WERE YOU A PART OF FRASER ISLAND’S FUTURE?Maintaining the Integrity of Fraser Island and the Greater Sandy World Heritage AreaConference held: 28-29 Sep 2006 |
The whole conference is over 500Mb and most papers are over 50Mb). Please email truegrit@fido.org.au.
True Grit Conference Keynote Speaker Dr Jeremy Russell Smith appeared on Quantum on 19 October 2006 talking about the types of fires that FIDO considers desirable for Fraser Island
Complete directions and maps to and of campus
Please see the detailed list of abstracts and speakers below
Program
Day One – Thursday 28 September 2006
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Day Two – Friday 29 September 2006
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SESSION 1 – TIPA
Project – 9am to 9.45am
Chair: Terry Brown Introduction:
Pamela Harmon Price (10 minutes) Group
Discussion (25 minutes) Summation: Pamela Harmon Price (10 minutes) SESSION 2 – Fire
management – 9.45am to 10.30am
Chair: Annie Ross Introduction:
John Sinclair (10 minutes) Group
Discussion (25 minutes) Summation:
Col Lawton (10 minutes) MORNING TEA
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SESSION 3 – Water
management –11am to 11.45am
Chair: Andrew Moser Introduction:
Andrew Moser (10 minutes) Group
Discussion (25 minutes) Summation: Ron Neller (10 minutes) SESSION 4 –
Research priorities – 11.45am to 12.30am
Chair: Annie Ross Introduction:
Terry Brown (10 minutes) Group
Discussion (25 minutes) Summation:
Annie Ross (10 minutes) LUNCH CONFERENCE
END *
Please note that the Fraser Island Natural Integrity Alliance (FINIA) is
having a meeting at USC between 2 and 4 pm to discuss weeds. All interested parties
are invited to attend. For information please contact Sue Sargent BMRG on 4132 8333 |
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Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October 2006
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Optional Field Trip to Fraser Island Depart Sunshine Coast 08:00 Saturday Return Sunshine Coast 17:00 Sunday Cost $200 per person |
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Earl Bird Bookings must be received by 1 September 2006 |
Prices |
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Individual
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$150 |
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Group booking (Five or more
persons booked and paid for at once) ---------------- |
$120 |
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Community
conservation group member or registered tertiary student ------------ (Registration must be accompanied
by letter of nomination (preferably on letterhead) from a bona fide community
conservation group, including the group name, ABN, address and contact phone
number for at least one executive officer. Only one nomination per community
conservation group). |
$100 |
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Conference Dinner
Thursday, 29 August (tick to express interest) --------------------- |
$50 |
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Optional
post-conference field trip – Sat 20 Sept and
Sun 1 Oct --------------------- An issues-based tour of Fraser Island, with commentary by
John Sinclair (tick to receive further information –
limited places available). |
$200 |
PAYMENT: Please make all cheques payable to ‘Fraser Island Defenders Organisation’.
Credit card payments will show on your credit
card statement as ‘The University of the Sunshine Coast’.
Cheque Credit card: Visa MasterCard
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Credit
card number: |
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name: |
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signature: |
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Booking
Name Address Phone/Email |
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Post registration form with payment to:
True Grit Conference
Institute for Sustainability, Health and Regional Engagement,
Innovation Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast
Maroochydore DC Qld 4558
Call (07) 5430 1204
Email truegrit@fido.org.au
Web http://www.fido.org.au/truegrit
Abstracts
Determining a Baseline for Fraser Island “Integrity”
John Sinclair, Honorary Project Officer, Fraser Island Defenders Organization
The World Heritage Convention obliges member states to preserve the integrity of any of their inscribed World Heritage sites. In the case of Fraser Island it is important to establish a bench-mark for the integrity which is to be protected. It could be taken as being either when the island was nominated for World Heritage listing in 1991 or what it was like at its most natural state prior to the intrusions of modern civilizations which began early in the 19th Century. Since at the time of its nomination the Queensland Government was in the process of developing a Management Plan which sought to try to minimize the impacts of modern civilization on Fraser Island, it can be assumed that the bench-mark should be based on the landscape in Aboriginal times. Unfortunately there are precious few written or photographic records to reveal just what constituted this pre-European contact benchmark.
