Karri, Jarrah, and Mallee, Part II

The Southwest Australia savanna ecoregion is known for wildflower viewing in native vegetation remnants.  Scenic features include granite outcrops and large inland salt lakes, along with wave rocks.  The relatively wetter Southwest Australia woodlands ecoregion is jarrah forest, grading into wandoo and drier woodlands.  Scenic features include waterfalls along the Darling scarp, scenic drives, and granite outcrops.  In addition, the area is know for plant endemism, orchids, tree ferns and giant sundews.

Southwest Australia savanna (AA1209).  Widely spaced eucalyptus savanna merges into acacia (wattle) as it moves inland toward sandplains.  The northern portions of this ecoregion are famous for wildflowers including Banksia, kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos), Grevillea, and orchids.  This is known as the Kwongan heaths.  Nectar feeders such as possums and wallabies are part of the mammal fauna.  Today much of the center of this ecoregion is a vast wheat-growing area, at least to the west of the rabbit-proof fence.  However, the northern portions have extensive areas of native vegetation with heath and mallee vegetation.  This ecoregion is found in the Mid West, Great Southern, and Wheat Belt economic development regions.  There is one Ramsar site.

Ramsar Site:

Toolibin Lake Nature Reserve, Wheat Belt region (47).  A large Casuarina obesa-dominated wetland supports waterbirds such as freckled duck, cormorants, egrets, and night herons. This area is at the headwaters of the Arthur River.  Mounds in the lake floor support trees.  There are 25 species of breeding water birds.

Other sites:

Alexander Morrison National Park (NP), Mid West Region (39).  This Kwongan heath park in an area of lateritic sandplains is renowned for the diversity of wildflowers found here in the spring (August to November).  Banksia, Dryandra, Grevillea and many plants from the Myrtaceae family dominate the flora.

Badgebup Reserve of Shire of Katanning, Great Southern region (48).  This area of wandoo woodlands between Nyabing and Katanning is an IBA for Carnaby’s black-cockatoo, western rosella, and regent parrot.

Badgingarra NP, Mid West Region (32).  High breaks overlook sandplains in this park adjacent to the Brand Highway.  Flowers include yellow and black kangaroo paw, grass trees, banksias, and Badgingarra mallee.

Boyagin Nature Reserve, Wheat Belt region (49).  This area northwest of Pingelly is a large granite outcrop.  Trails lead through forests of powderbark, jarrah, and marri.  Fauna includes numbats and tammar wallabies.

Coomallo Creek Nature Reserve, Midwest region (50).  This area is an IBA for Carnaby’s black cockatoo, western corella, and regent parrot.

Dumbleyung Lake Nature Reserve, Great Southern and Wheatbelt Regions (51).  A large inland salt lake provides waterbird habitat.

Mount Gibson Sanctuary (Australian Wildlife Conservancy) and Charles Darwin Reserve (Bush Heritage), Mid West and Wheatbelt regions (52).  These private reserves on the western shore of Lake Moore are vegetated with acacia woodlands and mallee and are an IBA for malleefowl, western corella and inland dotterel.

Gillingarra Nature Reserve, Wheat Belt region (36).  In the Victoria Plains shire, Carnaby’s black-cockatoo nest in marri trees.  This is an IBA for the Carnaby’s black cockatoo, western corella, and red-capped parrot.

Koobabbie area, Mid West region (53).  This area east of Coorow is an IBA for Carnaby’s black-cockatoo, which nests in salmon gum woodlands, western corella, and regent parrot.  Rare flora of Eremophila and Halosarcia is also found here.

Korrelocking Nature Reserve, Wheatbelt region (54).  This reserve has open woodland of salmon gums.

Kwobrup Reserve of the Waters and Rivers Commission, Great Southern region (48).  This area of wandoo woodlands between Nyabing and Katanning is an IBA for Carnaby’s black-cockatoo, western rosella, and regent parrot.

LeSueur NP, Mid West and Wheat Belt regions (39).  This botanical area inland from Green Head is known for acacias, hibbertias, melaleucas, orchids, and kangaroo paw, among 800 other species of plants.  Jarrah grows here but takes the form of a mallee shrub. Mount LeSueur is a mesa; much of the rest of the park is the northernmost area of the Swan Coastal Plain.

