JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA VOLUME 60 PART 3 FEBRUARY, 1978. PRICE TWO DOLLARS REGISTERED FOR POSTING AS A PERIODICAL-CATEGORY 8 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA PATRON Her Majesty the Queen VICE-PATRON His Excellency Air Chief Marshal Sir Wallace Kyle, G.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., D.F.C., K.St.J., Governor of Western Australia President Vice-Presidents Past President Joint Hon. Secretaries Hon. Treasurer Hon. Librarian Hon. Editor COUNCIL 1977-1978 A. J. McComb, M.Sc., Ph.D. C. F. H. Jenkins, M.B.E., M.A., M.A.I.A.S. M. J. Mulcahy, B.Sc. (For.), Ph.D. P. R. Wycherley, O.B.E., B.Sc., Ph.D., F.L.S. G. Perry, B.Sc. (Hons.) M. W. Perry, B.Sc. (Agric.) (Hons.) S. J. Curry, M.A. A. Neumann, B.A. A. E. Cockbain, B.Sc., Ph.D. P. R. Atkinson, B.Sc. B. E. Balme, D.Sc. C. E. Dortch, B.S., M.Phil. B. B. Lamont, B.Sc. (Agric.), Ph.D., F.R.H.S. J. K. Marshall, B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D. L. J. Peet, B.Sc., F.G.S. P. E. Playford, B.Sc., Ph.D. J. C. Taylor, B.Sc., Ph.D., A.R.C.S. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978, p. 65-70. The soils, flora, vegetation and vertebrate fauna of Chatham Island, Western Australia by Ian Abbott and J. R. Watson Zoology Department, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, W.A. 6009 Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, W.A. 6009. (present address: Department of Conservation and Environment, 1 Mount Street, Perth, W.A. 6000) Manuscript received 21 June 1977 ; accepted 21 June 1977 Abstract The biological results of the first scientific survey of Chatham Island, of area 69 ha and maximum height 186 m, are presented. The two main soil types and two intermediate kinds are described. The island supports 46 vascular plant species (of which only 4 are alien), 4 species of lizards and breeding populations of the Little Penguin, Little and Flesh-footed Shearwaters, Welcome Swallow and Silvereye. A species of native rat occurs. The only known extant population in Western Australia of the fern Asplenium obtusatum occurs on the island. Introduction Between 11 and 22 May 1975 we visited Chatham Island in order to trap Silvereyes for genetic studies. Responsibility for the research carried out was as follows. Five mist-nets were operated for a total of 360 hours in a represent- ative 4 ha area (IA) in which also a quantitative study of habitat structure and plant diversity was made (IA and JRW). Plant specimens were collected from this area as well as over the whole island and notes on the plant communities were made (IA). Soil profiles were dug at various sites and detailed descriptions were made (JRW). Several hours on two nights were spent noting seabirds coming ashore to roost (IA and JRW). This report presents annotated lists of the flora and vertebrate fauna, part of the quantitative vegetation survey, as well as an analysis of the soil types. Physiography Chatham Island (116°30’E, 35°02’S) lies west- southwest of Walpole, on the south coast of Western Australia, and has an area of 69 ha (calculated from aerial photograph). The island rises nearly perpendicularly from the sea to an elevation of 186 m near its southern end, and slopes gradually to the north. Seen from the east or west the island has a wedge- shaped appearance (Fig. 1). The island meas- ures approximately 1.2 km by 1.0 km at its widest point. It lies 1.1 km from the mainland. The depth of the intervening strait is 37 to 46 m. The island was separated from the present mainland 11 000 — 12 000 years ago. To the immediate east and south of the island depths range from 46 to 66 m (Admiralty Chart No. 1934 and D. Beale pers. comm. 1975). The island is a granite-gneiss dome, of a type which is common in Western Australia. The resistance of such domes causes them to stand out as bosses often forming headlands, islands or peaks inland. On the southern side and near the summit very extensive areas of bare rock occur (Figs. 2, 3). A small area of limestone cliffs is present in the northwest corner. The average annual rainfall is probably similar to that of Walpole, and would be 1 400-1 500 mm. Suitable landing sites are in bays on the north and west sides, but landing is difficult at all times owing to the swell. We landed in the northern bay. History The island was named Cape Chatham by G Vancouver on 26 September 1791, after the Earl of Chatham. Vancouver’s ship reached no closer than about 20 km and with poor visibility the island must have appeared as a conspicuous cape. Flinders in 1801 established its insular nature. William Nairne Clarke in his epic voyage from King George Sound to Nornalup and beyond in 1841 found Chatham Island on 6 March to be full of ‘Sooty Petrel’ burrows He also found fur seals there. The island has received little interference from man, although a fire was noted in the 1960s (D. Beale pers. comm. 1975). Small cairns at and near the summit show that the island has been landed on this century, probably by fishermen. J 69509 — ( 2 ) 65 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Figure 1. — View of Chatham Island from southwest. Soils There is only approximately 40% soil coverage on Chatham Island, most of the surface being bare rock. Thus, most of the soils are extremely shallow (0-40 cm) and overlie granite slabs and boulders. In the northeast sector, however, much deeper soils occur on the more gentle slopes and there has also been considerable movement of weathered parent material down- slope. This sector also exhibits marked differ- ences in soil type due to the small outcrop of limestone (Fig. 2). With the exception of isolated pockets, mainly near the summit of the island, all the soils have been extensively burrowed by seabirds to depths of up to 90 cm. The resulting soil dis- turbance and faunal wastes have clearly had a marked effect on soil formation. The soils of Chatham Island were surveyed over a two day period, initially by two non-ran- domized transects across the major vegetation study area and later by a series of non-ran- domized soil pits located throughout the remainder of the island. Each profile examined was described in situ but pH, colour (Munsell soil colour chart) and texture were determined in the laboratory. A total of 15 soil pits and approximately 10 shallow inspection pits were examined. A generalized map of soil types is shown in Fig. 2. Soils overlying granite Peats . — Chatham Island experiences cool, wet conditions during most of the year due to its geographical location and highly exposed position. These climatic conditions have undoubtedly assisted in the development of shallow peats over most of the rock surface. In the deeper pockets of soil there is slight profile development (Appendix) and in some parts of the northeast sector there is clear evidence of ironpan formation, especially towards the limestone outcrops. The degree of in situ rock weathering within and to the base of soil profiles varies markedly from site to site and is generally associated with joints and dis- crete boulders. Generally, the soils have a reddish-black surface horizon containing much organic matter and plant litter, and with an acidic pH in the range 4. 0-5.0. In the deeper, more developed soils, there is a slight increase in fine clay with depth and overall a decrease in the amount of semi-decomposed plant litter. Feathers and other organic detritus occur in burrows at any depth and tend to complicate the rather subtle soil changes between horizons. There is usually a decrease in pH with depth to values as low as 3.5. Many of these soils have poor drainage and the shallower soils in particular have a mass of plant roots and impeded lateral water move- ment at the soil/rock interface. 66 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia,. Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. 