Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00045:body:0:p17
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00045
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 46564–49475

numbers increased in Kosciuszko National Park to 6,000 horses, an almost 50% increase since the last count in 2009 of 4,200 horse (AALC, in prep).

Feral horses are not currently present as a threat in Tasmania, nor considered an active threat in the ACT.

Feral deer

Feral deer (including sambar, rusa and fallow deer) are also threatening biodiversity in the Alpine and subalpine areas of mainland Australia and Tasmania. Deer populations (and extent) have increased significantly in recent years. They are rated as a 'high threat' and it is largely an unabated problem in eastern Australia. There is limited information available on their potential proliferation, but they can cause significant damage to the ecological community through trampling, browsing and wallowing. During the latest feral horse aerial count in Kosciuszko National Park, an estimate of around 1,000 feral deer was observed (AALC, in prep).

Feral Pigs

Feral pigs are a significant problem causing damage to bogs in both the ACT and NSW, but are less problematic in Victoria and are not currently present in mainland Tasmania. Damage generally occurs on the edges of, or grasslands adjacent to, bogs where these animals wallow in pools and waterways. They dig and uproot vegetation over large areas, making pigs an ongoing threat to the structural integrity of the ecological community.

Rabbits

Rabbits can reduce cover and diversity of forb species in sub-alpine areas and disturb the soil by digging (Leigh et al., 1987). Greater numbers of rabbits are often prevalent post-fire, which inhibits vegetation resprouting and regeneration (Leigh et al., 1987). Although there is some evidence that rabbits can be active at the margins of some bogs, it appears to be relatively minor (Tolsma and Shannon, 2009).

Foxes, cats and trout

In some high altitude areas, including in the ecological community, foxes and cats may impact: populations of native frogs (including the critically endangered corroboree frogs - Pseudophryne spp. and the endangered Alpine tree frog - Litoria verreauxii alpina); native fish (Galaxias spp.); native reptiles (including the threatened Alpine she-oak and Alpine water skinks); and, Alpine spiny crays (Eustacus and Engaeus spp.). Trout generally remain small (less than 20 centimetres) in smaller streams and fens, such as for this ecological community. However, an incursion could have a major impact on native Galaxias species, including the potential extinction of species known from only one or a few locations.

4.6 Invasive species - Flora

Weeds

Exotic weed invasion is a current and increasing threat to the ecological community, and due to the sensitivity of wetlands to some chemicals, effective control of weeds (particularly non-woody weeds needing chemical control) in the ecological community is challenging. There are several known invasive plant species that have serious impacts on