Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00153:body:0:p29
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00153
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 79403–82627

effective pollinator, travelling many kilometres between foraging sites (BAAM 2013). Littoral Rainforest itself provides habitat for many threatened fauna species listed under the EPBC Act. The most iconic being the endangered southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii), restricted to Cape York Peninsula and the Wet Tropics bioregion of Queensland, and Gould's petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera), which is Australia's rarest seabird and breeds on only four islands, including Cabbage Tree Island in New South Wales. Within northern New South Wales a coastal population of emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), listed as threatened under State legislation, is also known to visit patches of Littoral Rainforest where they feed upon, disperse and enhance germination of plants such as the riberry (Syzygium luehmannii) (Floyd 1990a) Similarly, the eastern long-eared bat (Nyctophilus bifax), listed as vulnerable under state legislation, has been recorded roosting in the Littoral Rainforest of Iluka World Heritage Area in northern NSW during its lactation and mating seasons (Lunney et al., 1995).
Littoral Rainforest also supports several threated invertebrates, including: Mitchell's rainforest snail (Thersites mitchellae) and the southern pink underwing moth (Phyllodes imperialis) southern subspecies, listed as critically endangered and endangered respectively under the EPBC Act; the Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia), listed as near threatened under Queensland legislation; the Sutherland celtis beetle (Menippus darcyi), listed as an endangered population under New South Wales legislation; and, the Burleigh Heads spider (Namirea insularis) which may warrant listing as threatened but for which there is currently insufficient data to assess conservation status.

Threatened flora
Littoral Rainforests also provide important habitats for a large number of threatened flora species, with more than 60 species listed under State or Federal legislation occurring in the ecological community. A few threatened plant species are endemic to Littoral Rainforest, including: the coastal Fontainea (Fontainea oraria) which is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act; Smyrell's clausena (Clausena smyrelliana) which is listed as endangered under Queensland legislation; and, a rainforest vine (Parsonsia sankowskyana) which is listed as endangered under Queensland legislation. A small number of other threatened plant species are endemic to the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, including: a native tree (Berrya rotundifolia) listed as vulnerable under Queensland legislation; a native plant (Buchanania mangoides) listed as vulnerable under Queensland legislation; and, numerous silk plants (Albizia spp.) (Turner & Batianoff 2007). Two species listed as extinct under the EPBC Act and Queensland legislation, the vine Marsdenia araujacea may also have occurred in Littoral Rainforest (Forster 1995; CHAH 2012). The small shrub Rhaphidospora cavernarum, listed as extinct in Queensland, was recently rediscovered on Cape York (CSIRO 2012).

3.7      Buffer zones
A buffer zone is an area adjacent to a patch that is important for protecting the integrity of the ecological community. As the