Biodiversity Assessment - South East Coastal Plain
South East Coastal Plain
Introduction
Summary of overall condition and trend
The overall condition of the bioregion is degraded and declining, with recovery unlikely in the medium term. The condition does however vary considerably between the subregions. Agricultural landuses are predominant in all the subregions whilst urban landuse is important in the Gippsland Plain (the most populous subregion in Victoria with Melbourne's demographic centre and much pressure from suburban expansion) and to a lesser extent the Otway Plain. Past clearing has resulted in fragmented landscapes across the bioregion, with only relictual vegetation across much of the Warrnambool and Gippsland plains. There is continued pressure on coastal habitats from recreational use and expansion of housing near the coast. Many wetlands, including the extensive wetlands to the east of Westernport Bay have been lost. Fragmentation of vegetation, changed fire regimes, pollution of the wetlands, particularly the Gippsland Lakes system, urban expansion, weeds, and grazing are among the most important processes which continue to impact on the condition of the bioregion.
Continental landscape stress classes range from 1 to 4 as assessed by the Landscape Health report (1 is most stressed, 6 is least stressed). The main contributor to the stress class assessment is the extensive clearing and associated fragmentation of the vegetation.
Summary of conservation priorities
The extensive depletion and fragmentation of many of the ecosystems across the Victorian Coastal Plain means that remaining areas of native vegetation and habitat are highly significant for biodiversity conservation. Protection and restoration of remnant native vegetation and wetlands, improvement of water quality for the lake systems and other smaller wetlands, particularly relating to nutrient levels, is essential. In the heathlands, which include major blocks of vegetation on public land, and in the management of now small and isolated grassy woodland and grassland habitats, maintaining appropriate fire regimes presents a challenge. Grazing, principally by cattle, continues to impact on remnant vegetation on private land and particularly on riparian remnants and water quality. Given the large proportion of private land in the South East Coastal Plains and the scattered small conservation reserves, biodiversity conservation will rely heavily on the owners and managers of private land and the network of road and rail reserves and other small blocks of public land. The emphasis will be on working with landowners and managers to identify and protect these remnants and the threatened species, communities and critical habitats of the region through a range of incentive and support schemes.
The bioregion consists of undulating Tertiary and Quaternary coastal plains and hinterlands that occur in several distinct segments (Warrnambool Plain, Otway Plain and Gippsland Plain subregions) rising up to 200 metres in altitude. The bioregion extends from Tyrendarra in the west to Lakes Entrance in the east, and includes Geelong, eastern Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. The area has a temperate climate with rainfall varying from about 500 to 1100 mm, typically with higher rainfall in winter. Adjacent areas of higher altitude (eg. the Otway and Strzelecki Ranges) produce rainshadow effects in some parts of the area. The Warrnambool Plain subregion is dominated by nutrient deficient soils over low calcareous dune formations and the distinctive cliffed coastline. Much of the limestone has been overlayed by more recent sediments, and between the limestone dunes areas of swamplands are characterised by highly fertile peats and seasonal inundation. The area east of Warrnambool is characterised by deeper soils of volcanic origins overlying limestone, which are dissected by streams. The Otway Plain subregion includes coastal plains, river valleys and foothills from the Bellarine Peninsula west to Princetown. A small isolated component at Werribee, on the western shore of Port Phillip Bay, is included. The Gippsland Plain includes lowland coastal and alluvial plains characterised by generally flat to gently undulating terrain. The coastline is varied and includes sandy beaches backed by dunes and cliffs, and shallow inlets with extensive mud and sand flats.
The vegetation includes lowland forests, open forests with shrubby or heathy understoreys, grasslands and grassy woodlands, heathlands, shrublands, freshwater and coastal wetlands, mangrove scrubs, saltmarshes, dune scrubs and coastal tussock grasslands. Very little native vegetation remains in this area, most having been cleared for agriculture, both historically through pastoral development and more recently through cropping.
