Fauna and Fauna Assemblages Survey of the Kundip and Trilogy Study Sites
C:\Documents and Settings\Kim Bennett\My Documents\Tectonic\Phillips River Gold Project NOI\EPBC
Referral\Hopetoun Fauna.doc
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A
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Records from WA
Museum database search
Fauna and Fauna Assemblages Survey of the Kundip and Trilogy Study Sites
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Referral\Hopetoun Fauna.doc
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Amphibia collected between
-33.659632, 120.174566 and -33.696645, 120.216496
Myobatrachidae
Crinia pseudinsignifera
Pseudophryne guentheri
Reptiles collected between
-33.659632, 120.174566 and -33.696645, 120.216496
Agamidae
Ctenophorus maculatus griseus
Gekkonidae
Crenadactylus ocellatus ocellatus
Scincidae
Ctenotus labillardieri
Hemiergis peronii peronii
Lerista viduata
Mammals collected between
-33.659632, 120.174566 and -33.696645, 120.216496
Macropodidae
Macropus eugenii derbianus
Muridae
Rattus fuscipes
A
AA
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nn
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Records from
CALM rare fauna
database search
Fauna and Fauna Assemblages Survey of the Kundip and Trilogy Study Sites
C:\Documents and Settings\Kim Bennett\My Documents\Tectonic\Phillips River Gold Project NOI\EPBC
Referral\Hopetoun Fauna.doc
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Fauna and Fauna Assemblages Survey of the Kundip and Trilogy Study Sites
C:\Documents and Settings\Kim Bennett\My Documents\Tectonic\Phillips River Gold Project NOI\EPBC
Referral\Hopetoun Fauna.doc
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Fauna and Fauna Assemblages Survey of the Kundip and Trilogy Study Sites
C:\Documents and Settings\Kim Bennett\My Documents\Tectonic\Phillips River Gold Project NOI\EPBC
Referral\Hopetoun Fauna.doc
60
Fauna and Fauna Assemblages Survey of the Kundip and Trilogy Study Sites
C:\Documents and Settings\Kim Bennett\My Documents\Tectonic\Phillips River Gold Project NOI\EPBC
Referral\Hopetoun Fauna.doc
61
L
EVEL
1
B
IOLOGICAL
A
SSESSMENT OF
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AVENSTHORPE
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OLD
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OPPER
P
ROJECT
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W
ESTERN
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USTRALIA
ACH
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INERALS
P
TY LTD
A
PPENDIX
3:
2005
B
IOTA
B
IOLOGICAL
S
URVEY
R
EPORT
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13 January 2005
Ms. Kim Bennett
Environmental Manager
Tectonic Resources NL
Suite 4, 100 Hay Street
Subiaco WA 6008
Dear Kim
Kundip Phase II Fauna Survey - Summary of Findings
Introduction
Tectonic Resources NL, as owners of the Phillips River Gold Project, aim to
develop the gold/copper resource at the Kundip site and the polymetallic resource
at the Trilogy site, located 17 and 27 kilometres southeast of Ravensthorpe
respectively. An open cut pit is planned for the Trilogy deposit, whilst
underground mining and an open cut pits are planned for the deposits at Kundip.
This letter summarises the findings of Phase I of the fauna survey, documented in
greater detail in Biota (2004), and provides an overview of Phase II highlighting
the key findings, particularly in respect of small mammal captures.
Fauna Survey Phase I
A field survey was conducted over a 10-day period between the 5/1/2004 and
14/1/2004, following a 12-month period of slightly above average rainfall, though
this was preceded by an extended dry period.
The methodology utilised during the survey is described in Biota (2004).
The field survey recorded a combined total of 99 vertebrate species, including 62
species of bird, 11 native mammals, two introduced mammals, 21 reptiles and
three frogs.
