Ecological Communities - The Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island

• Summary
• Full Report

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Summary

The Field Survey

Wild Beaches on the South Coast (Photo: Greg Johnston)

Sugar Gum Woodlands in the West (Photo: Tony Robinson)

The Western Pygmy-possum Cercartetus concinnus is common in the forests and heathlands. (Photo: Tony Robinson)

Downy Star-bush Asterolasia phebaloides from Kangaroo Island and Western Victoria. (Photo: Tony Robinson)

Kangaroo Island at 4,500 km², is Australia’s third largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. Although extensively modified for agriculture it retains significant natural areas. The absence of foxes and rabbits makes it of great conservation significance. In November 1989, 341 vegetation quadrats were sampled across the range of habitats on the island. A sub-set of these quadrats were sampled for vertebrate fauna in October-November 1990.

Survey Results

The total number of records contributed to the Biological Survey Database as a result of this survey were: 10,370 plants, 255 amphibians, 967 reptiles, 4,804 birds and 1,463 mammals.

Kangaroo Island supports 1,179 distinct plant taxa, with ten species being added as a result of this survey. A total of 652 taxa or 55% of the total species now known from the island were recorded during the survey. Of the taxa recorded on the survey, 89 (15.8 %) are alien. Kangaroo Island supports a surprisingly rich and diverse flora for its size. There are currently 45 vascular plant taxa recognised as being endemic to Kangaroo Island. A further eleven taxa are ‘almost endemic’, having only a minor part of their distribution in an adjoining region.

There are six species of amphibians recorded from the island, all appear to be widespread and common and no endemic island forms are currently recognised.

Of the 20 species of reptiles known from the island, two (the Eastern Bearded Dragon and Common Long-necked Tortoise) have been introduced since European settlement. No endemic island forms are recognised, but populations of the Heath Goanna and the Pygmy Copperhead are significant for the overall conservation of these species.

267 species of birds have now been recorded from Kangaroo Island and its surrounding waters, while reports of a further seven species await confirmation. This includes 16 Australian species deliberately introduced to the island, of which four have established feral populations. Five species of domestic game fowl have taken advantage of the fox-free environment to establish free-range, possibly self-sustaining populations. Six exotic species have reached the island apparently unaided. Kangaroo Island's one endemic species, the Kangaroo Island Emu was extirpated soon after European settlement. Six endemic subspecies are currently accepted.

25 species of non-marine mammals (including bats) are now known to occur on Kangaroo Island. Eight of these are introduced. At least two species thought to be present on the island at the time of European settlement (an unknown Quoll species and the Brush-tailed Phascogale) are almost certainly extinct while several of the introductions appear to have failed. There is one endemic species the Kangaroo Island Dunnart, which is known from a limited number of localities and may be threatened.

Vegetation Mapping

An analysis of the plant quadrat data resulted in the description of ten broad communities that were divided into 36 more detailed floristic units. Using this analysis as a basis, a vegetation map of the island was produced comprising 37 major vegetation groups based on the dominant upperstorey plant. Within these 37 major groups, 132 sub-groups have been identified and mapped.

These detailed vegetation maps are produced at a scale of 1:50,000 as part of the vegetation mapping program for the agricultural areas of the State managed by the Geographic Analysis and Research Group of Planning SA. They are part of an ongoing program to ultimately produce vegetation maps at three regional scales to cover the whole State.

Reference: Robinson, A. C. and Armstrong, D. M. (ed) (1999). A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 and 1990. Biological Survey and Research Section, Heritage and Biodiversity Division, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs.

Full Report

A full report of 'A Biological Survey Of Kangaroo Island, South Australia' is available as an Acrobat PDF file.