Karroun Hill (24847)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Karroun Hill

Central coordinates: Latitude: -29.9863, Longitude: 118.2230

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 300 to 480

Area of KBA (km²): 3090.98719

Protected area coverage (%): 99.93

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The IBA is identical to Karroun Hill Nature Reserve. The IBA was identified from expert opinion that it supports a significant viable population of Malleefowl, as determined by records in relevant databases (notably the Malleefowl Preservation Group database of 1200 sightings over 15 years, WA Dept of Environment and Conservation, WA Museum and Birds Australia Atlas), and other literature and knowledge that population viability is greatest within large areas of contiguous mallee or Acacia shrubland. Adjacent pastoral stations also support Malleefowl in smaller numbers and could be added to the IBA if management is improved to conserve numbers and breeding success of this species. The IBA is situated in pastoral country adjacent to the Western Australian wheatbelt, about 310 km north-east of Perth. The Karroun Hill IBA possesses vast areas of intact woodland and shrubland largely lost from the Western Australian wheatbelt due to clearing for agriculture. The eucalypt-mulga line passes through the reserve and delineates the boundary between wattle-dominated (arid zone) and eucalypt-dominated (temperate south-west) botanical regions. Vegetation consists primarily of York and Salmon gum woodlands and dense Acacia thickets. It also possesses considerable floristic diversity and supports and an impressive array of fauna.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)

Additional biodiversity: Other birds have not been documented for this IBA.

Other site values: Fully managed by Western Australian State government. Permits are required for access to Karroun Hill Nature Reserve.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Savanna	60
Grassland	10
Shrubland	30

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Investigate the impact of fire regimes on Malleefowl persistence. Investigate the effect of fox control on Malleefowl, and meso-predators also (i.e. feral cats etc).

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Barrett, G.W., Silcocks,A., Barry, S., Cunningham, R. and Poulter, R. (2003) The New Atlas of Australian Birds. Melbourne: Birds Australia. Benshemesh, J. (2000) National Recovery Plan for Malleefowl. Adelaide: Department of Environment and Heritage. Department of Environment and Heritage (2003) National Vegetation Information System (NVIS). Pre-European and Present Native Vegetation. (Published Data-Stage 1, Version 2) National Land & Water Resources Audit (on-line) Accessed 2006. Friend, T. (1991) Paradise on the Edge. Landscape 7: 45-48. Parsons, B.C., Short, J.C. and Roberts, J.D. (2008) Contraction in the range of Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) in Western Australia: a comparative assessment using Presence-only and presence-absence datasets. Emu 108: 221-231. Parsons, B.C., Short, J.C. and Roberts, J.D. (in press) Using community observations to predict the occurrence of Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Biological Conservation.