Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100:front:0:p18
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 52433–55555

and microorganism communities
        and their non-living environment, interacting as a functional unit. Figure 2.5
        illustrates, and Table 2.1 summarises, the different ecosystem types found
        within the South-east Network

      * Key ecological features – elements of the marine environment that are considered to be important for biodiversity or ecosystem function and integrity. Five of the 8 key ecological features of the south-east region occur in the South-east Network, including seamounts east and south of Tasmania; shelf rocky reefs and hard substrate; west Tasmania canyons; upwelling east of Eden; and the east Tasmania subtropical convergence zone

      * Biologically important areas – places where aggregations of individuals of a protected species breed, forage or rest during migration. In the South-east Network there are biologically important areas for 14 seabird species, 3 whale species, Australian sea lions and the white shark

      * Key natural values – habitats or species that are particularly important from a park management perspective due to their uniqueness, functional importance, vulnerability to pressures, biological productivity, diversity or ability to provide social and economic benefits. Key natural values criteria may be updated throughout the life of this plan and new values recorded as understanding of the parks continues to improve. At the time this plan was made, 13 key natural values have been described (Table S1.2 in Schedule 1).

Image: Deep-sea coral community in Huon Marine Park

Figure 2.5 Representation of the different ecosystem types present in Australian Marine Parks. Ecosystems in black text are present in the South-east Network. Those in light grey text do not occur in the South-east Network.

Table 2.1 Description of ecosystems present in the South-east Network

Ecosystem                       Description
Mesophotic rocky reefs          Middle-light rocky reefs where there is still sufficient light for photosynthesis to occur. Typically found in depths of 30 m to 70 m. Recorded in Apollo, Beagle, Flinders, Freycinet, Huon, and Franklin Marine Parks.
Rariphotic shelf reefs          Rare-light rocky reefs where there is insufficient light to support photosynthesis. Typically found in depths of 70 m to 200 m. Recorded in Flinders, Freycinet, Huon, Tasman Fracture and Zeehan Marine Parks.
Shelf unvegetated sediments     Sediment habitats on the continental shelf (0 m to 200 m depth) that lack marine macroalgae or seagrass. Present in all marine parks on the continental shelf.
Upper-slope reefs               Reef habitats on the upper section of the continental slope between shelf break (nominally 200 m depth) and 700 m depth. Recorded in Flinders and Zeehan Marine Parks.
Upper-slope sediments           Sediment habitats on the upper continental slope (200 m to 700 m depth). Present in East Gippsland, Flinders, Freycinet, Huon, Tasman Fracture, Zeehan and Murray Marine Parks.
Canyons                         Steep-sided valleys in the seabed. Shelf-incised canyons extend onto the continental shelf at least 500