Meckering, Wheatbelt region (55).  This town is the site of a 1968 earthquake which displaced the ground as much as 1.5 m and damaged the Goldfields Water Supply pipeline.

Moora area, Shire of Moora, Wheatbelt region (40).  The area around the town is an IBA for Carnaby’s black-cockatoo and western corella.

Sandford Rocks Nature Reserve, Wheatbelt region (56).  This area northeast of Westonia contains granite outcrops, thickets, and woodland on the transition to more arid flora.  Wattles are locally abundant.

Totadgin Conservation Park, Wheatbelt region (57).  Located 5 km south of Merredin, this is a granite outcrop area with wildflowers.  It has a small wave rock.

Walebing area, Wheatbelt region (40).  Adjacent to theGreat Northern Highway town of Walebing in Moora shire is a private IBA that supports 40 breeding pairs of Carnaby’s black cockatoo, plus western corella and regent parrot. 

Watheroo NP, Mid West and Wheatbelt regions (50).  The 44,000-ha park is on the wildflower-filled sandplains north of Perth, with Banksia and mallee shrubs. Jingemia Cave is in the park.

Welsh Nature Reserve, Wheatbelt region (11).  This area of mallee grading into acacia shrub is the Holleton IBA for malleefowl, rufous tree creeper, and blue-breasted fairy wren.

Yorkrakine Rock Nature Reserve, Wheatbelt region (58).  A large granite rock 30 km northeast of Tammin on theGreat Eastern Highwayis vegetated with York gum and Jam woodland.

 

Southwest Australia Woodlands (AA1210).  Jarrah is dominant in the Darling range, but inland is wandoo (Eucalyptus capillosa and powderbark (E. accedens).  Another eucalyptus is the marri tree.  Marri trees attract silvereyes and honeyeaters to feed on the nectar.  This ecoregion is found in the Great Southern, South West, and Wheatbelt economic development regions and includes local government areas on the east side of Perth.  There is one Ramsar site.

Ramsar Site:

Muir-Byenup System, Great Southern and South West region (59).  This interconnected swamp is the largest natural sedge land in Western Australia and is an IBA, supporting 51,000 water birds, including Australian shelduck and Australasian bittern.  It is also known for its orchid flora.

 

Other sites:

Avon Valley NP, Wheat Belt region (60).  The park includes rapids and granite boulders along the Avon River, along with Emu Springs Falls on a tributary stream.  It is the northern limit of the jarrah forest and contains wandoo woodlands.  Wildflowers include Grevillea and fringed lily. 

Beelu NP, Mundaring and Kalamunda shires (61).  The Perth Hills National Parks Centre is located within this jarrah forest park.  Other notable flora are marri, grass tree (Xanthorrhoea), and Banksia.  The park is part of the Mundaring-Kalamunda IBA for Baudin’s black-cockatoo.

Bindoon-Julimar, Wheatbelt region (60).  This area northwest of Toodyay is an IBA for Carnaby’s black-cockatoo and red-capped parrot.  It is the largest nesting area for the cockatoo in southwestern Australia. 

Boyagin Nature Reserve, Wheat Belt region (49).  This area northwest of Pingelly features a large granite outcrop.  Trails lead through forests of powderbark, jarrah, and marri.  Fauna includes numbats and tammar wallabies.

Calingiri, Wheatbelt region (62).  This is an IBA for Carnaby’s black-cockatoo and western corella.

Dryandra Woodland, Wheatbelt region (63).  This area includes scenic drives and numerous hiking trails, along with the Barna Mia animal sanctuary.  Unusual marsupials include numbat, woylies, tammar wallabies, and kangaroos.  Birds include the mound-building malleefowl.  The location is 22 km northwest of Narrogin on the Albany highway.

Dwellingup Forest Heritage Center, Peel region (64).  This area in the jarrah forest showcases the forest heritage ofWestern Australia and contains a canopy walk and part of the Murray River.

John Forrest NP, Mundaring shire (61).  This park in jarrah forest vegetation has granite outcrops fringed by heaths and is part of the Darling Range Regional Park.  Several waterfalls and an 1893 railroad tunnel are within the park.