Most of the changes to the integrity are refected on the changes to Fraser Island’s ecosystems. The earliest records and observations of the first people of European origin to visit Fraser Island have been examined to document what Fraser Island’s natural landscape and biology may have been like prior 1836. It also documents the changes which have been recorded and observed over the period since European contact and, where possible, the agents of change which have been responsible.
The more significant changes to date are a result introductions of alien flora and fauna and the impact of changing the fire regime away from the prevailing Aboriginal practices developed over thousands of years. The industrial extraction of resources and even the tourist industry have also impacted on the natural ecosystems.
Although there is not yet any recorded extirpations of any plant species on Fraser Island due to the introduction of introduced plant (weed) species, there is evidence that many ecosystems have been altered. The advent of cane toads may have contributed to the extirpation of quolls and the reduction of many reptile populations. However the most obvious changes to the ecosystems can be traced to the changed fire regime and the modification of the forests during 130 years of industrial logging.
Although Fraser Island is in large measure the product of climate changes and changing sea-levels over hundreds of thousands of years, there is little evidence yet of the impact of the current global climatic changes on Fraser Island beyond some coastal erosion which is much more evident on the western side of the island.
Some of the changes to the Fraser Island natural environment take many before they become obvious. By then the changes may be beyond reversal. Close monitoring of the environment and early identification of any changes affecting the ecosystems are therefore essential. It is therefore vital to have a clearer understanding and appreciation of the ecosystems which existed on Fraser Island prior to the advent of western civilization as a basis for meeting Australia’s World Heritage obligations.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
JEREMY RUSSELL SMITH
MAINTAINING FIRE INTEGRITY
Dr Smith is one of Australia’s leading fire ecologists. He works for the Bushfires Council of the Northern Territory and leads the fire program for the Tropical Savannas CRC. He has been involved with the development of the Arnhem Land Fire Abatement project since it inception in 1998.
FRASER ISLAND WORLD HERITAGE AREA FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
Colin Lawton, Senior Conservation Officer Great Sandy QPWS
Australian ecosystems have been evolving with fire for millions of years. Many flora and fauna species and communities are dependent on the periodic presence of fire, whilst some are not. The optimal fire regime (the season, frequency, intensity, type and spatial mosaic of fire) varies between ecosystems, and there is no ideal or ‘best fit’ fire regime that will suit all species and communities.
In Australian, most natural areas cannot be expected to retain their biological diversity without active fire management. Fire is therefore one of the major land management tools used by conservation managers throughout Australia for the protection of life and property, to achieve conservation objectives, and to maintain Aboriginal cultural resources and practices. This deliberate use of fire in natural areas is almost always controversial.
Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world and received World Heritage status in 1992 in recognition of its outstanding universal values. The island covers an area of approximately 165,175ha at high water mark, is approximately 120km long and between five and 25km wide. The highest point of elevation is the trig station south of Lake Bowarrady, which is 244m above sea level. Fraser Island is aligned roughly NNE and SSW, and lies between latitudes 24°41′ and 25°50′ south, and longitudes 152° 55′ and 153° 20′ east (DASETT 1991).
The area incorporates extensive areas of national park (163,053 ha), along with small areas of other tenures such as unallocated state land (1,349 ha), freehold land (372 ha), and leasehold land (48ha), with other reserves contributing the remaining 353 ha. Several small townships are situated along the east coast of the island, as are several holiday resorts (see Map 2 for tenure details).
Fire Management for Great Sandy District consists of a Fire Strategy, Wildfire Response Procedure, an annual Planned Burn Program and reporting loops (recording of fire events and fire monitoring).
A Fire Management Strategy has been finalised for Fraser Island. Development of the Strategy has been consistent with Agency guidelines. Extensive consultation has occurred with key interest groups. The Fire Strategy is the principle component of the Fire Plan for a protected area. The other components of the Fire Plan are the Wildfire Response Procedure and the Planned Burn Program.
The planning, approval, implementation and reporting processes for fire management in the Fraser Island Section of the Great Sandy National Park will follow the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Fire Management System (FMS) 2003.
