Table 14. Critical ecological services, the Ramsar criteria they contribute to and the components and processes they relate to. Contributing abiotic components Water quality. Hydrology – adequate water level for wetland dependent vegetation. Geomorphology – Holocene shorelines and dune systems provide substrate for wetland vegetation communities. Water quality. Hydrology: adequate water level in lagoon. Geomorphology: Holocene sand, gravel and alluvium deposits are important habitat components for dwarf galaxias. Contributing biotic components Wetland vegetation community types (Freshwater aquatic herbland; Saline aquatic herbland; and, Lucustrine herbland). Terrestrial vegetation stabilises the surrounding geomorphology. The habitat provided for supporting threatened species including aquatic and emergent vegetation, aquatic fauna, and invertebrates. Components and processes creating the service The extent and diversity of wetland types within the Logan Lagoon Ramsar site, including Ramsar wetland types: Type E — Sand, shingle or pebble shores; Type J — Coastal brackish/saline lagoons; Type H – Intertidal marshes; Type N — Seasonal/ intermittent/ irregular rivers/streams/creeks; Type Ss – Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/pools; Type Tp – Permanent freshwater marshes/pools; Type Ts – Seasonal/intermittent freshwater marshes/pools on inorganic soils; and Type W – Shrub-dominated wetlands. Fish: dwarf galaxias. Birds: fairy Tern, Australasian bittern. Ramsar Criteria Criterion 1. A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region. Criterion 2. Supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities. Critical ecological service Maintains a diversity of representative, rare or unique wetland types. Supports threatened species and communities.
Contributing abiotic component s (cont.) Water quality. Hydrology – water levels such that shorelines are exposed for feeding on by birds. Geomorphology: Holocene shorelines. Hydrology: adequate water level in lagoon, but not so high as to restrict exposed sand flats which are important for waterbirds. Hydrology – adequate supply of quality water. Contributing biotic components (cont.) Birds: little tern, curlew sandpiper, red-necked stint, double-banded plovers, cattle egret, ruddy turnstone, sharp-tailed sandpiper, sanderling, lesser sand plover, Latham’s snipe, Caspian tern, bar-tailed godwit, satin flycatcher, eastern curlew, whimbrel, Pacific golden plover, common greenshank. Waterbirds and migratory shorebirds including those listed under Criterion 3. Birds: hooded plover, fairy Tern, musk duck, and chestnut teal. Components and processes creating the service (cont.) The habitat provided for supporting migratory birds, including vegetation, invertebrate populations, and aquatic fauna. The habitat provided for supporting migration and breeding, particularly during adverse conditions. The physical habitat and biological conditions for supporting waterbirds. Habitat extent and distribution, particularly vegetation. Ramsar Criteria (cont.) Criterion 3. Supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region. Criterion 4. Supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions. Criterion 6. Regularly supports 1 percent of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird. Critical ecological service (cont.) Provides habitat for plant and animal species that contribute to the biodiversity of the Tasmanian bioregion. Supports critical life stages or provides refuge. Supports migratory and resident waterbirds.
Component, process, benefit or service Objective of monitoring Indicator/measure Frequency Priority Climate Climatic processes Establish limits of acceptable change Rainfall, temperature, wind and evaporation and the hydrological responses such as water level, flow rates and the extent of inundation Monthly High Geomorphology Holocene shorelines Establish limits of acceptable change high water mark beach profile Monthly Medium Hydrology / Hydrological processes Water Quality Establish limits of acceptable change Salinity Nutrients Key toxicants such as pesticides and herbicides. Acid sulphate soils Monthly Highest priority Water flow Establish limits of acceptable change Pot Boil Creek flow Groundwater levels Lake level Monthly Medium Vegetation Littoral vegetation Establish benchmarks and limits of acceptable change Establishment of baseline flora species and community data via permanent transects across hydrological gradients. Species presence/absence Ecological community identification and composition Ecological community mapping and extent Threatened species population size and health. Every 5 years: low level aerial photography taken in in conjunction with resurveying of transects High Aquatic Plants Establish benchmarks and limits of acceptable change Mapping extent and species composition within the lagoon. Annual High
Fauna (not including birds) Amphibians Establish benchmarks and limits of acceptable change Presence/absence of species Presence/absence of threatened species Numbers of animals Annual High Fish Establish benchmarks and limits of acceptable change Species richness Abundance, particularly the dwarf galaxias. Habitat usage Annual High Introduced fauna Detection of change - likely threat to native fauna and habitat Extent Rate of spread within habitat Annual High Birds Waterfowl Establish benchmarks and limits of acceptable change Presence/absence of waterfowl species Presence/absence of target species Numbers of birds Annual High Shorebirds Establish benchmarks and limits of acceptable change Presence/absence of shorebird species Presence/absence of target species Numbers of birds Annual High