Volume South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity … · South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity...

South auStralian arid landS natural reSourceS management boardSouth auStralian arid landS natural reSourceS management region

www.environment.sa.gov.au

South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy

2 Volume

Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities

A partnership between

the department for environment and heritage and South australian arid lands natural resources management board

Contentsintroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Section 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

channel country description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

ibra subregions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

major landforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

major land uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

threats to biodiversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Section 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

conservation priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Drainagelinesandfloodplains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

SignificantresponseofwaterbirdstowaterflowintheDiamantina and Cooper Creek drainage systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Importantpermanentandsemi-permanentwaterholesoftheDiamantina and Cooper Creek drainage systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Threatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswamps . . . . . . . . . . 23

GreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Stony plains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Significantandendemicfloraandfaunaspeciesonstonyplains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Dunefieldsandsandplains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Mulga low woodland on low dunes and sand plains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

monitoring and evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Further reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities

Cover photo: Sunset over Cooper Creek

Page ii South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation PrioritiesSouth Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities

IntroductionThe South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy has been developed by the South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board (SAAL NRM Board) and the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH).TheSouthAustralianAridLandsNaturalResourcesManagementRegioncoversover 520,000km2,almost53%oftheState.Thelandscapesandbiodiversityofthishugeareaare diverseandcomplex.Planningforbiodiversityconservationatsuchlargescalesrequiresalandscape-basedsystemofclassifyingtheland.TheclassificationsystemusedforthisstrategyistheInterimBiogeographicRegionalisationforAustralia(IBRA)regions.TheIBRAbioregionsoftheSAALNRMregionaretheStonyPlains,FlindersLoftyBlock,BrokenHillComplex,ChannelCountry,Simpson–StrzeleckiDunefields,FinkeandGawler.

TheStrategyconsistsofsixdocuments.VolumeoneistheSouthAustralianAridLandsNaturalResourcesManagementRegionBiodiversityStrategy:Region-widePriorityActions.Itidentifiestheregion-widegoalforbiodiversityconservationandsetsresourceconditiontargetsthatwillenable ustomeasureoursuccessinachievingthisgoal,anddetailsacomprehensivesuiteofmanagementactiontargetsandstrategiesthatmustbeimplementedregionallytoachievethisgoal.

Thefivebioregionaldocumentsareseparatevolumes,andidentifyconservationpriorities foreachofthebioregionsintheSouthAustralianAridLands.Theseare:

Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities•

Volume 3 Flinders and Olary Ranges Conservation Priorities•

Volume 4 Gawler Conservation Priorities•

Volume 5 Sandy Deserts Conservation Priorities•

Volume 6 Stony Plains Conservation Priorities•

Thisdocument,South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy - Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Prioritieshastwosections.Sectiononedescribesthebioregion’snaturalattributes, landusesandthemajorthreatstobiodiversity.Sectiontwosetsoutthepriorityactionsforbiodiversityconservationforthebioregionoverthenextfiveyears.Thisdocumentisoneoffivebioregionalbiodiversitystrategiesthat,together,contributetotheSouthAustralianAridLandsBiodiversity Strategy.

TheconservationprioritiesdescribedherehavebeenidentifiedintheSAALportionoftheChannelCountrybioregion.TheChannelCountrybioregionisinthenorth-easterncorneroftheState,extendingintoQueensland,NewSouthWalesandtheNorthernTerritory.

Photo:TableHill,InnaminckaRR

South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities Page 1

bioregional frameworkTheInterimBiogeographicRegionalisationofAustralia(IBRA)establishesahierarchyofecosystemclassificationforwhichthephysical,climaticandbiologicalcharacteristicsaredescribed.

bioregions:arecontinentalscale(1:1,000,000)ecosystemsthatrangeinsizefromoneto20millionhectares.Theyaredistinguishedfromadjacentregionsbytheirbroadphysicalandbiologicalcharacteristics.Theymayincludemorethan30landformsand50vegetationassociations.Sevenbioregions,orpartsthereof,occurintheSAALNRM Region.

continental ecosystem: ChannelCountryIBRA–Extensivedrainagesystemoflowtopographicreliefwithextensivefloodplainsthatcrisscrossstonyplainsanddunefields,draining into Lake Eyre.

IBRA Bioregion ContinentalEcosystem 1:1,000,000

Subregions:aresub-continentalscale(1:500,000)ecosystemsthatrangeinsizefrom100,000tosevenmillionhectares. TheyoccurwithinIBRAbioregionsandmayinclude upto15landformsand30vegetationassociations.

Sub-continental ecosystem:Coongie IBRA subregion – Parallel dunesystemwithperiodicallyfloodedinterduneflatsandCooperandStrzeleckiCreeks,whichflowthroughdunefieldswithperiodicallyfloodedinterduneflats.

IBRA Subregion Sub-continentalEcosystem 1:500,000

landsystems:areregionalscale(1:250,000)ecosystemsthatrangeinsizefrom2,000tofivemillionhectares.TheyoccurwithinIBRAsubregionsandmayincludeuptofivelandforms and10vegetationassociations.

regional ecosystem: Cooperlandsystem–Watercourses,floodplains,andephemerallakeswhichflowthroughsanddunesofvarying mobility.

Landsystem RegionalEcosystem 1:250,000

Vegetation communities:arelocalscale(1:100,000)ecosystemsthatrange insizefromfiveto5,000hectaresandarebased onasinglelandformandvegetationcommunity.

local ecosystem: Localecosystem:RiverRedGumwoodlandoverchenopodsandephemeral herbs on the Cooper Creek

Vegetation Community LocalEcosystem 1:100,000

Page 2 South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy: Volume 2 Channel Country Conservation Priorities

Who is this strategy for?Thisstrategyisdesignedtoaddresstheneedsofthreemainstakeholdergroups:

TheSAALNRMBoard,Governmentandotherinvestors•

Scientists,technicians,andNRMsupportstaff•

Land managers•

Saal nrm board, government and other investorsThefocusaudienceforthisstrategyistheSAALNRMBoard,StateandFederalGovernmentDepartmentswithresponsibilityforbiodiversityconservation,andotherorganisationscurrentlyinvesting,orwishingtoinvest,inconservingthebiodiversityoftheSouthAustralianAridLands. The20-yeartargetsrepresentclearstatementsofintentaboutbiodiversityconservationpriorities in the Channel Country and how they will be managed. Monitoring and evaluating progress againsttheidentifiedperformancecriteriawillcontributetoregionalreportingonbiodiversityconservationefforts.

The5-yearactionsprovidespecificdirectionfortargetinginvestment.Inmostinstances, theactionscanbeimplementedasnewprojects,oraspartofexistingprojectscurrentlyundertakenbytheSAALNRMBoard,GovernmentDepartmentsandotherstakeholders.

Responsibilityfordeliveringeachactionhasnotbeendetailed.Ultimately,theSAALNRMBoardandGovernmentareresponsiblefortheongoingprocessofworkingwithotherstakeholderstodelivereachaction.

Scientists, technicians and nrm support staffThestrategyalsohastwomainusesforbiologists,ecologists,NRMsupportstaffandothersinvolvedinbiodiversityconservationandNRMprojectsandprograms.

1.ItprovidesasetofprioritiesforbiodiversityconservationintheChannelCountry.Technicalstaffcanconfidentlystructureexistingornewprojectstodelivertheactionsidentifiedforeachconservationpriority.

2.Itidentifiespracticalstrategiesfordirectinvolvementbylandmanagers.Technicalstaffcanusethesestrategiestostructureanddevelopengagementandextensionprogramstobuildcapacityoflandmanagerstoachieveeffectivebiodiversityconservationgoals.

land managersForthelandmanagersoftheChannelCountry,thisdocumentclearlysetsoutthebiodiversityconservationprioritiesforthebioregion,anddescribestheactivitiesthatneedtobeundertakentoaddressthesepriorities.Thedocumentalsosuggestspracticalstrategiesandactionsthatlandmanagerscanundertakeaspartoftheirday-to-dayoperationstomaintainandimprovebiodiversity.


South australian arid lands nrm region – ibra bioregions

Marree

Innamincka

Roxby Downs

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ARID LANDS NRM REGIONIBRA Bioregions

South Australian Arid Lands NRM Region

South Australian Arid LandsNRM Group Boundary

Salt Lake

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Bioregion

Broken Hill Complex (BHC)

Channel Country (CHC)

Central Ranges (CR)

Eyre Yorke Block (EYB)

Finke (FIN)

Flinders Lofty Block (FLB)

Gawler (GAW)

Great Victoria Desert (GVD)

Murray Darling Depression (MDD)

Riverina (RIV)

Simpson-Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD)

Stony Plains (STP)

Gawler Ranges

Marla-Oodnadatta

North East

North Flinders

Marree-Innamincka

Kingoonya

GAW

STP

FIN

SSD

CHC

BHC

FLB

FLB

RIV

CR

MDD

EYB

EYB

GVD

GVD

Port Augusta

Ceduna


Photo:DingoCanis lupus dingo

SECtIoN 1 CHANNELCoUNTRyDESCRIPTIoN IBRA subregions

Majorlandforms

Major land uses

threats to biodiversity


Photo: Coongie Lakes

ChannelCountrydescriptionCovering an area of 51,745 km² of South Australia, the Channel Country bioregion represents 5.3% of the State*.

TheChannelCountrybioregionformspartofthecatchmentareafortheLakeEyreBasin(LEB), theworld’slargestinternaldrainagesystem.TheLEBcoversabout1,200,000km2,almostone-sixthofAustralia.LakeEyreitself,intheadjoiningSimpson–StrzeleckiDunefieldsbioregion,isthefifthlargestterminallakeintheworld.WhilsttheChannelCountryisdominatedbyextensivedrainagesystems,itistoallintentsandpurposes,adesertexceptingoodseasons.