1 km Peats Peaty Brown Sands Podsolized Brown Sands Brown Sands Figure 2. — The soils of Chatham Island. Whits areas represent (at this scale) bare reck. Soils associated with limestone Brown sands. — In the limestone area there are pockets of deep brown sandy soils occurring between exposed limestone outcrops. These soils show little horizon differentiation and are of neutral pH (6.5). Roots (Rhagodia) occur throughout the profile to depths of at least 60 cm but there is little surface accumulation of organic litter whether under Poa or Rhagodia. Immediately downslope of the outcrops similar deep dark brown sands occur with a more marked brightening in colour (10 YR/4/6) at about 60 cm. These soils are alkaline (up to pH 7.9) with limestone fragments within the profile. The brown sands are very freely drained. Intermediate soils Peaty brown sands. — This soil type occurs in a small area in the southwest sector, co-incident with the only area of Atriplex on the island (Fig. 3). It consists of a shallow brown sand (up to 60 cm) overlying granite, but with varying degrees of peaty surface horizon. Although there are no local outcrops of lime- stone, a large granite boulder nearby has remnant limestone attached to its underside. It is possible that this soil is a relic deep brown sand originally developed from limestone but subsequently truncated and now supporting peat formation in the surface horizon. Podsolized brown sands . — This soil occurs in a transitional zone between the main limestone outcrops and the granite exposures. It contains a purplish-black (5 RP/ 1.7/1) iron-rich zone with varying degrees of induration and iron pan formation towards the interface with a bright brown (7.5 YR/5/8) underlying sand. The pH of these two horizons is extremely low (3. 2-3. 4) despite the occasional presence of both granite and limestone boulders mainly in the upper part of the profile. Flora In the following annotated checklist of vas- cular plant species, the percentage frequency of plant species found in 50 randomly distrib- uted quadrats in the 4.0 ha plot is indicated. An asterisk denotes naturalized alien species. ADIANTACEAE Cheilanthes tenuifolia (Burm.f.) Sw. (2%). Widespread on thin soil over granite slabs. ASPLENIACEAE Asplenium obtusatum Forst.f. Small clumps (<1 m 2 area) of this vigorously growing fern were found in only two places at the south end. The first was under boulders c. 180 m above sea level and the second was in a valley at the south end c. 100 m above sea level. This record is the second for the State. It appears that the first record (on Breaksea Island, 1866, where col- lected by G. Maxwell) refers to a population that is now extinct as IA specifically searched for the species there in August 1975. This species occurs also in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, where it is not a rare species (Wakefield 1955). POACEAE Poa australis R.Br. (74%). See Fig. 3 for distribution. Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth. *Ehrharta longiflcra Sm. (16%). :]: Aira caryophyllea L. CYPERACEAE Carex preissii Nees. Found fruiting; only near sea level. Scirpus nodosus Rottb. Lepidosperma gladiatum Labill. CENTROLEPIDACEAE Centrolepis aff. strigosa (R.Br.) R. & S. Material is sterile. Rare; found on thin soil over granite slabs. JUNCACEAE J uncus pallidus R.Br. One clump only. LILIACEAE Chamaescilla corymbosa (R.Br.) F. Muell. (4%). Present as green fleshy projections from thin soil layer over granite. ORCHIDACEAE Cryptostylis ovata R.Br. Seen only in Agonis marginata and Melaleuca microphylla forest near summit. Pterostylis vittata Lindl. Rare. CHENOPODIACEAE Rhagodia radiata Nees. See Fig. 3 for distribution. A few fruits noted. Atriplex cinerea Poir. On west promontory only. Threlkeldia diffusa R.Br. On limestone only. Salicornia blackiana Ulbr. On west promontory only. 67 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. AIZOACEAE Carpobrotus virescens (Haw.) Schwantes (8%). See Fig. 3 for distribution. BRASSICACEAE Lepidium foliosum Deav. Amongst Poa tussocks. CRASSULACEAE Crassula macrantha (Hook.) Diels (2%). PITTOSPORACEAE Sollya heterophylla Lindl. In fiower. GERANIACEAE Pelargonium australe Willd. (2%). On thin soil over granite, usually with Cheilanthes and Trachymene. ■Geranium nolle L. RUTACEAE Boronia alata Sm. Chorilaena quercifolia Erdl. (6%). RHAMNACEAE Spyridium globulosum (Labill.) Benth. Rare. A few bushes near south end. DILLENIACEAE Hibbertia cuneiformis (Labill.) Gilg. In flower. MYRTACEAE Agonis marginata (Labill.) Schau. One of two tree species on island. Flowers noted. See Fig. 3 for distribution. A. flexuosa (Spreng.) Schau. Rarely exceeding 1.5 m in height probably owing to the exposed positions in which it grows. See Fig. 3 for distribution. Melaleuca microphylla Sm. The rarer of two tree species on island. Thryptomene saxicola (A. Cunn.) Schau (6%). Flowers noted. Widespread, particularly around granite slabs. HALORAGACEAE Haloragodendron racemosum (Labill.) Orchard. Very few flowers. See Fig. 3 for distribution. APIACEAE Apium prostratum Vent. Near sea-level. Trachymene anisocarpa (Turcz.) Burtt (52%). Wide- spread through tussockland and on thin soil over granite. EPACRIDACEAE Leucopogon parviflorus (Andr.) Lindl. Seen only in valley at south end. Andersonia sprengelioides R.Br. See Fig. 3 for distribu- tion. PRIMULACEAE Samolus repens (Forst.) Pers. Near sea-level. LOBELIACEAE Lobelia alata Labill. Flowers noted. Near sea-level only. ASTERACEAE Olearia axillaris (DC.) F. Muell. ex Benth. A remark- able form in which the leaf shape and arrange- ment resemble those of Westringia dampieri. Senecio lautus Forst. f. ex Willd. (4%). Near sea-level and throughout tussockland. Calocephalus brownii (Cass.) F. Muell. Actinobole uliginosum (A. Gray) Eichler. A few flowers noted. Gnaphalium luteo-album L. Helichrysum bracteatum var. albidum DC. A few flowers noted. *Hypochceris glabra L. One rosette found. sp. indet. (seedling) possibly Parietaria debilis Forst. f. (10%). sp. indet. (seedling) (2%). sp. indet. (seedling) (2%). 1 km Agonis marginata Agonis flexuosa Poa australis Carpobrotus virescens Rhagodia radiata Haloragodendron racemosum |vvj Andersonia sprengelioides [o~oj Atriplex cinerea Figure 3. — Vegetation map of the island. White areas represent (at this scale) bare rock. Vegetation The main plant communities on Chatham Island are Poa australis tussock grassland, Carpobrotus virescens herbfield, Rhagodia radiata low closed-shrubland, Agonis marginata low closed-forest, and Andersonia /Thryptomene / Cheilanthes lithic complex. (See Fig. 3). 1. Pea australis tussock grassland. This community is the most extensive. Most cover is due to large tussocks (lm high) of Poa australis, in between which Trachymene, Senecio , Lepidium, Crassula, Ehrharta and various small seedlings occur. On the western slopes of the island, especially at low altitudes, much Carpobrotus is present. 2. Carpobrotus virescens herbfield. This community is found on the two promontories and along the edges of the island. Near the summit Carpobrotus grows in windswept crevices containing very shallow soils. Associ- ated genera are Lobelia (sea -level only), Senecio, Sporobolus, Atriplex, Salicornia (last two on west promontory only), Samolus, Scirpus, Lepidosperma and Cheilanthes (this last around rock slabs away from sea-level). 3. Rhagodia radiata low closed-shrubland. Near the limestone cliffs this species forms almost pure stands, with height not exceeding 1 m. Elsewhere Haloragodendron becomes codomin- ant. In the valley at the south side Apium, Boronia, Hibbertia, Chorliaena and Olearia, amongst others, occur with Rhagodia. 68 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. 4. Agonis marginata low closed-forest. Small stands of this species occur only in crevices with deep soil, where they are stunted. In valleys edged by near vertical granite slopes the species reaches 6 m. Considerable runoff must ensue from such places. Associated shrubs are Melaleuca, Hibbertia, Chorilaena and Thryptomene. 