The Fire Strategy provides the overall framework and direction for fire management on the park. It details the values of the park and surrounding lands, the long-term fire management aims and how these relate to on ground management. An acceptable range of fire regimes to suit the desired fire management objectives is provided. Although the principles of this strategy relate directly to the protected area estate they may also apply to other land tenures on Fraser Island if the fire operation is conducted under the control of a QPWS staff member or if the responsible agency wishes to adopt this system.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND FIRE HISTORY – A CLUE FROM HOLOCENE VEGETATION
Angus Tye - The University of Melbourne
Current understanding for vegetation change over long
time frames on the large sand masses of South-East Queensland is based on the
idea of retrogressive succession. What is not known is the rate at which this
occurs. Fraser Island poses an ideal site to study this process due to the
relative uniformity of the substrate, heterogeneous vegetation composition and
availability of suitable sampling sites. Processes such as competition,
recovery after fire and other disturbances all take place on a decadal time scales
whilst soil, climate and human interactions may act over much longer
timeframes. In particular, dominance of various taxa depends to a large extent
on interactions between climate, natural fire, and anthropogenic fire.
In an attempt to disentangle some of these factors,
sediments were analysed for charcoal and pollen from a wetland situated on a
boundary between a wet sclerophyll and heathland community, and from a wetland
in a mixed woodland community. These two records have provided insights into
the Holocene vegetation dynamics within the respective plant communities. It
appears that regardless of variations in climate and the fire record;
relatively stable plant community boundaries appear to have existed in
approximately the same position throughout the Holocene with limited local
compositional change.
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FRASER ISLAND UNPLUGGED: Using ICTs to monitor flora, fauna, tourists and the environment while promoting its indigenous culture and history.
Tony Stiller University of the Sunshine Coast
Over the years successive government and non-government agencies have many recommendations for the preservation of the flora and fauna of Fraser Island from further degradation due to environmental, development, sanitation and waste management arising from tourist movements, accommodation requirements, vehicle traffic and the effects of the climate change. This paper will identify and apply ways in which information and communication technologies (ICTs) to scientifically monitor the key artefacts identified as having a significant role in ensuring the region sustains the islands cultural and natural heritage and be protected from damage and destruction. By strategically placing ICTs in identified areas to monitor the key artefacts, scientists will be able to capture data in real-time and model scenarios that can be used to support management strategies that are sustainable while meeting World Heritage Area obligations and yet be sensitive to the social and cultural heritage of the original owners.
ACTINOMYCETES AND ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH FOREDUNE PIONEER PLANT SPECIES OF FRASER ISLAND
D.I. Kurtböke S. Bellgard and R. Neller
University of the Sunshine Coast and Earth Tech Engineering P/L
BACKGROUND
In the 1980’s, a number of Australian workers identified arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) spores and found that the majority of the roots of
dune plants were colonised by AMF (1,2).
Additionally, large numbers of alkalitolerant streptomycetes have been
isolated from the sand collected from the beach and sand dune systems of
Northumberland in the United Kingdom (3). This preliminary study aimed to
examine the microbial composition of the soil associated with the; 1) mobile fore
dune, 2) mature hind dune and 3) rehabilitated hind dune to quantify the ratio
of Actinomycetes/non actinomycete bacteria/fungi present in the three soil
types in association with the dominant “key-stone” plant species i.e. Spinifex
sericeus (fore dune) and Casuarina equisetifolia var. incana (hind
dune).
FINDINGS
There were a higher number of bacteria forming units in the
rehabilitated hind dune than in any other soil sample taken (Table 1). The
major fungus recovered was an unknown white Penicillium species. There
were significantly more colony forming units of fungal species in the mature
hind dune community than in any other soil examined (Table 1). Generally AMF
spore numbers were very low (Table 1). There was no significant difference
between the spore densities for any of the three soil types sampled. The
dominant actinomycete genus was Micromonospora in the rehabilitated hind
dunes. There were approximately five times as many actinomycetes in the
rehabilitated hind dune than in the intact fore dune.
Typical AMF associations (i.e. hyphal coils, vesicles and arbuscules)
were found in the root samples of all three-plant species examined from the
fore dune, intact hind dune and the rehabilitated hind dune. Up to three
different AMF species were associated with roots of Spinifex sericeus (Table
2). Glomus species were found in the intact hind dune, and Acaulospora
laevis was only recovered from the rehabilitated hind dune soil (Table 2).
