Biodiversity Hotspots

Global biodiversity hotspots 

Australia is one of seventeen countries described as being 'megadiverse'. This group of countries has less than 10% of the global surface, but support more than 70% of the biological diversity on earth.

The concept was first developed by Russell Mittermeier in 1988, as a way to prioritise conservation action.

 

Map showing location of 'Megadiverse' countries

National biodiversity hotspots

The Australian Government announced 15 national biodiversity hotspots in October 2003. Whilst international biodiversity hotspots have been identified for some time, this was the first attempt to identify biodiversity hotspots at the national scale.

These 15 areas are examples of locations that contain particularly high levels of biodiversity under threat. 

10. Central and Eastern Avon Wheatbelt (Western Australia)

The dominant vegetation of this area includes woodlands of Wandoo, York Gum, Salmon Gum, Casuarina and some areas of proteaceous scrub heaths. The woodlands contain many of Western Australia's threatened plants and birds. 

The area is particularly rich in endemic plants - Grevilleas, Hakeas, Eucalypts, Acacias, Eriostemons, and the Asteracea family - and invertebrates, particularly ground-dwelling spiders.

 

Most of the native vegetation has been cleared for agriculture and grazing, leading to extensive salinity problems over one-third of the area. Remnant vegetation, wetlands, river systems, populations of species and ecosystems are in poor condition, and the fragmentation of vegetation means an increased threat of weeds, fire, and feral animals.

Sedimentation, salination and other pressures such as water diversion and water pollution threaten the area's nationally important wetlands.

For detailed info on the flora and fauna of the Avon Wheatbelt IBRA Region visit the Biodiversity Programs resources page.

For more information about Biodiversity Hotspots visit this link, or contact Wheatbelt NRM on info@wheatbeltNRM.org.au

Bridal Creeper Control in the Avon River

A project aimed at mapping and control of Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides) and Tamarisk, both Weeds of National Significance (WONS), has begun in the Avon river. The aim of the project, funded by the Australian Government,  is to understand the distribution and abundance of these WONS and then develop an effective control program.

Greg Warburton from Wheatbelt NRM began the mapping earlier this month, and has already surveyed more tham 3km of the riverbank in Northam.

"We have plotted more than 200 occurrences of Bridal Creeper so far- and one site with Tamarisk" reported Greg.

'The focus of our efforts so far has been on mapping the Bridal Creeper while it is still lush and green from the recent rain' explained Greg. 'It dies back in summer and goes dormant, so then we'll focus on the Tamarisk'

Some early spraying has been done already.

Bridal Creeper  is a WONS because it can invade intact bushland and then smother the understory beneath its dense canopy. The resulting monoculture is hard to remove and acts as a source of propagules for new infestations.

Image courtesy of Florabase (http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/8779)

The bright red berries are spread readily by small birds.

Control of Bridal Creeper will benefit the plants and wildlife that use the waterway as a home and feeding resource, as well as many cultural sites along the river. This is a real win for the our regions namesake.

This project is specifically about controlling Bridal Creeper in the main channel of the Avon river, but anyone who wants to report an outbreak of Bridal Creeper in their area can email info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Blind Snakes!

A friendly kitty from Ardath, in the Lockhart sub-catchment of the Avon river, brought in an interesting critter the other day. In its mouth was a Prong-snouted Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops bituberculatus) from the Order Squamata.

 

Natasha from Merredin says these snakes are subterranean, non venomous creatures eating ant pupae and only coming to the surface at night especially after rain. These snakes are known from WA through SA to NSW & Vic. but Ardath would be close to the limit of their western range according to KingSnake.com

With a secretive lifestyle underground, little is known about this snake or the other 42 Australian species. However, we do know they are not actually blind - their eyes are covered by scales to protect them from the ants who's mounds they raid for food.

 Thanks to Natasha and the crew from Ardath for sharing their find!

This is another example of the amazing animals which call the Avon Wheatbelt home. To find out more visit www.wheatbeltNRM.org.au or email info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Corrigin Wildflower Walk

Earlier this month, Cindy from Corrigin, with help from the Shire of Corrigin, organised a Spring Wildflower Walk near Corrigin in the central wheatbelt. More than 15 people from the local area and beyond joined in the walk, which included a visit to see the Corrigin Grevillea (Grevillea scapigera), which is in flower this time of year.

This unique and interesting low open shrub is an important species for locals to be aware of, as it only grows around the Corrigin area.

After learning more about this plant and its conservation, the group took a walk through the Corrigin Town Reserve to look at the variety of wildflowers that were on show. Many Acacia's and ephemeral annual herbs were in flower, as well as several patches of Enamel Orchids (Thymelitra spp.). A brief snack of fruit and cakes in the bush was a real treat for the kids and adults alike - then back to the wildflowers!

On the way back, several of the kids were lucky enough to see a large green Katydid - a predatory cricket-like invertebrate - sitting on some shrubs. Katydids are quite common and are found all across the south west - providing some entertaining 'songs' throughout the Spring and Summer.

For everyone involved it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon - with good company and natural surroundings.