ThedominantlandscapefeaturesthatgivetheregionitsnamearethetwohugedrainagesystemsthatenterSouthAustraliafromthenorthandnorth-east;theGeorgina–DiamantinaandtheCoopersystems.TheircatchmentsextendhundredsofkilometresintoQueenslandandtheNorthernTerritoryandtheirflowsarelargelydependentonrainfallinthesefarawaypartsofthecountry.TheGeorgina–Diamantina’smultipleintertwiningsmallstreamchannelsandfloodcoursesspreadtoformtheephemeralGoyderLagoonbeforerecombiningintothenarrowfloodcoursesandchannelsoftheWarburtonandKallakoopahCreeksthateventuallyfeedintoLakeEyre.CooperCreekentersSouthAustraliaasanother‘braidedstream’andspreadsthroughtheshallowCoongieLakessystemandlargeflood-outsbetweenthedunesnorthoftheStrzeleckiDesert. Itformsasingle,definedchannelbelowLakeHope,andstaysthiswayformostoftheremainingdistancetoLakeEyre.Whenfloodsarelargeenough,watersspreadandfollowbroadandshallowfloodplainsthroughthegibbercountrytowardLakeEyre.TheCoongieLakeswetlandsystemistheonlymajorunpolluted,unregulatedfreshwatersysteminaridAustralia.Thewetlandschangedependingontheamountofrainwaterflowingdownfromthenorth.Inextremefloodconditionsthisnorth-eastcorneroftheStateistransformedintoahugeexpanseofinterconnectedlakes andwetlands,unimaginableafteritdriesout.

TheChannelCountryis,however,muchmorethanjustextensivefloodplainsandbraidedwatercourses,orchannelsasthenamesuggests.ThetwomajordrainagefeaturesthatgivetheChannelCountryitsnameareseparatedbytheequallyextensivegibberplains,lowhillsandmesasoftheLamamourPlateauinthenorthandSturtsStonyDesertfurthersouth.ThevastdunefieldsandsandplainsoftheStrzelecki,TirariandSimpsonDeserts,supportinglowshrubs,grassesandherbstothesouthandwestofthebioregion,alsoprovideasandsourceforthedunefieldsdottedthroughout.

*Bioregionsandsubregionsarethereportingunitforassessingthestatusofnativeecosystems,theirprotectioninthenationalreservesystemandforuseinthemonitoringandevaluationframeworkintheAustralianGovernment'scurrentNaturalResourceManagementinitiatives.TheIBRAboundariespresentedinthisreportareprovisionalandunpublishedandwillnotbeofficiallyrecogniseduntilIBRAversion7isreleasedin2009.MonitoringandevaluationoftheChannelCountrybioregionwillbeconsistentwithnationalguidelinesandfitthenationalmonitoringandevaluationframework.


Photo:Forrest’sMouseLeggadina forresti

Wateriscentraltothesurvivalofalllivingthingsinthisharshenvironment,andsurvivalisdeterminedbytheamount,qualityandavailabilityofwaterforbreeding.Speciesmayneedpermanentfreshwaterforallorpartoftheirlifecycle,ortheymayrelyonthevegetationthatgrowsonlyinplaceswherewaterismoreavailable.Thevariationinproductivityinthebioregion ishuge,andlargelyinfluencedbytheabilityofthesoilstoretainordispersewater.Particularlyafterrain,thegilgaisandcrackingclayareasinthestonyplainsprovideuniquehabitatsandsupportanunusuallylargenumberofendemicspecies.Adjoiningareasofdeepsand,ontheotherhand,donotretainmoistureforsolongandephemeralgrowthdiesoffveryquickly,buttheydoenableeasyburrowing,providingyetanotheruniquerangeofhabitats.


Photo: Cooper Creek

IBRA subregionsFour IBRA subregions occur within the SAAL component of the Channel Country bioregion. Detailed descriptions of the landsystems of the Channel Country bioregion can be found in the District Plan published by the Marree Soil Conservation Board.

channel country bioregionSturt Stony desert (chc2)Gently undulating gibber plains supporting MitchellGrassandBladderSaltbush.ThereareoccasionalLignumandCane-grassswampsandscatteredlongredsand dunescoveredbySandhillWattleor Sandhill Cane-grass.

total area: 22,778km2. landsystems: Bloodwood;Eulpa;Kachumba;Ketietoonga;Koonchera;Lamamour;MerninieandSturts.

diamantina–eyre (chc4)ThefloodplainsandbraidedstreamsoftheMulligan,DiamantinaandWarburton,includingGoyderLagoon.Thereareextensivechenopodclayplainsand Lignumflood-outflatsandthemajor streamchannelsarelinedwithCoolibah.

total area: 9,446km2. landsystems:Diamantina;Ketietoonga;Koonchera;MulliganandWarburton.

coongie (ch6)TheCoolibah-linedwatercourses,waterholes,channels,floodplains,ephemerallakesoftheCooperandStrzeleckiCreeks,andthedunefields withperiodicallyfloodedinterduneflats.

total area:17,331km2. landsystems:Cooper;KachumbaandKetietoonga.

lake Pure (chc7)Small,flatareanorthofInnamincka,dominated by Lignum and Cane-grass swampsandclayplainswithnumeroussmallclaypans,lowdunesandlunettes withSandhillWattle,andsomelowsandyriseswithMulgaandDeadFinish.

total area: 2,196km2. landsystems:Marcqualpie.


channel country – ibra subregions

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CHC2

CHC4

CHC7

CHC2

Moomba

Marree

Cowarie

Dulkaninna

Innamincka

IBRA Subregions

South Australian Arid LandsNRM Region

Salt Lake

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Queensland

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SubregionSturt Stony Desert (CHC2)

Diamantina-Eyre (CHC4)

Coongie (CHC6)

Lake Pure (CHC7)

CHC6


Photo: Emubush Eremophila sp.

MajorlandformsThere are three major landforms in the Channel Country.

Wetlands, drainage lines and floodplainsEphemeralwatercoursesdrainingtowardsLakeEyrethat,inplaces,formmajordrainagesystemsfeaturingbroadfloodplains.CharacterisedbytheCooperCreek,DiamantinaRiver,GeorginaRiverandHayRivercatchments. Subregions:CHC2;CHC4;CHC6andCHC7.

Stony plainsGentlyslopinggibberplainswithacobblesizedstonecovertogibberpavementsandsilcrete-cappedrisescharacterisedbyadensecoverofsmallpebbles. Subregion:CHC2.

Sand dunes and sand plainsDunefieldsorsandplainsofvaryingdepthsmaycompletelycoverunderlyingstonyplains orfloodplainlandforms.Wheredunespacingisfurtherapart,underlyingsoilmaybeexposed in the interdune areas. Subregions:CHC2;CHC4;CHC6andCHC7.

Conservationprioritieshavebeengroupedundereachlandform.


channel country – land use

Moomba

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Cowarie

Dulkaninna

Innamincka

Land Use

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Land usePastoral Station

Mainly Cattle

DEH Managed Area

Gas or Oil Field

Channel Country Bioregion

South Australian Arid LandsNRM Region

Salt Lake

Dog Fence

Major Road

State Border

Locality


Photo:Petroleumextraction,Moombarefinery

Major land usesThere are four major land uses in the Channel Country.

PastoralismThemainlandusewithintheChannelCountrybioregioniscattlegrazing,withtheextensivefloodplainareassupportingthehighestdensitiesofstockwithintheregion.Whilepastoralismadministered under the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act 1989coversover75% oftheregion,pastoralismalsooccursinbothInnaminckaandStrzeleckiRegionalReserves.

conservationIntheChannelCountrybioregion,landdedicatedsolelytoconservationisrestrictedtoCoongieLakesNationalParkandtheExclusionZoneatCullyamurraWaterholeinInnaminckaRegionalReserve.BothInnaminckaandStrzeleckiRegionalReservesareadministeredunderamultiple useframeworkthatenablesbothpastoralismandminingtobeundertaken.

tourismTheBirdsvilleandStrzeleckiTracksarethemajortourismroutesthroughtheregion. PopulardestinationsincludeInnamincka,CooperCreekandCoongieLakes.

mining and petroleumPetroleumactivitiesarefocusedontheoilandgasfieldsoftheCooperBasin,butthereissomeexplorationoutsidethebasin.Explorationformineralsandgeothermalalsooccursintheregion.Petroleumtenementsincludingexplorationandproductionlicencescoverasignificantportion oftheregion.


Photo:Duneerosion

threats to biodiversityThere are many threats to biodiversity in the Channel Country. Some are specific to particular areas, or act primarily within the Channel Country, whilst others extend across multiple bioregions or jurisdictions.

Theimpactsofthesethreatsalsovarywithtime.ThemainthreatstobiodiversityintheChannelCountryinclude:

excessive total grazing pressureThecombinedeffectsofexcessivegrazingpressurefromdomesticstock,feralandnativeherbivores.

impact:Reductioninrecruitmentofsomenativeplantspecies(decreasers);increaseinrecruitmentofsomeunpalatablenativeplantspecies(increasers);lossofnativeanimalsdue tocompetitionforresources;reductioninhabitatquality;increasedsoilerosionandincreasedspreadofweedsanddisease.

alteration to natural water flowsRestrictionstonaturalflowand/orfloodingregimesofawatercourseduetodiversionsortheconstructionofartificialflowbarriersandstorageareas,includingseismiclines,tracks,roads,borrowpits,damsandotherinfrastructure.

impact:Changeinecosystemstructure;disruptionofdispersalmechanismsofaquaticspecies; lossofrefugesandincreasedsoilerosionandsalinity.

competition for resources by pest plants and animalsIntroducedfaunaandfloraspeciescompetewithnativespeciesforresources.

impact:Reductioninrecruitmentanddensityofnativeplantsandanimals;changeinspeciescompositionofecosystemsandpotentiallossofnativeplantsandanimalspecies.

excessive predationHuntingandconsumptionofnativeanimalsbyintroducedcarnivores.

impact:Changeinspeciescompositionofecosystemsandpotentiallossofnativeanimals.


altered fire regimesChangestointensity,seasonandfrequencyoffirefromthepreviousregimeunderwhichtheecosystemevolved.

impact:Changeinecosystemstructureandhabitatvalueandlossoflocalpopulationsofplants and animals.