DISCUSSION
The soil microbial spectrum of the intact fore dune was comprised of
bacteria, actinomycetes and AMF (with no saprophytic fungi). In contrast, the
intact Casuarina-dominated later successional hind dune system was more
strongly fungal dominated (Bacteria:Fungi ratio of 2.97). The rehabilitated hind
dune had the highest number of bacteria (Bacteria:Fungi ratio of 12.72), and
so, this suggests that it is still in the early successional stage of
development. AMF appear to play a vital role in the establishment and survival
of dune colonising plants by aiding in nutrition, and contributing to the
process of dune stabilisation by binding sand grains into wind resistant
aggregates (5). The genus Micromonospora were reported to produce plant
growth promoting hormones as well as anti-microbial metabolites and used during
the rehabilitation of mine sites to protect eucalyptus trees from Phytophthora
infections (6,7).
WEEDS: WHAT WEEDS? Eurong Case Study.
Stephanie & Julian Lymburner
It has been estimated that weeds cost Australia about $3 billion per year in control costs and lost production. Most of our weeds have been imported into Australia deliberately and legally.
Noxious weed is a legal term to describe a weed that has been declared by the Minister for Agriculture, noxious weed legislation varies between States.
Environmental weeds are weeds that invade bushland, wetlands, forest, dunal systems and other areas of native vegetation. There are advantages and disadvantages in declaring environmental weeds noxious. Generally, environmental weeds are more difficult to and costly to control than agricultural weeds, primarily because of the diversity of non-target vegetation in these situations.
There is a huge knowledge void surrounding environmental weeds because, comparatively little research has been done in this field. It is only in recent years that the community at large and the authorities have realised the need to protect and preserve our natural ecosystems. Many organizations and individuals are committed pursuing the control of environmental weeds. One of the major thrusts must be to raise community awareness and provide effective education.
The Eurong precinct provides us with an example of environmental weeds escaping into the surrounding landscape, disturbing the natural ecosystems.
Efforts to control and ultimately eradicate these weeds from the precinct and adjacent areas can only be achieved with:
- A strategic plan of management targeting weed removal that also takes into account fire regimes.
- Financial and on-ground support from local and State government departments.
- An education program to assist the local community in understanding the need for weed removal and the need for ongoing control.
On-going support from local stakeholders for visiting volunteer groups.
NATIVE AND ALIEN ANT COMMUNITIES ON FRASER ISLAND
Collier, P. (1) Nicholls, Z. (1) Robinson, W. (1) and Andersen, A. (2)
1. University of the Sunshine Coast 2. CSIRO Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre
The University of the Sunshine Coast has undertaken several recent studies in ants on Fraser Island. A 2004 study found more than 250 species of native ants in 16 sites spread across 8 different vegetation types on the island. In particular, the cypress pine groves and Banksia shrub lands had high native ant diversity.
At the same time we located several infestations of the Coastal Brown ant, Pheidole megacephala. Most of these infestations are associated with human habitations such as at Dilli Village, Eurong Station and Orchid Beach. However one infestation of these ants covering several hectares was located away from any habitations and near one of the major walking tracks on the Eastern side of the island. This infestation is a major case for concern as the invaders have displaced almost all of the native ants in the area and the infestation is expanding through native bush in very rugged terrain.
Overseas studies show that the consequences of this invasion
for other invertebrates like spiders will be devastating. In 2005 we conducted an investigation into
the native ant faunas associated with an area infested by Black Crazy ants, Paratrechina
longicornis on the western side of the island. The infested area had significantly lower species richness,
Shannon diversity and species evenness of native ants than adjacent uninfested
areas. At this stage it is not possible
to say whether the presence of the Black Crazy ants is the cause or the effect
of lower native species richness.
However, we supply descriptions of encounters observed between Black
Crazy ants and some native arthropods including meat ants, dipterans and
chilopods. We also describe plans for further research into the investigation
of interactions between Paratrechina
longicornis, Pheidole megacephala and other native
arthropods.
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SUBMARINE GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE FROM FRASER ISLAND: A NUTRIENT SOURCE FOR HERVEY BAY?
Ron Neller and Chris Crossland - University of the Sunshine Coast
Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) has been observed and utilised by people across several millennia. However it is only in the last few decades that serious study has been directed at studying the magnitude and effects of flows. While our understanding of models and processes is at an early stage, there is clear evidence emerging from globally distributed local studies that SGD is a potentially significant source of nutrient to coastal marine ecosystems.
