Aquatic Conservation Assessment using AquaBAMM for the riverine and non-riverine wetlands of the Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria Flora, Fauna and Ecology Expert Panel Report Version 1.1 Aquatic Conservation Assessment using AquaBAMM for the riverine and non-riverine wetlands of the Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria: Flora, Fauna and Ecology Expert Panel Report—Version 1.1 Prepared by: Biodiversity Assessment, Conservation and Biodiversity Strategy, Department of Environment and Science. © State of Queensland, 2018. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. For more information on this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5470. This publication can be made available in an alternative format (e.g. large print or audiotape) on request for people with vision impairment; phone +61 7 3170 5470 or email <[email protected]>. Citation DES. 2018. Aquatic Conservation Assessment using AquaBAMM for the riverine and non-riverine wetlands of the Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria: Flora, Fauna and Ecology Expert Panel Report, Version 1.1. Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government. Acknowledgements This report was prepared by Mark Kelton, Simon Goudkamp, Shane Chemello, David McFarland, Courtney Duncan and Ralph Trancoso. Special area decisions were refined by Jim Tait. The authors wish to thank all the experts who gave their time and knowledge at the expert panel workshops. Cover Photo: Wetland near the Langdon river in the Gilbert river catchment. (S. Chemello, Dept. Environment and Science, 2017) June, 2018 Aquatic Conservation Assessment using AquaBAMM for the riverine and non-riverine wetlands of the Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria: Flora, Fauna and Ecology Expert Panel Report—Version 1.1 Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 2 Method ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Study Area ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Panel composition .......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Workshop format .......................................................................................................................................... 10 3 Flora ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Exotic flora .................................................................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Flora species richness .................................................................................................................................. 13 3.3 Near threatened and threatened flora .......................................................................................................... 29 3.4 Priority flora .................................................................................................................................................. 30 4 Fauna ................................................................................................................................................................... 33 4.1 Exotic fauna .................................................................................................................................................. 33 4.2 Fauna species richness................................................................................................................................ 34 4.2.1 Amphibian richness ............................................................................................................................... 34 4.2.2 Fish richness ......................................................................................................................................... 37 4.2.3 Reptile richness ..................................................................................................................................... 41 4.2.4 Waterbird richness ................................................................................................................................ 42 4.2.5 Mammal richness .................................................................................................................................. 47 4.2.6 Macroinvertebrate richness ................................................................................................................... 47 4.3 Near threatened and threatened fauna ........................................................................................................ 48 4.4 Priority fauna ................................................................................................................................................ 50 4.4.1 Priority species ...................................................................................................................................... 50 4.4.2 Migratory species .................................................................................................................................. 53 5 Special Features .................................................................................................................................................. 55 5.1 Special Features .......................................................................................................................................... 55 6 Connectivity ....................................................................................................................................................... 138 6.1.1 Importance of connectivity .................................................................................................................. 138 6.1.2 Applying principles for measuring connectivity ................................................................................... 138 6.1.3 Fish passage — Measure 7.1.2 .......................................................................................................... 138 6.1.4 Connectivity between freshwater wetlands and groundwater - Measure 7.2.1 .................................. 139 6.1.5 Contribution of the spatial unit to the maintenance of estuarine and marine ecosystems with significant biodiversity values - Measure 7.5.1 .................................................................................................. 139 7 Stratification ....................................................................................................................................................... 140 8 Springs............................................................................................................................................................... 141 9 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................................... 142 9.1 Ecology ....................................................................................................................................................... 142 9.1.1 Pattern ................................................................................................................................................. 142 iii Aquatic Conservation Assessment using AquaBAMM for the riverine and non-riverine wetlands of the Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria: Flora, Fauna and Ecology Expert Panel Report—Version 1.1 9.1.2 Process ............................................................................................................................................... 142 9.2 Flora ........................................................................................................................................................... 143 9.3 Fauna ......................................................................................................................................................... 143 9.4 Threats ......................................................................................................................................................