This strategy assesses:
- the diversity of native animal species across the region
- the health of populations of selected indicator species.
When considered together, these are expected to indicate the condition and resilience of native animal species.
Diversity of native animal species
Data about sightings of native fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals has been collected over many decades.
By analysing these records, we can:
- determine the number of species that are known to have existed in the region
- calculate the probability that each species still exists.
The specific method used here was developed by Fiona Caryl, Rodney van der Ree and Kelly Holland at the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology. Records were used from the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, Melbourne Water Frog Census, Melbourne Water Fish Census and the Atlas of Australian Birds (co-ordinated by Birds Australia).
The method analyses the number, regularity and date of sightings for each record. The analysis produces, for each species, a probability of persistence (a ‘p’ value) expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The ‘p’ value for a species will decline as time elapses since the species was last observed. The higher the ‘p’ value, the greater the probability that the species still exists. A score close to 1 indicates the species is almost certain to still exist, while a score close to 0 means it is very likely to be extinct. The use of the method in this strategy assumes that a species probably continues to persist if it has a ‘p’ score >0.5.
It is important to note that this method is designed only to answer the question, how likely is it that a species persists? The method does not measure rarity or conservation status. Helmeted Honeyeaters have very small, isolated populations but a ‘p’ score of 1.0 as they are regularly monitored and observed. The Growling Grass Frog is in small numbers and listed as ‘endangered’ in Victoria but regular monitoring ensures it is consistently observed and it has a high ‘p’ value. Conversely, there may be species that have stable populations, but low ‘p’ values because it is difficult to find and/or there have been limited monitoring efforts and infrequent recordings. Common species may also have low ‘p’ scores. The 2008 analysis linked to this strategy produced a low rating for Australian Pelicans in Western Port. Perhaps they are so common there that no-one has thought to submit Atlas entries for them for the last decade! These anomalies show the need for more consistent monitoring across the region, especially for species that are not thought to be threatened.
The landscapes, habitats and pressures on native animals are highly diverse across the Port Phillip and Western Port region. Few species assessments would give results that are valid for all parts of the region. To monitor and report native animal diversity, the region has been divided into seven sub-regional areas. These seven areas are clusters of municipalities that share relatively similar landscapes. These areas acknowledge the important role of local governments in conserving environments for locally-valued native animals and make it easier for people to identify environmental conditions where they live.
The seven sub-regional areas in which native animal diversity is to be monitored in this Strategy are:
- Mornington Peninsula
- Moorabool, Melton, Wyndham, Greater Geelong
- Macedon Ranges, Hume, Mitchell, Whittlesea
- Yarra Ranges, Nillumbik
- Casey, Cardinia, Baw Baw
- Bass Coast, South Gippsland & Islands
- Urban Melbourne; inner and middle metropolitan council areas.
The results for each species for each area are presented in tables such as the one below.
Summary of native animal diversity in the Mornington Peninsula
Taxa | No of native species known to exist here in the past | No of native species that probably exist here now (p>0.5) | % of native species that probably exist here now (p>0.5) |
---|---|---|---|
Fish | 14 | 8 | 57 |
Amphibians | 16 | 14 | 88 |
Reptiles | 25 | 21 | 84 |
Birds | 251 | 186 | 74 |
Mammals | 26 | 12 | 46 |
Method for assessing native animal diversity
Report – Probability of persistence of native species in the Port Phillip and Western Port region
This report provides the method for assessing native animal diversity as developed by the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology in 2008. This report includes the ‘p’ scores for each species in each of the 7 sub-region areas.
Population health of indicator species
The species diversity method described above only tells us if a species is likely to exist. It does not tell us if its populations are healthy and likely to survive into the future. Monitoring and assessing every population of every species across the region would solve this problem but is an impossible task. Instead, this strategy proposes to assess the population health of a selection of Indicator Species.
Assessing the population health of indicator species is proposed as a way to:
- Measure the health of a wider range of animals sharing similar landscapes and threats
- Pose questions about the condition of land and water environments as habitats for native animals.
Indicator species are listed in the table below. They have been selected under six criteria:
- They include animals from various taxonomic groups
- They are relatively widespread and inhabit many of the region’s environments
- They share habitat, breeding and food requirements with other species in the same environments
- They share, with other species, sensitivity to extent and/or quality losses in their habitats
- They are sensitive to other common threats such as introduced predators
- They are (as far as possible) easy to identify so monitoring can be done by landholders and community groups
The health of indicator species populations will be assessed by using, where feasible and appropriate, Bayesian Belief Network models. These models are tailored to each species and its habitat and involve assessment of interconnected factors such as habitat conditions, existing populations, food and predator pressures.
The end result is a rating of whether the health of an animal population in a particular area is most likely ‘improving’, ‘stable’ or ‘declining’.
Most of these indicator species live in many parts of the region. The location of on-going population health monitoring will be determined in the monitoring program design.
