2016-12-12 General Committee - Attachment 1 to Item 6 - Biodiversity Assessment Report

                                                    Noosa Biodiversity Plan – Biodiversity Assessment Report



3.4   Flo ra and F aun a
The Noosa Shire is home to a great diversity of wildlife and plants (~1,340 species of plants and 348
species of terrestrial vertebrate animals). At least 217 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles, 55 species
of mammals, and 31 species of frogs are known from the area. A number of these species are recognised
to be of conservation value, which are supported by Noosa’s extensive protection reserves and remaining
natural habitat.

      3.4.1    Fauna species
Approximately 19% (66) of Noosa’s fauna assemblage is currently listed as threatened or migratory under
the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and
the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act). This includes seven frog species, three reptiles,
51 birds and five mammal species. A further 30.7% (107) are considered regionally or locally significant.
These species are considered to be of conservation value due to being endemic, conservation dependent,
restricted in distribution, hollow or roost site dependent, vulnerable to disturbance, at the limit of their
geographic range or outside their species usual range, or suffering local declines. Overall approximately
49% of Noosa’s known fauna species are of conservation value.

Whilst Noosa Shire occupies only 1.4% of the SEQ region, it provides habitat for approximately 32% of
threatened fauna species known to occur across the entire region. In particular it provides habitat for
approximately 58% of the threatened frog species that occur in SEQ and approximately 43% of the
threatened bird species (Figure 12). These proportions are very significant for the small areal extent of
the shire and are a demonstration of the diversity and quality of habitats that occur in Noosa.

 40


 35


 30


 25


 20

                                            42.9%
 15


 10
                   58.3%
                                                                          25%
  5                                                                                             35.3%


  0
          Total amphibians            Total birds                 Total mammals         Total reptiles

                                                    SEQ   Noosa


Figure 12: Total number of threatened fauna species recorded within SEQ region and Noosa Shire

Noosa’s globally unique ecosystems such as the patterned fens, coastal heaths, rainforests and acid
drainage systems also provide habitat for a number of relict and endemic invertebrates, some of which
are identified as threatened. In particular, a number of crayfish and earthworm species associated with


  © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD                                                                         38