Appendix D Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity - Environment ...

diversity. The riparian zone and adjacent ridge at the Cox site were the most diverse, followed by the ridge
at Rosie. This is possibly due to the Cox survey area being directly adjacent to a flowing tributary of Cox
River.
• No threatened species were recorded.
• One Near Threatened species was recorded, Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius), at the Cox
site. This species is common and widespread in suitable fox-free habitat throughout northern
Australia.
• Two Data Deficient species were recorded – Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis) and Blue-winged
Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii). The statuses for both of these are proposed to be altered to Least
Concern.
• The remaining species are all listed as Least Concern.
• Two listed migratory species and 20 listed marine species were recorded – all are common and
widespread throughout the savannah.
• No introduced species were recorded.
Mammals
Fifteen mammal species were recorded from the survey, mainly from Elliott traps (Appendix D-3). In
addition, five species of bat were identified acoustically (see Appendix D-5), with the call records of three
other species not distinguishable unambiguously. The total number of confirmed mammal species,
therefore, was 20.
Apart from bats, the majority of species were recorded only once – there was a single mammal sighting at
the Towns (Lower) site, and only one species was recorded (in abundance) at Towns (Upper). The Rosie
site included six species not found at other sites, and was by far the most productive site, especially site 3
which was a located in a spring fed gully.
• No Threatened species were recorded.
• Two Near Threatened species were identified:
o Western Chestnut Mouse (Pseudomys nanus) at Cox, Limmen and Towns (Upper) sites –
this species is common in a range of habitats across northern Australia; and
o Orange Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia), was recorded at Rosie and Limmen sites.
• One Data Deficient species, Sandstone Pseudantechinus (Pseudantechinus bilarni), was recorded
at the Rosie site. This little-known species is probably common in rugged sandstone country of the
Top End – its status is proposed to be changed to Least Concern.
• The remaining species are listed as Least Concern.
• Three introduced species were recorded – Pig, Swamp Buffalo, and Cattle. Considerable damage to
riparian habitat by Pigs feeding was evident at the Cox site.
5.4.3 Summary
Field and desktop surveys identify a total of 416 fauna species that are found, or potentially occur, within the
haul road corridor areas (Table 21). During the field surveys trap success was low, especially for reptiles,
however it is apparent that the Rosie site supports a different and richer mammal and reptile assemblage to
the other sites. Amphibian species clearly favoured damper habitats, and bird diversity increased with
proximity to water. Despite the remoteness of most of the haul road survey sites introduced species were
detected and their impacts on habitat obvious.
Client: Western Desert Resources Ltd Page 106 of 150
Doc No. DW120004-C0302-EIA-R-0036
Doc Title: Appendix D – Terrestrial Biodiversity Technical Report