FishingRemovalofnativefishfromwetlands.

impact:Changeinspeciescompositionofecosystemsandpotentiallossofnativefishspecies.

mechanical disturbanceChangestothevegetationcoverasaconsequenceofhumanactivitythatleavesthesoilexposed.

impact:Lossofhabitatandreductioninhabitatvaluefornativespecies;increasedpotentialspreadofweedsandincreasernativespeciesandincreasedsoilerosion.

PollutionReductioninqualityofgroundand/orsurfacewaterasaconsequenceofhumanactivity.

impact:Lossofnativespeciesanddeclineinhabitatvalueinandsurroundingwaterholes.

climate changeChangesinrainfallpatternsandincreaseintemperature.

impact:Reductioninthegeographicrangeofspecies;changesinthelocation,structureandcompositionofhabitatsandecosystems;increasedriskofextinctionofalreadyvulnerablespeciesandexpansionofinvasivespecies.


Photo:SmallMonkey-flowerMimulus prostratus

identifying conservation prioritiesBiodiversityexistsatthreelevels-genes,speciesandecosystems-andoccursatavarietyofscales,fromsquaremetrestothousandsofsquarekilometres.Ateachoftheselevels,itisnecessarytoidentifythresholdswherespecies,ecosystemsorlandscapesarerecognisedasprioritiesfortargetedinvestment.Conservationprioritiesaddressedbythisstrategyinclude:

threatened species;IdentifiedasCriticallyEndangered,EndangeredorVulnerableundertheCommonwealthEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999.

endemic species;Identifiedasoccurringonlywithinasinglebioregion.

threatened ecological communities;IdentifiedasCriticallyEndangered,EndangeredorVulnerableundertheAustralianGovernment’sEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999,oridentifiedinNeagle(2003)AnInventoryoftheBiologicalResourcesoftheRangelandsofSouthAustralia.

Significant ecological processes;Significantecologicalprocessesarethoseidentifiedasbeingsignificantinmaintainingtheviabilityofspecies,communities,ecosystemsorlandscapes.

other species or communities considered to be at riskbutnotcurrentlylistedundertheCommonwealthGovernment’sEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999.

Conservationprioritieshavebeenpresentedwithinthisstrategyaseithersignificantecologicalprocessesorgroupingsofspeciesandecologicalcommunitiesthatshareacommonsetofconservationrequirementsatsimilarspatialscales.Individualconservationprioritieshavebeengroupedunderthemajorlandformsintheregion.

mapping conservation priorities at multiple scalesThisstrategyfollowsthemethodofBrandle(1998),andusesbroadlandformpatternstogroup vegetationcommunitiesandcategorisethelandscape.Vegetationcommunities,landsystems,subregionsandIBRAbioregionsareallcategorisedbythedominantlandformattheirrespectivescales.Whilstthedistributionofbiodiversitycorrelatesstronglywithlandformswithinbioregions,ecologicalprocesses,disturbanceregimesandlanduseinfluencethedistributionofbiodiversitywithinthelandscape.

Section2 CoNSERVAtIoN PRIoRItIES


landform conservation priority

drainage lines and floodplains

SignificantresponseofwaterbirdstowaterflowintheDiamantinaandCooperCreek drainage systems

Significant ecological process

Ecologicalresponsestowater •flowsinthelandscape

Important permanent and semi-permanent waterholesoftheDiamantinaandCooperCreek drainage systems

Significant ecological process

Ecologicalresponsestowater •flowsinthelandscape

Threatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsand swamps

threatened ecological communities

Coolibah and River Red Gum woodland •onregularlyinundatedfloodplains

old-manSaltbushonfloodplains•

QueenslandBluebushshrublandon •crackingclaydepressionssubjecttoperiodicwaterlogging

BroughtonWillowandCoolibahwoodland•alongdrainagelinesandonfloodplains

Grey Grasswren on floodplainsandswamps

endemic fauna

GreyGrasswren(• Amytornis barbatus diamantina)

Stony plains Significantandendemicfloraandfauna speciesonstonyplains

endemic fauna

AshyDownsSkink(• Ctenotus astarte)

nationally threatened fauna

Kowari(• Dasycercus byrnei)

FawnHopping-mouse •(Notomys cervinus)(pending)

nationally threatened flora

Pickard’sWattle(• Acacia pickardii)

dunefields and sand plains

Mulga low woodland on low dunes and sand plains

threatened ecological community

Mulga low woodland on sand plains•


DrainagelinesandfloodplainsThedrainagesystemsoftheChannelCountryconsistofcomplexesofwaterholes,braidedstreams,channels,floodplainsandephemerallakes.TherearetwomajorsystemsthatextendfromQueenslandandtheNorthernTerritoryallthewaytoLakeEyre,theCooperandtheGeorgina–Diamantina.Water,thelifebloodofthisaridregion,iscarriedhugedistancesfromwhereitfallsbytheseextensivedrainagesystems.Whilsttheregionisdrymostofthetime,wheninflood,enormousareasarecoveredbysheetsofshallowwater.Thisimmensevolumeofwatermakesitswayslowlydownthecatchment,transformingthelandscapeasitgoes.

GoyderLagoon,whichseparatestheDiamantinafromWarburtonCreek,isanenormousarea ofshallowchannels,alluvialflatsandflood-outs.TheintermittentlakesofthelowerCooperCreekflood-outandCoongieLakesarenearlypristinewetlandsandplayacrucialroleintheecologicalandhydrologicalfunctioningoftheLakeEyreBasin.Inaverageyears,someoftheselakesreceivearegularflowofwaterfromthenorth-westbranchoftheCooper,buttheycandryoutalmostentirelyduringextendeddrought.ThepresenceofRiverRedGumsisanindicationofrelativelyfrequentflows.Thesewetlandsareahugemosaicoflakes,channelsandinterduneflood-outs, andafterfloodwatersrecede,extensivegrassandherblandsdominate.LinedwithCoolibahtrees,thelakespresentanexpanseofwaterinadesertenvironment.Complexesofhighlydiversedrainagelinesandfloodplainssurroundthewetlands.Whenwaterispresentforextendedperiods,thelakesandopenwaterareasarecoveredwithmatsofDuckweedandWaterPrimrose.

Thevariabilityofflows,rainfallandthecomplexfloodplainlandscapegiverisetoahugevariety offloodplainandriparianhabitatsthatarediverseinbothspaceandtime.CoongieLakeisseldomdry,whilstotherlakesinthesystemfillonlyduringmajorfloodsandcanremaindryformanyyears.Duringmajorfloods,Coongieandothersmallerlakestothenorthgraduallyfillandoverflow,eventuallyreachingLakeHope.AfterLakeHopefills,whichcantakeuptothreemonths,watertravelsrapidlytotheBirdsvilleTrack,thenviaastringofinterconnectedlakesandstreamstoLakeEyre.AlthoughtheCooperisthelargestoftheLakeEyreBasinwatercourses,ithasflowedasfarasLakeEyreonlyeleventimessince1890.

Significance of drainage lines and floodplainsIn1987,partoftheCooperCreeksystemwasproclaimedastheCoongieLakesWetlandofInternationalImportanceunderthe1971RamsarConvention,towhichAustraliaissignatoryandrecognisedbytheLakeEyreBasinIntergovernmentalAgreement.WhiletheCoongieLakesnamewastheonlyonegiven,thelistedareaincludesextensivedunefieldsaswellasthemorefrequentlyfloodedlakesandfloodplainsoftheCooperCreeksystem.

TheStrzeleckiCreekandDiamantinawetlandsystemsarealsolistedasnationallyimportant,theStrzeleckiprovidingextremelyimportanthabitatfor18raptorspeciesofwhich16breedlocally.WaterbirddiversityinthelowerCoopersystemisparticularlyhighwith73waterbirdspeciesandanother13wetlanddependentspeciesrecorded.Thewetlandsalsoprovideanimportantdroughtrefugeforwaterbirdpopulations.CooperCreekandCoongieLakessupportatleast12indigenousfishspeciesfromeightfamilies.onlytwoexoticfisheshavebeenrecorded:theGoldfish(Carassius auratus)andthePlagueMinnow(Gambusia holbrooki).

TheCoongieLakesareaisafeedingground,spawningground,nurseryandmigrationpathformostoftheindigenousCooperCreekfishes.Thewetlandalsocontainsamorphologicallydistinctformoffreshwaterturtle(Emydurasp.).TheRed-napedSnake(Furina diadema),WomaPython(Aspidites ramsayi)andBlack-headedGoanna(Varanus tristis)allhaveanuncertainabundanceandsmallorsparserange.Notonlyarethewetlandsanddrainageareasimportantanduniquehabitatinanaridarea,buttheyalsoprovideprotectionandbreedingareasforspeciesthat feedandforageinthelesshospitablesurroundingareas.


Photo:BradyWaterhole

major vegetation communitiesWoodland RiverRedGum(Eucalyptus camaldulensis)woodlandover+/-ElegantWattle(Acacia victoriae) +/-BroughtonWillow(Acacia salicina)andchenopodsandephemeralherbsontheCooperCreek.

Coolibah(Eucalyptus coolabah),RiverCooba(Acacia stenophylla)+/-BroughtonWillow(Acacia salicina)lowwoodlandoverLignum(Muehlenbeckia florulenta)andchenopodsandephemeralherbs on major drainage lines.

Coolibah(Eucalyptus coolabah)lowwoodlandoverLignum(Muehlenbeckia florulenta), TangledPovertyBush(Sclerolaena intricata)andRat'sTailCouch(Sporobolus mitchellii) andSpinyFlat-sedge(Cyperus gymnocaulos)onintermittentdrainagelinesandtheirfloodplains.