Fraser Island is characterised by apparently large reservoir of groundwater. Surface flows and shoreline seepage of groundwater is widely observed. In addition, the mainland coast contains defined aquifers discharging into Hervey Bay and, in some cases, estimates of volume flow and water quality have been monitored over several decades, for example, in the Burnett River catchments. Surface river flows and allied nutrient loads have been measured.
Groundwater discharge to the Bay undoubtedly makes a significant contribution to the nutrient requirements of benthic seagrass communities and water column plankton production, supplementing fluvial and ocean nutrient supplies. The relative importance of groundwater nutrient contributions from Fraser Island to the Hervey Bay ecosystems is being assessed by building a first-order nutrient budget for the Bay, identifying the key sources and loads of nutrients. We provide a progress report on current measurements of nutrient concentrations and flows of groundwater and submarine groundwater discharge from Fraser Island to Hervey Bay, and on the nutrient budget estimates..
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DINGOES –Managing Wildlife Tourism on Fraser Island
Georgette Leah Burns, Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies, Giffith University
Wildlife is one of many features that attract visitors to Fraser Island. While much of the island’s wildlife is relatively benign, some, such as dingoes, are not. The many human stakeholders engaging with wildlife tourism on Fraser Island vary from domestic visitors and international tourists, to tourism infrastructure operators and island residents. The complex human-wildlife interactions that arise vary from consumptive wildlife tourism, such as fishing, to more minimally interactive bird and whale watching.
The dingo is the main animal associated with the island and its image can be seen on tourism literature, brochures and web pages. It is also the most problematic, having proven that it can endanger visitor’s lives and thus posing additional challenges for management. Current policies and practices toward dingoes are guided by the Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy (November 2001), which results from an earlier draft by the same name (1999) and a risk assessment report (May 2001). The Strategy suggests several approaches to managing human-dingo interactions, many of which have been implemented in recent years. Fences, for example, now enclose some campsites and resorts while education material available to island visitors has increased. All approaches aim at limiting human-dingo contact based on the assumption that such interactions are always negative.
Drawing on lessons from recent wildlife tourism literature, this paper examines wildlife tourism on Fraser Island and makes suggestions for managing the interface between people and animals in this unique World Heritage Area. Human desire for positive interactions with wildlife in natural settings is also discussed, while questioning the scope for safely including these in tourist’s experiences of the island.
DINGO
DIET AND PREY AVAILABILITY ON FRASER ISLAND
Ángel-E. Dafna*†, Ron Neller†, Nick Baker‡
† University of the Sunshine Coast, ‡ University of Queensland
The management of dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) on Fraser Island presents a serious issue regarding the balance of public safety and world heritage conservation. One of the most important and least understood aspects of this issue is the availability of prey and prey species relations with the dingo diet. This relationship is the focal point of this research.
To assess prey availability, three forest types were sampled during summer and winter 2005 using live trapping (12 sites) and track counting techniques (24 sites). Population estimations were obtained from statistical models (Nest) when possible, and with indices such as minimum number known to be alive (Ń) and the Passive Activity Index (PAI). To investigate the diet of the dingo, 126 scats were collected. Prey remains were identified and the diet composition was described using presence-absence and weight of remains methods.
The most common species in the study area were Rattus tunneyi and R. fuscipes. The activity of rodents was different in the three habitats sampled and in the two seasons. A remarkably higher PAI was recorded for lizards in summer and bandicoots and antechinus in winter. The PAI was calibrated against population estimates for rodents, providing a simple and efficient monitoring tool for use by natural resource managers.
A generalist pattern for the diet of Fraser Island dingoes suggested a selective predatory behaviour towards bandicoots, in particular Perameles nasuta, and prey switching for secondary prey, such as rodents, according to temporal fluctuations in the abundance of these species. Fish and human-sourced food consumption has decreased since the 1990s but they are still an important part of dingo diet. The functional relationship between dingoes and bandicoots approaches to Type II and with rodents approaches Type III. The habitat suitability for dingoes is similar in the habitats sampled and prey availability is slightly higher in the Tall Wet Forest.
Iris
Flenady, Senior Conservation Officer: Dingoes – managing interaction with
visitors