The Vertebrate Fauna of Bennett Brook and Success Hill Reserve, Caversham

12 Pages·1999·3 MB·

by  N K Cooper

THE VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF BENNETT BROOK AND
SUCCESS HILL RESERVE, CAVERSHAM
By N.K. COOPER, J. DELL and M.A. COWAN
Western Australian Museum of Natural Science, Francis Street, Perth 6000
INTRODUCTION interface of the Bassendean Dune
System and the Pinjarra Plain (Keighery
Recent work especially that by the
1996) and consequently the soils are a
Western Australian Museum has
mixture of sands and clayey silts. In the
illustrated the significance of urban
past, clay has been mined in several
bushland remnants to the survival of
places.
vertebrate fauna of the Perth region
(How and Dell 1989, 1993,1994, How Success Hill Reserve is situated on the
et al. 1996, Harvey et al. 1997 and Bassendean Dune System. It is a
Cooper 1995). There is a relationship remnant Banksia woodland consisting of
between size of remnant bushland and Candlestick Banksia, Banksia attenuata
the number of species surviving with and Firewood Banksia, B. menziesii with
reserves as small as 4 ha having been an overstorey of Jarrah, Eucalyptus
shown to be important for faunal margimta. There is a shrub and heath
assemblages (Turpin 1990, 1991). understorey. The Swan River has a
However many species persist on even fringing forest of Flooded Gum, E. rudis,
smaller reserves (Cooper 1995). Paperbark, Melaleuca rhaphiophylla and
She-oak, Casuarina obesa. This riverine
This study was initiated by the Success
forest extends, patchily, along the
Hill Action Group (Inc.) to determine
entire length of Bennett Brook.
the vertebrate fauna of the small
Additionally, the Paperbark has
remnant of native bushland at Success
extensive woodlands associated with the
Hill and the adjacent and contiguous
swamp system on the eastern side of
Bennett Brook area northwards to
Bennett Brook. These vegetation types
Benara Road, in Caversham (Figure 1).
are described by Keighery (1996).
Much of the shrub vegetation along
STUDYAREA Bennett Brook has been modified or
eliminated by various land use practices
Success Hill Reserve (Figure 1) is vested
especially cattle and horse grazing.
with the Bassendean Town Council and
occupies an elevated area overlooking
the Swan River. It is bounded by the
SAMPLING SITES AND METHODS
Swan River to the east and housing to
the west. The area has been isolated by This study aimed to record the
roads to the west for many decades but vertebrate assemblage of each
is contiguous with the riverine vegetation type in the Success Hill
woodlands of Bennett Brook to the Reserve and nearby parts of the
north. The study area is located at the Bennett Brook area. In order to obtain
179
Figure 1. Aerial photograph of the Success Hill/Bennett Brook area showing locations of
vertebrate trapping sites (marked 1 and 2) and the fish shampling sites marked (A, B, C,
D, E).
180
an assessment of the seasonal faunal and fish were sampled on two occasions
assemblage it was decided to undertake at set sample sites (Figure 1) along the
sampling surveys at several times of the lower reaches of Bennett Brook in
year. Accordingly, surveys were autumn and the beginning of winter.
undertaken to examine the fauna during Afternoon and evening surveys were
September and November 1994, also conducted on four occasions to
January, February, March, April, May, record calling frogs. All surface fresh
July, October and November 1995. water was examined with nets for the
presence of tadpoles.
Terrestrial vertebrate sampling sites
were established in January 1995 when Birds were recorded opportunistically
nine 20 litre buckets, placed 10 metres whilst checking the fenced pitlines and
apart, were used as pitfall traps. A seven during all other reptile and frog surveys.
metre long flywire fence standing 30 cm A search was carried out of relevant
high was placed vertically over each trap literature to find distributional records
when they were opened and operational of vertebrates from the region. In
Two sites were chosen for intensive particular we used How and Dell
sampling, one on Success Hill and one (1993) for mammals, Bush er al. (1995)
on the slopes below Pyrton (Figure 1). and How and Dell (1993, 1994) for
These two sites were chosen to reptiles, Storr and Johnstone (1988)
represent the range of habitats available and How and Dell (1993) for birds,
in the elevated dry sandy areas. The Tyler et al. (1994) for amphibians, and
lowland sites close to Bennett Brook Sarti and Allen (1978) for freshwater
were not chosen for intensive sampling fish. Museum databases were also
as pitfall traps cannot be located in searched for additional mammal and
areas that become waterlogged during reptile data.
winter rains.
