The ALA in the world of Environmental Consultants

The ALA in the world of Environmental Consultants

The ALA in the world of Environmental Consultants or what ever else you want to talk about

Our Wish-List A single portal Outcomes in survey and reporting Accurate information Efficient survey and reporting Well informed so we can assist our clients in conserving the significant flora and vegetation within their spheres of influence while developing their projects. (everyone hold hands and sing Kumbaya) Flora Species known from a defined region Commonly encountered species Species with conservation significance Soil types / landform / geology species correlations Aids to identification descriptions, maps, drawings, images, references, keys Vegetation Regional standardized datasets for proportional impact assessment

Our Wish-List (2) Imagery Imagery (Satellite, RGB, false colour, high res) Layers Cadastral boundaries (properties / stations) Roads and tracks Tenure Private UCL, VCL Conservation Estate

What we commonly use DPaW Database Searches costs levied DRF, Pri species records within a given area PEC, TEC, ESA information Dept. of the Environment Protected Matters search tool Federally listed Threatened Flora Florabase Brief descriptions, maps, images, journal references Specimen records (WA) Useful links to Nuytsia journal articles On-line keys (Keybase) Australia s Virtual Herbarium (AVH) - Open access Specimen records Map with specimen details readily accessed

What we commonly use (2) NatureMap Search by Area for a general species list and heads-up on Conservation Significant flora Fauna and Flora combined Link to Florabase is useful More available than we regularly use World Wide Wattle Excellent tool for detail on Acacia Dept of Mines and Petroleum Tengraph Online Tenement boundaries on Google Image Imagery (Landsat, Aster, Spot, Higher Resolution Photography)

In Preparation for Field Works Gather information from DPaW on DRF, Pri Flora, however, must review and critically analyze data to remove duplicates and erroneous records. Gather information from DPaW on TEC and PEC, ESA locations Data from DEH Protected Matters search Plot on suitable satellite image with grid using UTM/UPS (metric) at scales of between 1:25,000 to 1:5,000 (need a good CAD service provider)

Outputs Species list for project area Vegetation association (?NVIS Level) descriptions and maps with ground-truthed boundaries Species vegetation association correlations List known locations of DRF, Pri species List species that may represent undescribed species Depict all above on maps at suitable readable scale Conduct proportional impact assessment on those species with conservation listing or new species

Enigmas, Feelings and Fun Bits

Biogeography - IBRA State-wide broad correlations between flora and vegetation with climate, geology and soils Species with widespread distributions Species with disjunct distributions

Widespread distributions

Outliers in the widespread distributions Outlier near Roebourne, Mulga rough black barked tree/shrub to 20 feet may be a mis ID? (i) (ii) (iii) Outlier near Roebourne Geocode error in database Two subspecies recently described, distributions broadly following biogeographic influences What of the others?

Field observations backed up by Biogeographic Influences Hibbertia haemarrhoides

Boronia crenulata Disjunct distributions taxonomic variance - WIP

Boronia crenulata images Boronia crenulata subsp. Shark Bay P1 is a calcrete outcrop endemic. Big Deal? Calcrete outcrops utilised for quarries, population was threatened with excavation but recognised in the field as likely unusual.

Can t be. Eremophila margarethae is generally a species found on shallow sands over granite One previous record of Eremophila margarethae on a BIF range NW of Meekatharra proved to be a new species Eremophila margarethae subsp. straight sepals P1. Interpretation of known habitat and distribution led to it being raised as potentially a new species.

Westringia cephalantha complex - WIP W. cephalantha is a shrub to ~1.2m, terminal fls, filiform obtuse leaves, grows on heavier dark red loamy soils in the Avon Wheatbelt BGR. Two subspecies: subsp. cephalantha widespread in the north-western part of the range and subsp. caterva widespread in the south-eastern part of it s range while Occurrences on yellow sandplains on the eastern fringe of the Avon Wheatbelt and into the Gt Victoria Desert appear to be a widespread, distinct taxon, needing taxonomic attention. Yellow Sandplains supporting the as yet undescribed taxon

It s all about efficiencies Publicly available databases (ALA and associated sources) are as transformative to us in 2016 as GPS s were back in the mid 1990 s and smart phones and digital photography have become in recent years. Improved efficiencies in recognizing unusual flora through interrogation of maps and collection records greatly improves the opportunity to give clients timely advice, saving money by better targeting our time in the field and improving our taxonomic hit rate. Better outcomes for all.