5. Andersonia/ Thryptomene/ Cheilanthes lithic complex. “Lithic” refers to the habitat of these plant species; they occur in thin layers of soil over granite or in small soil-filled joint lines in granite. On the plateau around the summit the first species occurs in cushion-like form and Thryptomene is a windblown bush no higher than 30 cm. Thryptomene occurs with Cheil- anthes elsewhere around slabs of granite or on thin soils over granite over most of the island. Vertebrate fauna Amphibians None were noted. Tadpoles were specifically searched for in the many pools of rainwater on the plateau leading to the summit. Reptiles Four species of lizards were noted. Snakes are absent. Phyllodactylus marmoratus. Common under slabs of exfoliated granite. Ctenotus labillardieri. One was found in soil under a Poa tussock. Hemiergis peronii. Four were found under Poa tussocks. Egernia kingii. The most abundant lizard species. It was found from sea level to summit excluding large expanses of rock devoid of pockets of vegetation or slabs. All specimens were black with prominent yellow markings. Birds Eudyptula minor, Little Penguin. Very common and found along all accessible parts of the coast (i.e. the north and west parts) in Carpobrotus and Poa. They were recorded as coming ashore 45 minutes after nightfall and leaving about 45 minutes before first light. Diomedea melanophris, Black-browed Albatross. Two were seen offshore near the west and north sides respectively. Puffinus assimilis, Little Shearwater. Only a few were seen, above the campsite amongst Poa tussocks. Only one skull was found. P. carneipes, Flesh-footed Shearwater. This presumably is the ‘large Sooty Petrel’ found on the island in 1841 by Nairne Clarke. For the time of the year, the birds were surprisingly common. On a walk around the northern parts of the island one night we saw one adult every 15-30 m. No chicks were seen but during the day noises from underground were attributed to this species. Dozens of skulls were picked up over the island. Sula bassana, Gannet. Three followed the boat as we approached the island. Ardea novaehollandiae, White-faced Heron. One, pre- sumed vagrant, was seen most days around the island. Heliaeetus leucogaster, White-breasted Sea-eagle. One pair was seen most days, but they were never seen perched. No nest was found. ?Falco peregrinus, Peregrine Falcon. On 21 May one bird was seen briefly near the northern end, and IA’s field notes are ‘One falcon with black head; larger than Kestrel but smaller than Brown Falcon’. Falco cenchroides, Kestrel. One pair was present. One bird was seen perched on an inaccessible ledge once; no nests were found. Haematcpus fuliginosus, Sooty Oystercatcher. Foraged on the more gentle granite slopes leading into the sea. Usually two or three birds were visible from the campsite. The maximum number of birds seen together was five. Larus novaehollandiae, Silver Gull. Occasionally present at the campsite. Maximum number seen was 20. There was no evidence of breeding. Sterna bergii, Crested Tern. One was seen fishing off the landing place on 17 May. Dacelo novaeguinae, Kookaburra. One bird, presumed vagrant, was heard and seen in Agonis marginata scrub on 19 May at an altitude of c. 100 m. Hirundo neoxena, Welcome Swallow. Common. Maxi- mum number of birds seen at one time was 35. Two old nests were found in a cave on western side of island. The very spacious cave on the eastern side, which is unfortunately inacces- sible, probably contains many nests as Swallows were seen to fly in and out of the cave. Petroica multicolor, Scarlet Robin. One male, presumed vagrant, was netted, banded and released on 12 May. Zosterops gouldi, Silvereye. Common over the whole of the island, but mostly seen in Rhagodia bushes. However few fruits were available so the birds were probably mainly eating insects. One hundred and thirty-two feeding actions were recorded, distributed as follows: 68% on Rhagodia Zeaves, 23% on Haloragodendron leaves and 9% amongst foliage or flowers of Agonis marginata. Thirty-four birds were netted, banded and released. An old nest was found in an Olearia bush, 1 m from the ground, at an altitude of c. 100 m. Mammals Rattus fuscipes. These were common around the boulders near the campsite, but none were noticed elsewhere. Several drowned in a bucket of water and were donated to the Western Australian Museum. No mice, rabbits, goats, macropods or seals were noted. Fur seals occurred on the island in the past (Nairne Clark 1841; Cumpston 1970, p. 91). Seals are occasionally recorded at Windy harbour, 50 km north- west of Chatham Island (D. Beale, pers. comm. 1975). Discussion Despite the shallow nature of the soils on Chatham Island some interesting aspects of soil formation can be observed. The dominant climatic influence is undoubtedly a cool moist condition prevailing for most of the year. This condition is due both to rapid surface runoff from bare rock surfaces on the island and to the exposed position of the island. In general there is little correlation between vegetation boundaries and soil distribution. There would probably be better correlation on the mainland. On Chatham Island, virtually all soils are so disturbed by the burrowing habits of fauna that effects of vegetation on soil formation are minimized. Although no chemical analyses were performed on the soils it is predicted that their nutrient status will be relatively high due to excreta and other faunal wastes deposited in and around burrows. The most recent and detailed soil survey close to Chatham Island is that of McArthur and Clifton (1975) in the Pemberton-Mt. Chudalup region, located about 30 km to the northwest on the mainland. The peats on the island are probably representative of the Chudalup associ- ation, whereas the other soils discussed clearly belong to the d’Entrecasteaux association. 69 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. The flora and vertebrate fauna of Chatham Island are certainly depauperate, but no exact figures can be given because the plants and animals occurring on the immediate adjacent mainland have not been documented. In view of the exposed nature of the island, the absence of eucalypts is not surprising. During the last glacial when sea-levels were 100 m lower than at present, Chatham Island would have been merely a prominent hill about 25 km from the ocean. At present Mt. Chudalup (185 m high) lies close behind Windy Harbour and the deep red loams around it support karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) forest with its characteristic suite of plant species. Thus karri would conceivably have grown around Chatham Island on areas now covered by the sea. It is likely that Yate (Eucalyptus cornuta) and Bullich (E. mega- carpa) occurred on the island. The absence of various sea birds, in par- ticular Pterodroma macroptera (Great-winged Petrel) and Larus pad ficus (Pacific Gull) is remarkable. The absence of the former is interesting. On Eclipse Island (near Albany) in April 1975 (where two migratory seabirds, the Flesh-footed Shearwater and the Great-winged Petrel, occur) adult Shearwaters had ceased visiting the island. The Petrels had first arrived in March. On Chatham Island some adult Shearwaters were still visiting the island during May. On Sandy Island (50 km north- west of Chatham Island) Flesh-footed Shear- waters occur without Pterodroma and adults were noted by IA returning at night as late as April 1976. These facts seem to indicate a negative interaction, perhaps mediated through availability of burrowing space, between the two species on Eclipse Island. The Cape Barren Goose, Cereopsis novaehollandiae, probably occurred on Chatham Island in the past as it formerly ranged as far west as Cape