Over 30 invertebrate taxa were recorded from the Kundip study site, many of
which were not identified beyond family level. Two species of mygalomorph
spiders from the family Nemesiidae were recorded from the Kundip project area;
Aname mainae and Chenistonia tepperi. Both species (as they are currently
recognised) have broad distributions through the South-west of WA. A single
Bothriembryon that was not known to Ms Shirley Slack-Smith (WA Museum) was
collected during the survey from leaf litter at KU8. The conservation status of
this taxon is unknown.
A search of the CALM Schedule and Priority Fauna database for species potentially
occurring in the area yielded five Schedule 1 species, one Schedule 4 species and
five Priority species. An additional Schedule 1, Schedule 4 and Priority taxon may
occur in the area based on other information.
Schedule 1 Fauna
• *Carnaby’s Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris (Endangered under EPBC Act
1999)
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• Western Ground Parrot Pezoporus wallicus flaviventris (Endangered under
EPBC Act 1999)
• *Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata (Vulnerable under EPBC Act 1999)
• Chuditch Dasyurus geoffroyii (Vulnerable under EPBC Act 1999)
• Dibbler Parantechinus apicalis (Endangered under EPBC Act 1999)
• Heath Rat Pseudomys shortridgei (Vulnerable under EPBC Act 1999)
Schedule 4 Fauna
• Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
• Carpet Python Morethia spilota imbricata
Priority Taxa
• *Lerista viduata (Priority 1)
• Quenda Isoodon obesulus fusciventer (Conservation Dependent, Priority 4)
• Tammar Macropus eugenii derbianus (Conservation Dependent, Priority 4)
• *Western Whipbird (southern WA subspecies) Psophodes nigrogularis oberon
(Priority 4) (Vulnerable under EPBC Act 1999)
• Western Mouse Pseudomys occidentalis (Priority 4)
• *Western Brush Wallaby Macropus irma (Priority 4)
Species noted with an “*” were recorded during the Phase I survey.
Given the number of fauna of Conservation Significance that may occur in the
project area it was recommended that:
1.
The proponent should undertake an additional seasonal survey of the
project area to more fully document the faunal assemblage and identify any
additional constraints. This study could usefully target threatened fauna
taxa not well represented during the current survey including Schedule
listed rodent and bird species.
Of particular consideration was the possible presence of the Heath Rat Pseudomys
shortridgei and the population size of the Western Whipbird Psophodes nigrogularis
oberon.
Overall captures of rodents (even potentially abundant species such as Rattus fuscipes)
was low, possibly reflecting a poor season. It was felt that if rodent numbers were
generally low as was suggested by the trapping data (and comparisons to other studies
(Chapman and Craig 1998, Chapman 2000)) then the chance of detecting rarer species
such as the Heath Rat was greatly diminished.
It was agreed that the results of the seasonal survey could be written as a brief letter
style report to be appended to the original report.
Fauna Survey Phase II
Methodology
The Phase II survey was completed between 16/11/04 – 23/11/04 and involved Dr.
Michael Craig (Biota), Mr. Greg Harold (Consultant) and Mr. Andy Chapman
(Consultant). The aim of the Phase II survey was to target threatened fauna taxa not
well represented during the Phase 1 survey, including Scheduled rodent and bird
species (see Biota 2004).
Minimum temperatures during the survey ranged form 4.0°C to 19.2°C and maximum
temperatures ranged from 18.0°C to 37.4°C (Table 1). No rainfall was recorded during
the survey but 27.9 mm had fallen in November 2004 prior to the survey.
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Table 1:
The minimum and maximum daily temperatures recorded in
Ravensthorpe for the duration of the Phase II survey (compared to the
November average minimum of 10.9 and average maximum of 24.8).
Date
16/11 17//11 18/11 19/11 20/11 21/11 22/11 23/11 Mean
Minimum
14.3
12.1 4.0 5.2 8.7 10.4
14.4
19.2
11.0
Maximum
31.2 20.5 18.0 21.8 26.8 29.3 33.4 37.4 27.3
The survey re-opened the seven systematic trapping grids (KU1 – KU7) and the cage
transect (KU11) established during Phase I, and established an additional seven Elliott
transects comprising 20 Elliott traps spaced approximately 10 m apart (KU14 – KU20)
(Figure 1).
