| Survey/Project Number: | 556 Total No. of Sites: 987 |
| Survey/Project Name: | Far West Eyre Peninsula |
| Abstract: | The survey area was surveyed in two blocks. The western area was surveyed from 25th August to 5th September 2008 and the eastern area was surveyed from 12th to 25th October 2008. The western area extends from south of Yalata Road house covering the Russell 1:50 000 mapsheet (eastern half of Wahgunyah Conservation Park through to Koonibba and Charra Map sheets (approx 15km east of Ceduna). The survey extends from the coast line to approximately 20 km north of the Eyre Highway and partly adjoins the southern boundaries of Yellabinna and Yumbarra Conservation Parks. The eastern area is contiguous with the western area and extends south east through to the western limits of the Gawler Ranges (Ilkina and Toondulya mapsheets). The northern extent incudes Pureeba and part of Yumbarra Conservation Parks and the southern boundary is approximately 20km south of Smoky Bay and 30km north of Poochera. Coastal sites were largely avoided as the coastline has been previously surveyed. The main aim of this survey was to collect data on the vegetation communities of the Far Western Eyre Peninsula region to enable the classification & mapping on the floristic composition and structure of the vegetation groups of the area. Vegetation was documented with a complete list of plant species within a 50 x 50m quadrat using Braun-Blanquet cover abundance scores. Vertebrate presence was also noted. |
| Start Date: | 06/07/2008 End Date: 25/10/2008 |
| Survey Type: | Vegetation Only |
| Study Area Description: | The study area encompasses the region from the western extent of the Gawler Ranges in the north east, across to Whargunyah CP in the west, south to a line from Haslam to Yantanabie to the Gawler Ranges CP. The northern region is dominated by large fields of mainly NW - SE longitudinal, silicious (quartz) dunes. The southern area is more dominated by shallow soils with calcreous bedding. In general the vegetation is dominated by mallee (Eucalyptus spp.) communities with often with a Melaleuca understorey and smaller areas of native grasslands, Acacia shrublands and coastal communties. Western limit is south of Yalata Roadhouse (eastern half of Wahgunyah CP) and extends eastwards through to just west of Gawler Ranges. In the western half, the southern bondary is the coastline and in the eastern half, the southern boundary is approximately 20 km south of Smoky Bay. The northern boundary is approximately 10 - 40km north of the Eyre Highway. |
| Objectives | |||
| Vegetation: | The main aim of this survey was to collect data on the vegetation communities of the Far Western Eyre Peninsula region to enable the classification & mapping on the floristic composition and structure of the vegetation groups of the area. Visit period 6-11 July 2008: This was a reconnaissance trip of the eastern half of the Far West Survey area. Ground truth notes were entered into ArcMap for 600 point locations. Seventeen opportune plant records were obtained and entered into opportune database. | ||
| Fauna: | Vertebrate records are mainly birds. | ||
| Methodology | |||
| Vegetation: | Vegetation was documented with a complete list of plant species within a 50 x 50m quadrat using Braun-Blanquet cover abundance scores. Lifeform and reproductive stage was also recorded. Each site was assigned a structural formation. All species were vouchered the first time they were encountered and lodged with the State Herbarium. Physical data such as slope, aspect, landform, surface soil texture and disturbances were collected. Vertebrate presence was also noted. | ||
| Fauna: | *** No vertebrate methodology recorded | ||
| Data Distribution Rules: | Public Dataset |
| Project Basis: | Vegetation : Biological Survey of South Australia - Standard Survey methodology used. |
| Information Authority: | Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:S&C Div) - Biological Survey and Monitoring |