This casual get together was part of a plan by Cindy and the Shire to increase the communities involvement in managing the reserve. If the turn-out is any indication of the interest from the community, it likely won't be long until a local 'Friends of Corrigin Reserve' group gets going.

If you are keen to know more about this activity, be part of the Friends of Corrigin Reserve or know about similar events in the Avon, email info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au or call the WheatebltNRM office in Northam on 08 9690 2250.

Lazy Days Lizard

This 'lil fella was seen lurking about in the native plats out the front of the Wheatbelt NRM office in Northam last week!

It's a Shingleback Lizard, (Teliqua rugosa) also often called a Blue Tongue Lizard. They eat flower buds and snails, and are known to form long term bonds with their mates, like some other reptiles.

Cool days with lots of sunshine provide perfect conditions for these lizards to be found sunning themselves on roads and tracks in or near the bush, so keep an eye out when you are on the road!

Interestingly, these reptiles give birth to live young, unlike most other reptiles. Up to three young can be born from a single female!

Glorious Green Gobblers

Anyone in the wheatbelt who left their outside light on over the last few nights has likely been bombarded by large, iridescent flying beetles with rather large mandibles! They are known as Green Carab Beatles (Order: Coleoptera), Stink Beetles or Caterpillar Hunters!!

These shiny beetles have come out of the ground and begun to gather around lights across Australia, ready to meet a mate and begin the next generation of beetles. They might also enjoy a tasty moth or catrpillar as a snack if they can get one!!

Their iridescent colours are created by light that is refracted from fine grooves in their pitted carapace, which is actually black - not green!! Other species across the nation and world are various colours, including red, yellow, blue and green.

Green Carab Beetles are active at night and hunt slow-moving prey such as caterpillars. They can be beneficial as a predator of insect pests, such as armyworms and cutworms. The larvae are also carnivorous.

But, don't get too close - if you do you might get a dose of a foul smelling scent on you. They use this smell to deter predators, and it works a treat. Phew!

Velvet On The Ground

Wayne from Toodyay sent in this picture recently, wondering what it could be.

 
This critter appears to be a Velvet Mite (Order Acarina) which are reputed to come out from under the leaf litter after rain and prey on grasshoppers and aphids!! The picture here shows the free-roaming adult in search of small invertebrates for dinner!

Velvet Mites are known from across the world but there is little known about their ecology or life-cycle in Western Australia.

With the rain over the last month or so, the bush is really starting to come alive with more amazing critters! This 'Other 99%' of our fauna is often overlooked when we think of the bush, but play a vital role in the nutrient and decomposition cycles.

Goldfields Trapdoor Spiders

Rebecca from Subiaco sent in a few photos of some trapdoor spider burrows she noticed on a recent wildflower expidition into the goldfields.

The burrows are made by mygalomorph trapdoor spiders from the family Idiopidae and can be quite large. You can see at least three rings on the burrow lids which suggest the spiders within are that old. They attach the local fallen litter to the burrow edge with their silk and ambush prey such as ants and beetles.

Trapdoor spiders make great indicators of habitat health, as they need many other insects and bugs to sustain them, while also being seen as a tasty snack by predators such as reptiles and butcher birds.

As spring 2011 progresses we will post any interesting and unusual discoveries that come across our desk, so send any of your cool pics to info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au if you want to know more!

NRM Supertent at Dowerin Field Days

The team from Wheatbelt NRM set up their biggest stall ever at this year's 2011 Dowerin Field Days.


Inside was a plethora of information available to the public about what WNRM does, plus many other groups who's role it is to support NRM in the Avon.

• The Oil Mallee Association
• Greening Australia (WA)
• WANTFA
• DEC's Nature Conservation Covenant Program
• DEC's Roadside Conservation Committee
• The Avon Valley Environmental Society, and
• AvonGRO

Throughout the two days of the show heaps of people and many school groups came to lean about what they can do to get involved in the Australian Government's newly released Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI), have a go at the interactive river model or watch some of the amazing footage from Camera Traps across the Avon.

Visiut www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au for more information.

New Wheatbelt Trapdoor Spider

A totally new species of trapdoor spider was found by a member of the Grass Valley community last month!

Mr John Cornish found the unusually colored spider in his backyard and took it to the Northam DEC office for more information.


"I just knew it was different to anything I'd seen before so I collected it in a jar and took it to DEC" said John.

The spider eventually found it's way to the WA Museum, (via Dr. Volker Framenau, who took this great picture) where Dr. Mark Harvey, Curator of Myriopods and Arachnids, identified it as being a new species.

After a short period it was clear to Dr. Harvey it was not like anything else in the WA Museum's collections.

"It had different reproductive parts and was a long way from other similar species" Dr. Harvey said. "The Genus was only described on 2001, having only two species in it. This new find will likely take the tally to three species, once the species is formally described.

Where else in the world can a new species of animal walk right up to your back door? In the central wheatbelt!!

The unique diversity of our region is constantly being added to, whether its new species' of spiders from Grass Valley, unique flora from saline seeps in Dowerin or new communities of plants from past the clearing line.

So, if you've seen something new, different of just interesting from the Wheatbelt, contact Wheatbelt NRM on 089 690 2250 and we'll see if we can help you find out what it is.