Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download weeping myall woodland - Brigalow Nandewar Biolinks
Document related concepts
Transcript
Photographer: Leah Mackinnon weeping myall woodland Introduction All part of a community Ecological communities are groups of plants, animals and other organisms that naturally occur together. The structure and composition are determined by environmental factors such as climate, landscape position, soil, aspect and altitude. While a particular ecological community will vary in structure and composition across its range, there are common elements that clearly identify one ecological community as distinct from another. Ecological communities also exist in different condition ‘states’, each with defining characteristics. States range from high quality to degraded with several in between. Management affects the state of a community and depending on the type of management action, can cause a community to make a ‘transition’ to a better or worse state. Weeping Myall Woodland is listed as a threatened ecological community under the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). In NSW the community is listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) as Myall Woodland in the Darling Riverine Plains, Brigalow Belt South, Cobar Peneplain, Murray-Darling Depression, Riverina and NSW South Western Slopes bioregions. Activities which affect the condition or extent of Weeping Myall Woodland may require consent or approval. Where does the community occur? Weeping Myall Woodland is found on grey, black and brown alluvial clay soils on plains and the edge of floodplains. It occurs from Myall Creek in the east to the Darling and Barwon Rivers in the west. Weeping Myall Woodland Weeping Myall Woodland is a threatened ecological community. This open woodland occurs on clay soils on plains and is characterised by an overstorey dominated by Weeping myall (Acacia pendula) and a grassy understorey of perennial tussock grasses, chenopods and scattered shrubs. Unfortunately large areas of this woodland have been cleared and remaining patches are listed as endangered. The ecological community is home to many species of fauna including threatened species such as the painted honeyeater. Managing and enhancing biodiversity on your land helps build a resilient landscape that balances production and conservation Description Identification Weeping Myall Woodland has widely spaced trees with the canopy dominated by Weeping myall (Acacia pendula) up to 12 m tall. The ground layer is dominated by perennial tussock grasses and chenopods. Scattered shrubs may also be present. There may be other trees and large shrubs present such as: Boonery (Alectryon oleifolius), Belah (Casuarina cristata), Bimble box (Eucalyptus populnea), Budda (Eremophila mitchellii) and Cooba (Acacia salicina). Grey mistletoe (Amyema quandang) is a common and important part of the community. Ground layer composition will vary according to seasonal rainfall and grazing management. The understorey is usually grassy but in some areas may be mainly shrubby. To fit the EPBC Act definition for this community a patch must: • be greater than 0.5ha • have a tree canopy that is dominated (at least 50% of trees present) by living, dead or defoliated Weeping myall trees • have greater than 5% canopy cover of live Myall trees or 25 dead trees • have either: - more than two layers of regeneration of Weeping myall present; or - the tallest layer of living, dead or defoliated Weeping myall trees is at least 4 m tall and of the vegetative cover present, 50% is comprised of native species. What is not Weeping Myall Woodland? Weeping Myall Woodland does not occur in floodplains that are frequently inundated. Photographer: Greg Steenbeeke Profile drawing of Weeping Myall Woodland community Plants of Weeping Myall Woodlands 1 2 Dominant Canopy Species Groundcover Species Acacia pendula Casuarina cristata Aristida leptopoda Aristida ramosa Atriplex elymoides Astrebla lappacea Atriplex leptocarpa Atriplex muelleri Atriplex semibaccata Austrodanthonia bipartita Austrodanthonia setacea Austrostipa aristiglumis Austrostipa blackii Boerhavia dominii Chamaesyce drummondii Chloris truncata Dichanthium sericeum Enteropogon acicularis Eragrostis setifolia Goodenia glauca Maireana aphylla Maireana decalvans Paspalidium constrictum Ptilotus exaltatus Solanum esuriale Sporobolus caroli Themeda avenacea Walwhalleya