Natural values
The South East Coastal Plains bioregion has special values including extensive coastal wetlands, several with Ramsar listing, a maternity cave for the Common Bent-wing bat at Lake Gillear and much of the habitat of the Giant Gippsland Earthworm
Bioregional endemic flora include: Otway Grey-gum (Eucalyptus aff. cypellocarpa (Anglesea) sensu Ross (2000)), Wellington Mint-bush (Prostanthera galbraithiae B.J. Conn), Bellarine Peninsula Yellow-gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. bellarinensis K. Rule); and an extensive list of orchids such as Angahook Caladenia (Caladenia sp aff iridenscens), Anglesea Sun-orchid (Thelymitra sp. aff. pauciflora (Anglesea) sensu Ross (1996)), Bairnsdale Diuris (Diuris sp aff dendrobioides), Eastern Spider-orchid (Caladenia orientalis (ex fragrantissima ssp orientalis), Frankston spider-orchid (Caladenia robinsonii), French Island Spider-orchid (Caladenia insularis G.W. Carr), French Island Sun-orchid (Thelymitra sp aff venusta), Fringed Spider-orchid (Caladenia thysanochila G.W. Carr), Gellibrand Midge-orchid (Genoplesium sp aff nudiscapum), Late Helmet-orchid (Corybas sp aff diemenicus) and Otway Caladenia (Caladenia maritima).
Click here to link to a table of natural values within each subregion
Wetlands
Twenty-five wetlands of national importance are listed and six hundred and twenty five wetlands of regional significance have been identified including open waters, deep and shallow freshwater marshes, Permanent water - both saline and semi saline and Salt flats. They act as significant refuges supporting populations of endemic, rare or threatened species, and species-rich ecosystems. Their condition is poor (improvement requires significant management intervention) while the trend is declining. Threatening processes include pollution (run off of fertilisers and herbicides from adjacent agricultural land), grazing pressure, environmental weeds, and changes to hydrology.
Significant wetlands of Ramsar status include Port Phillip and Western Port Bays, Corner Inlet and Gippsland Lakes.
Nationally important wetlands
Table: Australia's Important Wetlands (Directory of Important Wetlands of Australia): their type, condition, trend and threatening processes within each subregion.
There is no data available for this table within the bioregion.
Regionally important wetlands
Click here to link to a table of provisional identification of wetlands of regional significance: their type and special values within each subregion. The reliability of the overall subregional assessment is indicated.
Click here to link to a table of provisional identification of wetlands of regional significance: their condition, trend and threatening processes within each subregion.
Riparian Zones
Main river systems include the Hopkins, Corangamite, Curdies, Gellibrand, Bass, La Trobe, Thompson, Avon, Macalister, and Nicholson Rivers, and Cardinia Creek.
The riparian zones are degraded to fair (Recovery unlikely in medium term), and declining under trampling and grazing pressure from cattle and feral herbivores, environmental weeds, increasing fragmentation and loss of remnants, changed fire regimes, firewood collection and changed hydrology - salinity and others.
Map: Riparian threatening processes.
Click here to link to a table of riparian zones: their average condition, trend and threatening processes for each subregion. The reliability of this overall assessment is indicated.
Ecosystems at risk
In the South East Coastal Plains there are 42 endangered and 44 vulnerable ecosystems at risk and declining with 16 ecosystems now extinct. Of the 133 regional ecosystems (ecological vegetation classes) in the bioregion - 32% are endangered 33% are vulnerable and 12% are probably extinct.
The vegetation types that have the most regional ecosystems under threat (the NVIS major vegetation subgroups which have the largest number of threatened EVCs) are herbland, sedgeland and rushland, tall shrublands, eucalyptus woodlands with a grassy understorey and eucalyptus woodlands with a shrubby understorey.
The main threatening processes impacting on these ecosystems are: the introduction of exotic weeks, grazing pressure, increasing fragmentation changed of fire regimes, feral animals, and changed hydrology such both salinity and drainage of wetlands for agricultural purposes.
Map: IBRA map showing frequency of threatening processes for ecosystems.
Click here to link to a table of provisional list of threatened ecosystems in Australia: their broad vegetation type (National Vegetation Information System - Major Vegetation Subgroup), recommended status, current legislative protection as a threatened ecosystem, trend and bioregional distribution. These ecosystems are arranged in the bioregion of their principal occurrence. The reliability of the recommended status is indicated.
