwise indicated, all photos by K. Stephan and C. Howley 2 Jack Lakes Wetlands Biodiversity Assessment, November 2007 & June 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ 4 LIST OF PHOTOS ........................................................................................................ 4 LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ 5 LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................ 5 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................... 6 GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................... 6 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 7 SITE DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................ 8 SURVEY DESIGN ........................................................................................................ 9 THE SURVEY SITES ........................................................................................................ 10 SUMMARY OF SPECIES RECORDED .................................................................... 12 SUMMARY OF ALL SURVEYS ................................................................................ 13 FLORA ........................................................................................................ 13 FAUNA ........................................................................................................ 17 Terrestrial Invertebrates .................................................................... 17 Aquatic Invertebrates ................................................................................ 18 Freshwater Fish ................................................................................ 19 Amphibians ............................................................................................ 21 Reptiles ............................................................................................ 22 Birds ........................................................................................................ 24 Mammals ............................................................................................ 30 WETLAND CONDITION AND WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT ..................... 32 DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS ................................................................................ 34 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND LANDUSE OPPORTUNITIES ......... 38 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 41 3 Jack Lakes Wetlands Biodiversity Assessment, November 2007 & June 2008 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Surveys and consultants ................................................................................ 10 Table 2: Numbers of species recorded at Jack Lakes by CYMAG and previous surveys 13 Table 3: Complete plant species list for Jack Lakes ........................................................ 15 Table 4: Number of flying insects trapped at each site listed by Order ..................... 18 Table 5: Fish species identified during the Nov 2007 and June 2008 surveys ......... 20 Table 6: Frog species identified during the Nov 2007 and June 2008 surveys ......... 21 Table 7: Reptile species identified during the Nov 2007 and June 2008 surveys ......... 23 Table 8: Bird species identified during the Nov 2007 and June 2008 surveys ......... 27 Table 9: Mammal species identified during the Nov 2007 and June 2008 surveys ......... 30 Table 10: Potential indicators of biodiversity at Jack Lakes ............................................. 37 LIST OF PHOTOS Photo 1: Top Lake aquatic vegetation .................................................................... 11 Photo 2: Top Lake riparian vegetation .................................................................... 11 Photo 3: Middle Lake aquatic vegetation .................................................................... 11 Photo 4: Middle Lake riparian vegetation .................................................................... 11 Photo 5: Middle Lake woodland vegetation .................................................................... 11 Photo 6: Pitfall traps Middle Lake ................................................................................ 11 Photo 7: Lower Lake aquatic vegetation .................................................................... 12 Photo 8: Lower Lake riparian vegetation and pitfall traps ............................................. 12 Photo 9: Livistona muelleri ............................................................................................ 14 Photo 10: Barringtonia acutangula ................................................................................ 14 Photo 11: Fruits from Jack Lakes ................................................................................ 16 Photo 12: Chalky Percher Dragonfly (Diplacodes trivialis) ............................................. 17 Photo 13: Mouth Almighty (Glossamia aprion) ........................................................ 19 Photo 14: Northern Spadefoot Toad (Notaden melanoscaphus) ................................. 21 Photo 15: Krefft’s River Turtle (Emydura krefftii) ........................................................ 23 Photo 16: Bush Stone-curlew chick (Burhinus grallarius), Nov 2007 ..................... 24 Photo 17: Pig and cattle damage to water lily beds ........................................................ 24 Photo 18: Miniopterus australis ................................................................................ 31 Photo 19: Surveying pig diggings around Top Lake ........................................................ 32 Photo 20: Shore line at Top Lake, with vegetation virtually non existent, Nov 2007 ........ 36 Photo 21: The Flora and Fauna Survey Team, Nov 2007 ............................................. 40 4 Jack Lakes Wetlands Biodiversity Assessment, November 2007 & June 2008 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Jack Lakes location, tenure and survey areas ............................................. 9 Figure 2: Jack Lakes paperbark wetland condition assessment Nov 2007 (dry season).. 32 Figure 3: Turbidity ....................................................................................................... 33 LIST OF APPENDICES All appendices are contained in a separate Appendices document available for viewing and download from the CYMAG Environmental website at www.cymag.com.au Appendix A: Jack Lakes Vegetation and Fauna from Qld Museum and Wildlife Online Searches (25/10/07) and not Observed During the CYMAG Surveys Appendix B: Vegetation Appendix C: Invertebrates of Jack Lakes Appendix D: Report on the Aquatic Invertebrate Fauna from Various Habitats of Jack Lake Appendix E: Freshwater Fish Report Appendix F: Jacks Lakes Amphibian, Reptile, and Mammal Survey Appendix G: Bats – Anabat Analysis Summary, Jack Lakes, November 2007 Appendix H: Avifaunal Survey List for Jack Lake Appendix I: Water Quality Analytical Results 5 Jack Lakes Wetlands Biodiversity Assessment, November 2007 & June 2008 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ACTFR Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation CSC Cook Shire Council CYMAG Cape York Marine Advisory Group CYP Cape York Peninsula CYPDA Cape York Peninsula Development Association CYWAFAP Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Program DEWHA Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts DNR&W Department of Natural Resources and Water DPI&F Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries EPA Environmental Protection Agency GIS Geographical Information