The traps were opened and examined
RESULTS
on seven consecutive days during
February, March, July, October and
MAMMALS
November 1995. Traps were closed and
During these surveys the only mammal
sealed and the flywire fence removed
trapped was the introduced House
between trapping periods. Traps were
examined daily and all reptiles, Mouse, Mus musculus. Numerous signs
of House Mice were recorded
amphibians and mammals were
throughout the area where old nests and
identified, measured, and released.
burrows were located under various large
Extensive searches were also made of
items of rubbish. Both Success Hill
the entire area to record reptiles and
Reserve and the Bennett Brook area are
amphibians. In particular all surface
used by domestic cats and dogs. Rabbits,
rubbish and timber, bark and leaf litter
Oryctolagus cuniculus, were widespread
was turned over and examined to reveal
but not abundant in the area Signs of
hidden species. Nocturnal surveys were
Foxes, Vu/pes vulpes, were widespread in
undertaken with headtorches on three
the area. A fox den had the remains of
occasions to reveal species which are
Swamphens, Black Ducks, Ring-necked
only active at night.
Parrots, Dusky Moorhens and freshwater
Frogs were sampled during favourable crustaceans, indicating the wide range
weather conditions throughout the year of prey items taken.
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182
The Quenda or Southern Brown (1993) suggest that many may no
Bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus, was longer be found in the region.
recorded. Characteristic feeding diggings
were located around the edges of the
AMPHIBIANS
inundated areas after the heavy rains
Seven species of amphibians were
during the winter of 1995. These
recorded during these surveys. They are
animals were presumably forced out of
their habitat along Bennett Brook and listed on Table 1 together with habitat
types in which they were recorded.
the Swan River. Two dead Quendas
Each species is also briefly discussed
were also located on Benara Road near
below.
the junction of Bennett Brook at the
northern end of the study area during
Slender Tree Frog Litoriaadelaidensis
heavy rain.
At Bennett Brook, it breeds in early
Although not sighted in the study area
spring in the bullrush swamps at the base
several Common Brush possums,
of the hill below Pyrton. Calling males
Trichosurus vulpecula were reported in
were abundant in these swamps between
the Flooded Gums, Eucalyptus rudis
August and October. The egg masses
along the banks of the Swan River just
were attached to the rush stems just
downstream of our study area (K.
below the surface of the water. Tadpoles
Pearson, pers. comm). It is likely that
were present in late spring and summer.
Water Rats, Hydromys chrysogaster occur
When not breeding they tend to disperse
in the lower reaches of the Bennett
widely and can be found throughout
Brook as there are old museum records
Bennett Brook and the adjacent
from nearby localities including
Melaleuca swamps and were trapped in
Belmont Park, as well as unspecified
February mainly in the Bracken Fern on
localities on the Swan River.
the slopes below Pyrton.
No other species of terrestrial mammal
was recorded during this survey Motorbike Frog Litoria moorei
although introduced Black Rats, Rattus
Only one Motorbike Frog was trapped
rattus are likely to be widespread in the
in the Bracken Ferns below Pyrton
area. Historically, seven species of
during this survey.
native terrestrial mammals (Kitchener
and Vicker 1981) are known from the
Quacking Frog Criniageorgiana
Bassendean Sand System but most of
Many individuals were captured in the
these are now locally extinct in the
pit traps both on Success Hill and below
region (How and Dell 1993).
Pyrton. They were captured in all
One species of bat was heard calling in
sampling periods.
the area during nocturnal surveys This
This frog breeds in shallow seepages
was the White-striped Mastiff Bat,
along the entire western side of Bennett
Nyctinomus australis, which is the only
Brook northwards from the base of
local bat whose echolocation sounds
Success Hill. The large eggs are laid
can be heard by the human ear. A
from mid-winter and were found
search of the literature, especially
throughout the shallow seepage areas.