Click here to link to a table of provisional list of threatened ecosystems in each subregion: their threatening processes.
Click here to link to a table of provisional list of threatened ecosystems in each subregion: their recommended recovery actions
Species at risk
199 taxa listed as threatened have been identified in the bioregion. Six taxa are listed as extinct, 17 as critically endangered, 73 as endangered, 119 as vulnerable. 226 other taxa of conservation concern have been identified.
In the South East Coastal Plains, trends of the threatened taxa in the bioregion are 3% extinct, 2% rapidly declining, 5% declining, 3% improving, 10% static and the trend for the remaining 76% is unknown.
Threatening processes which impact on these species include: environmental weeds; the effects of fragmentation and subsequent degradation of remnant vegetation; the pressures of recreational use, particularly on the coast; grazing pressure; the impacts of feral animals both predators and herbivores; changed fire regimes; changed hydrology, including drainage of wetlands; and the effects of salinity.
Table 1: Number of threatened taxa occurring in the bioregion
| Commonwealth | Victoria | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extinct | Endangered | Vulnerable | Extinct | Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable | Data deficient or Insufficiently known |
Lower risk - Near Threatened |
Rare | |
| Amphibians | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| Birds | 7 | 15 | 9 | 23 | 26 | 7 | 10 | |||
| Fish | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Invertebrates | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | |||||
| Mammals | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Plants | 1 | 16 | 26 | 3 | 38 | 72 | 64 | 125 | ||
| Reptiles | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Grand Total | 1 | 32 | 55 | 6 | 17 | 73 | 119 | 80 | 17 | 129 |
Map: IBRA map showing frequency of threatening processes for species.
Click here to link to a table of species at risk in each subregion: their status, trend and subregional distribution. The reliability of the assessment of trend is indicated and whether recovery plans have been prepared.
Click here to link to a table of species at risk in each subregion: their threatening processes.
Click here to link to a table of species at risk in each subregion: their status recommended recovery actions.
Eucalypts and Acacias
Otway Grey-gum (Eucalyptus aff. cypellocarpa (Anglesea) sensu Ross (2000)), and Bellarine Peninsula Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. Bellarinensis K. Rule); are endemic taxa. Both are rapidly declining.
Birds
The exceptionally large species list for this bioregion reflects its proximity to Melbourne birdwatchers, the presence in the bioregion of the Werribee Sewage Farm, and of ports from which many seabird trips have been launched. Stripped of the resultant vagrants, the list more closely corresponds to the bioregion's size. It includes a large proportion of the habitat of two threatened species, the eastern subspecies of Rufous Bristlebird west of Cape Otway and the non-breeding population of the Critically Endangered Orange-bellied Parrot on the coastal salt flats. A high proportion of the observations of Eurasian Tree Sparrow and European Greenfinch are from the bioregion, with exotic species making up nearly 14% of all bird records. There were major increases in Common Blackbird, Common Starling and Common Myna, suggesting that this exotic loading has not stabilised. Despite efforts to find waders in the bioregion, the reporting rate of many wader species declined. This may be partly because that, while the bioregion was drier than average during both Atlas periods, it was more so during the second. However there was no coincident trend in the reporting rate of freshwater species. Although most land clearing and other degradation occurred long before the first Atlas, the reporting rate for ground-feeding insectivores declined in concert with other southeastern bioregions.
Status: Highly modified temperate forest and woodland avifauna, with heavy introduced species load.
Rare and threatened: Orange-bellied Parrot on coastal saltmarsh, Rufous Bristlebird in cliff-top heath west of Cape Otway.
Increasers: Spotted Turtle-Dove, Crested Pigeon, Musk Lorikeet, Common Blackbird, Common Starling, Common Myna.
Indicators: Banded Lapwing, Gang-Gang Cockatoo, Red-browed Treecreeper, Brown Treecreeper, Jacky Winter, Scarlet Robin, Flame Robin, Hooded Robin, Grey-crowned Babbler, Varied Sittella, Crested Shrike-tit, Restless Flycatcher, Diamond Firetail .