Leeuwin prior to the arrival of sealers and fishermen. Certainly the island appears suitable to support three or four pairs. It may be feasible to stock the island with several pairs from the Archipelago of the Recherche. As Pied Cormorants are absent from the coastline near Chatham Island no trampling of the vegetation on the island is evident. Bur- rowing species of seabirds (Little Penguin, both Shearwater species) disturb the soil and manure it (Gillham 1963), and a peculiar vegetation pattern on the north side of the island may reflect past deleterious influences by the burrow- ing seabirds. Amongst the Poa tussockland there is a large strip of dead Poa , running from near sea-level to a height of c. 100 m. There was no evidence that this had resulted from fire. Acknowledgements . — IA’s research on genetical varia- tion in Silvereyes is financed by a grant from the Australian Research Grants Committee. We also thank Messrs. Derrick and Barry Beale for transport; Dr M. J. Mulcahy and Professor A. M. Posner for useful comments on the soil descriptions; Dr N. G. Marchant for identifying or checking IA’s identifications of plant species; Mr G. G. Smith for identifying the Asplenium; Dr J. H. Willis for information about Maxwell’s collecting sites; Dr D. L. Serventy for inform- ation about Nairne Clarke; Dr D. Kitchener for identify- ing the Rattus and Dr G. M. Storr for identifying the lizards. We are also grateful to the W.A. Wildlife Authority for permission to work on Chatham Island. References Cumpston, J. C. (1970). — Kangaroo Island 1800-1836. Roebuck pubis: Canberra. Gillham, M. E. (1963). — Association of nesting sea-birds and vegetation types on islands off Cape Leeuwin, South-western Australia. W. Aust. Nat. 9: 29-46. McArthur, W. M. and Clifton, A. L. (1975). — Forestry and agriculture in relation to soils in the Pemberton area of Western Australia. CSIRO Soils and Land Use Series, No. 54. Nairne Clarke, W. (1841). — Journal of an expedition to Nornalup, or the Deep River of the Sealers, in the months of March and April 1841. The Inquirer No. 57 (September 1). Wakefield, N. A. (1955). — Ferns of Victoria and Tasmania. Field Naturalist’s Club of Victoria: Melbourne. Appendix Peat with profile development (Site No. 5) Aspect: 330°. Slope: 10°. Height: 100 m. Rock type: granite. Vegetation: Agonis marginata, Rhagodia, Boronia, Olearia, Chorilaena, Melaleuca micro - phylla. 1. 0-2 cm Reddish black (7.5 R/l.7/1); loamy texture containing sand and plant litter; loose structure; gradual change to 2. 2-12 cm Reddish black (5 R/l.7/1); silty loam texture with sand grains; gradual change to 3. 12-25 cm Reddish black (2.5YR/1.7/1) ; sandy loam with occasional boulders; loose structure; gradual change to 4. 25-45 cm Bark reddish brown (7.5YR/3/2); indurated gravelly loam; gradual change to unweathered granite. (a) pH 5.30 in horizon 1 with gradual increase to pH 5.55 in horizon 4. (b) Increase in fine clay with depth. 70 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978, p. 71-90. The flora and fauna of Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia By A. A. Burbidge and A. S. George. Western Australian Wildlife Research Centre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, W.A. 6065 Western Australian Herbarium, George Street, South Perth, W.A. 6151 Manuscript received 21 June 1977 ; accepted 26 July 1977 Abstract Dirk Hartog Island (62 000 ha), which lies off Shark Bay, Western Australia, between 25°30'S and 26°15'S, has been visited and studied by a succession of visitors since 1616. It consists of Quaternary Tamala Eolianite which forms rugged cliffs along much of the coast. The rainfall averages 313 mm, falling mostly in winter, while average temperatures range from 11-21 °C (winter) to 22-32°C (summer). There are five vegetation types: tall open-heath; low closed/open-heath with hummock grasses; low very open-heath; hummock grassland; and low open-shrub- land. The known indigenous flora totals 258 species in 167 genera of 67 families. Of the named species, 77 are South Western, 61 Eremean and 102 common to both. The island is floristically transitional between the South West and Eremean Botanical Provinces but with a leaning to the South West. Thirty six species, mostly of European origin, have become naturalised. Two species of macropod marsupials, Lagostrophus fasciatus and Bettongia lesueur, once occurred on Dirk Hartog but are now extinct. Two species of rodents, Pseudomys albocinereus and P. hermannsburgensis are present although not previ- ously reported. Cats, goats and the House Mouse have become feral. Some 84 species of birds have been recorded by a number of visitors over the years. Most have wide-ranging distributions but a few southern species occur here at or near the northern limit of their range. Of especial interest is the Black-and-white Wren (Malurus leucopterus) which is restricted to Dirk Hartog and Barrow Islands. Twenty- seven species of terrestrial reptiles have been collected. Most are typical of the warmer and drier parts of southern- Western Australia. Introduction Dirk Hartog Island, the westernmost part of Australia, is a large island of about 62 000 ha which encloses the western side of Shark Bay, Western Australia (Fig. 1). The first recorded landing by a European in Australia is that of the Dutchman Dirk Hartog at Cape Inscription, the northern tip of the island, in 1616 (Flinders 1814). Other early visitors were Vlaming in 1697 (Flinders 1814), William Dampier in 1699 (Dampier 1729), the Baudin expedition in 1801 (Peron 1807, Baudin 1974), Freycinet in 1818 (Quoy and Gaimard 1824), King and Cunningham in 1821 (King 1827) and Grey in 1839 (Grey 1841). More recent visitors who have reported on aspects of the biology of the island include T. Carter in 1916 (Carter 1917) and 1922 (Carter 1923), F. Lawson Whitlock in 1918 and 1920 (Whitlock 1921), E. Ashby in 1927 (Ashby 1929), a group of students from Wesley College in 1967 (Sedgwick 1967, 1968), B. A. and A. G. Wells in 1973 (Wells and Wells 1974) and J. S. Beard in 1974 (Beard 1976). Most of the recent reports concentrate on birds and give only brief refer- ence to other animals or plants. An exception is the description and map of the vegetation by Beard (Beard 1976). Since 1899 Dirk Hartog Island has been held under pastoral lease as a sheep station. The whole island is leased except for 81 ha of free- hold land and three small reserves at the northern tip containing the lighthouse and inscription posts (Reserve Nos. A12715, 14918 and 11634). In 1972, the present lessee, Sir Thomas Wardle, invited the authors to visit the island and make an inspection. The first visit took place from 2 to 8 Septem- ber 1972. Personnel were A. S. George (Western Australian Herbarium) T. Evans and A A Burbidge (Western Australian Wildlife Research Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Centre). During this visit as much of the island as possible was traversed, using station tracks. In the daytime plants and animals were collected and observations were made on birds. Much time was spent searching for evidence of native mammals, such as tracks, droppings and skeletal remains. At dusk and after dark, spotlight traverses were carried out by vehicle and on foot. Traps were set for small mammals at various localities. The traps used were Elliott live traps (32 cm x 10 cm x 8 cm) and metal break-back traps. Further visits which have been made to the island by staff of the Wildlife Research Centre have resulted in additional information. In April 1974 further small-mammal trapping and general collecting was carried out by W. K. Youngson. Physical description Dirk Hartog Island is about 79 km long and a maximum of 11km wide with the long axis aligned 340°. The southern end (Cape Ranson- net) is separated from the mainland by South Passage which at its narrowest is about 2 km wide (Fig. 