All grids were open for between five and seven nights giving a total trap effort of 1780
Elliott trap nights, 588 pit-trap nights and 224 cage trap nights (Table 2). An additional
cage trap was added to each of the systematic trapping sites (i.e. KU1 – KU7).
Systematic avifauna censusing was not undertaken as part of this current survey, rather
effort focussed on recording the distribution of the Western Whipbird Psophodes
nigrogularis oberon and other Threatened or Rare taxa. However, notes were made of
species additional to those recorded during Phase I (see Results and Discussion below).
A total of 23 hours was spent conducting transects through all of the proposed pit and
overburden areas to record the presence of threatened bird species (Figure 2) .
Opportunistic collecting was also undertaken at locations likely to support fauna of
conservation significance including Short Range Endemics.
Table 2:
Trapping grid location and trap effort (WGS84 datum, Zone 51).
Site #
Location
(AMG)
Trap
Type
Date
Opened
Date
Closed
Nights
Open
# of
traps
Total effort
(trap nights)
KU1 239670mE
6270247mN
Elliott
Pit
Cage
16/11/04
16/11/04
16/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
7
7
7
20
12
1
140
84
7
KU2 240563mE
6271172mN
Elliott
Pit
Cage
16/11/04
16/11/04
16/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
7
7
7
20
12
1
140
84
7
KU3 240342mE
6269570mN
Elliott
Pit
Cage
16/11/04
16/11/04
16/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
7
7
7
20
12
1
140
84
7
KU4 240288mE
6268814mN
Elliott
Pit
Cage
16/11/04
16/11/04
16/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
7
7
7
20
12
1
140
84
7
KU5 239894mE
6268754mN
Elliott
Pit
Cage
16/11/04
16/11/04
16/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
7
7
7
20
12
1
140
84
7
KU6 240113mE
6270410mN
Elliott
Pit
Cage
16/11/04
16/11/04
16/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
7
7
7
20
12
1
140
84
7
KU7 239820mE
6269724mN
Elliott
Pit
Cage
16/11/04
16/11/04
16/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
23/11/04
7
7
7
20
12
1
140
84
7
KU11 Transect
Cage 16/11/04
23/11/04
7
25
175
KU14 239369mE
6270241mN
to
239372mE
6270120mN
Elliott 17/11/04 23/11/04
6
20
120
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KU15 240229mE
6270175mN
to
239996mE
6270079mN
Elliott 17/11/04 23/11/04
6
20
120
KU16 240744mE
6270798mN
to
240821mE
6270613mN
Elliott 17/11/04 23/11/04
6
20
120
KU17 240897mE
6268881mN
to
240888mE
6268711mN
Elliott 17/11/04 23/11/04
6
20
120
KU18 241007mE
6268894mN
to
241010mE
6268707mN
Elliott 17/11/04 23/11/04
6
20
120
KU19 241222mE
6270367mN
to
241236mE
6270179mN
Elliott 18/11/04 23/11/04
5
20
100
KU20 239131mE
6269112mN
to
239025mE
6269332mN
Elliott 18/11/04 23/11/04
5
20
100
Total Elliott
Pit
Cage
1780
588
224
The new Elliott transects were placed in the following vegetation communities:
KU14 & 15 – Melaleuca acuminata Open woodland and thicket (dense to mid-
dense shrubs <2m) along drainage lines.
KU16
–
Melaleuca stramentosa Mallee and dense heath (shrubs <2m).
KU17 – From a mixture of Eucalyptus clivicola Low Forest and Eucalyptus cernua
Dense Low Forest (mallee regrowth) into Melaleuca rigidifolia Open Mallee and
Dense Heath (shrubs <1m).
KU18
–
Melaleuca rigidifolia Open Mallee and Dense Heath (shrubs <1m).
KU19
–
Banksia lehmanniana Open Mallee and Thicket/Scrub Heath (dense to
open shrubs 0.5-5m).
