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SITES
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Burnie, Tasmania Wildlife on the Former Tioxide Site at Burnie Habitats and Vegetation
The habitats of regional and state conservation value are the old, tall stands of Eucalyptus obliqua and E. amygdalina dominated forest and the relict patches of rainforest along the creeks. These habitats are described in more detail by Gray & Gray (1990) and Wapstra & Hopkins (2000). The more frequently occurring eucalyptus trees on the site are the Tasmanian endemic, such as peppermint eucalyptus (E. amygdaline) and E. nitida. In the damper areas of the site the vegetation becomes more dense and includes such species as scented paperbark (Melaleuca squarrosa), Zieria arborescens and Tasmannia lanceolata. In the wettest gullies there are relict patches of temperate rainforest. Typical species in this habitat include Eucalyptus viminalis, myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii), blackwood (Acacia melanaxylon) and sassafras (Atherosperma moschatum). A full list of the vascular plants recorded from the site is given in Table 40. The damp climate of much of Tasmania provides excellent conditions for Pteridophytes and as shown in Table 39, at least 18 species of ferns have been recorded from the Burnie site. A large diversity of orchids is found in Australia and at least 29
species have been recorded from the Burnie site, including at least
one rare species Caladenia pusilla Invertebrates Recent studies by Wapstra & Hopkins (2000) have shown that there
has been a contraction in the range of the crayfish in some parts of
the site. This is most likely due to changes in the flow rates and
increased sediment influx into Mina Creek following construction activities
on the site. The species of crayfish involved are known to be vulnerable
to disturbance and pollution (Wapstra & Hopkins 2000). It is possible
however, that with time the animals may well re-colonise previously
occupied areas.
The 1990 survey also collected 33 other species of aquatic invertebrates
from the Minna Creek area, but only a portion of these have been identified
to the species level. These species are listed in Table
42. Amphibians and Reptiles Birds Of the 12 endemic species of birds found in Tasmania only Scrubtit (Sericornis magnus), Brown Scrubwren (S. humilus) and Forty-spotted Pardolote (Pardalotus quadragintus) have not, as yet, been recorded on the Burnie site. If it could be shown that all the endemic birds were present then the conservation value of the site would be substantially increased. Scrubtit is relatively common and occurs in the Burnie area in the northern part of the island, where it frequents rainforest and adjacent wet sclerophyll forest. Since both of these habitats are found at Burnie the bird could be present on the site. Similarly Brown Scrubwren is also a common bird of the rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, tea-tree swamp and coastal scrub. Brown Scrubwren is rather secretive and might have been overlooked in past surveys. It could, however, be discovered in the future. The Forty-spotted Pardalote on the other hand is very rare and is restricted to dry sclerophyll forest. It has been recorded only in southern Tasmania and the occurrence of Forty-spotted Pardalote on the Burnie site is very unlikely. A number of the birds listed in Table 44 were recorded along the coast adjacent to the site, but this list is certainly incomplete. A diversity of seabirds, mainly albatrosses, shearwaters and petrels occur in the Bass Strait and a number of these almost certainly pass along the coast in the vicinity of the former production site. Mammals 5 This was a New
Species that had not been fully described, hence there was no specific
name. |
