Gammon Ranges and Arkaroola (25102)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Gammon Ranges and Arkaroola
Central coordinates: Latitude: -30.4000, Longitude: 139.2800
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 400 to 1063
Area of KBA (km2): 1884.10083
Protected area coverage (%): 66.71
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is one of a small number of protected areas that contain an apparently sustainable population of the restricted-range species Short-tailed Grasswren. The IBA consists of Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park (128,228 ha) and adjoining, privately-owned Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary (~61,000 ha). The site is located in the northern Flinders Ranges, approximately 700 km north of Adelaide and 100 km east of Leigh Creek in South Australia. It experiences a semi-arid climate with mild (winter) to hot (summer) temperatures and mean annual rainfall of about 250 mm. The IBA is mostly situated among the rugged terrain of the North Flinders Ranges, but the boundary also extends east in places to include adjacent, low-lying plains. The North Flinders Ranges are mainly formed of faulted and folded sedimentary rock. The loam and duplex soils of the IBA support four major vegetation communities: woodlands, shrublands, scrublands and grasslands. Short-tailed Grasswrens also occur in neighbouring private pastoral properties and the Flinders Ranges National Park IBA to the south.
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: The IBA contains populations of four species that are listed as threatened in South Australia: Peregrine Falcon, White-browed Treecreeper and Striated Grasswren [= Short-tailed Grasswren, subspecies Amytornis merrotsyi merrotsyi] (Department for Environment and Heritage 2006) as well as significant but small isolated populations of Shy Heathwren, Southern Scrub-robin and Chestnut Quail-thrush, and bio-geographically significant taxonomically intermediate representatives of Splendid Fairy-wren (A. Black in litt. 2009). The Atlas of Australian Birds contains single records of the near threatened Australian Bustard and Grey Falcon, and the biome-restricted Painted Finch, amongst 284 surveys for the period 1998 to 2008 (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Non-bird biodiversity: The IBA supports a diverse biota. For example, 977 species of flora and 200 species of fauna have been recorded in Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park alone. These figures include three plant species and two animal species that are listed as threatened at the national level and 42 plant species and seven animal species that are listed as threatened in South Australia (Department for Environment and Heritage 2006).
Other site values: Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park is co-managed by the Department for Environment and Heritage and the indigenous Adnyamathanha people. Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is leasehold land managed privately for tourism and conservation; it is officially recognised as a nature sanctuary under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 32 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Savanna | 32 | |
| Shrubland | 32 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Monitor presence/abundance of invasive species and undertake control where necessary. Monitor fragmentation of fragmentation of habitats and monitoring tourism and the impact involved with visitors to the parks.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Carpenter, G.A. (in prep.) Distribution and habitats of the Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi) in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Christidis, L., Horton, P. and Norman, J. (2008) Subspeciation in the Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi, Maluridae). Emu 108: 275-282. Department for Environment and Heritage (2006) Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park Management Plan. Department for Environment and Heritage: Adelaide. Higgins, P.J., Peter. J.M. and Steele, W.K. (Eds) (2001) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 5: Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. Parker, S.A. (1982) Notes on Amytornis striatus merrotsyi Mellor, a subspecies of the Striated Grasswren inhabiting the Flinders Ranges. South Australian Ornithologist 29: 13-16.
Contributors: Graham Carpenter provided information on the grasswrens. Andrew Black, Keith Bellchambers and Emma Ginman provided comments on the nomination.