Gidgegannup State Forest, Swan local government area (61).  This Darling Range area is an IBA for Carnaby’s black-cockatoo, Baudin’s black-cockatoo, and red-capped parrot.

Gillingarra Nature Reserve, Wheat Belt region (36).  In the Victoria Plains shire, Carnaby’s black-cockatoo nest in marri trees.  This is an IBA for the Carnaby’s black cockatoo, western corella, and red-capped parrot.

Golden ValleyTree Park, South West region (65).  This is a 60-ha arboretum near Ballingup.  The Bibbulmun track runs through the park.

Gooseberry Hill NP, Kalamunda shire (61).  The scenic Zig-Zag Drive 16 km east of Perth provides views of the Swan Coastal Plain.  It is part of the Mundaring-Kalamunda IBA for Baudin’s black-cockatoo.

Greenmount NP, Mundaring shire (61).  Part of the Darling Range regional park, this area has forests of the eucalypts jarrah, marri, and wandoo, and is adjacent to John Forrest NP.

Hassel NP, Great Southern region (66).  Located near Mount Manypeaks, this park preserves a population of Brown’s banksia.

Helena NP, Wheat Belt region (67). Mount Dale provides views and the Bibbulmun Track provides hiking opportunities in this park near Lake C.Y. Connor.  The park is to the west of Wandoo NP.

Jalbarragup area, South West region (65).  The area to the west of Nannup along the Blackwood River is an IBA for Carnaby’s black cockatoo, Baudin’s black-cockatoo, and red-capped parrot.

Kalamunda NP, Kalamunda shire (67).  Located 25 km from Perth, this area of jarrah, marri, and wandoo forest contains part of the Bibbulmun Track and is part of the Mundaring Kalamunda IBA for Baudin’s black-cockatoo.

Kep Track, Wheatbelt region (61).  This 75-km bicycle and hiking trail extends from Mundaring Weir to Northam along the route of the Goldfields Water Supply Pipeline (Golden Pipeline).

Korung National Park, Kalamanda Shire (68).  Located 45 minutes from Perth, this area includes part of the Munda Biddi Trail.  It is also known as the Pickering Brook NP and is part of the Araluen-Wungong IBA for Baudin’s black-cockatoo and Carnaby’s black cockatoo.

Lane-Poole Reserve, South West region (69).  This 55,000-ha park includes the Murray River and jarrah forest.  To the east are wandoo woodlands.  The Bibbulmun track and Munda Biddi trails cross the area.

Lesmurdie Falls NP, Kalamunda Shire (68).  Located east of Perth on the Darling Scarp, this park is named for a 50-m waterfall.  It is mostly heath vegetation but is also forested with wandoo, jarrah, and marri trees.

Midgegooroo NP, Kalamunda Shire (68).  This is a jarrah forest area at Canning Dam east of Perth on the Brookton Highway. It is also known as the Canning NP and is part of the Araluen-Wungong IBA for Baudin’s black-cockatoo and Carnaby’s black cockatoo.

Mount Manypeaks Nature Reserve (20).  See Waychinicup NP.

Lake Pleasant View and North Sister Nature Reserves, Great Southern region (69).  This area northeast of Albany and northwest of Mount Manypeaks contains freshwater sedge wetlands around three lakes, providing an IBA for the Australasian bittern.

Porongurup NP, Great Southern region (70).  This is a 12-km-long range of granite domes 40 km north of Albany.  Jarrah covers lower slopes, while karri trees are on the upper ones.  The humid karri forests in the park are known for 65 species of orchids. The park is known for outstanding endemism in heaths legumes, and insectivorous plants. Hiking trails lead throughout the park, including to a viewing platform atop Castle Rock.  Nearby at MountBarkeris a Banksia farm with 78 types of the Australian plant.

St. John Brook Conservation Park, South West region (65).  Located northwest of Nannup, this area features a rail-trail and the Munda Biddi trail.  Trees are jarrrah, marri, and swamp peppermint.

Scott NP, South West region (22).   This is an access area to the Blackwater River, which is popular for canoeing.

