The largest and most complex regional biodiversity survey undertaken in Western Australia will underpin and guide future conservation decisions in the Pilbara region.
Teams of scientists from the Department of Parks and Wildlife, the Western Australian Museum and several Australian Universities and herbaria sampled mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, subterranean water body invertebrates, terrestrial and riparian flora and aquatic flora at 422 terrestrial, 98 wetland and 508 stygofauna sites.
Dr van Leeuwen said the results of the survey would provide a clear understanding of biodiversity in the region, providing an informative tool to underpin future conservation, land use and natural resource management decisions.
“Through these publications, the community will be better informed on the substantial biodiversity values of the Pilbara and the effects of land use and other factors such as invasive species on its plants and animals in order to guide conservation actions,” Dr van Leeuwen said.
“This includes improving the conservation reserve system as well as its management, and fostering ecologically sustainable development through advice to landholders, industry and the community on the distribution and status of species and communities.”
Dr van Leeuwen said results had been published in scientific papers compiled from field surveys undertaken from 2002 to 2006, as part of the Supplement series to the Records of the Western Australian Museum.
The first volume encompasses a background document and biogeographic appraisals of mammals, birds, ants, beetles, spiders, scorpions, aquatic invertebrates and weeds.
The second volume includes assessments of the biogeographic patterns of reptiles and frogs, birds, stygofaunal and wetland plant communities, and a final synthesis paper identifies gaps in the Pilbara’s conservation reserve system.
The two volumes are a valuable resource that will inform land use planning and natural resource management decisions long into the future.
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