MCU 14/0106 Appendix F - Ecological Assessment

Scientific Name Common         NCA    Habitat                                                 Species Distribution                        Approach to survey                        Predicted   Site Assessments           Likely
                Name           Status                                                                                                                                               Likely                                 Presence
                                                                                                                                                                                    Presence                               Following
                                                                                                                                                                                    Prior to                               Survey
                                                                                                                                                                                    Survey
Pezoporus           Ground     V      The Ground Parrot (eastern) is terrestrial. It occurs In Queensland, the Ground Parrot (eastern) The Ground Parrot is generally cryptic, Possible         A 5 night/5 day fauna    Unlikely (high)
wallicus wallicus   Parrot            mostly in coastal heathland or sedgeland with very is restricted to the southeast coastal region, shy and elusive, and rarely detected on (medium)        survey of the study area
                                      dense cover and a high density of the parrot's food mainly around Cooloola, but ranges from         ground before birds flush. They are                   was undertaken in April-
                                      plants . In south-east Queensland, it occurs mostly Fraser Island and near Maryborough in the most conspicuous before sunrise and                         May 2013. Specifically
                                      in closed, subtropical graminoid heathlands           north to Mooloolah River National Park in the after sunset, when they engage in                     dedicated morning bird
                                      (consisting of grass-trees, with a high diversity of  south (Higgins 1999; McFarland 2005, pers. distinctive flying and calling behaviour.                surveys were undertaken,
                                      sedges, rushes and low shrubs), either moist or dry comm.). Although there have been no recent They only occasionally call at other                       supplemented by diurnal
                                      Within heathlands, dry habitats are used from mid Atlas records, the subspecies has been also times and may call less frequently when                     and nocturnal incidental
                                      autumn to late spring, and wet habitats at other      been reported from Fraser Island (SEWPaC, at very low density. Calling is most                      observations.
                                      times. It is sometimes found in open Banksia          2013).                                        intense just before and during breeding
                                      woodlands with a heath understorey, in closed                                                       season, but occurs throughout the year.
                                      fernland around shallow creeks on plains, or in                                                     They will respond to play-back calls.
                                      sedges at swamp margins. The Ground Parrot                                                          The most effective method of detection
                                      (eastern) breeds mostly from September to                                                           is by call. Calls are clear and loud, and
                                      November or December, though eggs been                                                              in still conditions can be reliably heard
                                      recorded as late as March. It nests on the ground,                                                  over a distance of 400 m. The audible
                                      usually in a dry, well-drained site such as a low                                                   distance of calls decreases markedly in
                                      ridge, slope or slight rise and sheltered by low,                                                   strong or even moderate winds, and
                                      dense vegetation such as sedges, rushes, ferns                                                      such conditions should be avoided
                                      and shrubs including Xanthorrhoea, Banksia,                                                         where possible (SEWPaC, 2013).
                                      Empodisma and Leptospermum, the nest is a
                                      depression scratched in sand or earth and lined
                                      with leaves and stems (SEWPaC, 2013).

Stictonetta         Freckled   NT     The Freckled Duck prefers permanent fresh water The Freckled Duck is found primarily in the       According to Terrestrial Vertebrate       Unlikely      A 5 night/5 day fauna    Absence Known
naevosa             Duck              swamps and creeks with heavy growth of cumbungi south east and south west of Australia,           Fauna Survey Guidelines for               (medium)      survey of the study area or Suspected
                                      (bullrushes), lignum or tea-tree. During drier times, occurring as a vagrant elsewhere. It breeds Queensland (Eyre et al, 2012)                           was undertaken in April- (medium)
                                      the Freckled Duck moves from ephemeral (not           in large temporary swamps created by floods appropriate survey techniques for                       May 2013. Specifically
                                      permanent) breeding swamps to more permanent in the Bulloo and Lake Eyre Basins and the diurnal birds are, diurnal bird surveys,                          dedicated morning bird
                                      waters such as lakes, reservoirs, farm dams and       Murray Darling System (Birds Australia,     and incidental detection.                               surveys were undertaken,
                                      sewerage ponds. They generally rest in dense          2013).                                                                                              supplemented by diurnal
                                      cover (Birds Australia, 2013).                                                                                                                            and nocturnal incidental
                                                                                                                                                                                                observations.
Amphibians

Adelotus brevis     Tusked Frog V     This species is found in wet and dry forest environs Adelotus brevis has a disjunctive distribution, According to Terrestrial Vertebrate     Possible     A 5 night/5 day fauna        Unlikely
                                      usually along streams, but also around dams.         occurring in the Clarke Range (mid-eastern Fauna Survey Guidelines for                  (medium)     survey was undertaken of (medium)
                                      Breeding takes place in streams and ponds.           Queensland), then from Shoalwater Bay          Queensland (Eyre et al, 2012)                         the study area in April-
                                      Unpigmented eggs are laid in a foam nest hidden (mid-eastern Queensland) south along the appropriate survey techniques for                                May 2013. In addition to
                                      from the light, and development is usually complete coast to Moss Vale (mid-eastern New South amphibians are pitfall trapping, funnel                     the pitfall/funnel traps and
                                      within 71 days (IUCN, 2013).                         Wales), and inland to Blackdown Tableland trapping, diurnal active searches,                         incidental searches, a 2
                                                                                           and Carnarvon Gorge (IUCN, 2013).              nocturnal active searches and incidental              hour dedicated frog
                                                                                                                                          detection.                                            search following heavy
                                                                                                                                                                                                rain was undertaken on
                                                                                                                                                                                                the 8 April 2013.
Crinia tinnula      Wallum     V      Largely restricted to coastal wallum (sandy low-        Scattered populations from Littabella NP     According to Terrestrial Vertebrate     Possible     A 5 night/5 day fauna        Known - Study
                    Froglet           land) environs, it is associated with wet heath, acid   (near Bundaberg) south to Kurnell (mid-east Fauna Survey Guidelines for              (medium)     survey was undertaken of Area survey
                                      paperbark (Melaleuca) swamps, wallum lakes and          NSW). It is known from Fraser, Bribie,      Queensland (Eyre et al, 2012)                         the study area in April-     confirmed the
                                      sedge swamps. Breeding may occur at any time of         Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands as     appropriate survey techniques for                     May 2013. In addition to presence of this
                                      the year following rain (Curtis and Dennis, 2012).      well as adjacent mainland areas on the      amphibians are pitfall trapping, funnel               the pitfall/funnel traps and species through
                                                                                              Fraser, Sunshine and Gold Coasts (Curtis    trapping, diurnal active searches,                    incidental searches, a 2     call
                                                                                              and Dennis, 2012).                          nocturnal active searches and incidental              hour dedicated frog
                                                                                                                                          detection.                                            search following heavy
                                                                                                                                                                                                rain was undertaken on