Critical component Vegetation types Critical service: Natural or wetland ecosystem Thirteen different Tasmanian wetland vegetation communities were identified within ECCBIL which corresponds to six TASVEG communities. Sixteen flora species have been recorded on site that are threatened in Tasmania. Vegetation succession is an integral component of the ECCBIL wetlands such that some changes in vegetation communities are normal. Maintenance of the extant TASVEG vegetation communities on site at time of listing i.e. lacustrine herbland (AHL) freshwater aquatic sedgeland and rushland (ASF) freshwater aquatic herbland (AHF) saline aquatic herbland (AHS) saline (ARS) succulent saline herbland (ASS). Based on the limited available vegetation data i.e. TASVEG mapping, the Kirkpatrick and Harwood (1981) survey and expert opinion. Low: Not confident in the data and not confident that this will represent a change in ecological character. Limited information about the variability in extent and condition of the vegetation types since the time of listing is available. Difficult to describe baseline condition and variability (refer to Chapter 7 of ECD). Current ecological condition The limited information available on ECCBIL makes an assessment of changes to the ecological character difficult. There has been large fires through the area since the time of listing but little data is available either at the time of listing or more recently to be able to determine changes since listing. However, based on the remoteness and relatively undisturbed nature of the site, it is considered that the site has largely remained unchanged since the time of listing in 1982 and has retained its ecological character. Knowledge gaps Information about ECCBIL is very limited. There have been no systematic surveys of components of the wetland ecosystems other than the survey of 24 wetlands. Information on the biota of the wetlands is limited to two studies confined to a few sites (Rolfe et al. 2001; Walsh et al. 2001, Hirst et al. 2006) and collation of bird records. Knowledge gaps include:
Climate change change in sea level, temperature and rainfall May influence wetland physical and chemical processes, groundwater discharge, the diversity of wetland types, wetland biology Change in the distribution and abundance of flora and fauna Change in the lifecycles of fauna (e.g. waterbird breeding, macroinvertebrates) Already occurring Immediate to long term
Table Summary of limits of acceptable change Critical ecological components, processes and services Baseline condition and range of natural variation where known Limits of acceptable change* (based on baseline and natural variability) Basis of LAC Level of confidence Critical component and process: Geomorphology and hydrology Critical service: Natural or near-natural wetland ecosystem There is a diversity and range of Ramsar wetland types which are defined by their geomorphology and hydrology. There is an absence of information relating to the variability in extent and types of wetland around the time of listing The areal extent of Ramsar wetland types does not change by ±20%, i.e. estuarine waters (F) ± 20% from 200 hectares intertidal marshes (H) ± 20% from 44 hectares coastal brackish/saline lagoons (J and K) ± 20% from 375 hectares intertidal mud sand or salt flats (G) ± 20% from 55 hectares. Based on aerial photograph interpretation and geomorphological mapping by Mowling (2007). Low: Limited confidence in estimates of aerial extent. Limited data on changes to geomorphology, hydrology and vegetation types since time of listing (refer to Chapter 7 of ECD). Critical component and process: Hydrology Critical service: Natural or near-natural wetland ecosystem Hydrology as a critical component and service is linked to the geomorphology of the wetland. As above, this LAC is linked to the geomorphology of the wetland. As above As above
Critical component Vegetation types Critical service: Natural or near-natural wetland ecosystem Thirteen different Tasmanian wetland vegetation communities were identified within ECCBIL which corresponds to six TASVEG communities. Sixteen flora species have been recorded on site that are threatened in Tasmania. Vegetation succession is an integral component of the ECCBIL wetlands such that some changes in vegetation communities are normal. Maintenance of the extant TASVEG vegetation communities on site at time of listing i.e. lacustrine herbland (AHL) freshwater aquatic sedgeland and rushland (ASF) freshwater aquatic herbland (AHF) saline aquatic herbland (AHS) saline sedgeland/rushland (ARS) succulent saline herbland (ASS). . Based on the limited available vegetation data i.e. TASVEG mapping, the Kirkpatrick and Harwood (1981) survey and expert opinion. Low: Not confident in the data and not confident that this will represent a change in ecological character. Limited information about the variability in extent and condition of the vegetation types since the time of listing is available. Difficult to describe baseline condition and variability (refer to Chapter 7 of ECD). Exceeding or not meeting a LAC does not automatically indicate that there has been a change in ecological character.
Hydrology Hydrology of wetland types Hydrological information associated with wetland types. Hydrological survey and monitoring. High Flora Species and vegetation communities Accurate TASVEG vegetation mapping. Detailed inventory of vascular and flora, including mapping of the distribution of threatened species. Data on micro-flora of the wetlands. Ground-truth vegetation mapping to validate distribution of communities and important species; including weeds. Aerial photography interpretation of extent vegetation types. High Fauna Species and habitats Detailed inventory of native vertebrate fauna (mammals, reptiles, frogs and fish) including mapping of the distribution of threatened species. Data on invertebrate fauna Surveys, identification and mapping of important species, including invertebrate fauna. Low Birds Regular monitoring of birds (migratory and other) utilising the site. Develop systematic records of the use of the site by resident and migratory waterbirds. Low Services Cultural Aboriginal Aboriginal heritage values Assessment of Aboriginal heritage values. To be done in conjunction with ALCT and the CBIAA. Medium
Table Monitoring requirements and actions for the ECCBIL to address knowledge gaps Overarching component, process, benefit, service or threat Specific component, process, benefit, service or threat Objective of monitoring Indicator/ measure Frequency Priority Components and processes Geomorphology Coastal stabilisation To determine the impact of human activity on dune stabilisation and the wetlands. Land form classification and extent of disturbance Use mapping and aerial photographic interpretation Focus on areas with high risk/frequency of use. Every five years Medium Biota Wetland vegetation To evaluate the distribution of vegetation communities and important species to enable the monitoring of changes from the baseline. Ongoing on-ground vegetation survey and community boundary mapping. Aerial photograph interpretation, of site. Vegetation Condition Assessments. Threatened species/ community mapping and verification. Weed mapping. Every five to ten years High
Birds To develop a systematic record of the use of the coastal habitats by resident and migratory waders. Presence/ absence of resident waterbird species (and migratory) Presence/ absence of migratory waterbird species Numbers of breeding pairs Habitat for breeding Number of nests Feeding/ foraging habitats. Annual bird counts (including during the breeding season) Medium Services Cultural Aboriginal spiritual associations To monitor the levels of human use of the area (including the shorelines) and establish appropriate levels and uses of the area. To be done in conjunction with ALCT and the CBIAA. Presence/ absence of culturally significant areas Community use of areas Number of visitors and intention of visit (i.e. cultural). Every five years Medium Threats Natural system modification Fire To determine the fire frequency, intensity, source of ignition and risk on site. Fire boundary mapping Bi-annually (seasonal, dry season) High