Fauna Survey of Field Island (Gardangari) 12-16 April 2010
Details:
Title
Fauna Survey of Field Island (Gardangari) 12-16 April 2010,
Creator
Ward, Simon,
Nadji, John (Sean),
Stevens, Alys,
Linder, Garry,
Wellings, Andrew,
Sattler, Greg,
Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport. Biodiversity Group,
Collection
E-Publications,
E-Books,
PublicationNT,
Date
2010-04-16,
Location
Kakadu National Park,
Field Island,
Description
Thanks to Anne O’Dea, Anna Pickworth and Ned Tambling for transport too.,
Abstract
The Biodiversity Group of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport (NRETAS; NT Government) have been working with Kakadu staff for the last three years looking for places (hotspots) where small to medium-sized mammals are still living in Kakadu. We were looking for the water mouse on Field Island, but we also wanted to survey other animals there because islands are important for conservation in the NT. The water mouse (Xeromys myoides, sometimes called a false water rat) is a rare species in the NT and is listed as a threatened species (Vulnerable) nationally. They have been recorded from only six localities in the NT, and one of these is an old record from “South Alligator River” in 1903. They live in mangroves and surrounding wetland areas, feeding on crabs and other intertidal and wetland animals. Islands in the NT are important for conservation because i) it is harder for introduced animals and plants to get to them, ii) they often have different fire regimes than the mainland, iii) by accident, they often naturally have unexpected species living on them. There have been no previous surveys of the animals living on Field Island, but the island is well known for its important flatback turtle breeding beach.,
Notes
Date:2010,
Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT),