Grevillea caleyi
Flora and Fauna Surveys
Flora and fauna surveys are conducted for a variety of reasons and at various levels depending on the client brief or requirements from a consent authority . A survey provides the first step in identifying ecological/biological diversity of a site. To gain a complete picture of the flora and fauna present on a site, it is necessary to undertake a number of surveys over many years. Surveys that are conducted with a reduced time frame are only able to gain a "snapshot" of the potential diversity on a site and need to be accompanied by a literature/ data search to investigate the potential of other species being visitors to the site on other occassions.
A flora survey is generally conducted using the random meander technique with floristics of each strata level noted and compared against the known floral assemblage. Quadrats and transects are used for larger areas following desk top reviews of potential floral assemblages and transition points or ecotones, these are then ground truthed and mapped accordingly.
baby Tawny Frogmouth
A fauna survey can be undertaken using a variety of techniques to ascertain the presence of fauna on the site or fauna that may frequent the site including:
- observation
- scat/hair analysis
- track analysis
- habitat watching
- potlighting
- trapping
Feral Bees
Surveys are often required as part of a Development Application in order to assess thesignificance of a site and thelikely impact that the development would have on the Flora and Fauna communities that utilise the site.
If a development is to occur in an area of potential significance, an Eight Part Test may also be required. An Eight Part Test is an assessment under Section 5A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
