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Transcript
Plains Grassy Wetland Wetlands are ENDANGERED in the Goulburn Broken Catchment Billy—buttons Heavy clay soils Grassland structure Plains Grassy Wetlands are important habitat for the Brolga Photo: Martin White; Inset Photo: Glen Johnson Woodland on perimeter Figure 1 An example of a Plains Grassy Wetland with billy—buttons (not always present)in healthy condition, with important diagnostic and habitat features noted. Plains Grassy Wetland 90 Wetlands are ENDANGERED in the Goulburn Broken Catchment 3% of this vegetation type remains uncleared, 93% (230ha) of which is on private land. Wetlands may not be divers in plant species, but they are enormously important for habitat diversity across the landscape, and habitat diversity within the wetland between seasons (wetting and drying stages) and thus a rich diversity of fauna is supported. Description Cobram Kyabram Present Distribution Yarrawonga Numurkah Pre-1750 Distribution Shepparton VIC Benalla Rushworth kilometres 10 0 10 Nagambie Euroa Seymour Kilmore Yea Alexandra 20 kilometres 30 40 50 Base data sourced from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) Corporate Geospatial Library. Mansfield Figure 2 Distribution of Wetlands in the Goulburn Broken Catchment. Current Threats • • • • • • • Inappropriate grazing regimes, cause loss of native species (through selective grazing and trampling), hinder native plant regeneration, disturb the soil and increase nutrient levels. Tree planting in naturally treeless wetlands causes loss of important breeding habitat for many water birds (eg. Brolga) and alters the hydrology, and vegetation structure, hence threatening the entire system. Loss of ground habitat (through dredging, land—filling, draining, unsustainable harvesting of Drumsticks or Billybuttons, and overgrazing), threatens the structure and viability of remnants and associated fauna. Weed invasion from adjacent areas, soil disturbance, stock feed and stock faeces, threatens native plant species and therefore the structure and health of remnants. Increased nutrients favours weeds and causes excessive plant growth which restricts water movement and reduces dissolved oxygen. Changes to natural flooding, temperature and flow regimes changes floodplain functions. It can result in loss of native species and disrupts the delicate balance of the system, threatening the viability of the remnant. Difficulty in identifying wetlands often results in inappropriate management. Benalla NRE Office Sydney Rd (03) 5761 1611 These shallow seasonal wetlands are typically treeless, occurring on the alluvial plain at an annual rainfall of less than 700mm. They occur on discrete, shallow depressions or in a mosaic with other wetlands such as Red Gum Wetlands. The heavy clay soils are periodically wet for a number of months and are dry throughout summer. The grassland structure of these wetlands can grade into sedgelands or herblands, with herbs and grasses which flourish in the seasonally inundated conditions and very few true aquatic species. Grass species include Veined Swamp Wallaby— grass, Brown—back Wallaby—grass, Rigid Panic and Forbe Poa. Herbs include Drumsticks (or Billy Buttons), Rough Raspwort, Hairy Willow—herb, River Bluebell, and Swamp Daisy. Aquatics include Common Nardoo, Pacific Azolla, Common Spike— sedge and various Milfoil species. Rushes and sedges include Rush Sedge, Yellow Rush and Toad Rush. Significant Species Flora: Stiff Groundsel, Barren Cane Grass, Water Starwort and Ridged Milfoil. Fauna: Brolga. Management Tips Management which maintains and enhances the remnant vegetation / habitat, including; • Fence sites to exclude grazing, particularly when wet, as soil is prone to pugging, and to allow flowering and seed—set of native plants. Graze weedy sites when dry to prevent seed— set of weeds. • Control weeds and pest animals. • Encourage natural regeneration. • Revegetate areas to buffer remnants from pasture. Establish woodlands with shrubs around the edge to enhance habitat and link to other remnants. • Monitor your site and adapt management practices as required (help is available to assist and set up monitoring). Shepparton CMA Office 55 Welsford St (03) 5822 2288 © The State of Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, October 2001 This information note is part of the “Managing Your Patch of Bush” kit, Draft for circulation. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.