Strahan (1995) and the Museum
database indicates that as many as nine
Glauert’s Froglet Criniaglauerti
other bat species were originally known
from the region but How and Dell This frog is common along Bennett
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Brook especially in the bulrush swamps together with habitat types in which
and the seasonally inundated areas that they were recorded.
occurred in the winter of 1995. This
frog bred in large numbers in all the
Swamp Skink Bassiana trilincata.
freshwater areas that remained after
Several individuals were located in
these heavy rains.
winter under rubbish around the
margins of the inundated areas at the
Squelching Froglet Crinia insignifera
base of the slopes above the old
This is the commonest frog in the area bridge.
and was present throughout the
Melaleuca swamps. It bred in large
Wa 11 Sk i n k Cryptoblepha rus
numbers in the inundated areas after the
plagiocephalus.
heavy winter rains in 1995. The eggs are
This species is widespread in the area
laid in water in the same manner as
and found on many trees including
Glauert’s Froglet.
Paperbark, Melaleuca rhaphiophylla,
Swamp Sheoak, Casuarina obesa,
Moaning Frog Heleioporus eyrei
Flooded Gum, Eucalyptus rudis. It
Only 3 individuals were trapped in the
occupies crevices and gaps among
Success Hill and Pyrton areas. Although peeling bark.
not recorded breeding on this survey,
they probably breed around the margins
Striped Skink Ctenotus fallens
of the seepage areas.
This fast-running, diurnal species is
Banjo Frog Limnodynastesdorsalis widespread throughout Success Hill and
the slopes northwards to Pyrton.
They were captured at both Success Hill
and below Pyrton and calling males
were heard in the Melaleuca swamp in Limestone Skink Ctenotus australis
winter and spring. It is scarce in the area and only two
individuals were trapped at Success
Most of the frog species recorded in the
Hill.
study area have widespread
distributions in suitable habitat on the
Coastal Plain. One species, the Two-toed Skink Herniergisquadrilineata
Quacking Frog, is mainly a Darling Only one individual was trapped in May
Range species with populations on the slopes below Pyrton.
extending onto the Coastal Plain on
alluvial soils associated with stream Elegant Lerista Leristaelegans
zones. One additional species, the
This tiny lizard is widespread in the
Turtle Frog, Myobairachus gouldii, is
area and was trapped on Success Hill
known from the Bassendean Dune
and located among leaf litter under
System (How &. Dell 1993) and may
the flooded gums along Bennett
occur at Success Hill.
Brook.
REPTILES Worm Lerista Lerista praepedita
Thirteen species of reptiles were This elongated, burrowing lizard is
recorded during these surveys They are probably rare in the area as only one
discussed below and listed on Table 1 was trapped on Success Hill.
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Grey's Skink Menedagreyii FISH
They live among fallen leaves and are Five species of native and two
widespread and probably the most introduced fish species were recorded in
abundant lizard in the area Bennett Brook during these surveys.
Each species is listed below together
Flecked Morethia Morethiaobscura with comments on their status at
This lizard is scarce in the area as only Bennett Brook.
one was sighted among the she-oaks
near the brickworks on the eastern side Western Minnow Galaxias occidentalis
of Bennett Brook. These small eel-like fish were often seen
swimming close to the surface against
Gould’s Monitor Varanusgouldii the current in the fastest running parts
Only one subadult was sighted under of Bennett Brook. They are relatively
the remains of an old car on the slopes common in Bennett Brook in the upper
below Pyrton after the fire in January parts of the study area, downstream at
1995. least to the old bridge. This is a
common endemic species in the
Tiger Snake Notechis scutatus southwest extending from the Moore
River to the east of Albany (Allen
Tiger snakes are scarce but widespread
1982).
in the area especially around the
Melaleuca swamps and the seasonally
inundated areas. Mosquito Fish Gambusia holbrooki
This is an exotic species which is
Dugite Pseudonajaaffinis extremely abundant in Bennett Brook
It is widespread in the area and several and the extensive Melaleuca Swamps,
were observed during the survey. even in the shallow weedy seasonal
wetlands around the margins.