Shrubland old-manSaltbush(Atriplex nummularia ssp. nummularia)andLignum(Muehlenbeckia florulenta)lowopenshrublandoverCottonBush(Maireana aphylla)andQueenslandBluebush(Chenopodium auricomum)withemergentCoolibah(Eucalyptus coolabah)andRiverCooba(Acacia stenophylla)inminordrainagelinesandnon-salineswamps.

Lignum(Muehlenbeckia florulenta)tallshrublandwithold-manSaltbush(Atriplex nummularia ssp. nummularia)orQueenslandBluebush(Chenopodium auricomum)andchenopodshrubsandephemeralherbswithemergentCoolibah(Eucalyptus coolabah)inminordrainagelinesand non-saline swamps.

Cottonbush(Maireana aphylla)+/-old-manSaltbush(Atriplex nummularia ssp. nummularia) +/-bladderSaltbush(Atriplex vesicaria)lowopenshrublandoverNeverfail(Eragrostis setifolia)andMitchellGrass(Astrebla pectinata)andBindyi(Sclerolaena spp.)onflood-outsandrun-onareas.

QueenslandBluebush(Chenopodium auricomum)andLignum(Muehlenbeckia florulenta)openshrublandoverBindyi(Sclerolaena spp.)andephemeralherbswithemergentCoolibah(Eucalyptus coolabah)inrun-onareasandshallowswamps.

Samphire(Tecticornia indica ssp. leiostachya)Rat'sTailCouch(Sporobolus mitchellii)andSpiny Flat-sedge(Cyperus gymnocaulos)verylowshrublandinsalinedepressions.

TangledPovertyBush(Sclerolaena intricata)verylowopenshrublandonfloodplains.

grassland Swamp Cane-grass(Eragrostis australasica)+/-Lignum(Muehlenbeckia florulenta)tallgrasslandoverchenopodshrubs,grassesandBindyi(Sclerolaena spp.)innon-salineswamps.

Rat'sTailCouch(Sporobolus mitchellii)lowgrasslandinshallow,slightlysalineswamps.


ramsar WetlandsRamsar Wetlands are internationally recognised wetlands that have been specifically designated on the List of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Wetlands achieve this status by undergoing a comprehensive evaluation process, endorsement by both the State and Federal Australian governments, and acceptance by the Ramsar Secretariat, Switzerland. Coongie Lakes Ramsar Wetland meets eight of the 13 Ramsar selection criteria.

The purpose of designating a wetland under the Ramsar Convention is often misunderstood. The goal of Ramsar is to ensure the ecological character of a wetland does not change as a function of its use. They are not ‘no-go’ zones, but allow for development that can be shown to be ecologically sustainable in the long term. They are an important opportunity to demonstrate that resource use and biodiversity conservation are complementary activities.

Coongie Lakes Ramsar Wetland provides fundamental ecosystem services, such as the regulation of water regimes and source of biodiversity at all levels – species, communities and ecosystems. It is also important for its economic, cultural and recreational values. By ensuring the ecological character of Coongie Lakes Wetland is maintained, we are preserving these values for generations to come.


managing the biodiversity of drainage lines and floodplains – practical ways that land managers can helpThemaindriverofbiologicalactivityinthearidareasiswater.WhentheamountorintensityofrainfallovertheChannelCountryresultsinwaterrunoff,surfacewaterconvergesintodrainagelinesand,eventually,iftheflowsarelargeenough,ontofloodplains.Floodeventsmustbemanagedaccordingtotheoriginsoftherainfall.Localrainandsubsequentfloodingwillprovidegrazingpotentialdifferentfromthatoffloodeventstriggeredbyrainfallawayfromthedrainagelinesintheupperreachesofthecatchment.

Drainagelinesandfloodplainsareoftenthefocusforpestplantspecies,campingandgrazingpressurefromnativeandintroducedherbivores.Thesepressurescontributetothesuppressedrecruitmentofperennialshrubandtreespecies,andnegativeimpactsonwaterholewildlifethroughincreasedquantitiesofpollutantsandacceleratedwateruse.

Practicalstrategiesthatlandmanagerscanuseondrainagelinesandfloodplainstohelpretainbiodiversityinclude:

Grazingintensityshouldbedependentonthetypeoffloodingevent.Localfloodsresulting•fromlocalrainfallwilltriggeradifferentvegetationresponsetofloodeventsfromrainfallin theuppercatchment.

Afterheavyrainsorflooding,managetotalgrazingpressuretopromoterecruitment, •seed set and enable vegetation to establish.

Manage total grazing pressure.•

Fencingtoseparateproductivefloodplainareasfromadjacentsandiercountry.•

Maximisevegetationcovertohelpslowwaterrunoffandpromotewaterinfiltrationafterrains.•Thishasotherflow-onbenefitsincluding:

- Increasedvegetationcoverassistswaterinfiltrationandnutrientcycling,

- Greaterinfiltrationofwaterintothesoilincreasesplantgrowthandbiodiversity,

- Increasedvegetationcoverprotectsthesoilfromerosionandreduces sedimentinrunoffwaters,

- Lowerflowsalongdrainagelinesarelesslikelytoscouranderodebanks ofwatercourses.

Controlferalherbivoresandpestplants,incollaborationwithneighboursandtheSAALNRMBoard.•


Photo:yellow-billedSpoonbillPlatalea flavipes(J.Reid)

conservation priority Significant response of water birds to water flow in the diamantina and cooper creek drainage systemsTheecologyoftheChannelCountryisprincipallydrivenbythesize,durationandfrequency ofwaterflowsintheLakeEyreBasin(LEB)drainagesystem.Surfacewaterflowsareessentialformanyaquaticandterrestrialspeciestocompletetheirlifecyclesanddispersethroughoutthelandscape.Thesizeanddurationofthewaterpulsethroughtheseextensivedrainagesystemsdeterminestheinitiation,numberandsizeofrecruitmenteventsandlevelsofdispersal.Adequatewaterflowsareessentialinmaintainingtheproductivityofdrainagelinesandfloodplainsforbothpastoralproductionandforthemanyspeciesthatrelyonthishabitat.

ThewetlandsoftheChannelCountrybioregionprovidehabitatforover175birdspecies.Morethan80ofthesearewaterbirdsandoverhalfoftheseareknowntobreedintheregion.Waterbirdsmaytravelgreatdistancestoopportunisticallyexploittheavailabilityofresourcesanddepartwhentheseresourcesdecline,whilstotherindividualsandspeciesmaybecomepermanentresidentsonrefugewaterbodies.

TheriversystemsoftheChannelCountryarecharacterisedbyextremeflowvariability. Thetimingofwaterflows,structureofthelandscapeandsalinity,allinteracttoshapetheecologicalprocessesandresponsesofthesystem.Waterflows,irrespectiveofsizeandduration,acttoreconnectspeciesthatbecomedisconnectedduringthedrytimes.Thiscreatesadiversemosaicofhabitats,whichisimportantfortheaquatic,terrestrialandmigratoryspecies.

Extractionanddiversionofwaterfromthissystemreducesthefrequencyandquantityofwatertheseareasreceiveandstore.Inaddition,themaintenanceofimportantbreedingandroostingsites,suchasLignum(Muehlenbeckia florulenta)andlargetreesisimportantforthemaintenanceofhabitatdiversity.

ThepatternofwetlandsatdifferentstagesofthewettinganddryingcyclelargelydeterminesthenumberandabundanceofwaterbirdsintheChannelCountryatanygiventime.Determiningtherelativeecologicalimportanceofdifferentwetlandsundervariousflowregimesisanessentialfirststageinassessinganyfuturedevelopmentinthecatchment.

20-year targetThemaintenanceofthesignificantresponseofwaterbirdstowaterflowintheDiamantina and Cooper Creek drainage systems.

5-year performance informationWetlandhabitatutilisationbywaterbirds.•

5-year actions Maparea,locationandpersistenceofwetlandsintheChannelCountrybioregion.•

Developandtestapredictivemodelofwetlandutilisationbywaterbirdsundervariousflowregimes.•

UndertakeauditofinfrastructurethatlimitsenvironmentalflowsintheChannelCountry•bioregionandreduceitsimpact.

Supportlandmanagerstoimprovetheecologicalresponseofwetlandstowaterflowsin•controllingferalanimalsandpromotingappropriatepastoralmanagement.


conservation priority important permanent and semi-permanent waterholes of the diamantina and cooper creek drainage systemsTherearefourmajorclustersofsemi-permanentwaterbodiesintheregion;theCullyamurraareaonCooperCreek,CoongieLakes,GoyderLagoonandseveralwaterbodiesassociatedwiththeKallakoopahCreek.Waterholesthatretainwaterforshorterperiodsmayalsofunctionasseasonalrefuges.Refugewaterbodiesarethosethatpersistforatleast19–24monthswithoutreceivingfloodwater.Generally,withtheextremeevaporationrates,thesewaterbodiesneedtobeoverthreemetresdeep.Theirrefugefunctionislargelydeterminedbysalinity,physicalstructureandtimesincethelastregionalflow.

WaterholesintheChannelCountryaregenerallyveryturbid,andmuchoftheirorganicproductivityoccursinabandofalgaethatformsontheirshallowmargins.Disturbanceofthisalgalringbyuncontrolledstockorrapidchangesinwaterlevelcanlowerproductivityformanydaysbefore itrecovers.Furtherworkisrequiredtoquantifydisturbanceimpactsontheecologicalfunction ofwaterholes.

Waterholes,withtheircomplexriparianareas,alsoprovideessentialhabitatforwaterdependentterrestrialspeciessuchasWaterRats(Hydromys chrysogaster)andCarpetPythons(Morelia spilota)thatrelyonthefoodsourcesprovidedbyriparianhabitatsandpermanentwater.

