Gum Lagoon (26479)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Gum Lagoon
Central coordinates: Latitude: -36.2678, Longitude: 140.0733
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 15 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 87.67163
Protected area coverage (%): 99.15
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is identical to Gum Lagoon Conservation Park, about 20 km inland of the southern end of the Coorong in south-east South Australia. Other nearby remnants of suitable habitat, including some Heritage Agreements, Bunbury CP, Messent CP and Mt Boothby CP (which had three or four active Malleefowl mounds in 2008) are judged to be too small and isolated to qualify as IBAs alone or in combination with Gum Lagoon. The west of the IBA is largely an extensive calcarenite dune complex overlain with sand dunes and supporting mallee woodlands, while the east supports low lying wet heath land. A chain of ephemeral brackish lagoons in the south-west includes the Naen Naen Swamp. Gum Lagoon surrounds Duck Island, a mixture of native vegetation and pasture, which lacks mallee and Malleefowl and is therefore excluded from the IBA. Average annual rainfall is 500 mm.
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: 2000 Freckled Duck were recorded in Naen Naen Swamp in 1980 (DEWHA 2008). The biome-restricted Purple-gaped Honeyeater has been recorded in unknown numbers (DEH 2005). Non-bird biodiversity: 11 distinct floristic communities have been identified, supporting 375 indigenous plant species, including 4 which are nationally threatened or rare; 12 native mammal species, 19 reptile species, 5 amphibian species and 141 native bird species. An additional 62 exotic plant species, 8 feral mammals species and 5 introduced bird species were recorded (Davies 2000).
Other site values: SA State government with management the responsibility of SA DEH.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 95 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Ongoing monitoring of malleefowl mound activity. Implement a suitable fire management regime for key bird species. Investigate possibilities of creating habitat connections to nearby mallee remnants.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Davies, R.J.P. (2000) Flora and Fauna survey of Gum Lagoon Conservation Park 1995-1996 and implications for park management. Adelaide: Department for Environment and Heritage. DEH (2005) Gum Lagoon Conservation Park Management Plan. Adelaide: Department for Environment and Heritage. DEWHA (2008) A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Naen Naen Swamp & Gum Lagoon - SA059. Downloaded from http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ in Feb 2009.
Contributors: Sharon Gillam provided data on Malleefowl.