E1: Limits of Acceptable Change for the Jocks Lagoon Ramsar Site. Critical component, process or service Baseline information Limit of acceptable change (LAC)* Justification and Comments Confidence Wetland vegetation habitat types The baseline information used in this assessment is the vegetation map produced as part of this ECD (Figure 2) The limits of acceptable change for the wetland are that over a ten year period: no more than ten percent reduction in wetland Ts (sedgeland marsh) and U (peat sedgeland and teatree). Areas for Ts and U are 1.0 and 0.8 hectares, respectively. no more than ten percent loss in the combined area of wetland K (coastal freshwater lagoon) and E (sandy shores and dune slacks). Areas for K and E are 4.4 and 2.2 hectares, respectively. There are no data on the variability of the wetland habitat types and, until this ECD, there was no mapping of the wetland types. These limits have been set as a common sense approach to defining a significant loss in wetland types. The second limit combines the standing water habitat with the sandy shores, as when the standing water (type K) reduces during drought, it exposes the sandy shores of the site (type E). As the map was made without proper field surveying, it will need verification. Low-medium Rare plant species The only baseline information available is that two rare species were recorded as being at the site at the time of designation and a further three species were identified during site inspections for this ECD Presence in two out of three surveys over a ten year period of: jointed twigsedge (Baumea articulata) slender twigsedge (Baumea gunnii) zigzag bogsedge (Schoenus brevifolius) yellow onion orchid (Microtidium atratum) marshflower (Villarsia exaltata). There is no quantitative information on any of these species within the site. Therefore quantitative limits of acceptable change cannot be set and a qualitative LAC based on presence / absence of these five species is provided. Low
Ramsar wetland types within the site. The area of each Ramsar wetland type is presented in , along with examples and landforms associated with the wetland types in the site. Photographs of each wetland type are displayed in Figures 3 – 6. TASVEG communities are according to the Tasmanian Vegetation Map (Harris and Kitchener 2005). Figure 1: Map of location and boundary of Jocks Lagoon Ramsar Site (Source: NRM North; Base Photo is dated 29 Nov 2003). Figure 2: Vegetation and wetland types occurring at Jocks Lagoon Ramsar Site with TASVEG equivalent communities provided in the table below. (Source: NRM North, DPIPWE and the authors; Base Photo is dated 29 Nov 2003). Ramsar Wetland Type TASVEG equivalent K (open water) & E Freshwater aquatic herbland (AHF) U Wet heathland (SHW) K & Ts Freshwater aquatic sedgeland and rushland (ASF) Vegetation Type Coastal woodland and cleared patches Coastal heathland (SCH) Melaleuca scrub Melaleuca ericifolia swamp forest (NME) Wet heath Melaleuca squarrosa (SMR) Coastal woodland Acacia longifolia coastal scrub (SAC)
Confident assessment of potential presence and impacts of acid sulphate soils. Sampling of the lagoon sediments, particularly focusing on areas subject to wetting and drying. High Introduced species Abundance and diversity of introduced species at the site (particular on macrocrustacea and fish). Obtain results from vertebrate and macroinvertebrate sampling noted above. Medium The monitoring needs of the site should focus on the knowledge gaps, the limits of acceptable change for the maintenance of the site’s ecological character and also the major threats to the site. The major threats have been discussed in Section 5 and the limits of acceptable change in Section 6. Monitoring needs and prioritisations are presented in . Priorities for monitoring were established by considering the highest value components which face the highest threat. Table 10: Key monitoring needs for the site Component, process, or threat Key Indicator(s) Monitoring needs (type & frequency) Priority Hydrology – surface water Water depths at