proluta Weeping myall Belah Associated Canopy Species Alectryon oleifolius Amyema quandang Atalaya hemiglauca Eucalyptus coolabah Eucalyptus largiflorens Eucalyptus populnea subsp. bimbil Western rosewood Grey mistletoe Whitewood Coolibah Black box Poplar box Mid-storey Species Acacia oswaldii Acacia salicina Apophyllum anomalum Capparis mitchellii Enchylaena tomentosa Eremophila bignoniflora Eremophila mitchellii Maireana aphylla Muehlenbeckia florulenta Myoporum montanum Pimelea neo-anglica Pittosporum angustifolium Rhagodia spinescens Santalum lanceolatum Sclerolaena muricata Vachellia farnesiana Miljee Cooba Warrior bush Wild orange Ruby saltbush Eurah Budda Cotton bush Lignum Western boobialla Poison pimelea Butterbush Thorny saltbush Sandalwood Black rolypoly Mimosa White speargrass Wiregrass Hoop Mitchell grass Curly Mitchell grass Slender-fruited saltbush Mueller’s saltbush Berry saltbush Wallaby grass Small-flower wallaby grass Plains grass Tarvine Caustic weed Windmill grass Queensland blue grass Twirly windmill grass Neverfail Pale goodenia Cottonbush Black cottonbush Box grass Ptilotus Quena Fairy grass Tall oatgrass Rigid panic 4 Photo Key: 1 Weeping myall – Leah Mackinnon 2 Grey mistletoe – Leah Mackinnon 3 Sandalwood – Leah Mackinnon 4 Budda – Greg Steenbeeke 5 Amulla – Greg Steenbeeke 3 5 Animals of Weeping Myall Woodlands BIRDS: Parrots Plum-headed finch Zebra finch Superb fairy-wren Variegated fairy-wren White-winged fairy-wren Splendid fairy-wren W Southern whiteface Red-winged parrot Budgerigar Blue bonnet Pale-headed rosella N Eastern rosella Superb parrot S Mulga parrot W Eastern ringneck Red-rumped parrot Aerial Feeding birds Cockatoos Cockatiel Sulphur-crested cockatoo Little corella Major Mitchell’s cockatoo Red-tailed black-cockatoo Galah W W Ground feeding and low nesting birds Emu Bush stone-curlew Australian bustard Pheasant coucal E Banded lapwing Masked lapwing Singing bushlark Richard’s pipit Australian reed-warbler Tawny grassbird Little grassbird Brown songlark Rufous songlark Golden-headed cisticola Crimson chat White-fronted chat King quail Stubble quail Brown quail Painted button-quail Red-chested button-quail Little button-quail Ground feeding birds White-winged chough Apostlebird Spotted bowerbird Grey-crowned babbler White-browed babbler Diamond dove Bar-shouldered dove Peaceful dove Crested pigeon Common bronzewing Diamond firetail Double-barred finch Dusky woodswallow White-breasted woodswallow White-browed woodswallow Masked woodswallow Little woodswallow White backed swallow Welcome swallow Fairy martin Tree martin Fork-tailed swift White-throated needletail Restless flycatcher Grey fantail Willie wagtail Dollarbird Rainbow bee-eater Medium to large bush birds Black-faced cuckoo-shrike Ground cuckoo-shrike White-bellied cuckoo-shrike Laughing kookaburra Sacred kingfisher Red-backed kingfisher Pied butcherbird Grey butcher bird Australian raven Little raven Torresian crow N Little crow W Australian magpie Magpie-lark Olive-backed oriole Grey shrike-thrush Fan-tailed cuckoo Horsfield’s bronze-cuckoo Pallid cuckoo Black-eared cuckoo White-winged triller Brown treecreeper Spiny-cheeked honeyeater Noisy miner E Yellow-throated miner W Little friarbird Noisy friarbird Black honeyeater W KEY: Species, population or community listed as vulnerable or endangered under the EPBC and/or TSC Act Species listed as migratory under the EPBC Act Species identified as present or returning to vegetation communities in good condition N, E, S, W = Regional extent – North, East, South, West of Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment area H = found at high altitude 2 MAMMALS Blue-faced honeyeater Painted honeyeater Brown honeyeater White-plumed honeyeater Singing honeyeater Brown-headed honeyeater Black chinned honeyeater (east subsp.) White-naped honeyeater Striped honeyeater Eastern yellow robin Hooded robin Jacky winter Scarlet robin E Red-capped robin Flame robin E Golden whistler E Rufous whistler Eastern shrike-tit Crested bellbird W Small bush birds 1 3 Inland thornbill Yellow-rumped thornbill Yellow thornbill Buff-rumped thornbill Chestnut-rumped thornbill W Spotted pardalote Striated pardalote Western gerygone White-throated gerygone E Weebill Silvereye Mistletoe bird Varied sittella ‡ Birds of prey 4 Collared sparrowhawk Brown goshawk Wedge-tailed eagle Swamp harrier Spotted harrier Black-shouldered kite Whistling kite Letter-winged