Reference document FLORA_AND_FAUNA_ASSESSMENT_RosesRoad_Federal-25_03_07-FF OPW25-0072

                                                                                     Native Foresters



Other habitat features that are considered significant for assessing the site’s overall habitat
value for native fauna, include but are not limited to:

   i.       Canopy cover: The uppermost stratum of woody vegetation that forms the canopy
            functions as habitat for birds and arboreal mammals, provides food and resources,
            and determines the degree of light penetration and heat reaching the lower strata
            and ground detrital layer.
  ii.       Weed cover: Weeds can dominate and suppress native plant growth which affects
            the diversity of food sources; they can change the fuel or litter characteristics of a
            site, thereby altering the fire regime, and also prevent recruitment and succession
            of native vegetation.
 iii.       Understorey components: The shrub and herb strata generally contain the greatest
            plant species richness and can be a useful indicator of disturbance and changes in
            condition.
 iv.        Organic litter, fallen timber and rocks: Litter cover can be indicative of the degree of
            disturbance of a site, and can be an important determinant of species recruitment.
            It will influence soil microclimates, structure and composition, and provide refugia
            for invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and ground dwelling mammals.
  v.        Recruitment: Recruitment of plant species, particularly woody perennials, within all
            strata reflects the site’s long-term viability.
 vi.        Landscape context: The size of a patch, its connectivity and distance to a core area
            of vegetation (i.e., greater than 50 hectares) can affect both its regenerative capacity
            and long-term viability. Species–area relationships suggest that large areas support
            more species and populations than smaller ones thus retaining greater genetic
            variability and providing refuge for species susceptible to disturbances.


3.4         Method used to assess likelihood of occurrence

For the threatened and Special least concern fauna and flora identified by government
databases as potentially occurring within one to two kilometres of the survey area, their
likelihood of occurrence within the impact area was assessed based on the habitats present;
local knowledge of species distribution and the occurrence on site of specific breeding
places or breeding habitat for the species. The criteria used to support the likelihood of
occurrence ratings are:

        ▪   Known - species positively recorded by this survey or other survey by qualified
            ecologists during past 30 years;
        ▪   Likely - based on the presence of suitable habitat and recent database records from
            study area or with two kilometres proximity;
        ▪   Possible - suitable habitat present for the species, but no recent database records
            from the study area or proximity; and
        ▪   Unlikely - based on a lack of suitable habitat and lack of proximate records.




36 Roses Road, Federal – Fauna & Flora Assessment                                         15