Appendix D Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity - Environment ...

abundance or large rocks and rock outcrop. Although differences are apparent between the two substrates
these sites haven been grouped together based on broadly similar species compositions. Sampling over a
larger area may distinguish the two communities more readily.
Small patches of Callitris intratropica dominated Woodlands were found scattered through the surveyed
area, however, these are not mapped nor described as a separated vegetation unit due to their small size.
This vegetation type is scattered within a few different vegetation types.
2.2.4 Port
Sampling Regime and Site Selection
Vegetation types of the port area were mapped and described through a preliminary interpretation of aerial
photography, delimiting obvious vegetation types and boundaries at 1:30,000. This preliminary map provided
the basis for selecting sites for fauna survey and vegetation survey for the more common vegetation types.
Preliminary mapping and vegetation descriptions were refined through one field survey carried out in
February 2012 – associated with fauna surveys. Flora sites were selected for each vegetation types,
however no sites were established in mangroves or salt flats.
Sampling Intensity
A total of seven full characterisation and five check sites (conferring with the levels of data collection
recommend by Brocklehurst et al. 2007) were selected and surveyed (refer to Figure 40). This sampling
density is below the minimum of four sites per km 2 as recommended by Brocklehurst et al. (2007) for
mapping at 1:25,000, but was regarded as suitable for the purpose of this preliminary vegetation mapping
exercise. Vegetation in the vicinity if the actual proposed iron ore stockyard, conveyor belt and barge loading
facility was surveyed at greater detail (i.e. vine thickets, Melaleuca woodlands, beefwood woodlands,
Cypress Pine woodlands) than surrounding vegetation units (salt flats, mangroves, beach dunes, and
paperbark swamps).
Limitations
Detailed ground-truthing of vegetation types was not possible due to project time frames, which resulted in
the survey area not having survey effort applicable to vegetation mapping to a scale of 1:25,000. Therefore
vegetation types proposed for disturbance were targeted during on-grounds works to an adequate level of
survey.
Although vegetation classification attempts to place vegetation into “types” and place boundaries around
these types, in reality vegetation is a continuum (apart from mangrove communities). Vegetation
communities feature a reasonable amount of variation within a classified type due to soils, rainfall, surface
drainage, fire history and other factors. The boundaries between vegetation types may not always be clear
due to a gradual transition.
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Doc No. DW120004-C0302-EIA-R-0036
Doc Title: Appendix D – Terrestrial Biodiversity Technical Report