Biodiversity Strategy - Gosford City Council - NSW Government

A - 5.4.3
Invertebrates
There continues to be a lack of knowledge regarding invertebrates despite this group
comprising an estimated 98% of the animal kingdom (Prime Minister’s Science Council 1992).
The largest group of animal phyla is the arthropods that includes insects, crustaceans and
arachnids. Other invertebrate groups include flatworms, sponges, annelids, molluscs and
echinoderms. This lack of knowledge is the likely reason that only one listed ‘threatened’
invertebrate species is currently known from the LGA, this is the Adams Emerald Dragonfly.
Actions for conserving invertebrates present difficulties. For insects conservation must include
consideration of all lifecycles of the species, for example the needs of the larval and adult form
of the Monarch Butterfly differ. Insects are generally highly mobile (at least in their adult
lifecycle) and have dynamic populations (responding to climatic and seasonal changes).
Samways (in Ponder and Lunney 1999) argues that for their conservation there is a need to
consider the interactions between insects and landscape patterns by considering changes in a
temporal as well as three dimensional way (for example relationships between topography and
geomorphology and climatic and microclimatic factors).
Underwood and Chapman in Ponder and Lunney (1999) state that any study of biodiversity
needs to include information about patterns (such as distribution and abundance) at many
scales, both temporal and spatial. The authors recommended nesting of sample sites and
replicate sampling to improve scientific knowledge in this area. Given this lack of knowledge
further study and consideration should be given to invertebrates when considering biodiversity
conservation.
Figures 5.11 to 5.13 Some examples of locally found invertebrates: a dragonfly, centipede and a
landdwelling gastropod or terrestrial native snail (R. Lonie, J Drudge and R. Lonie).
A - 5.4.4
Fauna Species of Particular Interest
The high species diversity, particularly for threatened species, presents a number of issues for
Council in biodiversity management, particularly with limited staff and budgetary resources. Key
species are selected as actions identified for their protection present the opportunity to offer a
range of benefits to other species. The following particular species are also considered
‘charismatic’ species that are likely to be more easily identified and more readily adopted as key
species for conservation.
Yellow-bellied Gliders
The Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) was identified as a vulnerable species in
1992. The factors identified as leaving the species particularly at risk were that its
population and distribution has been severely reduced, the processes threatening its
survival were considered to be particularly severe, it is an ecological specialist and it has a
poor recovery potential. (NPWS 2003a).
Biodiversity - Technical Report Page 116