Serpentine NP, Peel region (71).  A waterfall along the Darling Scarp at the Serpentine River is one feature of this 4,300-ha park. The forest is jarrah, marri, and wandoo, but rare species of restricted-range eucalyptus trees are found here, and tree ferns dot the moister areas of the forest, and giant sundews are found in the park.  The Munda Biddi Trail passes through the park.  Together with the North Dandalup Nature Reserve, this park is an IBA for the Baudin’s black-cockatoo, Carnaby’s black-cockatoo, and red-capped parrot.

Stirling Range NP, Great Southern region (9).  This 65-km-long mountain range rises to 1,000 m and hosts 1,500 species of plants.  Mallee heath is the dominant plant community.  There are abundant flowering shrubs, including Darwinia, and 123 orchid species.  Six trails lead to mountain peaks.  Bluff Knoll, the highest peak, also has one of the highest cliffs in Australia.  There are endemic land snails and mygalomorph spiders.  The area is an IBA for Carnaby’s black-cockatoo, western whipbird, and Baudin’s black-cockatoo.

Tone-Perup Nature Reserve, South West region (72).  Approximately 50 km east of Manjimup is a 53,000-ha nature reserve in the jarrah and wandoo forests.  It is known for rare nocturnal marsupials such as the chuditch, woylie, and tammar wallaby.

Towerrining Lake Nature Reserve and Moodiarrup Swamps, Great Southern region (73).  To the south of Darkan is a  brackish lake and swamps that are an IBA for blue-billed duck and other waterbirds.

Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve (20).  This area between Gull Rock NP and Waychinicup NP provides habitat for 12 rare animals, including noisy scrub-bird, western bristlebird, and Australasian bittern, as well as the mammals Gilbert’s potoroo, western ringtail possum, and quokka.  The reserve is an IBA for noisy scrub-bird, western bristlebird, and western whipbird.

Walyunga NP, Swan local government area (74).  This 1,800-ha park is located 40 km northeast of Perth in the upper Swan River valley.  It is located on the Darling Scarp and is a whitewater canoe area.  In addition, it is known for wildflower displays in the extensive heaths—hakeas, grevilleas, isopogons, petrophiles, and verticordias are common.  Forests are of wandoo, marri, and jarrah.

Wandoo NP, Wheatbelt region (75).  This 44,000-ha park contains old-growth wandoo forest and granite outcrops.  The park is part of The Lakes IBA for Baudin’s black-cockatoo and Carnaby’s black-cockatoo.  The park is to the east of Helena NP.

Waychinicup NP, Great Southern region (20).  Located on both sides of Mount Manypeaks Nature Reserve, this park has the granite-lined outlet of the Waychinicup River and rare mammals—quenda, western ringtail possums, and quokkas.  Rare birds include the noisy scrub-bird and western ground parrot.  The park is an IBA for noisy scrub-bird, western bristlebird, and western whipbird.

Wellington NP, South West region (76).  This 17,000-acre park preserves jarrah, marri, and yarri forests in the Collie River valley east of Bunbury.  The Wellington Discovery Forest is within the park.  A large jarrah tree is at King Jarrah.  The Munda Biddi Trail passes through the park.

Yelverton NP, South West region (27).  Located at the junction of three ecoregions, this park contains native forests with a high concentration of rare flora.

 Freshwater Ecoregions of the World

Australia and Pacific Region

Temperate Coastal Rivers

801. Southwestern Australia.  Stretching along the entire coastline in this map area but only extending a short distance inland, this ecoregion includes the perennial streams from the Arrowsmith River(north of the map area) to Fitzgerald River National Park at the eastern map boundary.  Major rivers from north to south and west to east on the map are:

  • Hill River, draining the northern Swan coastal plain
  • Moore River, draining areas north ofPerth
  • Swan River, draining much of the Wheatbelt before entering the sea atPerth
  • Serpentine River
  • Murray River
  • Margaret River, the center of a wine region
  • Blackwood River, draining the Toolibin Lake Ramsar site
  • Warren River
  • Frankland River
  • Kalgan River
  • Pallinup River
  • Gairdner River
  • Phillips River (ephemeral)

 

There are 15 fishes in eight families, and there is an endemic family, the salamanderfish family, in the aquatic fauna.  More permanent rivers lead to a diverse fish fauna of Galaxiidae, perches, and eel-tailed catfish (Plotosidae) familes.  There are also endemic turtles and crayfishes. 