Inthedriertimes,thepermanentandsemi-permanentwaterholesbecomeincreasinglyimportant,notonlyasapastoralresourcebutalsoasrefugeareas.Introducedplantsandanimals,andmorerecentlytourismhaveresultedinarangeofthreateningprocesses,includingwaterpollution,predation,excessivetotalgrazingpressure,competitionforresourcesandmechanicaldisturbance.Theseprocessesaffectthenativespeciesthatrelyonthesehabitats.Theyenablemanyspeciestosurvivethroughextremedroughtandprovidesourcesforrecolonisationofpotentialhabitatswhenconditionsimprove.Allmajordrainagelinescontainsignificantwaterholes,butwhileourknowledgeofin-streamprocessesisimproving,littleisknownabouttheirindividualbiodiversityvalues.Furtherworkisrequiredtoidentifythesevalues,andtodevelopmanagementstrategies,inconjunction withlandmanagers,tomaintainorimprovethesevalues.

20-year target Themaintenanceandimprovementofbiodiversityvaluesofpermanentandsemi-permanentstreams and waterholes.

5-year performance information Numberofpermanentandsemi-permanentwaterholesmanagedforbiodiversityvalues.•

5-year actions Establishcriteriaforscoringconditionofpermanentandsemi-permanentwaterholes.•

Undertakebiologicalsurveysandidentifybiodiversityvalues,andprioritisepermanent •and semi-permanent waterholes along drainage lines.

Identifytheextentandintensityofthreateningprocessesreducingbiodiversityvalues •ofpermanentandsemi-permanentwaterholes.

Identifyandimplementsupportmechanismstoassistlandmanagerstomaintainandimprove•biodiversityvaluesofprioritypermanentandsemi-permanentwaterholes.

Undertaketargetedrestorationofpermanentandsemi-permanentwaterholesbased •oncondition,biodiversityvalueandlinkagerequirements.


conservation priority threatened ecological communities on drainage lines, floodplains and swampsFourthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesoccuronthefloodplainsoftheChannelCountrybioregion:

Coolibah(• Eucalyptus coolabah ssp. arida)andRiverRedGum(E. camaldulensis)woodlandonregularlyinundatedfloodplains.

old-manSaltbush(• Atriplex nummularia ssp. nummularia)onfloodplains.

QueenslandBluebush(• Chenopodium auricomum)shrublandoncrackingclaydepressionssubjecttoperiodicwaterlogging.

BroughtonWillow(• Acacia salicina)andCoolibah(Eucalyptus coolabah ssp. arida)±Bauhinia(Lysiphyllum gilvum)woodlandalongdrainagelinesandonfloodplains.

BroughtonWillowandCoolibahwoodlandisrestrictedprimarilytotheChannelCountrybioregionwithinSouthAustralia,whileallothercommunitiesarepresentinriverineenvironmentsacrossfarnorthSouthAustralia.Thesecommunitiesoftenco-occur,orintergrade,alonganinundationfrequencyandsoilmoisturegradient.CoolibahandRiverRedGumwoodlandoftenoccursinlineamentsalongwatercoursesorinareasthatretainwaterforalongtime.BroughtonWillowandCoolibahwoodlandtendstofringeminorriverchannelsandextendoutontoadjacentfloodplains.Bothold-manSaltbushandQueenslandBluebushshrublandsoccurasunderstoreyormayformdensestandsonfloodplainsandswamps.

Floodplainsarecriticaltotheviabilityofallpastoralenterprises.Totalgrazingpressure,particularlyhistorically,hasbeenheavierinthesemoreproductiveareasandhasresultedingreateralterationofthenaturalenvironmentthaninthesurroundinghigherground.Alterationstonaturalwaterflowshave,insomeareas,contributedtoareductioninhabitatquality,areductioninrecruitmentofnativespeciesandanalteredplantcommunity.Theprimarythreattotheseecologicalcommunitiesishabitatmodificationassociatedwithtotalgrazingpressure.Theimplementationofconservativestockingstrategiesandferalanimalcontrolprogramswillsignificantlyimprovetheresilienceofthesesystems,enablingvegetationandfaunatorespondbettertoevenminorlocalisedflows.

20-year targetThemaintenanceorimprovementoftheviabilityofthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswampsintheChannelCountry.

5-year performance informationPercentageofpotentialareaoccupiedbythreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainage•lines,floodplainsandswampswithinIBRAsubregions.

Conditionofindividualoccurrencesofthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,•floodplainsandswampswithinIBRAsubregions.

5-year actionsDeterminethecurrentextentandconditionofthreatenedecologicalcommunitieson•drainagelines,floodplainsandswampswithintheChannelCountry,byIBRAsubregion.

Identifythepotentialareaofoccupancyofthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainage•lines,floodplainsandswampswithintheChannelCountry,byIBRAsubregion.

Identifyandwherepossible,quantifythedisruptionandsourcesofdisruptionofkeyecological•processessupportingindividualoccurrencesofthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswamps.

Rankindividualoccurrencesofthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,•floodplainsandswampswithinIBRAsubregionsforviability,basedonsize,conditionandlandscapecontext.

Developandimplementsupportmechanismstoassistlandmanagerstoimprovethreatened•ecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswamps.


conservation priority grey grasswren on floodplains and swampsTheGreyGrasswren(Amytornis barbatus)isendemictotheLakeEyreBasin.Twosubspeciesarerecognised,ofwhichonlyAmytornis barbatus ssp. diamantinaoccursinSouthAustralia.ThemajorityofsightingshavebeeninCoolibahwoodlandswithLignumunderstorey.IthasbeenfoundinarangeofothervegetationcommunitiesadjacenttodensepatchesofLignum.TherelianceoftheGreyGrasswrenonLignummeansthatalterationstothefireregimerepresentasignificantrisk.Thepoordispersalabilityofthisspeciesalsomeansthattheclearanceoflowanddensevegetationtypesfortracksmayalsosignificantlyaffectitsabilitytomovethroughthelandscape,increasingtheriskofpredation.Thisspeciesrequiresfurtherinvestigationtodetermineitsstatusintheregionandtherelationshipbetweenhabitatanddisturbance.

20-year targetThemaintenanceorimprovementoftheviabilityoftheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswamps.

5-year performance informationPercentageofpotentialhabitatoccupiedbytheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswamps•in the Channel Country bioregion.

NumberandviabilityofpopulationsoftheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswampsinthe•Channel Country bioregion.

5-year actionsDetermineareaofoccupancyandrelationshipbetweenhabitatanddistributionand•abundanceoftheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswampsintheChannelCountrybioregion.

Identifyandwherepossible,quantifythedisruptionandsourcesofdisruptionofkeyecological•processessupportingindividualpopulationsoftheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswampsin the Channel Country bioregion.

IdentifypotentialhabitatsonfloodplainsandswampswithintheChannelCountrybioregion •fortheGreyGrasswren.

RankpopulationsofGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswampswithinIBRAsubregionsfor•viability,basedonsize,threatsandlandscapecontext.

SupportlandmanagerstoimprovetheviabilityoftheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsand•swampsbycontrollingferalanimalsandoverabundantnativeherbivoresandpromotingappropriategrazingpractices.

Photo: Cooper Creek


conservation priorities for drainage lines and floodplains

Moomba

Marree

Cowarie

Dulkaninna

Innamincka

Conservation Priorities for Drainage Lines and Floodplains



Pastoral Station

Salt Lake

Dog Fence

Major Road

State Border

Locality

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Queensland

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Conservation prioritiesImportant permanent and semi-permanent waterholes of the Diamantina and Cooper Creek drainage systems

Grey Grasswren on floodplains and swamps

Threatened ecological communities on drainagelines, floodplains and swampsandSignificant response of water birds to water flowin the Diamantina and Cooper Creek drainagesystems

Mapped conservation priorities provide an indication of the potential distribution


Photo: Stony plains

Stony plainsThestonyplains,withundulatinggibberdowns,tablelandsandmesas,separatethetwomajordrainageareasoftheChannelCountrybioregion.Theyalsoincludesmallerareasofdunes andsaltlakes,andaredissectedbyanetworkofminordrainageareaslinedwithCoolibah(Eucalyptus coolabah),RiverRedGum(E. camaldulensis)andRiverCooba(Acacia stenophylla).Thelandscapeisdominatedbygibber-coveredlowhillsandexpansiveundulatingchenopodplains and tablelands.

Inthefarnorth,theLamamourPlateauonCordilloDownssupportsMitchellGrass(Astrebla pectinata),Neverfail(Eragrostis setifolia)andCommonBottlewashers(Enneapogon avenaceus).Thestonycountryextendssouth-westtoSturtStonyDesertwithitsrollinggibberdownsandoccasionalscattereddunes.TothenorthofInnamincka,extendingintosouthernQueensland,isthesmallergibberareaoftheMerninieTableland,lowhillswithMitchellGrass,andNeverfail,andmesaswithEmu-bushes(Eremophilaspp.),Gidgee(Acacia cambagei)andMulga(Acacia aneura)overBladderSaltbush(Atriplex vesicaria).

Significance of stony plainsThesestonyplains,whilstbeinggeographicallyseparatedfromtheStonyPlainsbioregion,providemanysimilarhabitats.SomespeciessuchastheThick-billedGrasswren(Amytornis textilis modestus)arenowfoundonlyintheStonyPlainsproperandareextinctintheChannelCountry.ThevulnerableKowari(Dasycercus byrnei)hasitsSouthAustralianstrongholdinthegibberplainsontheeasternflanksofGoyderLagoon,andoneoftheinlandburrowingfrogslistedrareinSouthAustralia,theKnife-footedFrog(Cyclorana cultripes),livesinthegibberandgilgaiareasandreliesontheperiodicwettinganddryingofthecrackingclaysforsurvival.

Thestonygibberplainsarecharacterisedbyahighproportionofephemeralspecies.Thesespecieshaveshortlifecycles,enablingthemtoexploittheirregularandinfrequentrains.Mostoftheperennialvegetationisinthehighlyproductivegilgaisandminordrainagedepressions,andevenmodestrainfalleventstriggerextensiveephemeralgrowth.Itisthislocalisedandshort-livedephemeralvegetationthatprovidestheuniquehabitatsthatareabletobeexploitedonlybycertainanimalswithspecificadaptations.Thismeansthatmorespeciesarerestrictedorendemictothislandscapetypethananyotherinthebioregion.


