Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01818:front:0:p132
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01818
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 379040–382111

flora species associated with this unit occur at the limit of their distribution. The place represents the southern limit for 29 species, including Acacia elongata var. dilatata, Callistemon linearis, and Melaleuca capitata. The place is the northern limit for four flora species including Atriplex cinerea, and Olearia axillaris (Taws 1997).

The place includes several areas of habitat for waterbirds, including sandy beaches, rocky intertidal platforms, mangroves, saltmarshes and two freshwater lakes (NSW Fisheries 1994). The place supports 25 waterbird species listed on international migratory bird agreements (JAMBA, CAMBA and the Bonn Convention). (Booderee National Park bird pamphlet)

The clear waters of Jervis Bay Territory support beds of seagrass strapweed (Posidonia australis) west of Bowen Island and along the northern shore of Bherwerre Peninsula. The beds are significant in terms of macroinvertebrate species richness and provide a valuable nursery, spawning ground and feeding ground for many fish species. (Collett et al. 1984; Ferrell et al. 1992; CSIRO Division of Fisheries 1994; NSW Fisheries 1994).

Mangrove and saltmarsh communities along Sussex Inlet provide a sheltered nursery for a number of commercial and sport fish species, including bream, whiting, mullet, blackfish, flathead, garfish and trevally (NSW Fisheries 1994).

Rocky reefs occur in patches along the northern coast of Bherwerre Peninsula, and around Bowen Island. This habitat supports a rich fish fauna. Rocky reefs in different areas of Jervis Bay have been identified to fulfil different ecological functions. Therefore, each area of rocky reef is ecologically important (NSW Fisheries 1994).

Jervis Bay is an unusual geological formation. It is a syncline that has been flooded, rather than the more usual flooded river valley (Doughton 1973; Breckwoldt 1986). The coastline of Jervis Bay Territory has the highest sea cliffs in New South Wales, up to 135 metres at Steamers Beach (Geoscience and Environmental Map of Jervis Bay Territory)

The place supports a rich diversity of flora, with 625 indigenous species from 120 different families. Dominant families include the Fabaceae, Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae and Orchidaceae (Taws 1997).

The Jervis Bay Territory supports a variety of plant communities. Bherwerre Peninsula supports 38 communities, including forest, rainforest, woodland, mallee forest and woodland, heathland, shrubland, sedgeland, rushland, herbland, swamps, mangroves and saltmarshes. Bowen Island supports 14 communities, seven of which do not occur on the adjacent mainland. Island communities include forest, rainforest, woodland, shrubland, coastal scrub, heathland, sedgeland, rushland and grassland (Taws 1997).

The macroinvertebrate fauna of the Posidonia beds in the whole of Jervis Bay is diverse, with 96 species recorded. The density of individuals is also high, with up to 2,941 per square metre recorded. In a study of ten Posidonia beds in New South Wales, the beds in Jervis Bay generally ranked third in terms