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Fauna in Monash Indigenous Reserve Corridors

A total of 151 significant species, including 15 of National, 31 of State and 105 of Regional significance have previously been recorded in the larger study area (the reserves plus a broader area of surrounding land). Of those, 57 regularly occur or have at least a moderate likelihood of regular occurrence in one or more of the four City of Monash reserves.

• Gardiners Creek Corridor
• Scotchmans Creek Corridor
• Dandenong Creek Corridor

Gardiners Creek Corridor

Damper Creek Reserve

Twelve significant species occur or have at least a moderate likelihood of regular occurrence:

• one of National significance: the Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis);
• one of State significance: the Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus); and
• thirteen of Regional significance: Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii), White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus), Rose Robin (Petroica rosea), Pink Robin (Petroica rodinogaster), Gang Gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum), Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans), Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps), Water-rat (Hydromys chrysogaster), Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii) Eastern Snake-necked Tortoise (Chelodina longicollis) and Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus).
• additional species of Local significance include: Lowland Copperhead (Austrelaps superbus) Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesuerrii) and Blue- tongued Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides).

Damper Creek Reserve is therefore considered to be a site of Regional Zoological Significance.

The main faunal management issues at Damper Creek Reserve concern:

• degradation of fauna habitats (particularly invertebrate habitat) due to weed invasion;
• loss of trees associated with eucalypt dieback;
• uncontrolled public access resulting in trampling of native vegetation;
• disturbance of fauna caused by domestic dogs (Canis familiaris);
• reduced water quality in creeks due to eutrophication and pollution;
• predation of native fauna by domestic cats (Felis catus) and the introduced Fox (Vulpes vulpes);
• reduced supply of nectar for native nectarivorous vertebrates and invertebrates due to competition for nectar resources with populations of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera);
• predation of native invertebrates by the European Wasp (Vespula germanica); and
• fish barriers in Gardiners Creek preventing fish accessing Damper Creek.

Scotchmans Creek Corridor

Valley Reserve

Seventeen significant species occur or have at least a moderate likelihood of regular occurrence:

• one of National significance: the Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis);
• one of State significance: the Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus); and
• sixteen of Regional significance: Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii), Gang-Gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum), White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus), Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons), Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans), Rose Robin (Petroica rosea), Pink Robin (Petroica rodinogaster), Crested Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus), Olive-backed Oriole (Oriolus sagittatus), Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis), Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps), Water-rat (Hydromys chrysogaster), Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii) and Eastern Snake-necked Tortoise (Chelodina longicollis)
• additional species of Local significance: Lowland Copperhead (Austrelaps superbus), Blue-tongued Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides) and River Blackfish (Gadopsis marmoratus).

Valley Reserve is therefore considered to be a site of Regional Zoological Significance.

The main faunal management issues at Valley Reserve concern:

• degradation of fauna habitats (particularly invertebrate habitat) due to weed invasion;
• loss of trees associated with eucalypt dieback;
• uncontrolled public access resulting in trampling of native vegetation;
• disturbance of fauna caused by domestic dogs (Canis familiaris);
• reduced water quality in creeks due to eutrophication and pollution;
• predation of native fauna by domestic cats (Felis catus) and the introduced Fox (Vulpes vulpes);
• reduced supply of nectar for native nectarivorous vertebrates and invertebrates due to competition for nectar resources with populations of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera);
• predation of native invertebrates by the European Wasp (Vespula germanica); and
• reduced bird species diversity due to resident colonies of the aggressive Bell Miner (Manorina melanophrys).

Scotchmans Creek

Nine significant species occur or have at least a moderate likelihood of regular occurrence:

• one of State significance: the Grey-headed Flying-fox; and
• eight of Regional significance: Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Gang-Gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum), Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii), White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus), Rose Robin (Petroica rosea) and Water-rat (Hydromys chrysogaster) (one of the best populations in the Melbourne area),
• additional species of Local significance include: Lowland Copperhead (Austrelaps superbus), River Blackfish (Gadopsis marmoratus) and Galaxias sp.(Galaxias sp.).

Scotchmans Creek is therefore considered to be a site of Regional Zoological Significance.

The main faunal management issues at Scotchmans Creek concern:

• degradation of remnant vegetation and upgrading of revegetation along the creek, namely Fairway Reserve, Stanley Avenue Reserve and a small patch on Oakleigh Golf Course;
• loss of trees associated with eucalypt dieback;
• reduced water quality in creeks due to eutrophication and pollution;
• the presence of artificial/concrete substrates in channelised sections of the creek as well as fish barriers; and
• the presence of environmental weeds in large sections of Scotchmans Creek;
• disturbance of fauna caused by domestic dogs (Canis familiaris).

Dandenong Creek Corridor

Dandenong Creek

Fifty-five significant species occur or have at least a moderate likelihood of regular occurrence:

• four of National significance: the Dwarf Galaxias (Galaxiella pusilla), Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis), Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) and Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua);
• twelve of State significance; and
• forty-one species of Regional significance.

Dandenong Creek is therefore considered to be a site of National Zoological Significance.

The main faunal management issues at Dandenong Creek concern:

• degradation of fauna habitats (particularly invertebrate habitat) due to weed invasion;
• loss of trees and shrubs associated with Swamp Paperbark and eucalypt dieback;
• disturbance of fauna caused by domestic dogs;
• reduced water quality in the creek and wetlands due to eutrophication and pollution from adjoining reserves;
• predation of native fauna by domestic cats and the introduced Fox;
• reduced supply of nectar for native nectarivorous vertebrates and invertebrates due to competition for nectar resources with populations of the Honey Bee;
• reduced bird species diversity due to resident colonies of the aggressive Bell Miner; and
• predation of native invertebrates by the European Wasp.

This report documents the findings of a field assessment undertaken at Damper Creek and Valley Reserves in March 2000, and at Scotchmans and Dandenong Creeks in April 2000, with follow-up inspections with the City of Monash in March and May 2000.

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Updated: 23 September 2003

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