kite W Black kite Little eagle Square-tailed kite Brown falcon Nankeen kestrel Australian hobby Peregrine falcon Black falcon Grey falcon W Nocturnal birds Grass owl Barn owl Southern boobook Barking owl Tawny frogmouth Australian owlet-nightjar Spotted nightjar Terrestrial (land dwelling) Paucident planigale Narrow-nosed planigale Fat-tailed dunnart Stripe-faced dunnart Common dunnart Water-rat (streams) Red kangaroo Eastern grey kangaroo Swamp wallaby Short-beaked echidna Arboreal (tree dwelling) Brush-tail possum Sugar glider Bats Microbats Gould’s wattled bat Chocolate wattled bat Little pied bat Lesser long-eared bat Inland broad-nosed bat Little broad-nosed bat Little forest bat Southern freetail bat Inland freetail bat White-striped freetail-bat Yellow-bellied sheathtail-bat 5 6 Megabats Little red flying fox Introduced 7 European cattle Goat Dingo Domestic dog Fox Deer Horse Cat Brown hare Rabbit House mouse Black rat Pig Photo Key: 1Red rumped parrot Photographer: Iestyn Taylor 2 Bush stone curlew Photographer: Phil Spark 3Painted honeyeater Photographer: Phil Spark 4 Diamond firetail Photographer: Iestyn Taylor 5Planigale Photographer: Phil Spark 6 Common dunnart Photographer: Phil Spark 7 Little pied bat Photographer: Phil Spark REPTILES Dragons Wood mulch-slider Eastern robust slider Common dwarf skink South-eastern morethia skink Common bluetongue Shingleback lizard Burn’s dragon Eastern bearded dragon Long-tailed earless dragon Turtles Goannas Broad-shelled snake-necked turtle Eastern snake-necked turtle Murray short-necked turtle 8 Snakes Murray/darling carpet python Green Tree snake E Yellow-faced whip snake De Vis’s banded snake Red-naped snake Grey snake Pale-headed snake Mulga snake Spotted black snake Red-bellied black snake Eastern brown snake Easter shovel-nosed snake Variable black-naped snake Curl snake Eastern bandy-bandy Sand monitor Lace monitor 9 AMPHIBIANS Blind snakes Ephemeral dams, ponds, wetlands Prong-snouted blind snake Robust blind snake Brown-snouted blind snake Frogs & froglets New Holland frog N Water holding frog Rough frog Striped burrowing frog Green tree frog Broad-palmed frog Desert tree frog Eastern signbearing froglet Common eastern froglet Sloane’s froglet W Bullfrog Northern banjo frog N W Ornate burrowing frog Salmon-striped frog Painted burrowing frog Eastern dwarf tree frog Peron’s tree frog Long-thumbed frog Spotted marsh frog Geckos Southern spiny-tailed gecko W Box-patterned gecko W Tessellated gecko W Eastern spiny-tailed gecko Dubious dtella Varied dtella W Prickly gecko Marbled velvet gecko 11 10 Legless lizards Patternless delma Excitable delma Burton’s snake-lizard Western scaly-foot Skinks Five-clawed worm-skink Shiny-palmed shinning-skink Unspotted yellow-sided ctenotus (Qld border) Robust ctenotus Tree-crevice skink Toads & toadlets Holy cross toad Wrinkled toadlet 12 KEY: Photo Key: Species, population or community listed as vulnerable or endangered under the EPBC and/or TSC Act 8 Species listed as migratory under the EPBC Act 9Pale headed snake – Phil Spark Grey snake – Phil Spark Species identified as present or returning to vegetation communities in good condition 10 Burn’s dragon – Phil Spark N, E, S, W = Regional extent – North, East, South, West of Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment area 11Eastern spiny-tailed gecko – Phil Spark H = found at high altitude 12 Sloane’s froglet – Phil Spark Threats and Management Photographer: Greg Steenbeeke Threats Management Weeping Myall Woodland communities are threatened with extinction or continued decline from historical and current sources. It is estimated that its area has declined by between 60% and 95% since European settlement. The aim of management of Weeping Myall Woodland is to maintain or increase the extent of the community and to maintain or improve its condition. Clearing – the removal of live and dead trees, as well as young regrowth, continues to be a major threat. Weeping Myall Woodland occurs on fertile soils and is often in direct competition with cropping land. ‘Tidying-up’ reduces the extent and condition of Weeping Myall Woodland patches. Fodder lopping – Weeping myall trees are used for fodder during drought. Trees are often pushed over to allow stock to gain access to the foliage. Lack of recruitment – Weeping myall trees produce seed irregularly and seeds are often eaten by predators before they can germinate. Often seedlings