the site; surface water extent at the site seasonal and annual variability Depth measurements (at permanent points) and areal assessment of surface water extent at the site (possibly quarterly but may vary with water extent). High Vegetation Vegetation extent and condition (health) Structural and floristic diversity and flux Vegetation surveying (species abundance/mapping and condition). Two to five yearly, relating results to hydrological data. High Hydrology - groundwater Depth to water table Correlations between regional rainfall and groundwater recharge Measurements from bores within and near the site, analysis and modelling of bore data (quarterly) Modelling of any proposed extractions and impact on groundwater and surface water at the site. Medium
Fauna (macroinvertebrates and small vertebrates) Population numbers Natural variability Annual counts, particularly of population changes in relation to depths and depth fluxes Include assessment of introduced species (for example yabby– Cherax destructor). High Water Quality Salinity, nutrients, biocides, clarity, dissolved oxygen Water quality monitoring (both physical and chemical properties) at the site (preferably monthly, otherwise seasonally). Medium Use of site by recreational vehicles Tyre tracks; fence condition Monitor presence of tyre tracks within site, particularly around wetland. Assess landholder’s fencing, particularly for signs of vandalism. Medium
Appendix 1: Flora of the site List of plant species found at the Jocks Lagoon Ramsar Site during a vegetation survey, November 2009 (Source: Michah Visoiu, DPIPWE). Family Species name Common name TSP Act Apiaceae Centella cordifolia swamp pennywort Xanthosia dissecta cut-leaf xanthosia Asteraceae Helichrysum scorpioides button everlasting Hypochoeris radicata* cats ear Dilleniaceae Hibbertia acicularis twiggy guinea-flower Rare Drosera peltata subsp. peltata shield sundew Droseraceae Drosera pygmaea pygmy sundew Epacridaceae Epacris lanuginosa woolly heath Fabaceae Dillwynia glaberrima smooth parrot-pea Platylobium triangulare ivy flat-pea Goodeniaceae Dampiera stricta blue damperiera Haloragaceae Gonocarpus micranthus subsp. micranthus creeping raspwort Lamiaceae australis Australian bugle Menyanthaceae Villarsia exaltata erect marshflower Rare Mimosaceae Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae coastal wattle Myrtaceae Eucalyptus amygdalinae peppermint Leptospermum scoparium var. scoparium manuka Melaleuca ericifolia swamp paperbark() Melaleuca squamea swamp melaleuca Oxalidaceae Oxalis perennans grassland woodsorrel
Proteaceae Banksia marginata silver banksia Rutaceae Boronia nana var. nana dwarf boronia Stackhousiaceae Stackhousia monogyna creamy candles Thymelaeaceae Pimelea humilis common riceflower Centrolepidaceae Centrolepis strigosa subsp. strigosa hairy centrolepis Cyperaceae Baumea gunnii slender twigsedge Rare Eleocharis sphacelata giant spike-rush Isolepis marginata little clubrush Lepidosperma filiforme common swordsedge Lepidosperma longitudinale pithy swordsedge Schoenus brevifolius zig-zag bogsedge Rare Schoenus lepidosperma subsp. lepidosperma common bogrush Iridaceae Patersonia fragilis short purpleflag Juncaginaceae Triglochin procerum water ribbons Liliaceae Burchardia umbellata milkmaids Hypoxis hygrometrica var. hygrometrica golden weathergrass Orchidaceae Microtidium atratum yellow onion orchid Rare Thelymitra cyanea veined sun orchid Poaceae Austrostipa flavescens speargrass Ehrharta distichophylla rice-grass Ehrharta stipoides weeping Notodanthonia semiannularis Tasmanian wallaby grass Restionaceae Eurychorda complanata flat cord rush Hypolaena fastigiata tassel rope rush Leptocarpus tenax slender twine rush
Lepyrodia muelleri common scale rush Xanthorrhoeaceae Lomandra longifolia mat rush Xyridaceae Xyris marginatae emarginate yellow-eye Xyris operculata tall yellow-eye Dennstaedtiaceae Pteridium esculentum bracken Lindsaeaceae Lindsaea linearis screw fern Selaginellaceae Selaginella uliginosa selaginella e endemic *introduced Indicative of damp/wet habitat