Trend: Lower frequency of records of ground-feeding insectivores.
Scenario: Continued decline of fragmented woodland fauna and bioregional extinctions matched by increases in introduced.
Actions: Protect, enhance and link woodland fragments. No grazing in representative areas and the adoption of reduced, conservative grazing rates in key habitat across the bioregion. Protect or rehabilitate catchments of major wetlands retaining values for freshwater birds.
Click hereto download a summary report including the physical characteristics of the bioregion, a species list, and summary statistics [Excel file]. The file may open on your screen. To save it to your system 'Save as' under the File menu.
Mammals
Number of species and status
There are 46 mammal species within this bioregion. (The maximum number of species recorded in a bioregion is 86 and the minimum is 25).
Click here to link to a table of number of species in each status class for this bioregion.
Click here to link to a list of mammal species and their status for this bioregion.
Critical weight range
The critical weight range (35 - 5500 g) of mammals is the size range of Australian mammals that have been most affected by environmental changes following European settlement. In this bioregion, the proportion of mammal fauna within the critical weight range is .522. (The maximum proportion of fauna within the critical weight range recorded in a bioregion is 0.632 and the minimum is 0.222).
Faunal Attrition Index
Faunal attrition is a measure of contraction or loss of species richness with a region. A high index value means many species have declined or are extinct in the bioregion. The index can be used to compare the status of mammal fauna to regional attributes such as changes since European settlement and average annual rainfall. The Faunal Attrition Index for mammals in this bioregion is .28. (The maximum faunal attrition index value recorded in a bioregion is 0.66 and the minimum is 0).
Click here to link to a table of Faunal Attrition Index for groups of mammals shows the contributions of each group to overall patterns of faunal decline.
Faunal Contraction Index
A range contraction index is a measure of the extent to which the range inhabited by a particular species has contracted. A high index value means that many of the species comprising the region's original mammal fauna have contracted from a high proportion of the regions they originally occurred in. The faunal contraction index for the mammal fauna in this bioregion is .17. (The maximum faunal contraction index value recorded in a bioregion is 0.51 and the minimum is 0.07).
Faunal Endemism Index
Endemic species are those restricted to certain regions. Regions containing endemic species are considered to have high biodiversity conservation values because opportunities to conserve those species do not exist elsewhere. A high index value means that the species comprising the original mammal fauna typically occurred in few bioregions. The faunal endemism index value for the mammal fauna in this bioregion is .66. (The maximum faunal endemism index value recorded in a bioregion is 0.79 and the minimum is 0.52).
New Endemism Index
Extant (still surviving) species that have undergone major range contractions can be considered 'new endemics'. Bioregions that contain new endemic species are often important refugia for threatened species. The new endemism index for the mammal fauna in this bioregion is .5. (The maximum new endemism index value recorded in a bioregion is 0.93 and the minimum is 0.5).
Click here to link to a list translocated species that has/have been successfully translocated into this bioregion.
Exotic Mammals
The number of introduced exotic mammal species that occur within this bioregion is 14. (The maximum number of introduced exotic mammal species in a bioregion is 16 and the minimum is 5).
Click here to link to a list of introduced exotic mammal species for this bioregion.
Extinct mammal species
The number of extinct mammal species that previously occurred within this bioregion is 2. (The maximum number of extinct mammal species in a bioregion is 29 and the minimum is 0).
Click here to link to a list of extinct mammal species for this bioregion.
Management responses
Reserve consolidation
The total area in parks and conservation reserves represents 6.5% of the bioregion. At least seventy-one percent of regional ecosystems are included in parks and reserves. (Note that the identification of regional ecosystem reservation for this bioregion was not complete at the time of analysis).
Major reserves include: Port Campbell National Park, which is known world wide for its spectacular coastline and geomorphological features as well as supporting threatened species and ecosystems; Bay of Islands Coastal Park, which is significant for its geomorphological coastal features; French Island National Park has significant mangrove and saltmarsh communities and is rich in flora and fauna; Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park and Lake Connewarre Wildlife Reserve are recognised as an internationally significant wetlands and have important wetland breeding habitat and floristically rich; Holey Plains State Park has a high diversity of flora which is recognised nationally; and Carlisle State Park and Angahook-Lorne State Park are floristically rich and an important habitat for the vulnerable Ground Parrot.
