Identification of biodiversity assets on selected Kimberley islands: background and implementation

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 7 years ago

ABSTRACT – The Northern Kimberley biogeographic region has been identified as one of Australia’s biodiversity hotspots. Although susceptible to many processes threatening biodiversity in adjacent regions, the Northern Kimberley has experienced no known plant or animal extinctions to date. Of particular conservation value are the extensive archipelagos and island groups along its drowned coastline. Collectively, these islands form a microcosm of substrates and vegetation communities widespread on the adjacent mainland, so they are likely to be important refuges for fauna, particularly as they have been largely sheltered from mainland disturbances. In December 2006, a 3-year biodiversity survey of 24 of the islands commenced. The survey was designed to provide the knowledge base to underpin future management actions to protect the biodiversity values of the islands. This survey focused on the species groups believed to be most at risk from threatening processes affecting biodiversity on the mainland. It included mammals, reptiles, frogs, land snails, plants and birds. Here, we describe the background, rationale, objectives and implementation of this survey, including general descriptions of the islands sampled.