Wambo Coal AEMR 2010-2011 - Peabody Energy

2.3 Discussion2.3.1 Species Diversity within Quadrats• Variation in the number of species recorded in 2010 between quadrats is a factor of:» Within vegetation communities;• Differences in quadrat conditions, such as minor differences in aspect, slope,and soil type;• Inherent differences in the species composition of a single vegetationcommunity throughout the community;• Variation in the amount of rainfall at each quadrat;» Between vegetation communities;• The different species composition of different vegetation communities,generally as a result of different site characteristics, such as slope, aspect,soil type, etc.• Variation in the number of species recorded across the five years of sampling is likelya factor of:» Seasonal conditions.• The increase in the number of species at all quadrats in 2007 is likely a resultof a good season;• The general decrease in the number of species at quadrats in 2008 is likely aresult of a poor season;• Moderate to minor fluctuations in the number of species recorded in quadratsin 2009 and 2010 are likely a result of moderate seasonal conditions.» The timing of surveys.• Cryptic species such as orchids have only a short flowering and detectableperiod. Surveys completed in different months or even weeks of the year arelikely to detect a different range of cryptic species.• There is no evidence to suggest that the number of flora species at any quadrat isbeing affected by current mining practises; and• Current land management practices within the RWEP areas appear to be appropriatefor the conservation of flora species diversity.2.3.2 Introduced Species Percentage Composition• Variation in the introduced species percentage composition is likely due to:» Vegetation community/quadrat landform location. The three vegetationcommunities that recorded more than 25 percent introduced species are alllocated within riparian locations where weed species are easily distributed bymoving water;» Variation in seasonal conditions from year to year;» Natural fluctuations in the abundance and distribution of introduced species from2010 Annual Ecological Monitoring Report, Draft Report, January 2011 Page 9