Ecological Communities - A Biological Survey of the South East

• Summary
• Full Report

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Summary

The Field Survey

The Silky Mouse is still widespread in the larger areas of natural vegetation North of Penola (Photo: Peter Canty)

Bird observations in a Stringybark forest during the survey (Photo: Jeff Foulkes)

Endangered in SA, the Striped Snake-lizard is confined to a few areas of cracking clay soil near Bool Lagoon Game Reserve (Photo: Jason van Weenen)

River Red Gum woodland, a habitat much modified by farming practice in the South East (Photo: Lee Heard)

The South East survey region occupies the South Eastern corner of the state of South Australia. Biologically it is a significant region being the western limit of distribution of many species whose distribution is primarily in Victoria and New South Wales. It is therefore dominated by these temperate Bassian species with plant growth predominantly responding to winter rainfall. The South East lacks major relief but has unique landforms originating from a long, complex geological history.

A vegetation survey was carried out in the South East in 1991 that sampled 340 quadrats. This was followed by a vertebrate survey in January-February 1997 that sampled a sub-set of 96 quadrats. These sites aimed to sample representative areas of all the remaining natural vegetation in the area in proportion to the broad habitat variability of the total area. In addition, at least one sampling site was located in the majority of the reserves under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1972) in the study area.

Survey Results

The total number of records contributed to the Biological Survey Database as a result of this survey were: 23, 212 plants, 1,579 amphibians, 676 reptiles, 3,168 birds and 1,276 mammals.

A combined analysis of the plant quadrat data with a sub-set of Murray Mallee and South East Coast plant data resulted in the description of 29 PATN floristic groups. Using this analysis as a basis, a vegetation map of the South East was produced comprising 54 regional plant communities based on the dominant upper-storey plant. Using these 54 regional communities, 362 unique combinations (pure communities and mosaics of communities) have been identified and mapped.

A combined analysis of the fauna quadrat data and data from eight other fauna surveys was undertaken. PATN analysis of the combined data set comprising 165 quadrats revealed six communities. PATN analyses on reptiles and birds tended to show clear patterning, however some groups were poorly defined. The reptile analysis resulted in the recognition of five communities with definite habitat preferences for species defined. Similarly, five bird communities were recognised, some of which appeared to have more ecological integrity than others.

Of 62 reptile species known from the area, 41 species were recorded during the South East Survey. Populations of the Swamp Skink and Glossy Grass Skink are significant for the overall conservation of these species. There were nine species of amphibians recorded during the survey of the 12 known from the region.

One hundred and sixty-eight of the 257 species of birds were recorded from the study area during the survey. Eight exotic species were recorded from quadrats during the survey. Bird species of conservation significance include: Malleefowl, Rufous Bristlebird, and Red-tailed Black-cockatoo.

The South East Survey recorded 21 extant mammal species of the 60 recorded from the area. Eleven species were exotic. Native terrestrial mammal captures and observations were low, even of species perceived as common. This raises some serious concerns for the long-term survival of small mammal communities in the South East.

Vegetation Mapping

The areas of native vegetation remaining across the survey area was classified into 54 vegetation communities and mapped at a scale of 1:50,000 from 1:40,000 colour aerial photography.

In addition, the vegetation communities present across the area before European settlement have been reconstructed from available historical data and present day remnants. These 35 vegetation communities were then mapped at a scale of 1:50,000.

These vegetation maps are part of an ongoing program to ultimately produce vegetation maps at three regional scales to cover the whole State.

Reference: Foulkes, J. N. and Heard, L. M. B. (eds) (2003). A Biological Survey of the South East, South Australia, 1991 and 1997. Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia

Full Report

A full report of 'A Biological Survey of the South East, South Australia' is available an Acrobat PDF file.

Part 1 - Contents, Acknowledgements, Introduction and Methods (1.6Mb PDF)
Part 2 - Results, Vegetation, Vegetation mapping, Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Terrestrial Invertebrates (4.9Mb PDF)
Part 3 - Conclusions and Conservation and Recommendations (330Kb PDF)
Part 4 - Appendices (4Mb PDF)

Please note that some of the above files are very large and may take a while to download and to search these files you will need to open the "Bookmarks tag" within each file. If you have any problems please contact Robert Brandle or phone (61 8) 8222 9471.