Priority for increased protection has been assessed (based on Fitzsimons (1999)) at the level of Broad Vegetation Types within IBRA Version 4 bioregional boundaries. The following have been listed as a high priority: Plains Grassy Woodland Complexes, Grassland Complexes, Montane Dry Woodland Complexes, Riverine Grassy Woodland Complexes, Heath Complexes, Coastal Scrubs & Grassy Woodland Complexes, Coastal Grassy Woodland Complexes, Swamp Scrub Complexes, Riparian Forest Complexes and Lowland Forest Complexes. Land acquisition by NRE and the Trust for Nature under the National Reserve System Program has increased reservation levels of Plains Grassy Woodland. Opportunities for further protection and reservation continue to be identified but are limited by depletion of priority vegetation types and high land prices.
Click here to link to a table of comprehensiveness, adequacy and representativeness (CAR) of the National Reserve System in terms of ecosystems and area sampled and a ranking of reserve management. The bioregional priority for consolidating the National Reserve System is based on this CAR analysis and threat.
Table: Bioregional and subregional priorities and ecosystem priorities to consolidate the National Reserve System and associated ecosystem constraints.
There is no data available for this table within the bioregion.
Off-park conservation for species and ecosystem recovery
Given the large proportion of private land in the South East Coastal Plain and the relictual nature of much of the remnant vegetation in the landscape, biodiversity conservation in many areas will rely heavily on off-reserve management on private land and the network of road and rail reserves and other public land.
The following taxa have been identified as the highest priority for planning and management activity off-reserve in subregional assessment of threatened species conservation activity (Lowe et al. 2000):
Anglesea Grevillea (Grevillea infecunda), Bushy Hedgehog-grass (Echinopogon caespitosus), Dainty Maidenhair (Adiantum capillus-veneris), Dwarf Kerrawang (Rulingia prostrata), Hairy Shepherd's Purse (Microlepidium pilosulum), Paddock Love-grass (Eragrostis leptostachya), Rare Bitter-bush (Adriana quadripartita s.s. (glabrous f), River Swamp Wallaby-grass (Amphibromus fluitans); including a number of orchids such as Dense Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum spicatum), Frankston Spider-orchid (Caladenia robinsonii), French Island Spider-orchid (Caladenia insularis), Fringed Spider-orchid (Caladenia thysanochila), Gaping Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum correctum), Maroon Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum frenchii), Merran's Sun-orchid (Thelymitra merraniae), Red-beard Midge-orchid (Genoplesium sp. aff. morrisii (Pyrete), Robust Spider-orchid (Caladenia valida), Strzelecki Gum (Eucalyptus strzeleckii); and fauna such as Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus), Common Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus schreibersii), Cox's Gudgeon (Gobiomorphus coxii), Dwarf Galaxias (Galaxiella pusilla), Fairy Tern (Sterna nereis), Great Egret (Ardea alba), Hooded Plover (Thinornis rubricollis), Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), Lewin's Rail (Rallus pectoralis), Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius), Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), Swamp Skink (Egernia coventryi), Warragul Burrowing Cray (Engaeus sternalis).
Fencing and changes to grazing levels, fire management and ecological burning, control of water contaminants, reinstatement of hydrology and environmental flows, feral animal and weed control, and habitat supplementation, were identified as the most common recovery management actions required for these species.
Community capacity to undertake such actions is variable across the bioregion, and may be particularly limited where declining commodity values have reduced the profitability of dominant farming practices and alternatives have yet to be found. Improved stewardship schemes and further public investment would provide opportunities to increase the actions undertaken and strengthen the viability of some farming businesses. Increased access to information, technical training and key resources (e.g. seed supply for revegetation) would greatly add value to these efforts.