 

Xeric Freshwaters and Closed Basins

804.  Paleo.  This area has isolated saline lakes but no permanent, fish-inhabited waterways and includes inland portions of the Mid West, Wheatbelt, and Esperance-Goldfields regions.

 

Marine Ecoregions of the World

Temperate Australia Realm,Southwest Australian Shelf Province

209.  Leeuwin.  Found south of Perth and along the south coast of Australia.  Sites exemplifying this ecoregion are: 

Eclipse Island Nature Reserve, Great Southern Region (16).  This island is an IBA for flesh-footed shearwater, great-winged petrel, and little penguin.

Ngari Capes Marine Park (77).  Located offshore of Leeuwin-Naturaliste NP, this area includes part of Geographe Bay and Flinders Bay.  Exposed headlands and boulder fields plunge to the sea, which has offshore kelp-covered reefs.  Sea lions and whales may be viewed.  The leafy seadragon, a protected species, is found in the area.  The Hamelin Bay Wreck trail passes five shipwrecks.

Rottnest Island, Rottnest Island Authority, off of Perth(46).  This 11-km-long island is most known for the globally threatened mammal, the quokka.  It also contains six permanent salt lakes and is an IBA for fairy tern, banded stilt, and wedge-tailed shearwater.  Offshore the island is a notable area for watching whales and dolphins and for snorkeling.

Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, Rockingham local government area (44). Penguin Island Conservation Park supports a breeding colony of little penguins.  It is accessible by ferry and includes walking trails.  Other limestone islands support seabird breeding.  Offshore are dolphins and sea lions.

Swan Estuary Marine Park, Perth (28).  Mudflats, seagrass beds, sedges, and saltmarsh support migratory wading birds, including the red-necked stint.

Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park, South West Region (24).  The two inlets are encircled by Walpole-Nornalup NP and support 50 species of marine fish.  The inlets can be viewed from the Bibbulmun Track and are known for canoeing. 

 

Temperate Australia Realm, West Central Australian Shelf Province

211.  Houtman.  Found from Perth northward to Shark Bay.  The following sites exemplify this ecoregion:

Carnac Island Nature Reserve, Fremantle (34).  Between Garden and Rottnest Islands, this is a haulout area for sea lions.

Jurien Bay Marine Park, offshore of MidWest and Wheatbelt regions (78).  The marine waters offshore fromWedge Island north to Green Head are part of this reserve on the Turquoise Coast.  The reserve is offshore of the Namburg (23) and LeSeuer (16) National Parks.   Offshore reefs create sheltered lagoons which contain extensive seagrass beds.  The area is viewed as temperate and there are no coral reefs.  There are about 15 groups of offshore islands within the reserve that provide breeding areas for sea lions and seabirds.

Marmion Marine Park, offshore of Wannaroo (79).  Extending fromTrigg Island to Burns Beach, this park provides diving areas including offshore rocks, ledges, and caves.  Seabirds on offshore rocks, marine mammals, and whales are present.

 

References

Abell, Robin and 27 others.  2008.  Freshwater Ecoregions of the World:  A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation.  Bioscience 58:403-414.

Australian Heritage Database.  www.environment.gov.au/heritage (accessed July 2, 2011).

BirdLife International. 2012.  IBA Factsheets.  Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9 September 2012.

Birds Australia.  http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm (accessed 7/2/11)

Gibbons, Bob.  2011.  Wildflower Wonders:  The 50 Best Wildflower Sites in the World. Princeton University Press and New Holland Publishers.

Olson, David M., et al., 2001.  Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World:  A New Map of Life on Earth.  BioScience 51:933-938.

Spalding, Mark D. and 14 others.  2007.   Marine Ecoregions of the World:  A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas.  Bioscience 57:573-583.

Tourism Western Australia.  www.westernaustralia.com (accessed 7/2/2011)

Watson, Alexander, Simon Judd, James Watson, Anya Lam, and David Mackenzie.  2008.  The Extraordinary Nature of the Great Western Woodlands.  The Wilderness Society of Western Australia..

Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation.  Park Finder.  http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/ (accessed  7/2/11).

World Heritage List.  http://whc.unesco.org/ (accessed 7/2/2011).