Photo: Low Bluebush Maireana astrotricha

major vegetation communitiesWoodlandMulga(Acacia aneura)lowopenwoodlandoverSandhillWattle(Acacia ligulata),Narrow-leavedHopBush(Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima),SpinySaltbush(Rhagodia spinescens),RubySaltbush(Enchylaena tomentosa),BlackBluebush(Maireana pyramidata)andLobedSpinifex(Triodia basedowii)andgrassesonplains.

ShrublandSandhillWattle(Acacia ligulata),ElegantWattle(Acacia victoriae),Gidgee(Acacia cambagei)+/-Mulga(Acacia aneura)tallopenshrublandoverCottonbush(Maireana aphylla),BladderSaltbush(Atriplex vesicaria)andBindyi(Sclerolaenaspp.)andgrassesonsandspreadson stony plains.

Cottonbush(Maireana aphylla)+/-old-manSaltbush(Atriplex nummularia ssp. nummularia)+/-BladderSaltbush(Atriplex vesicaria)lowopenshrublandoverNeverfail(Eragrostis setifolia);andMitchellGrass(Astrebla pectinata)andBindyi(Sclerolaena spp.)onrun-onareasandslightdepressions.

BladderSaltbush(Atriplex vesicaria),oodnadattaSaltbush(Atriplex nummularia ssp. omissa),LowBluebush(Maireana astrotricha)andBlackBluebush(Maireana pyramidata)lowopenshrublandoverBindyi(Sclerolaena spp.)andNeverfail(Eragrostis setifolia)onslightlysalineplainsandgilgais.

grasslandMitchellGrass(Astrebla pectinata)andKatoora(Sporobolus actinocladus)lowopengrasslandwithBindyi(Sclerolaenaspp.)andBonefruit(Osteocarpum acropterum)onplainsandgilgais.


managing the biodiversity of stony plains – practical ways that land managers can helpStonyplainsrepresentasignificantproportionoftheChannelCountrybioregion.Theseareasarehighlyutilisedbythepastoralindustryfortheirgrazingvalue,andfortheproductivityoftheirwatercourseandfloodplaincountry.

Thegibbersthatcovermuchofthesoilsurfaceofthestonyplainsareextremelyimportantforsoilprotection.Ifthegibbercoverisremoved,evenifitisjustslightly,theexposedsoilsareeasilyerodedandcanoftenresultindramaticgullyerosion,sometimesmetresdeep.oncethiserosionstarts,itisverydifficulttostop.Erosiongulliesredirectwaterflowsfromexistingdrainagelineswherethereisoftenacomparativelyhighlevelofbiologicalactivityanddiversity.Thevarioustypesofvegetationfoundonthestonyplainsprovidevaluablehabitatforawiderangeofnativeanimals.Gilgais,drainagelinesandsandspreadsareparticularlyimportanthabitatareasforbiodiversity.Excessivetotalgrazingpressureandweedinfestationsareasignificantrisktothesehabitats.

Practicalstrategiesthatlandmanagerscanuseonstonyplainstohelpretainbiodiversityinclude:

Ensure,whereverpossible,thatthegibbercoverisretainedbyrollingorcompactingratherthan•mechanicaldisturbance(e.g.grading)wheninstallingtracks,fencelinesandotherinfrastructure.

Locatestockwaterpointswellawayfromslopestominimiseerosion.•

Alignaccesstracksandfencelinesacrossslopes,ratherthanupanddown,andontolesserosion•prone soil types.

Avoidcreatingdrains–redirectwaterofftracksratherthanalongthem.Avoidgradingtrackslower•thanthesurroundingsoilsurface,orcreatingwindrowsalongtracks.Installwaterdiversionbarsacrosstracksatstrategiclocations.

Whenprovidingwaterforstock,particularlydams,useonlynaturalwaterflowratherthangrading•drainstoincreasewatercatchment.

Ensurerehabilitationofborrowpitsiscarriedouttopreventtheiruseasalternativewatersources.•

Implementtotalgrazingmanagementstrategiestoavoidover-utilisationofgilgaistothepointwhere•theyloseperennialvegetationandbecomesiltedover.Highstocknumbersandintensetramplingongibbercanalsoincreaseerosion.

Avoidinstallingstockwateringpointsinareaswheretherearelowsandmoundsovergibber,•astheseareimportantmammalandground-nestingbirdbreedingsites,andalwaysensureconservativestockingratesareappliedtomaintaintheintegrityoftheseareas.

Avoidre-stockingcountryimmediatelyaftergoodrainstoallowrecruitmentofperennialvegetation.•

Controlferalherbivoresandpestplants,incollaborationwithneighboursandtheSAALNRMBoard.•


conservation priority Significant and endemic flora and fauna species on stony plainsFourthreatenedandendemicspecieshavebeenrecordedintheSouthAustralianportionoftheChannelCountryonstonyplains.Theseinclude:

AshyDownsSkink(• Ctenotus astarte)

FawnHopping-mouse(• Notomys cervinus)

Kowari(• Dasycercus byrnei)

Pickard’sWattle(• Acacia pickardii)

TheKowari,asmallcarnivorousmarsupial,hasexperiencedareductioninitsrangeofover90%ofitspotentialpre-EuropeandistributionandisnowrestrictedtostonyplainshabitatsintheChannelCountryandsouthernmarginsoftheMitchellGrassDownsbioregions.TheFawnHopping-mouseisthoughttohaveexperiencedasimilarrangereductionandappearstobeconfinedtothesamestonyplainshabitatastheKowari.TheAshyDownsSkinkisagrounddwellerthatlivesincrevices orshallowburrowsonthemarginsofthemajorfloodplains.

BoththeKowariandFawnHopping-mouseoccuronstonyplainswheresandmoundscoverlessthan20%ofthegibberpavement.Sandmoundssupportavariablemixtureofperennialandannualplantsandalloweasyburrowing.Threatsareunclearforeitherspecies,althoughtramplingandovergrazingofsandmoundsisthoughttobesignificantfortheKowari.InSouthAustraliatheKowarioccupiesnearly60%ofidentifiedpotentialfavouredhabitat,withonlyonepopulationbeingrecordedasbecomingextinctinthepast30years.

Pickard’sWattleoccursonresidualstonyplainsintheChannelCountrybioregionandthenorth-westernsideoftheSimpsonDesertintheSimpson–StrzeleckiDunefieldsbioregionintheNorthernTerritory.InSouthAustraliatherearetwopopulationsonGoyderLagoon(approximately250plants)andCowarieStation(approximately100plants)nearMountGasonBore.ThereareothersmallpopulationsonKoonanie,PandiePandieandKanowna.

20-year targetThemaintenanceorimprovementoftheviabilityofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspeciesonstonyplains.

5-year performance informationPercentageofpotentialhabitatoccupiedbysignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspecies•on stony plains within the Channel Country.

Numberandviabilityofpopulationsofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspecieson•stony plains within the Channel Country.

5-year actionsDetermineareaofoccupancyandrelationshipbetweenhabitatanddistributionand•abundanceofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspeciesonstonyplains.

Identifyandwherepossible,quantifythedisruptionandsourcesofdisruptionofkeyecological•processessupportingindividualpopulationsofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspecieson stony plains.

IdentifypotentialhabitatsintheChannelCountryforsignificantandendemicfloraandfauna•speciesonstonyplains.

Rankpopulationsofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspeciesonstonyplainswithin•IBRAsubregionsforviability,basedonsize,threatsandlandscapecontext.

Supportlandmanagerstoimprovetheviabilityofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspecies•onstonyplainsbycontrollingferalanimalsandpromotingappropriatepastoralmanagement.


conservation priority for stony plains

Moomba

Marree

Dulkaninna

Innamincka

Conservation Priorities for Stony Plains

Channel Country bioregion


Pastoral Station

Salt Lake

Dog Fence

Major Road

State Border

Locality

0 60

Km

Queensland

Ne

w S

out

h W

ale

s

Conservation prioritySignificant and endemic flora and fauna species on stony plains


Cowarie


DunefieldsandsandplainsTheChannelCountrydunefieldsandsandplainstakeavarietyofforms.AssociatedwiththefloodplainsoftheCooperdrainagesystemisanextensivefieldofparallelsandridgeswithperiodicallyfloodedinterdunes.Dunesvaryfromredtowhitishsiliceoussands,andvegetationvaries.ThelargerdunesaresimilartothoseoftheStrzeleckiDesert,supportingatallshrublandofSandhillWattle(Acacia ligulata)overKeroseneGrass(Aristida holathera).Thered,semi-mobile,lineardunesrunnorth-north-westtosouth-south-east,withsomeindividualdunesbeingupto 250kmlong.Anotherform,associatedwiththeintermittentstreamsofMonteclearyandNilpieCreeksnorthofInnamincka,includeirregular,crescent-shaped,low,jumbledduneswithnumeroussmallclaypansandlakesintheswalesandsandplains.TheseduneshaveacoverofSandhillWattleandRattlepod(Crotalariaspp.)overdenseLobedSpinifex(Triodia basedowii)andgrasses.TherearealsothesmallerdunefieldsinthenorthernpartofSturtsStonyDesertonPandiePandie,westernCordilloDowns,andnorthernInnamincka,andthetallwidely-spacedsemi-mobilereddunesontheeasternextremityoftheSimpsonDesert.