2). Geologically the island is made up of Quater- nary (probably Pleistocene) Tamala Eolianite (Logan et al. 1970). The geology of Bernier and Dorre Islands and the Edel Peninsula is similar but Quaternary sandstone occurs on Peron Peninsula. The western side of the island is bounded by steep cliffs which range in height from 2 or 3 m to about 80 m near Herald Heights. The eastern side has a few comparatively low cliffs with extensive sandy and rocky beaches in between. Sand dunes lie behind the beaches in places. The western side of the island is the higher, rising to 185 m at Herald Heights and to 155 m and 132 m further north. The middle parts consist mainly of well-vegetated stable sand dunes of reddish or whitish calcareous soil although in the area between Herald Heights and Tetrodon Loop there are a number of mobile white dunes, one of which touches the sea at Tetrodon Loop. Near the cliffs the soil is shallow and the limestone frequently crops out. A number of low-lying areas contain clay pans. Climatological data are given in Table 1. It can be seen that most rain falls during the winter but that occasional summer cyclones or thunderstorms also bring rain. The rainfall on Dirk Hartog is higher than that on the adjacent mainland; only Carrarang and Tamala Stations to the south approach the figure for Dirk Hartog. This is possibly an orographic effect since Herald Heights and the other hills along the west side of Dirk Hartog Island are the highest land for some distance. There is no standing fresh water on the island except in clay pans for a short time following heavy rain. Water has been provided for the sheep from wells. At Herald Heights there is a seepage in a small cave just below the clifftop. Stalactites and associated features have formed, indicating that the water supply, though small, must be fairly constant. It was dripping freely at the time of our visit in 1972. Vegetation and flora Shark Bay is the site of the first authenticated botanical collections by Europeans in Australia. William Dampier, on his second visit there between 6 and 12 August 1699, collected at least 18 species which are now in the Sherardian Herbarium at Oxford University (George 1971). Although he landed on Dirk Hartog Island, we do not know which of his plants were collected there. Dampier’s name is commemorated in the genus Dampiera and the species Beaufortia dampieri. Several other names commemorating him have unfortunately been reduced to syno- nymy, e.g. Clianthus dampieri (now C. formosus ) and Eurybia dampieri ( Olearia axillaris). Later visitors who collected around Shark Bay included Leschenault, Riedle, Peron and Guichenot with Baudin in 1801 and 1803 (Baudin 1974), Gaudichaud, Quoy and Gaimard with Freycinet in 1818 (Gaudichaud 1826), Cunningham with King in 1822 (King 1827), Grey in 1839 (Grey 1841), Milne with Denham in 1858 and Mueller in 1877 (Mueller 1883). Not all landed on Dirk Hartog Island. Since 72 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Table 1 Climatic data for Dirk Hartog Island and nearby locations , from in- formation supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology. Rainfall (in mm) Station Mean Median Range Dirk Hartog Homestead (1893-1948) January 6 0 0-89 February .... 12 4 0-135 March 13 2 0-130 April 16 7 0-74 May 56 47 0-299 June 88 88 7-222 July 62 50 17-202 August 35 29 4-122 September .... 14 8 0-61 October 7 5 0-40 November ... 2 0 0-1 1 December .... 2 0 0-34 Annual 313 290 120-681 Other Stations. Carrarang (1894-1973) 280 268 71-532 Tamala (1900-1975) 300 285 1 22-490 Denham (1893-1975) 236 223 78-522 Hamelin Pool (1885-1975) 213 194 45-409 Carbla (1913-1975) 216 190 63-446 Yaringa (1923-1975) 210 185 56-438 Wooramel (1898-1975) 201 184 60-472 Edaggee (1915-1975) 192 175 61-447 Carnarvon (1883-1950) .... 229 205 68-619 Evaporation (in mm) Station Annual average Denham .... 2 032 Hamelin Pool 2 108 Carnarvon 2 465 Temperature (in °C). Carnarvon (29 years) Hamelin Pool (17 years) Max. Min. Max. Min. January 30-8 22-6 37-2 21 0 February 320 23 - 1 37 1 21 -8 March 30- 1 21 -9 350 20- 1 April 28 1 18 7 300 16 9 May 25-9 14 9 25-5 13-4 June 23 1 130 21 -8 1 1 -4 July 21 -9 1 1 0 20-9 9-5 August 22-4 11-3 22-3 9-5 September 23-8 13 8 25-5 11-2 October 25-6 16 4 290 13 6 November 270 18-7 32-2 160 December 28-9 20-8 34-9 18 8 Annual 26-7 17-2 29-3 15-3 many of their specimens were described as new species, the area contains a number of type localities. Some of their names also are com- memorated in genera and species such as Lech- enaultia, Guichenotia, Eucalyptus baudiniana Angianthus cunninghamii, Angianthus milnei and Rhagodia gaudichaudiana. Mueller (1883) recorded 60 species based on early collections from Dirk Hartog Island, though many of the names he used are not in current use. They have been included under their cur- rent names in the flora list below excepting several species whose determination is doubtful and which are mentioned separately. Although intermittent collecting continued on the mainland, after 1858 few plants were collected from the island until 1967 when a group of students from Wesley College, South Perth, visited it. In 1973, B. A. and A. G. Wells recorded 13 species, and in 1974 J. S. Beard made a small collection. Our expedition of 1972 had the advantage of an excellent season, about 500 mm of rain having fallen between 1 January and 31 August 1972 Over 250 species were collected in flower or fruit. With flowering at its peak, many areas were extremely colourful, prominent species being Acacia ligulata, Brachycome latisquamea, B. iberidifolia, Dampiera incana, Helipterum spp., Swainsona spp. and Thryptomene baeckea- cea. Some plants were not in flower, and collections at other seasons would probably 69509— (3) Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Figure 3. — Tall open-heath dominated by Acacia ligulata, 0.8 km W of homestead. increase the list of indigenous flora to about 300 species. Several indeed have been added by recent visits of officers of the Wildlife Research Centre. Vegetation The vegetation has been mapped and described by Beard (1976), who recognised four communi- ties on the island, designated by his own termin- ology. This paper describes five communities based on the terminology of Specht et al. (1974). They are correlated with Beard’s classification as used in his text. 1. Tall open-heath— ( Figure 3). (Beard: shrub steppe, a 22 Si. x ZHc). This is by far the most extensive community, occupying the deep or shallow sand away from the coast and almost throughout the length of the island. It is usually dominated by Acacia ligulata, but several small areas are dominated by Eucalyptus of which there are 4 species. Other common tall shrubs are Acacia coriacea, Pittosporum phylliraeoides, Diplolaena grandiflora, Heterodendrum oleifo - Hum and Alyogyne cuneiformis. Lower shrubs, up to 1 m tall, include Atriplex bunburyana , Thryptomene baeckeacea, Beaufortia dampieri , Pimela microcephala, Ptilotus obovatus and Cassia chatelainiana. The spinifex Plectracline sp. is common, and the introduced Buffel Grass ( Cenchrus ciliaris) has spread widely. The perennial scrambler Brachycome latisquamea is common. In a few areas the vegetation is up to 3 m tall and should be termed tall shrubland, while in others it is sparse and becomes low shrubland or low open-shrubland. 2. Low closed/ open-heath with hummock grasses. — (Figures 4, 5). (included with shrub steppe by Beard.) North of Sandy Point are areas of low heath, vaying from open to closed, with an admixture of spinifex ( Plectracline sp. and Triodia plurinervata) . The myrtles Thryp- tomene baeckeacea and Melaleuca cardiophylla are common, and Acacia ligulata is still frequent. South Western elements predominate in the other shrubs which include Calytrix strigosa, Cryptandra nudiflora, Pityrodia atriplicina, Acacia? leptospermoides, Geleznowia verrucosa, Guichenotia ledifolia, Daviesia aff. colletioides and Keraudrenia hermanniifolia. Two sedges were recorded — Lepidobolus preissianus and Gahnia? lanigera. Ephemeral herbs include Brachycome iberidifolia, Swainsona sp. and Senecio lautus , and the perennial Brachycome latisquamea is freouent. Occasionally the spini- fexes are dominant almost as a hummock grass- land. 74 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Figure 4.