Long-necked Tortoise Chelodina oblonga Populations fluctuate markedly in
Bennett Brook as this is a very fecund
This tortoise is common
species which produces up to 375 live
throughout the fresh water swamps
young up to six times during the year
along Bennett Brook and also
(Cadwallader and Backhouse 1983). It
occasionally occurs in the brook
is regarded as a pest on native species
itself. When the peripheral waters
and in some cases its effect on the
evaporate in summer, some
native fish fauna has been profound
individuals aestivate in the drying
(Allen 1982). In eastern Australia it
mud to emerge with the following
also has an impact on amphibian
winter rains. Adult females leave
populations by predating on tadpoles
the water to lay their eggs in dry
(Webb & Joss 1997).
sandbanks particularly along the
western side of Bennett Brook.
Nightfish Bostockia porosa
Another 31 species of reptiles are
known from the Bassendean Dune This nocturnal species prefers running
System (How & Dell 1993) but are water and was found in the upper
unlikely to be present in the study reaches of Bennett Brook downstream
area as suitable habitat does not to the old bridge During the day time it
occur. is very hard to find as it secretes itself
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away among stones or vegetation at the recorded during this survey. They are
bottom of the stream. This is an listed in Table 2. Not surprisingly, most
endemic species found in coastal species are associated with the extensive
streams, lakes and ponds from the swamp system on the eastern side of
Moore River to Albany (Allen 1982). Bennett Brook. Wooded wetlands such
as these are now relatively scarce on the
Western Pygmy Perch Edclia vittata eastern side of the Swan Coastal Plain.
This small fish was found throughout Accordingly, this swampland is a
the length of Bennett Brook significant feeding and roosting area for
downstream to where the freshwater many species of bird especially herons,
meets the tidal waters of the Swan cormorants and ducks
River. It was found among water weeds Table 2 also includes a number of small
and vegetation debris This is an insectivorous landbirds such as
endemic species found in coastal thornbills, fairy-wrens, scrub-wrens and
streams, lakes and ponds from the Grey Fantails which require natural
Moore River to Hopetoun (Allen vegetation for their survival. Each of
1982). the species in this group have declined
markedly on the Swan Coastal Plain as
Swan River Goby Pseudogobiusolorum a result of habitat fragmentation (How
This small species is abundant in the and Dell, 1993). The corridor of mature
Swan River and was found in the lower trees along Bennett Brook provides an
reaches of Bennett Brook. This fish is a important linkage between the riverine
slow swimming species and was hard to corridor of the Swan River and
locate as it spends most of its time conservation reserves, especially Ellen
Brook to the north.
resting among submerged vegetation.
This species is commonly found in
streams and estuaries of the South-west
CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE
(Allen 1982).
The study area has been recognised as
Long Thin Goby Favonigobius lateralis having important conservation
significance and is recommended for
This larger fish was found in the same
sites as the Swan River Goby. conservation in Perth's Bushplan
(Government of Western Australia
1998) as the largest and most diverse
Golden Carp Cyprinusauratus
relatively intact lagoonal system on the
Only two juveniles of this exotic species
Swan-Canning River Estuary and is one
were found in the middle sections of
of a very limited number of bushland
Bennett Brook. It feeds on insects,
areas on the Swan Estuary in providing
crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic
habitat for fauna as well as linkages
vegetation (Allen 1982). The seasonal
between different bushland areas
nature of Bennett Brook suggests that it
The study area has five species of native
is unlikely to become abundant and
fish all of which have declined on the
therefore not likely to become a major
Swan Coastal Plain. The frog fauna
problem here
which includes seven species is
moderately rich for a coastal plain
BIRDS
wetland. The area has a rich lizard fauna
Seventy-eight species of birds were with nine species of skink lizards. The
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most significant species is the Swamp killed outright by the fire Others which
Skink which is now rarely recorded on occupied burrows emerged after the fire
Swan Coastal Plain bushlands (How and to face considerably increased predator
Dell, 1994). pressure because their protective cover
had been removed.