Significance of dunefields and sand plainsdunefieldsandsandplainsintheChannelCountrybioregionhaveasimilarspeciescompositionfromthoseintheSimpson–StrzeleckiDunefieldsbioregion.Theysupportasmallnumberofmammalspecies,andmanygeneralistbirdsusethishabitat,althoughnoneareentirelydependentonit.Duetotheproximitytomajordrainageareas,thislandscapeprovidesimportantforaginghabitatforbirdsofprey,butfewnestingplaces.Swales,wherepondingoccursaftersignificantrainfall,canalsobehighlyproductiveareas.

major vegetation communitiesWoodlandMulga(Acacia aneura)lowopenwoodlandoverSandhillWattle(Acacia ligulata),Narrow-leavedHopBush(Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima),SpinySaltbush(Rhagodia spinescens),RubySaltbush(Enchylaena tomentosa),BlackBluebush(Maireana pyramidata)andLobedSpinifex(Triodia basedowii)andgrassesonsandplains.

ShrublandSandhillWattle(Acacia ligulata)tallopenshrublandoverSandhillCane-grass(Zygochloa paradoxa),LobedSpinifex(Triodia basedowii),Rattlepod(Crotalaria spp.)andKeroseneGrass(Aristida holathera)andephemeralherbsondunes.

SandhillWattle(Acacia ligulata),ElegantWattle(Acacia victoriae)andGidgee(Acacia cambagei)+/-Mulga(Acacia aneura)tallopenshrublandoverCottonbush(Maireana aphylla)andBladderSaltbush(Atriplex vesicaria)andBindyi(Sclerolaenaspp.)andgrassesonsandplains.

LowBluebush(Maireana astrotricha)+/-BlackBluebush(Maireana pyramidata)+/-BladderSaltbush(Atriplex vesicaria)lowopenshrublandoverBindyi(Sclerolaena spp.)andBottlewashers(Enneapogon avenaceus)inswalesandonsandplains.

BladderSaltbush(Atriplex vesicaria)andLowBluebush(Maireana astrotricha)+/-BlackBluebush(Maireana pyramidata)+/-SpinySaltbush(Rhagodia spinescens)lowopenshrublandoverBindyi(Sclerolaenaspp.)andBottlewashers(Enneapogon avenaceus)inswalesandonsandplains.

grasslandSandhillCane-grass(Zygochloa paradoxa)+/-SpinySaltbush(Rhagodia spinescens)+/-LobedSpinifex(Triodia basedowii)openhummockgrasslandoverPoachedEggDaisy(Polycalymma stuartii)andsparsegrasseswithemergentSandhillWattle(Acacia ligulata)ondunes.


managing the biodiversity of dunefields and sand plains – practical ways that land managers can helpManagementstrategiesforthedunefieldsandsandplainsintheChannelCountrybioregionfocuslargelyontotalgrazingpressuremanagement.Sandyareasarepronetowinderosionandonceanareabeginstodrift,there-stabilisationprocesscantakeconsiderabletime.Recruitmentofpalatableperennialplantsrequiresaseriesofrainfalleventsatjusttherighttimetoallowforfloweringandseedset,germinationandseedlingestablishment.Theserecruitmenteventsoccurveryinfrequently–formanyspeciesonlyoncein30to50years.Itiscriticaltocarefullymanagegrazingpressureondunefieldsandsandplainsfollowingtheseeventstomaximisethelikelihood ofsuccessfulrecruitmentofperennialplants.

Thevarioustypesofvegetationfoundinthedunefieldsandsandplainsalsoprovidevaluablehabitatforawiderangeofnativeanimals.Grazingpressureandpotentialweedinfestations areasignificantrisktothesehabitats.

Practicalstrategiesthatlandmanagerscanuseondunefieldsandsandplainstohelpretainbiodiversityinclude:

Spelldunesystemsindrytimesanddonotrestockimmediatelyfollowingarainfallevent. •ThisisimportantforpromotingtherecoveryofSandhillCane-grassandotherperennialgrassesthatstabilisethedunecrests.

ManyduneswaleswithQueenslandBluebushandCottonbushswampsalsorequirespelling•followingprolongeddryspells.Rainfallthatfillstheseswampspromotesrecoveryandrecruitmenteventsforthesehabitats.

Avoidlocatingwateringpointsonornearareasthatmightbepronetodriftingsuchasdune•crests.Wide,openswalesarepreferableforwaterpointstominimiselivestocktrafficacrossdunesandencouragethestockmovementalongtheswales.

Ensurerehabilitationofborrowpitsiscarriedouttopreventtheiruseasalternativewatersources.•

Useconservativestockingstrategiesaspartofgeneralmanagementoftheseareas.•

ControlferalherbivoresandpestplantsincollaborationwithneighboursandtheSAALNRMBoard.•

Photo: Camels Camelus dromedarius


conservation priority mulga low woodland on low dunes and sand plainsMulga(Acacia aneura)lowwoodlandoccursinfrequentlyonsandplainsintheSturtStonyDesertsubregion.MulgalowwoodlandalsooccursatthenorthernandsouthernextremesoftheSimpson–StrzeleckiDesertbioregionandonthefewsandplainsintheFlindersLoftyBlock,BrokenHillComplex,StonyPlainsandFinkebioregions.IntheFinkebioregion,thiscommunityisnotconsideredtobethreatened.

Mulgalowwoodlandisprimarilythreatenedbyinhibitedregenerationfromexcessivetotalgrazingpressure.Rabbitsarethemostsignificantcomponentoftotalgrazingpressureastheyfavourthissandyhabitat.Rabbitburrowingexacerbateserosion,asdoesstocktrafficnearwateringpoints.ThereductioninrabbitnumbersfromRabbitHaemorrhagicDisease(RHD)hasresultedinanapparentimprovementintheconditionofthisecologicalcommunity.However,theextentandsignificanceofthisimprovementisunknown.TheimportanceoffireforMulgalowwoodlandisalsounknown,butfiremaybeaproblemingoodseasons,particularlyifvegetationconditionimproves.

20-year targetThemaintenanceorimprovementoftheviabilityofMulgalowwoodlandsonlowdunesandsandplains in the Channel Country.

5-year performance informationPercentageofpotentialareaoccupiedbyMulgalowwoodlandonlowdunesandsand•plains within IBRA subregions.

ConditionofindividualoccurrencesofMulgalowwoodlandonlowdunesandsandplains•within IBRA subregions.

5-year actionsDeterminetheextentandconditionofMulgalowwoodlandsonlowdunesandsandplains •in the Channel Country.

IdentifythepotentialareaofoccupancyofMulgalowwoodlandsonlowdunesandsand•plains in the Channel Country.

Identifyand,wherepossible,quantifythedisruption,andsourcesofdisruption,ofkey•ecologicalprocessessupportingindividualoccurrencesofMulgalowwoodlandonlowdunesand sand plains.

RankindividualoccurrencesofMulgalowwoodlandonlowdunesandsandplainswithinIBRA•subregionsforviability,basedonsize,conditionandlandscapecontext.

Support land managers to improve Mulga low woodland on low dunes and sand plains.•

Photo: Narrow-banded Sandswimmer Eremiascincus fasciolatus


conservation priority for dunefields and sand plains

Moomba

Marree

Cowarie

Dulkaninna

Innamincka

Conservation Priorities for Dunefields and Sand Plains



Pastoral Station

Salt Lake

Dog Fence

Major Road

State Border

Locality

0 60

Km

Queensland

Ne

w S

out

h W

ale

s

Conservation priorityMulga low woodland on low dunes and sand plains



Monitoring and evaluationTheChannelCountryConservationPrioritiesaimistofacilitateconservationactionsacrossthebioregion.TheSAALNRMBoardandsupportpartnerswillcoordinateandsupportthedeliveryoftheseactions,guidedbystatutorymechanisms.TheSAALNRMBoardwillmonitorandreportontheimplementationoftheChannelCountryConservationPriorities.

BoththeSAALNRMBoardandtheDepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritagearejointlyresponsibleforevaluatingtheeffectivenessofthisplanwhichcontributestotheSAALNRMPlanand No Species Loss – A Nature Conservation Strategy for South Australia.

DEHwillproduceapublicreportonoverallprogresstowardstheconservationprioritiesaspartofthefiveyearreviewandevaluationoftheSouthAustralianAridLandsBiodiversityStrategyin2014.

monitoring and reporting information

landform Priority targets Performance information

drainage lines and floodplains

SignificantresponseofwaterbirdstowaterflowalongtheDiamantinaand Cooper Creek drainage systems

ThemaintenanceofthesignificantresponseofwaterbirdstowaterflowintheDiamantinaand Cooper Creek drainage systems

Wetlandhabitatutilisation •by water birds.

Important permanent and semi-permanent waterholesoftheDiamantinaandCooper Creek drainage systems

Themaintenanceandimprovementofbiodiversityvaluesofpermanent and semi-permanent streams and waterholes

Numberofpermanentand•semi-permanent waterholes managedforbiodiversityvalues.

threatened ecologicalcommunitieson drainage lines,floodplainsand swamps

Themaintenanceor improvement oftheviabilityofthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswamps within the Channel Country

Percentageofpotentialarea•occupiedbythreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswamps within IBRA subregions.Conditionofindividual•occurrencesofthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesondrainagelines,floodplainsandswamps within IBRA subregions.

Grey Grasswren onfloodplainsand swamps

ThemaintenanceorimprovementoftheviabilityoftheGrey Grasswren onfloodplainsand swamps

Percentageofpotentialhabitat•occupiedbytheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswampsintheChannel Country bioregion.Numberandviabilityofpopulations•oftheGreyGrasswrenonfloodplainsandswampsintheChannel Country bioregion.

Stony plains Significantandendemicfloraandfaunaspecieson stony plains

Themaintenanceorimprovementoftheviabilityofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspecieson stony plains

Percentageofpotentialhabitat•occupiedbysignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspeciesonstonyplainswithinthe Channel Country.Numberandviabilityofpopulations•ofsignificantandendemicfloraandfaunaspeciesonstonyplainswithin the Channel Country.

dunefields and sand plains

Mulga low woodland on low dunes and sand plains

ThemaintenanceorimprovementoftheviabilityofMulgalow woodlands on low dunes and sand plains within the Channel Country

Percentageofpotentialarea•occupiedbyMulgalowwoodlandon low dunes and sand plains within IBRA subregions.Conditionofindividualoccurrences•ofMulgalowwoodlandonlow dunes and sand plains within IBRA subregions.