— Low open-heath with hummock grassland, dominated by Acacia ligulata and Triodia plurinervata , N of Sandy Point Outcamp. Formations similar to this or intermediate between it and the tall open-heath occur in other parts of the island, some apparently being the “full heath-spinifex community” described by Beard under mixed heath and spinifex. 3. Low very -open-heath. — (Figure 6). (Beard: mixed heath and spinifex, x ZHc. This term is not used by Specht but is used here for low heath (under lm tall) with cover less than 30%). The community occurs in shallow sand over limestone above rocky shores such as Quoin Bluff South and along the south-western coast. The shrubs include Thrytomene baeckeacea, Scaevola crassifolia, Solanum orbiculatum, Frankenia pauciflora , Dampiera incana, Com - mersonia gaudichaudii and Atriplex sp. Plec- trachne sp. is present, and ephemeral herbs include Lotus cruentus, Brachycome iberidifolia and Calocephalus francisii. A variant of low very-open-heath occurs on sandy flats near the shore at Sandy Point and farther north (Beard: dwarf scrub XZi). The ubiquitous Thryptomene baeckeacea is the com- mon shrub, with some Myoporum sp. Perennial herbs include Carpobrotus rossii, Conostylis sty- lidioides, Dicrastylis sp. and Spinifex longifolius. 4. Hummock grassland. — (Beard: part of mixed heath and spinifex, x ZHc). Small areas tend- ing towards hummock grassland among the low heath have already been mentioned, but quite extensive areas occur over the hills of Herald Heights. Triodia plurinervata is usually domin- ant, with some Plectrachne sp. Shrubs are low and sparse, and include Pimelea gilgiana, Olearia axillaris and Thryptomene baeckeacea. 5. Low open-shrubland. — (Figure 7). (Beard: samphire community, K ;3 Ci) . A number of saline flats occur on the island such as those to the south and west of the homestead on which the old and the new airstrips lie. Sam- phires dominate them, especially species of Arthrocnemum and Salicornia. The halophytes Limonium, Atriplex and Samolus are common, and herbs occur such as Senecio glossanthus , Angianthus microcephalus and Parietaria debilis. The only stand of mangroves on the island is a small population of Avicennia marina by a soak on a saline flat at Tetrodon Loop. Heavily grazed areas around mills and small holding pens have been mostly stripped of indi- genous vegetation. Introduced plants have taken over, though most are ephemeral and these areas would be almost bare except after rain. The species include Lolium loliaceum, Hordeum leporinum , Koeleria phleoides, Melilotus indicus, Medicago polymorpha, Er odium cicutarium and Spergularia rubra. 75 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Figure 5. — Low open-heath, dominated by Thryptomsne baeckeacea and Plectrachne sp., 5 km N of Cape Ransonnet. There are extensive blown out sandy areas quite without vegetation, for example near Tetrodon Loop and Mystery Beach. Along the west coast, rocky shores even atop cliffs are kept bare of vegetation by salt spray, sometimes up to 100 m from the sea. Flora The known indigenous flora of Dirk Hartog Island is listed in Table 2 and the naturalised flora in Table 3. Both lists are alphabetical. Table 2 cites the species, family, habit and habitat. The distribution on the mainland in the South West (SW) and Eremean (E) Botan- ical Provinces is shown in the first two columns, while the third (SB) denotes species restricted to the Shark Bay area. Species are included in the South West Province if their only other occurrence outside it (other than Dirk Hartog Island) is Bernier and Dorre Islands. Representation of the larger families of the indigenous flora is shown in the following list. Asteraceae 37 Chenopodiaceae 20 Poaceae 18 Myrtaceae 13 Papilionaceae 13 Goodeniaceae 9 Liliaceae 9 Malvaceae 8 Mimosaceae 8 Myoporaceae 7 Amaranthaceae 6 Brassicaceae 6 Euphorbiaceae 6 Sterculiaceae 6 Zygophyllaceae 6 Solanaceae 5 There are 2 families with 4 species, 8 with 3 species, 9 with 2 species and 32 with 1 species. The total number of indigenous families is 67. The largest genera are Acacia (8 species), Angianthus (7 species), Arthrocnemum and Ptilotus (both with 6 species), Rhagodia (5 species), Eucalyptus, Helipterum, Melaleuca, Scaevola, Swainsona and Zygophyllum (all with 4 species). The number of genera is 167. Several species recorded by Mueller should be checked before they can be definitely listed for the island. They are: Acacia spathulata F. Muell. — probably A. leptospermoides Benth. Casuarina humilis Otto et Dietr. — probably C. helmsii Ewart & Gordon. Convolvulus sepium L. — ? incorrect locality. Dicrastylis fulva Drumm. et Harv. — probably undescribed. FranJcenia laevis L. — probably F. pauciflora DC. Ptilotus striatus F. Muell. — probably P. divaricatus (Gaud.) F. Muell. 76 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Figure 6. — Limestone cliff at Quoin Bluff South with low very open-heath. Verticordia pennigera Endl. — ? incorrect locality. Melaleuca holosericea Schau. — ? incorrect locality. Excluding these, the known indigenous flora totals 259 species. The flora of the island is of great interest phytogeographically. Morphologically the island populations, excluding of course several species known only on it, lie within the range of varia- tion shown by those on the mainland. It is the size of the flora and more especially the geo- graphical range of its components which demand attention. With 259 known indigenous species and an estimated total of about 300, the flora is easily the largest of any island off the lower western and southern Western Australian coasts. While this is expected on the much larger island that Dirk Hartog is, it is apparently also a much richer flora than that of the nearby peninsulas — Edel Land and Peron Peninsula. This is prob- ably directly due to the higher rainfall on the island. The flora is auite evenly divided between South Western and Eremean species, among which the following groups deserve mention. 1. Those apparently endemic to the island: Gnephosis tenuissima, Stipa crinita, Trachymene elachocarpa , Olearia sp. inedit., Arthrocnemum. sp. inedit., Chrysopogon sp. inedit., Scirpus sp. 2. Those restricted to the Shark Bay area, i.e. the adjacent mainland, some extend- ing along the coast north of Carnarvon. They are shown in the last column of Table 2 and total 18. 3. Those South Western species (54 in all) at their northern limit on the island, marked by an asterisk in Table 2. Some of these also represent the northern limit of the respective families in the South West Botanical Province. They are Casuarinaceae, Centrolepidaceae, Haemodoraceae, Orchidaceae and Res- tionaceae. 4. Those which are well isolated from their nearest known population on the main- land. These are Helipterum oppositi- foliuvi (nearest population Bullfinch) ; Casuarina helmsii (Arrino) ; Melaleuca lanceolata (Geraldton); Neosciadium glochidiatum (Drummond collection: ? near Perth); Limosella australis (Har- vey). 