The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve: Final

8 FURTHER SURVEY AND MONITORING
8.1 LIMITATIONS OF THE CURRENT SURVEY
At the completion of the current systematic and targeted surveys, all vertebrate fauna groups (with the
exception of frogs) have been systematically sampled to an adequate baseline level for use in
biodiversity assessment. All key habitats within the reserve have also now been adequately sampled.
Groups and individual species that were not adequately sampled are discussed below, followed by
suggested further fauna survey and monitoring programs in sections 8.2 and 8.3. It should be noted
that as the current surveys were undertaken between February and May, it is likely that some
seasonal visitors were not recorded, such as eastern koel. Most of these will have been recorded
incidentally via other sources but will be absent from the systematic data. Additionally species that are
cryptic in nature, present in low-densities or restricted to inaccessible habitats, may not have been
recorded or been under recorded.
As mentioned above, the only fauna group not adequately sampled were the frogs. Frogs are best
sampled during humid and/or rainy conditions, preferably during spring and early summer. Conditions
during the current surveys were dry, and surveys were undertaken in late summer and autumn. More
surveys for frogs are required to obtain an accurate assessment of what species occupy the reserve.
Individual species that were not adequately targeted include the brush-tailed phascogale, long-nosed
potoroo, red-necked pademelon and bettongs. The brush-tailed phascogale was targeted during the
current survey by spotlighting searches along with collection of predator scats and hair-tube surveys;
however the best method to survey for this species is through the erection and monitoring of artificial
nest boxes (Soderquist et al. 1996). This would represent a study in its own right and was outside the
limitations of this program. A proposed survey and monitoring program for this species is a high
priority and is discussed further below in section 8.2.4: further fauna survey – mammals.
Medium-sized terrestrial mammals (especially the long-nosed potoroo, red-necked pademelon, and
bettong species, which appear to have become locally extinct), were targeted during this survey with
camera traps, hair tubes and scat searches. Nonetheless, these species can be cryptic, especially
when they occur in very low densities. Further targeted surveys are required to confirm their absence.
A proposed survey and monitoring program for these species is a high priority and is discussed further
in section 8.
Microbats have now been surveyed to a satisfactory baseline level. However, despite targeting a
considerable proportion of time to this group, questions remain. Due to the importance of the
subterranean habitat at JKCR, this group remains a priority for further survey and research. In
consideration of the complexity and extent of the karst system and requirements for access, it was
only possible to inspect a targeted subset of caves. While our understanding of the key cave-dwelling
species and the key areas used is adequate, an actual evaluation of what species occur in every cave
was beyond the limits of this survey. Our understanding of cave usage by vertebrates throughout the
reserve, particularly our knowledge of the more remote and inaccessible caves, will continue to grow if
information gathered by guides and cavers continues to be collated in corporate databases. For more
information on systems for data capture see section 9.6.2: maintaining wildlife data systems for cavedwelling
fauna.
8.2 FURTHER FAUNA SURVEY
The systematic and targeted fauna survey work undertaken in JKCR in 2011 has resulted in an
adequate baseline understanding of terrestrial vertebrate fauna in the reserve, with the exception of
amphibians. In addition, the work has highlighted issues that require further study to broaden the
understanding of fauna in the locality and region, and enable effective management in the long term.
The following surveys are recommended to address these issues. The relative priority of each
program is given in brackets. In addition to the factors discussed below, any further survey within the
cave system should follow guidelines set out in the Cave Access Policy (DECCW 2010a).
8.2.1 Frogs
Targeted searches for the stuttering frog (suspected species loss) and Booroolong frog (potential
to occur) should be conducted as part of a systematic amphibian survey of JKCR. Surveys should
also aim to determine the taxonomy of some common frogs of JKCR that have undergone recent
taxonomic changes i.e. are the resident leaf-green tree frogs Litoria phyllocroa or L. nudidigita?
The location and status of the Bibron’s toadlet (a regional priority identified in DECC (2007) within
The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve 105