Glossaryalluvial Plain: Anextensivestream-laiddepositthatmayincludegravel,sand,siltandclay;typicallyformingfloodplainsthatdevelopalluvialsoils.Thealluvialdepositofastreamgeneratedfromagorgeuponaplainorofatributarystreamatitsjunctionwiththemainstream.

arid:Referstoclimatesorregionsthatlacksufficientcropproductionorextensivesownpastures.Usuallydefinedasaclimatewithannualaveragerainfalllessthan250mm(10inches).

biodiversity:Thevarietyoflifeforms:thedifferentplants,animalsandmicro-organisms;thegenestheycontain;andtheecosystemstheyform.

bioregion:Extensive(continentalscale)regionsdistinguishedfromadjacentregionsbytheirbroadphysicalandbiologicalcharacteristics.

conservation:Theprotection,maintenance,management,sustainableuse,restorationandenhancementofthe natural environment.

decreaser Species:Aspeciesthatdecreasesinabundanceinareasofhighgrazingpressure,generallyinproximitytowater.

degradation:Degradationoflandisthedeclineinthequalityofthenaturalresourcesofthelandresultingfromhumanactivities.

dispersal:Themovementoforganismsbetweenlocations,especiallyrelatingtothemovementfrombirthsiteorbreeding sites.

ecological community:Acharacteristicsuiteofinteractingspeciesadaptedtoparticularconditionsofsoil,topography,wateravailabilityandclimate.

ecological Processes:Dynamicinteractionsthatoccuramongandbetweenbiotic(living)andabiotic(non-living)componentsoftheenvironment.

ecosystem:Adynamiccomplexofplant,animal,fungalandmicro-organismcommunitiesandtheassociatednon-livingenvironmentinteractingasanecologicalunit.

endemic:Exclusivelynativetoaspecifiedregionorsite.

Feral:Adomesticatedspeciesthathasescapedtheownership,managementandcontrolofpeopleandislivingandreproducinginthewild.

Fire regime:Theintensity,frequencyandextentoffire.

gene:Thefunctionalunitofheredity;thepartoftheDNAmoleculethatencodesasingleenzymeorstructuralprotein unit.

genetic diversity:Thevariabilityinthegeneticmakeupamongindividualsandpopulationswithinasinglespecies.

gilgai:AnaturalsoilformationoccurringextensivelyininlandAustralia,characterisedbyaanundulatingsurfacesometimeswithmoundsordepressionscausedbytheswellingandcrackingofclaysduringalternatingwet and dry seasons.

habitat diversity:Thenumberofdifferenttypesofhabitatswithinagivenarea.

habitat:Thephysicalplaceortypeofsitewhereanorganism,speciesorpopulationnaturallyoccurstogetherwiththecharacteristicsandconditions,whichrenderitsuitabletomeetthelifecycle,needsofthatorganism,speciesorpopulation.

ibra region:InterimBiogeographicRegionalisationforAustraliaregions.

ibra Subregion:Asubdivisionofabioregionbasedonbroadphysicalandbiologicalcharacteristics;asystemofrelatedandinterconnectedlandsystemswithinanIBRAregion.

increaser Species:Aspeciesthatincreasesinabundanceinareasofhighgrazingpressure,generallyinproximitytowater.

indicator:Ameasureagainstwhichsomeaspectsofperformancecanbeassessed.

invasive Species:Anyanimalpest,plantordiseasethatcanadverselyaffectnativespeciesandecosystems.

landform:Anyofthenumerousfeaturesthatmakeupthesurfaceoftheearth,suchasplain,plateauandcanyon.

landscape:Aheterogeneousareaoflandorseathatisofsufficientsizetoachievepositiveresultsintherecoveryofspeciesorecologicalcommunities,orintheprotectionandenhancementofecologicalandevolutionaryprocesses.

landsystem:Agroupoflocalecologicalcommunitiesderivedfromalandscapepatternofrelatedandinterconnectedlocalecosystemswithinasubregion.

native Species:AplantoranimalspeciesthatoccursnaturallyinSouthAustralia.

Protected area:Anareaoflandand/orseaspecificallydedicatedtotheprotectionandmaintenanceofbiologicaldiversity,andofnaturalandassociatedculturalresources,andmanagedthroughlegalorothereffectivemeans.


refuge:Aregion,orhabitat,whereorganismsareabletopersistduringaperiodinwhichmostoftheoriginalgeographicrangebecomesuninhabitable.

remnant:Areas(generallysmall)ofnativeplantcommunitiesthatarefoundinotherwiseclearedlandscapes.

restoration:Assistingtherecoveryofecologicalsystemstoastateinwhichtheviabilityofspeciesandecologicalcommunities,andecosystemfunction,areimproved.

riparian:on,orrelatingtothebanksofanaturalcourseofwater.

runoff:Theportionofprecipitationnotabsorbedintoordetaineduponthesoilandwhichbecomessurfaceflow.

Semi-arid:Referstoclimatesorregionswhichlacksufficientrainfallforregularcropproduction.Usuallydefinedasaclimatewithannualrainfallbetween250mmand375mm.

Species diversity:Variability(richnessandabundance)ofbiotainanarea.Anindexofcommunitydiversitythattakesintoaccountbothspeciesrichnessandtherelativeabundanceofspecies.

Species:Agroupoforganismscapableofinterbreedingwitheachotherbutnotwithmembersofotherspecies.

Subspecies:Distinctgeographicalrangesofinterbreedingnaturalpopulationsofspeciesthatarereproductivelyisolatedandpossessdistinguishingcharacteristicsfromotherpopulationsofthesamespecies.

Sustainable use:Theuseofcomponentsofbiologicaldiversityinawayandataratethatdoesnotleadtothelongtermdeclineofbiologicaldiversity,therebymaintainingitspotentialtomeettheneedsandaspirationsofpresentandfuturegenerations.

Sustainable:Theuseofresourcesorcomponentsofbiologicaldiversityinawayandataratethatdoesnotleadtothelong-termdeclineofbiologicaldiversity,therebymaintainingitspotentialtomeettheneedsandaspirationsofpresentandfuturegenerations.

tableland:Anelevatedandgenerallylevelregionofconsiderableextent.

terrestrial:Land-basedbiodiversityincludinginlandaquaticecosystemssuchasrivers,streams,lakes,wetlands,springs,groundwaterandgroundwaterdependentecosystems,andthenativeinlandaquaticspeciesintheseareas.

threat abatement:Eliminatingorreducingathreat.

threatened Species or ecological communities:Aspeciesorecologicalcommunitythatisvulnerableorendangered.

threatening Processes:Thedominantlimitingfactorsandconstraintstotheongoingconservationofbiodiversity.

Vegetation association:Astableplantcommunityofdefinitecompositionpresentingauniformappearanceandgrowinginmoreorlessuniformhabitatconditions.

Viability:Thelikelihoodoflong-termsurvivaloftheexample/populationofaparticularecosystemorspecies.

AbbreviationsDEH SouthAustralianDepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage

DWLBC SouthAustralianDepartmentforWaterLandandBiodiversityConservation

EPBC EnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999

ESD EcologicallySustainableDevelopment

GAB Great Artesian Basin

IBRA InterimBiogeographicRegionalisationofAustralia

NPW NationalParksandWildlife

NRM NaturalResourcesManagement

PIRSA PrimaryIndustriesandResourcesSouthAustralia

SAAL South Australian Arid Lands

FurtherreadingDepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage(2003),NatureLinks: Implementing the WildCountry Philosophy in

South Australia,DepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage,SouthAustralia.

Ehmann,H.(2005),South Australian Rangelands and Aboriginal Lands Wildlife Management Manual: A

Resource Handbook,DepartmentforWater,LandandBiodiversityConservation,

South Australia.

Neagle,N.(2003),An Inventory of the Biological Resources of the Rangelands of South Australia,

DepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage,SouthAustralia.

MarreeSoilConservationBoard(1997),Marree Soil Conservation District Plan,MarreeSoilConservationBoard.


South Australian Arid Lands NaturalResourcesManagementBoard

Permissive licence ©StateofSouthAustraliathroughtheDepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage.youmaycopy,distribute, display,downloadandotherwisefreelydealwiththispublicationforanypurposesubjecttotheconditionsthatyou (1)attributetheDepartmentasthecopyrightownerofthispublicationandthat(2)youobtainthepriorwrittenconsent oftheDepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritageifyouwishtomodifytheworkorofferthepublicationforsaleorotherwise useitoranypartofitforacommercialpurpose.Writtenrequestsforpermissionshouldbeaddressedto: DesignandProductionManager DepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage GPoBox1047,AdelaideSA5001

disclaimer Whilereasonableeffortshavebeenmadetoensurethecontentsofthispublicationarefactuallycorrect,theDepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritagemakesnorepresentationsandacceptsnoresponsibilityfortheaccuracy,completenessorfitnessforanyparticularpurposeofthecontents,andshallnotbeliableforanylossordamagethatmaybeoccasioneddirectlyorindirectlythroughtheuseoforrelianceonthecontentsofthispublication.

Referencetoanycompany,productorserviceinthispublicationshouldnotbetakenasaDepartmentalendorsementofthecompany,productorservice.

©DepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage DesignedandproducedbyCorporateCommunicationBranch,DEH. ISBN9781921466939 FIS90326•June2009

DepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage(2009) South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy - ChannelCountryConservationPriorities, SouthAustralianAridLandsNRMBoard, DepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritage.

For further information please contact:SA Arid Lands NRM Board Railway Station Building RailwayTerrace Port Augusta Telephone:(08)86485977 Website:www.saalnrm.sa.gov.au

DepartmentforEnvironmentandHeritageTelephone:(08)86485300Website:www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity

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