The conservation significance of the
area for birds has been highlighted A large number of exotic grasses and
above The swamplands support a large other plants occur in the Success Hill/
number of waterbirds and the riverine Bennett Brook area and all contribute
forest is an important transit corridor to changes to native plant and animal
linking the Swan River with communities, displace sensitive native
conservation reserves to the north. species, reduce regeneration of native
species, disposess native animals of
habitat or food resources, increase
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS flammability of native vegetation and
result in more frequent and increased
The Success Hill/Bennett Brook area
fire intensity. They also affect the soil
needs specific management planning and
surface and change natural water and
practices to protect the multiple
nutrient cycles.
objectives of conservation (both wildlife
Non-native species of vertebrates such
and flora) and human recreation and
as foxes, cats, rabbits and Golden Carp
aesthetic values. In particular, the
compete for resources against native
damaging processes of fire, environ¬
species and a number of them predate
mental weeds, feral animals, grazing
on native fauna Rabbit overgrazing can
animals and human disturbance need
result in soil erosion, weed invasion and
addressing. Some need immediate
the loss of native plant species. Foxes
attention e.g. wildfire control and others
and cats prey upon ground animals and
need longer term considerations as
can seriously affect the population of
disturbance processes increase with time.
the Quenda They also destroy nests of
Fire has both short-term as well as long¬ ground-nesting birds or those that nest
term effects on native fauna. These were close to the ground.
summarised in a symposium organised by
Native vegetation is easily damaged by
the Urban Bushland Council in 1995,
human trampling. This also causes
and highlighted in a paper by Dell and
increased erosion and spread of weeds.
How (1995). They indicated that
Fertiliser and chemical use (herbicide
vertebrate as well as invertebrate
and pesticide) should be discouraged in
animals were inimically affected by fire.
adjacent areas to reduce their effects in
In particular, habitat specific, dietary
Bennett Brook as these affect water
specialist, sedentary species were worst
quality and the consequent survival of
affected. Some species disappeared
native fish and frogs.
completely after fire and others were
slow to recolonise burnt areas from
unbumt patches
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The severe wildfire of January 1995 had
a devastating effect on native fauna at We would like to thank the Success Hill
Success Hill. Many slow moving, above¬ Action Group (Inc.) for organising the
ground reptile species such as Bobtails, grant from the 1994/95 National
legless lizards and some skinks were Landcare Programme, One Million
187
Table 2. List of birds recorded at Success Hill/Bennett Brook during surveys in 1994-1995
+ = species which have colonised the area through natural expansion
* = species which have been introduced by man
ANATIDAE Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
Black Swan Cygmis atratus Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis
Australian Shelduck Tadoma tadomoides CHARADRI1DAE
Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa Black-fronted Dotterel Charadrius melanops
Grey Teal Anas gracilis
COLUMBIDAE
Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata
Spotted 7 urtle-Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis
Musk Duck Biziura lobata *Laughing Turtle-Dove Streptopelia
senegalensis
PODICIPED1DAE ^Domestic Pigeon Columba livia
Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehdlandiae
PSITTACIDAE
ANHINGIDAE *Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus
Darter Anhinga melanogaster Australian Ringneck Platycercus zonarius
Red-capped Parrot Platycercus spurius
PHALACROCORAC1DAE
Carnaby's Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus
Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax
latirostris
sulcirostris
+Galah Cacatua roseicapilla
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
*Corella Cacatua spp.
Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax
melanoleucos CUCUL1DAE
Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidus
PELECANIDAE
Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis jlabelliformis
Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
Shining Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus
ARDEIDAE
HALCYONIDAE
White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica
^Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae
Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
Great Egret Egretta alba
Rufous Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus MEROPIDAE
Rainbow Bee-eater Merops omatus
THRESKIORN1THIDAE
+Sacred Ibis Threskiornisaethiopicus MALUR1DAE
+St raw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens
+Ye l low-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes
PARDALOTIDAE
ACC1PITR1DAE Spotted Pardalotc Pardalotus punctatus
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caemleus Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus
Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus
ACANTH1ZIDAE
Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus
Western Gerygonc Gerygone fusca
FALCONIDAE Weebill Smicornis brevirostris
Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus Broad-tailed Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis
Australian Kestrel Falco cenchroides Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza
chrysorrhoa
RALLIDAE
White-browed Scrubwren Sericomis frontalis
Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio MELIPHAGIDAE
Eurasian Coot Fulicaatra Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
188