Conservation Plan Hughes Creek Landscape Zone - Strathbogie ...

6.0 CONSERVATION ASSETS
6.1 FOCAL SPECIES
Research shows that different species have different types of responses to landscape change. The focal
species approach therefore uses the habitat requirements of a particular species or group of species, to
define the attributes that must be present in a landscape, for these species to persist. Broadly, the
focal species are predicted to be the most sensitive species (in a given landscape) to a threat or
ecological process. Such that, their conservation should also conserve other less-sensitive species
found in the same vegetation type. Therefore, focal species are a way of defining and guiding targets
(eg. patch size and connectivity) for our landscape restoration strategies (Lambeck 1997).
Additional benefits of a focal species approach are that it allows for the monitoring of actions (eg. can
undertake regular surveys to establish if focal species are becoming more common and using new
sites). It also provides the community and organisations implementing on-ground works, with an
enthusiasm for implementing works.
The seven focal species identified in the Hughes Creek Zone, and their ecological requirements
(thresholds 9 ) are identified below (Table 2). A definition of the ecological terms used include:
‣ Minimum patch size (patch size threshold) refers to the minimum patch size of vegetation
required, for the species to maintain viable populations,
‣ Critical distance between habitat patches (isolation threshold) refers to the size of the gap
in
prep.),
‣ Dispersal threshold refers to the distance (km) for which the species has been known to travel
(eg. for breeding, migration), but generally does not on a daily basis,
‣ Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) the vegetation community that the species prefers, and
‣ Other requirements identifies some other known requirements (not comprehensive) for the
species to survive, or to inhabit an area.
It is envisaged that community groups and agencies may target one, or a combination of, the focal
species identified (Table 2), for planning and implementation of on-ground works in the Zone. The
focal species are only a suggestion of species to focus on-ground works. Other species may also be the
focus for on-ground works, given new information and community desire to implement works for
another species. Keeping in mind that if we aim to cater for these species, we are also assisting a suite
of species and working towards overall vegetation cover targets for the catchment.
9 Thresholds refer to the point at which relatively rapid change occurs (eg loss of species). Therefore, these should be used as a minimum target only.
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