Indicator species, their habitats and pressures
Common and Zoological Name | Typical Habitats | Pressures |
---|---|---|
REPTILES | ||
Swamp Skink (Lissolepis coventryi) | Characteristic vertebrate for coastal swampland and saltmarsh. Occurs in disconnected populations along most of the Vic coast. | Populations fragmented by clearing, draining, grazing etc. Suburban populations are endangered in tiny bush remnants. |
Tree Goanna or Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) | Top order predator. Large home ranges. Dependent on termite mounds for nesting and on areas of large mature trees with hollows. | Affected by urban expansion and increased fire frequency and intensity. |
White-lipped Snake (Drysdalia coronoides) | A non-venemous snake once common in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Occurs throughout forested areas of southern Victoria, often in wetter habitats. | Habitat lost and fragmented. Remaining individuals are vulnerable to predation by domestic cats. |
Cunningham’s Skink (Egernia cunninghami) | Widely distributed in rocky outcrops over eastern and central Victoria. | Likely to have suffered from the removal of rocky outcrop habitats for farming and urban development. |
Tussock Skink (Pseudemoia pagenstecheri) | Typical of volcanic plains in the west of the region under extensive Kangaroo Grass tussocks | Was locally common in the west of the region but its plains grasslands habitat is endangered. |
MAMMALS | ||
Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus) | Common in the region’s forest and bushland areas. | Habitat loss, predation by cats, dogs and foxes. |
Agile Antechinus (Antechinus agilis) | The most dense populations occur in mountainous areas, alpine heath or tall open forest with a dense understorey of ferns or shrubs. | Vulnerable to predation by cats and foxes and continuing loss of mature trees and native forests on the urban fringe. |
Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii) | More widespread than the Agile Antechinus in similar habitats | Vulnerable to predation by cats and foxes and continuing loss of mature trees and native forests on the urban fringe. |
Long Nosed Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) | Commonly found in wet and dry woodlands, and sometimes in more open areas with little ground cover. | |
Chocolate Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus morio) | Recorded in Melbourne suburbs as well as throughout forests, woodlands and farmland areas. |
|
AMPHIBIANS | ||
Southern Toadlet (Pseudophryne semimarmorata) | Moist soaks and depressions in dry forest, grassland and heath particularly in the south-east of the region. | Habitat fragmented. Likely to be susceptible to chytridiomycosis disease. Vulnerable to introduced predators, habitat loss and changes to hydrology from drainage and climate change. |
Brown Toadlet (Pseudophryne bibroni) (threatened) |
Moist soaks and depressions in dry forest and grassland in the western half of the region. | Vulnerable to introduced predators, habitat loss and changes to hydrology from drainage and climate change. |
Victorian Smooth Froglet (Geocrinia victoriana) | Moist areas ranging from rainforests through wet and dry forests, woodlands, grasslands to alpine bogs | Vulnerable to introduced predators, habitat loss and changes to hydrology from drainage and climate change. |
FRESHWATER FISH AND ASSOCIATED SPECIES | ||
Blackfish (Gadopsis marmoratus) | Upland & foothill streams | Indicator of stream health in foothill/upland areas |
Common galaxias (Galaxias australis) | Common in lowland and foothill streams | Tolerant of poor water quality but good indicator of barriers to fish migrations to estuaries |
Dwarf galaxias (Galaxiella pusilla) | Floodplain wetlands | Good indicator of floodplain wetland health and connections between streams and floodplains |
Burrowing crayfish (Engaeus family) | Lowland to foothill streams but also associated with swamps and forest areas, especially in the region’s east. (Their burrow ‘chimneys’ make them a easily counted indicators of stream health) | Threatened by land clearing and drainage. |
Stonefly (Cosmioperla australis) | Upland & foothill streams (Easy to identify with photo guide) | Sensitive to water quality |
MARINE ANIMALS | ||
Burrunan Dolphin (Tursiops australis) | Port Phillip Bay resident. Top-order predator. | Port Phillip Bay has a resident population of ~100 individuals. The Gippsland Lakes holds the only other known population of ~50. |
Sand Flathead (Platycephalus bassensis) | An ‘ambush’ predator found on sandy/muddy bottoms. Sand Flathead account for ~60% of Port Phillip Bay’s recreational fishing catch. | Since 2000 sand flathead stocks in PPB have declined by 90%. The exact causes are unknown. |
Additional Indicator Species for Port Phillip Bay and Western Port to be determined | Recommendations invited. | |
* Probability of Persistence (POP) is explained in the ‘Diversity’ section above.
^ IR = Insufficient records to make an assessment.
Indicator species mostly exclude species listed as threatened under the Victorian Fauna and Flora Guarantee. Active management directed to threatened species reduces their value as indicators. Threatened species are often scarce, difficult to monitor and have unique and particular habitat needs. Exceptions are marked in the list below where (regretably) it is difficult to find non-threatened species that meet the indicator criteria for some of the region’s major landscape types.
Threatened species conservation programs will continue. Their success in halting the slide of threatened species towards extinction will be monitored by the species diversity method described above.
Targets have been set to improve or maintain the population health of Indicator Species. The first aim of these targets is to drive monitoring. In the longer term, they should also direct actions for habitat conservation. Measured improvements in the population health of Indicator Species should create measurable habitat improvements for other species.
These two methods have been used to determine the current condition of native animal species (Condition) and targets for the future (Targets). Lead organisations are committed to achieving these targets (Leadership) and arrangements are in place to monitor and report on progress and success (Monitoring and reporting).