KU20 – From Banksia lehmanniana Open Mallee and Thicket/Scrub Heath (dense
to open shrubs 0.5-5m) into Melaleuca hamata Mallee.
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Figure 1. A map showing the location of the trapping sites and trapping
transects overlain on vegetation communities. KU14 – KU20 represent an
additional seven Elliot transect lines established for the phase II survey.
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Figure 2. A map shown the location of transects conducted for threatened bird
species in relation to the proposed pit and overburden areas. Each colour
represents a different day.
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Results and Discussion
The phase II survey recorded 37 vertebrate species including five mammals, nine birds
(Tables 4, 5 and 6). Note that for the avifauna, only threatened taxa and species
additional to those recorded during Phase I (Biota 2004) were recorded.
The tally included 11 species not recorded during the Phase I survey, highlighting the
value of seasonal work. The additional species comprised Amphibolurus norrisi,
Elapognathus coronatus, Ramphotyphlops australis, Tiliqua occipitalis, the Little Eagle
Aquila morphnoides, Brown Falcon Falco berigora, Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx basalis, Rufous Fieldwren Calamanthus campestris, Western Spinebill
Acanthorhynchus superciliosus, White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris nigra and
White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor. None of the additional species recorded are of
special conservation significance, however the record of Amphibolurus norrisi extends
further westward (by approximately 30 km) the known distribution of this species.
Of particular note was the increase in captures of rodent species (Table 5), though this
can be explained, for the most part, by the inclusion of additional Elliott transects.
During Phase I, six Mus musculus (House Mouse) and 12 Rattus fuscipes (Bush Rat)
were recorded from the seven trapping grids (KU1 – KU7), with an additional four R.
fuscipes recorded from cage traps (KU11). During Phase II, nine M. musculus and 18 R.
fuscipes were recorded from the seven trapping grids (KU1 – KU7), with an additional
13 M. musculus and 130 R. fuscipes recorded from the Elliott transects (KU14 – KU20).
In comparison, Chapman (2000) documented 211 records of Mus musculus and 147
records of Rattus fuscipes using 480 pit-trap nights, 1000 Elliott trap nights and 200
cage trap nights across spring 1999 and autumn 2000 at Bandalup Hill. With respect to
the rarer species, Chapman (2000) documented 17 records of the Western Mouse
Pseudomys occidentalis (Southern Mouse) and five records of the Heath Rat Pseudomys
shortridgei (Heath Rat).
At the same study site in spring 2000, Biota (2000) recorded six M. musculus and 39 R.
fuscipes using 534 pit-nights, 1100 Elliott trap nights and 60 cage trap nights. They
also recorded one Pseudomys albocinereus (Ash-grey Mouse), two P. occidentalis and
one P. shortridgei (Table 5).
The capture success of other small ground mammals during the current Phase II was
comparable to Phase I of the trapping program at Kundip: three captures of
Sminthopsis griseoventer (Grey-bellied Dunnart) versus nine during phase 1; 59
captures of Cercartetus concinnus (Western Pygmy Possum) versus 56 during Phase I;
and 71 captures of Tarsipes rostratus (Honey Possum) versus 84 during Phase 1.
Despite being recorded in Phase I, neither the Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata (Schedule 1) ,
Western Brush Wallaby Macropus irma (Priority 4) nor Lerista viduata (Priority 1) were
recorded during Phase II. Vehicle transects were conducted for the former two of these
species and raking of leaf litter and debris was undertaken for L. viduata.
As noted above, additional effort was directed towards documenting the occurrence of
Western Whipbirds and other rare birds in the project area.
•
Western Whipbird Psophodes nigrogularis oberon (Priority 4 under Wildlife
Conservation Act 1998 (WA); Vulnerable under the EPBC Act 1999 (Cth))
We recorded this species on 12 occasions from four different vegetation types
(Figure 3). Most records (eight) were from Banksia lemanniana (Bl) open mallee
and thicket scrub/heath. There were two records from Melaleuca rigidifolia open
mallee and dense heath with single records from each of Melaleuca stramentosa
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(Ms) mallee and dense heath and Banksia media open mallee and scrub heath
(Figure 3). This compares to six records across sites KU1 ( Banksia media open
mallee and scrub heath) KU2 ( Banksia lemanniana open mallee and thicket/scrub
heath) and KU3 ( Melaleuca hamata mallee-heath).