are eaten by grazing animals or are unable to compete with vigorous grassy weeds. Grazing – uncontrolled grazing of Weeping Myall Woodland can prevent seedling regeneration of trees and can permanently remove many of the chenopod and grass species that make up the community. This degrades the condition and extent of the community. Pest animals such as pigs also cause damage. Bag shelter moth (Ochrogaster lunifera) – larvae can defoliate trees to the point where they are unable to recover and the tree dies. Bag shelter moth also affects seed set and viability. The moths are attracted to trees that have been fertilised (usually through application to adjacent crops or pastures). Weeds – grassy weeds such as Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and Coolatai grass (Hyparrhenia hirta) compete with native grasses and chenopods which are important elements of this community. Weed competition can cause the death of adult and juvenile plants and prevent seedlings from germinating. Disturbance will favour the establishment of weeds. Climate change – is likely to have an effect on distribution and composition of Weeping Myall Woodland and increase the impact of other threats, particularly weeds. • It is recommended that you do not clear Weeping Myall Woodland, even under permissible exemptions from the Native Vegetation Conservation Act. • Provide long-term protection for Weeping Myall Woodland through Agreements with the CMA or Conservation Agreements with the Office of Environment and Heritage or the Nature Conservation Trust. • Prevent herbicide and fertiliser drift from reaching stands. • Control Bag shelter moth outbreaks in significant stands. • Although more effort is required, it is recommended that when lopping Weeping myall trees for fodder, cut a few branches from each tree rather than pushing the whole tree over. • Remove stock after grazing to allow regeneration to occur. • Increase the size and connectivity of existing patches through revegetation. Re-establish Weeping myall trees, chenopods and native grasses. • Collect seeds of Weeping myall when they are available and store them under cool, dry conditions until you need them. • Control grazing in Weeping Myall Woodland patches so that the grasses and chenopods are not destroyed and plants are able to regenerate and grow to maturity. Fencing patches allows grazing to be managed. Control pest animals. • Control weeds within and around patches. Spray weeds but be careful of spray drift on desirable plants. Avoid cultivating or disturbing the soil within patches to prevent weed invasion. • Retain all fallen timber and leaf litter within patches as these are important habitat for some wildlife, particularly reptiles and amphibians. • Do not remove mistletoe from Weeping myall trees and other acacias and eucalypts as these provide important food resources for birds and mammals. • Retain standing dead trees as these provide important habitat for many fauna species. Ecosystem function: how healthy woodlands work for you Healthy Weeping Myall Woodlands provide a wide range of benefits that are often called ‘ecosystem services’. These include traditional services like grazing for livestock, but also other services such as: • • • • • • • • • • • financial benefits soil formation and cycling nutrient cycling water capture, filtration and delivery to water bodies pollination pest management (e.g. reducing pest pressure on crops) regional climate buffering shade and shelter (e.g. for livestock) breakdown and absorption of wastes a sense of place scenery IMAGE Further information Look for “Weeping Myall” on the EPBC Species Profiles and Threats database (SPRAT) at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html. Weeping Myall Woodlands Policy Statement 3.17 http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/pubs/weeping-myallwoodlands.pdf Photographer: Greg Steenbeeke www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au [email protected] Photographer: Greg Steenbeeke Inverell Moree Glen Innes Armidale Goondiwindi 15 Vivian Street PO Box 411 Inverell NSW 2360 66-68 Frome Street PO Box 569 Moree NSW 2400 68 Church Street PO Box 380 Glen Innes NSW 2370 UNE Trevenna Road PO Box U245 Armidale NSW 2351 Waggamba Square, Brook Street Goondiwindi QLD 4390 T: 02 6728 8020 T: 02 6757 2550 T: 02 6732 2992 T: 02 6773 5269 T: 07 4671 4302 F: 02 6728 8098 F: 02 6757 2570 F: 02 6732 5995 F: 02 6773 5288 F: 07 4671 5072