77 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Figure 7. — Low open-shrubland dominated by Arthrocnemum spp., on (new) airstrip fiat. The indigenous flora of Dirk Hartog Island is over twice that of Bernier and Dorre Islands (Royce in Ride et al. 1962), which lie just to the north and, though much smaller, are geolo- gically similar but receive a lower rainfall. Recent collecting by K. F. Kenneally during post-fire regeneration studies on Dorre Island has added 16 species to that island’s flora (Ken- neally pers. comm.). The total for Dorre of 109 species and for Bernier of 96 species compares with 259 for Dirk Hartog. Discounting the marine Halophila ovalis, twenty-six species on Bernier and Dorre have not so far been collected on Dirk Hartog. Almost all are Eremean species, reflecting the lower rainfall on those islands. Of over 150 species on Dirk Hartog not recorded for Bernier and Dorre, the most interesting is the unnamed Plectrachne, common on Dirk Hartog but known otherwise only from Edel Land. At the time of our visit the vegetation was generally in good condition, especially in the northern half of the island where there were no sheep. There was no sign of recent fire, and we understand that for many years fire has not been used in pastoral management on the island. There are few fire-adapted species on the island. Provided that populations of grazing and brows- ing animals do not build up enough to cause overgrazing, the flora should maintain itself without requiring a great deal of management. Dirk Hartog Island: South West or Eremean Province? Beard (1976) determined a precise boundary for the South West Botanical Province in this region (his Fig. 2 p. 13 and Fig. 3 p. 27), leaving most of Edel Land, Peron Peninsula and the islands in the Eremean Province. He concluded that the Dirk Hartog communities “should be placed within the Eremean Province while recognising their intermediate character.” In reaching this conclusion he gave “due weight” to “floristics, physiognomy and habitat”. How- ever, his visit to the island was made in a dry season and he stated that the “whole im- pression is one of desolation and aridity”. This contrasts with the excellent condition and flower- ing of the flora during our visit. Since a good proportion (62%) of the species are shrubs or perennial herbs there is always a cover, albeit often open, of vegetation. Floristically the island is almost equally divided between the provinces but with a leaning to the South West. Of the named species in Table 2, 77 are South Western, 61 are Eremean and 102 are common to both. However a number of species listed as Eremean have taxonomic affinities with the South Western flora, e.g. Beau- fortia dampieri, Pileanthus limacis, Beyeria cyanescens, Dampiera incana, Lechenaultia sub- 18 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Table 2 The known indigenous flora of Dirk Hartog Island , arranged alphabetically with the distribution on the mainland shown in the three columns: SIV — South West Botanical Province; E — Eremean Province; SB — Shark Bay area only. Species at their northern limit on Dirk Hartog Island are marked by an asterisk in the SW or E column. SW E SB SW 1 1 E | Abutilon geranioides (DC.) Benth. Malvaceae X X Angianthus strictus (Steetz) Benth. Asteraceae X X Scrambling shrub 1 - 3 m, fls pale yellow. Ephemeral herb; fls yellow. In sand over limestone, among low open-heath. In loam, in open grazed area near mill. Abutilon oxycarpum F. Muell. Malvaceae X Angianthus tomentosus Wendl. Asteraceae X X Slender shrub to 50 cm; fls yellow inside with Ephemeral herb. brown centres, brownish outside. In sand, in tall open-heath. Angianthus sp. ASG 11362. Asteraceae .... Ephemeral herb; fls immature. Acacia bivenosa DC. Mimosaceae X In loam over limestone, in open grazed area. Acacia coriacea DC. Mimosaceae X Angianthus sp. ASG 11471. Asteraceae Spreading shrub to 2-5 m. On rocky, limestone flat near west coast, in low open-shrubland, and in sand in open-heath. Ephemeral herb aromatic; fls yellow. In limestone, in low very open-heath. Angui/laria monantha Endl. Liliaceae X* Acacia idiomorpha A.Cunn. ex Benth. Mimosaceae X* Bulbous herb, in fruit. Low. straggling shrub 30 cm. In sand, in tall open-heath. In sand, in low open-heath. Anthotroche walcottii F.Muell. Solanaceae X* Acacia* leptospermoides Benth. Mimosaceae X* Collected by Milne. 1 Sprawling shrub 40 cm. In sand, in tall open-heath. Aphanopeta/um c/ematideum (Drumm. et Harv.) C. A. Gardn. Cunoniaceae X* Acacia leptospermoides Benth. Mimosaceae X* Climber; fls cream-green. Shrub to 3 m; bark smooth, grey. In sand, in tall open-heath. In sand, in low open-heath. Aristida contorta F.Muell. Poaceae X Acacia ligulata A.Cunn. ex Benth. Mimosaceae .... X X Collected by Gaudichaud. 1 Spreading shrub to 2-5 m; bark smooth, grey. becoming fissured when old. Arthrocnemum bidens Nees. Chenopodiaceae X X Common throughout island, especially in sand, Sprawling, succulent shrub, ± dull green. in tall open-heath and low open-heath. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Acacia tetragonophylla F.Muell. Mimosaceae X X Arthrocnemum halocnemoides Moq. Chenopodiaceae X X Spreading shrub to 1 1 m. Shrub to 70 cm, ± yellow-green. In sand, in tall open-heath. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Acacia sp. Mimosaceae X X Arthrocnemum pruinosum Paulsen. Chenopodiaceae X Shrub 1-5 m. in leaf only. Succulent shrub. In sand, in tall open-heath. Only 1 population On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Arthrocnemum sp. ASG 11609. Chenopodiaceae X Acanthocarpus preissii Lehm. Liliaceae Straggling perennial herb. In sand, in tall open-heath. X Sprawling, succulent perennial herb to 10 cm tall. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Arthrocnemum sp. ASG 11430. Chenopodiaceae X Acanthocarpus sp. Liliaceae X X Succulent shrub, red and green. Tough perennial herb to 60 cm, forming clumps. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. In sand, in tall open-heath. A larger, more robust plant than A. preissii. Arthrocnemum sp. ASG 11454a. Chenopodiaceae X Also occurs on the coastal plain west of the Succulent shrub, ± bright green. Cape Range. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Alyogyne cuneiformis (DC.) Lewton. Malvaceae X X X Atriplex b unburyana F.Muell. Chenopodiaceae X X Shrub to 3 m; fl white with red centre (only 1 fl. Shrub to 1 m. seen). In sand, on coastal dune by beach and in tall In sand, in tall open-heath. open-heath. Alyogyne pinonianus (Gaud.) Fryxell. Malvaceae X X Atriplex cinerea Poir. Chenopodiaceae X Shrub 1-3 m; fl mauve (only 1 fl seen). Shrub 1 m, dioecious. In sand, in tall open-heath. In saline mud near soak, with Avicennia marina. Amphibolis antarctica (Labill.) Sond. et Aschers Atriplex vesicarici Benth. Chenopodiaceae X Potamogetonaceae Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. Avicenniaceae Collected by Gaudichaud. X X Mangrove; shrub 3 m with pneumatophores. Amyema linophyllum (Fenzl) Tiegh. Loranthaceae X In saline mud by soak near coast. Only 1 small Collected by Milne. population seen. Amyema preissii (Miq.) Tiegh. Loranthaceae X X Baeckea pentagonantha F. Muell. Myrtaceae X* Mistletoe on Acacia ligulata. In tall open-heath. Collected by Milne. Angianthus cunninghamii (DC.) Benth. Asteraceae X X Bassia uniflora (R.Br.) F. Muell. Chenopodiaceae Sprawling shrub 30 cm tall. X X Angianthus microcephalus (F.Muell.) Benth. Aster- aceae .... X* X In sand over limestone near cost, in tall open- heath. Ephemeral herb. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Beaufortia dampieri A. Cunn. ex Hook. Myrtaceae X Spreading shrub to 1 -5 m tall; fls pale pink to 1 Angianthus milnei Benth. Asteraceae X white. Collected by Milne On sand dunes, in tall open-heath. 79 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Table 2 — continued sw E Beyeria cyanescens (Muell. Arg.) Benth. Euphor- biaceae X X Much-branched shrub 35 cm, dioecious. In sand, in tall open-heath. Bidens bipinna t a L. Asteraceae .... .... X Ephemeral herb; fls yellow. On rocky, limestone flat near west coast, in low open-shrubland. SB Cassytha pubescens R.Br. Lauraceae Parasitic climber. In tall open-heath. Casuarina helmsii Ewart and Gordon. Casuarinaceae Sprawling shrub 40 cm tall x 2 m broad. Rare, in sand in low closed/open-heath. In East Sandy Paddock, only male seen; in Blowhole Paddock, male and female seen. Boerhavia chinensis (L.) Aschers and Schweinf. Nyctaginaceae Sprawling perennial herb; fls deep pink. On rocky, limestone flat near west coast, in low open-shrubland. X Bossiaea rufa R.Br. var .foliosa Benth. Papilionaceae Spreading shrub 30 cm; fls yellow and red. In sand, in tall open-heath. X* Brachycome ciliaris (Labill.) Less. