Biodiversity
Page 281
Magazine and Range Wetlands
Terrestrial Vertebrates
In May 2009, there were 8 reptiles, 3 amphibians and 14 mammals throughout the
seven habitat types in the Gillman area including Magazine and Range Wetlands,
recorded by Delta Consulting (Source: P. Coleman & F. Cook, 2009).
Fish
In May 2009, there were 35 fish species known to occur in the seven habitat types in
the Gillman area including Magazine and Range wetlands, recorded by Delta
Consulting (Source: P. Coleman & F. Cook, 2009).
Aquatic invertebrates
In May 2009, there were 10 gastropods, 10 bivalves, 28 crustaceans, 7 insects, 4
worms and 11 other aquatic invertebrates recorded throughout the five habitat types
within the Gillman area including Magazine and Range wetlands, recorded by Delta
Consulting (Source: P. Coleman & F. Cook, 2009).
Torrens Island
Torrens Island Conservation Park is located outside of Port Adelaide Enfield
Council's boundary but is relevant in terms of overall regional ecological assessment,
and is home to diverse and ecologically important aquatic ecosystems including
mangrove stands, salt marshes, seagrass beds, and fish and bird breeding grounds.
The ecological community comprises low woodland vegetation, Grey Mangrove
Avicennia marina var. resinifera
and low-shrubland comprising
Sclerostegia
arbuscula
and
Sarcocornia quinquefora that
occur where the canopy is more open. In
addition, small species such as
Threlkeldia diffusa
and the introduced
Cakile
maritima
tend to grow on shore margins. This area is prone to tidal inundation of
varying frequency and winter flooding.
The sand dune community is in relatively poor condition, due to the history of sand
mining and backfilling since 1963. The sand dunes community is a mixture of
vegetation types that can be broadly referred to as dune low woodland, heath to
open low scrub. The overstorey (larger canopy plants) is dominated by
Acacia
pycnantha
, scattered individuals of
Callitris gracilis
, the introduced
Schinus molle var.
areira
and
Acacia longifolia sophorae
(Donato Environmental Services, 2010).
Within all the vegetation associations, saltmarsh contain
Centrolepis cephaloformis
cephaloformis
(rare) and
Tecticornia flabelliformis
(nationally, state and locally
vulnerable) flora species. Also there are many
Adriana quadripartita
(Rare
Bitterbush) specimens that are present on the island that attract the rare butterfly
Theclinesthes albocincta
(Bitter-bush Blue) which only occurs in the coastal regions
of South Australia.
The marshes breed a myriad of worms, shrimps and simple organisms on which fish
feed, helping to stock the Port Adelaide River and Barker Inlet for fishing and