Integrated NRM
Natural resource management in the South East Coastal Plains is coordinated through strategies and associated plans of regional Catchment Management Authorities (Glenelg-Hopkins, Corangamite, West Gippsland and East Gippsland) or the Port Phillip Catchment and Land Protection Board. The Draft Native Vegetation Plans for these catchments management areas provide a systematic evaluation of conservation status and prioritisation for retention and enhancement of native vegetation based on Ecological Vegetation Classes, while the Draft Victorian Pest Management framework emphasises the importance of pest management for Biodiversity conservation. The primarily private land focus of the catchment authorities/boards is complemented by planning processes for public land use and management, particularly for forests and parks/reserves.
The Living Systems Project helps farm families and agribusiness recognise and realise the potential benefits from native biodiversity's contribution to the ecological sustainability of farm business and lifestyle. Land for Wildlife promotes voluntary habitat management for biodiversity on private land, conservation assessments and management advice.
A model Environmental Management System including biodiversity components has been developed for Victorian Agriculture with work being undertaken to integrate biodiversity considerations into EMS for grains, grazing and viticulture
A range of incentive activities are relevant to biodiversity. Fencing incentive schemes are generally well targeted for biodiversity protection outcomes. Rate rebate schemes have potential but are currently limited in scope, due to the relatively low level of participation arising from the nature of the rebate offered and/or the number of local government authorities offering rebate schemes. Weed control initiatives generally require an improved focus on biodiversity. There is an opportunity for greatly improved focus of incentives for biodiversity through the wider adoption of a publicly-funded native vegetation stewardship model (BushTender) which is strongly targeted through quantitative measurement of biodiversity benefits, combines flexibility for landholder participation with a market-based bidding mechanism, and delivers specific medium-term management agreements.
Other opportunities for improved NRM planning include: incorporation of biodiversity conservation objectives into Local Planning Schemes; wider use of overlays and local policies to highlight and protect significant biodiversity values; and full implementation of local government roadside conservation plans that assess conservation significance of roadsides with the intent of protection from inappropriate management practices. The upgrading of investment strategies and tools for NRM (e.g. NAP foundation year projects to improve key resources datasets and to revise regional Catchment Management Strategies) are opportunities to improve the cost-effectiveness of NRM.
The principle constraints for NRM are the biophysical constraints of extensive past clearing and associated changes in soil and hydrology characteristics; and the economic constraints which arise from having the great majority of land in private and agricultural landuse, and high land values, particularly in proximity to the metropolitan area. These constraints mean that solutions will need to focus on recovery and supplementation of existing habitats directly coordinated with efforts to recover major ecosystem functions (eg groundwater and surface water quality and quantity) and in an integrated manner that supports viable farm businesses.
Map: IBRA map showing frequency of recovery actions (species).
Map: IBRA map showing existing projects part of NRM.
Click here to link to a table of contribution of integrated Natural Resource Management to the protection of biodiversity in each subregion: existing measures and effectiveness.
Click here to link to a table of contribution of integrated Natural Resource Management to the protection of biodiversity in each subregion: feasible opportunities and comments.
Further Information & Gaps
Data gaps and research priorities
A general lack of ecological and life history data, particularly for lower profile species, combined with a lack of knowledge of specific local conditions and trends which limits the prioritisation of specific risks and the identification of appropriate types and levels of management intervention.
References
Environment Australia 2000. Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) and the Development of Version 5.1. - Summary Report. Department of Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
Fitzsimons, J. (1999) Reservation Status of Broad Vegetation Types in Victorian IBRA Regions. Report for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria.
Lowe, K.W., Preece, K., and Amos, N. (2000) Victoria's biodiversity reporting system: a bioregional approach to refining priorities and partnerships for biodiversity conservation, in "The Second Southern Hemisphere Ornithological Conference, Griffith University, Brisbane, Conference Programme and Book of Abstracts". Birds Australia Report Series Number 9. Birds Australia: Melbourne.
A complete list of references is available by clicking here.
Further information
View the Landscape Health in Australia report.
View the Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment 2002 report.
Download the Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment 2002 Database - Biodiversity Audit Data Entry System (BADES), and specifications
Click here to link to a table of some major data gaps in each subregion in terms of protecting biodiversity.
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