Table 3.
Home range estimates for the subspecies of the Western Whipbird.
Subspecies
Home range estimate
(ha)
Reference
oberon
6.45* Cody
1991
oberon
10.53* Cody
1991
nigrogularis
12.6 Smith
1991
?
2.8 to 5.6
Serventy & Whittell 1976
leucogaster
<20
Woinarski et al. 1988
* estimated from densities
None of the Western Whipbird records fell within the proposed impact areas (i.e.
pit and overburden stockpiles). However, the impact area does intersect two (Bl
and Ms) of the four vegetation types from which this species was recorded, with
an overall loss of 47ha of the total 235.42ha mapped for these two vegetation
types within the project area (Table 7). Given a typical territory size of between
7ha and 10ha (see Table 3), the worst case scenario would be that either (1)
between 5 and 7 pairs may be lost assuming only vegetation types in which they
were recorded were suitable, or (2) between 8 and 12 pairs if all vegetation types
are suitable. However, there are several reasons to believe that the actual
number is likely to be lower than this. Firstly, no Western Whipbirds were
recorded from any of the proposed pit or overburden areas during the Phase II
survey. While a short survey of that kind does not indicate that whipbirds are not
present in those areas, it does suggest that they are likely to be present at lower
than average densities. Secondly, a large proportion of the northern and central
pit areas are already heavily disturbed or cleared of their natural vegetation.
Therefore, we would expect whipbirds to occur only marginally in both of these
areas. Lastly, most of the records during Phase II are from Banksia lemanniana
(Bl) open mallee and thicket scrub/heath which will not be heavily disturbed
(Table 7) and densities are likely to be lower than average in most of the other
habitats.
The call from this species is conspicuous and may carry up to 200m (Johnstone
and Storr 2004). The diet comprises invertebrates, mainly insects (Higggins and
Peter 2002), but also snails (Johnstone and Storr 2004). The species is
considered to be sedentary remaining in its home range from year to year
(Higgins and Peter 2002).
The taxonomy surrounding the geographical variation in this species is not fully
understood (Higgins and Peter 2002; cf. Johnstone and Storr 2004; see also
Schodde and Mason 1999). Higgins and Peter (2002) recognise four subspecies
of P. nigrogularis with two of these, P. n. nigrogularis and P. n. oberon, occurring
in Western Australia. In contrast, Johnstone and Storr (2004) do not recognise P.
n. oberon, rather treat all WA specimens as P. n. nigrogularis. Schodde and
Mason (1999) elevate P. n. nigrogularis to full species and treats oberon as a
sub-species of the newly recognised P. leucogaster. Both the State and
Commonwealth listings recognise the taxonomy presented by Higgins and Peter
(2002) as does this document.
P. n. nigrogularis has the same conservation
significance under both State and Federal listings. It is listed as Endangered
under the EPBC Act 1999 and as Schedule 1 (Vulnerable) under the Wildlife
Conservation Notice 2003. The State and Federal listings do not, however,
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recognise the same level of conservation significance for P. n. oberon. According
to State listings P. n. oberon is listed as Priority 4 i.e.
Taxa which are considered to have been adequately surveyed, or
for which sufficient knowledge is available, and which are
considered not currently threatened or in need of special
protection, but could be if present circumstances change. These
taxa are usually represented on conservation lands.
whilst the Commonwealth listing recognises P. n. oberon as Vulnerable.
Johnstone and Storr (2004) consider the western whipbird in WA to be
uncommon to moderately common in the east of its range (i.e. about
Ravensthorpe). There are no estimates of population size in WA though Teale et
al. (in prep.) have compiled 165 records from 76 sites across the Fitzgerald
Biosphere Reserve.
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