Survey/Project Number: |
651
Total No. of Sites:
25
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Survey/Project Name: |
Plant indicators for assessment of feral goat control |
Abstract: |
South Australian Arid Lands (SAAL) NRM Board announced a Feral Goat Management Framework in November 2008, focusing on a reduction in populations. A control program (aerial culling, trapping, mustering) was implemented in Autum 2009 (as adjunct to the usual Feral Goat Eradication of Operation Bounceback) on select properties that had opted for inclusion in the control program. Project timelines meant that the ecological monitoring component attached to the project could not report on the success of the controls, but that it could evaluate plant indicator species that may be informative of goat browsing impacts.
Project was carried out over Arid and Semi-Arid Range country including Flinders, Olary and Gawlers. With a need to describe the habitats/communities where feral goat impacts were being measured, a vegetation survey was added to the ecological monitoring component. Again funding and time restrictions, meant only small parts of the controlled areas could be evaluated and emphasis was placed on the elevated, semi-arid, rocky ranges for various reasons. |
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Start Date: |
01/05/2009
End Date: 01/10/2009
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Survey Type: |
Vegetation and Fauna |
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Study Area Description: |
Survey was confined to Pitcairn Station (Olary Ra), Yadlamalka Station (Flinders Ra), Yardea Station (Gawler Ra) with emphasis on elevated rocky ranges in particular portions of the Stations. On Pitcairn Station, sites are in elevated areas west and south of the Station House, while on Yadlamalka, sites are located in high ridge country north of Mt Arden. On Yardea, sites are concentrated in high country extending from North-west to south of Thurlga Homestead, confined to the Thurlga Lease. |