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb; rays pale mauve. In sand over limestone, in low open-shrubland. X X Brachycome iberidifolia Benth. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb; rays mauve. Common in many areas, in sand or on limestone. In open-heath, low-shrubland. X X Centrolepis humillima F. Muell. ex Benth. Centro- lepidaceae On saline flat in low open-shrubland. Cephalipterum drummondii A. Gray. Asteraceae .. . Ephemeral herb; bracts yellow or white. In loam over limestone, in open grazed area. Chamaesyce myrtoides (Boiss.) Hassall. Euphorbiaceae Ephemeral herb. Chorizema ericifolium Meisn. Papilionaceae Shrub to 40 cm; fls yellow and red. In sand, in low open-heath/hummock grassland. Chrysopogon sp. ASG 11544. Poaceae .... Perennial grass with underground rhizomes. In sand near seashore. Brachycome latisquamea F. Muell. Asteraceae Scrambling shrub to 15m; rays mauve, rarely white. In sand, in tall open-heath and low shrubland; fairly common. Brachysema macrocarpum Benth. Papilionaceae .... Perennial herb. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X X X Cakile maritima L. Brassicaceae Perennial herb; fls pink. In sand above beach by homestead. X X Calandrinia polvandra Benth. Portulacaceae Ephemeral herb with succulent lvs; fls bright pink inside, centres often darker, pale yellow out- side. In sand, in open-shrub, and in limestone near sea. X X Calandrinia sp. Portulacaceae Succulent ephemeral herb, reddish. In sand over limestone, in low open-shrubland. Calocephalus francisii (F. Muell.) Benth. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb; fls white or pale yellow. In sand, in low open-heath. X X Calogyne berardiana (Gaud.) F. Muell. Goodeniaceae Ephemeral herb; fls yellow. On sand dune, in low open-heath. X X Calotis multicaulis (Turcz.) Druce. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb; rays white. In loam over limestone, in open grazed area. X Calytrix strigosa A. Cunn. Myrtaceae Sprawling shrub 25 cm; fls purple, stamens yellow. In sand, in low open-heath. X* Clematis microphylla DC. Ranunculaceae Climber; fls white. In sand, in tall open-heath. Commersonia gaudichaudii J. Gay. Sterculiaceae .... Spreading shrub; fls white. In sand, in low very open-heath. Conostylis stylidioides F.Muell. Haemodoraceae Caespitose perennial herb; fls yellow. In sand, in tall open-heath and in low very open- heath. Corynotheca micrantha (Lindl.) Macbride. Liliaceae Sprawling perennial herb; fls pale pink to white. On coastal dune, in tall open-heath. Cotula cotuloides (Steetz) Druce. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in open grazed area by mill. Crassula color at a (Nees) Ostenf. Crassulaceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in tall open-heath. Cryptandra nudiflora F.Muell. Rhamnaceae Low shrub. In sand, in low open-heath. Cymbopogon ambiguus A. Camus. Poaceae Perennial grass. On sand dune, in low open-heath. Cyperus bulbosus Vahl. Cyperaceae Rhizomatous sedge; fls brown. Dampiera incana R.Br. Goodeniaceae Perennial herb to 50 cm; fls deep blue. In sand, in tall and low open-heath. Capparis spinosa L.var. nummularia (DC.) F. M. Bailey. Capparidaceae Shrub ± 1 m. In limestone, in tall open-heath. Carpobrotus rossii (Haw.) Schwantes. Aizoaceae Prostrate perennial herb with succulent lvs; fls pale pink to white. In white sand, in low open-heath. Cassia chatelainiana Gaud. Caesalpiniaceae Shrub to 1 m; fls bright yellow. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X X X X X Danthonia racemosa R.Br. Poaceae Collected by Gaudichaud. Daucus glochidiatus (Labill.) Fisch. Mey. and Ave- Lall. Apiaceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in tall open-heath. Daviesia aff. colletioides Meisn. Papilionaceae Much-branched shrub 40 cm; fls yellow and red. In sand, in tall open-heath. Cassytha nodiflora Meisn. Lauraceae Parasitic climber. In low open-shrubland near cosat. X Diane/la revoluta R.Br. Liliaceae Caepitose perennial herb; fls blue. In sand, in tall open-heath. SW E I I X | x ! x x* X X X X X X X* X X* X X X X X X* X X X X X* X X X X I X 80 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Table 2 — continued SW E 1 1 SB SW E SB Dichopogon strictus (R.Br.) Baker. Liliaceae X* Eucalyptus foecunda Schau. Mvrtaceae X Herb with tubers; fls mauve. In sand, in tall open-heath. Dense, sprawling mallee 1-2 m tall; lower bark rough, upper smooth, fls white. In sand, in tall open-heath. Dicrastylis sp. Chloanthaceae X X Perennial herb, in leaf only. Eucalyptus tama/a Carr & Carr. Myrtaceae X In sand above beach by homestead, and at Sandy Sprawling mallee 1 -5 m tall: bark rough at base. Point in low shrubland. smooth above. In sand, in tall open-heath. Diplolaena grandiflora Desf. Rutaceae X X Shrub to 2 m; bracts red, fls orange to pale green. Common, especially in sand in tall open-heath. Eulalia fulva (R.Br.) O. Kuntze. Poaceae Perennial grass; fls brown. In limestone, in low very open-heath. X Diplolaena microcephala Desf. Rutaceae X* Shrub to 1 -7 m; fls red-pink. Euphcrbia eremophila A. Cunn, ex Hook. Euphor- In sand, in tall open-heath. biaceae X X Ephemeral herb with latex. Dodonaea apt era Miq. Sapindaceae X* In sand, in low open-heath/hummock grassland Shrub 70 cm. In sand, in tall open-heath. Euphorbia sharkoensis Baill. Euphorbiaceae Ephemeral herb. X Dodonaea inaequifolia Turcz. Sapindaceae X* X Shrub to 1 -3 m; fr red and green, -t viscid. Exocarpos aphyllus R.Br. Santalaceae X X In sand over limestone cliff top, in tall open- Much-branched shrub 2 m; fls greenish-yellow. heath. In sand, in tall open-heath. Dysphania plantaginella F.Muell. Chenopodiaceae X Frankenia cinerea DC. Frankeniaceae X Ephemeral herb; fls pale green. Small shrub to 10 cm tall; fls white. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Enchylaena tomentosa R.Br. Chenopodiaceae X X Frankenia pauciflcra DC. Frankeniaceae X X Shrub 70 cm; fr orange. In sand, in tall open-heath. Gahnia ? lanigera (R.Br.) Benth. Cyperaceae X* Enneapogon caerulescens (Gaud.) N. T. Burbidge. Caespitose perennial sedge. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath. Poaceae X Small, caespitose. perennial grass; fls lead-green. Geleznowia verrucosa Turcz. Rutaceae X* In sand over limestone on cliff top, in low open- Small shrub to 35 cm; fls yellow. heath. In sand, in low closed-heath Eragrostis ? brownii (Kunth) Nees. Poaceae X Glycine tabacina (Labill.) Benth. Papilionaceae X X Small ephemeral grass. Slender climber; fls deep pink In sand, in tall open-heath. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath Eragrostis dielsii Pilger. Poaceae X X Gnaphalium luteoalbum L. Asteraceae X X Prostrate ephemeral grass; fls green-purplish. In loam over limestone, in open grazed area by Ephemeral herb. In sand by homestead. mill. Gnaphalodes condensation A. Gray. Asteraceae X X Eremophila clarkei F.Muell. Myoporaceae Spreading shrub 1 m tall; fls pale to deep pink. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X Ephemeral herb; fls cream-green. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath. Gnephosis macrocephala Turcz. Asteraceae X Eremophila glabra (R.Br.) Ostenf. Myoporaceae X X Ephemeral herb; fls yellow. Shrub 25-130 cm; fls red (3 variants collected). In sand, in tall and low open-heath. In sand, in open-heath. Gnephosis skirrophora (Sond.) Benth. Asteraceae X X Eremophila oldfieldii F.Muell. Myoporaceae X X Collected by Milne. Shrub to 1 -5 m; fls dull red. In sand over limestone on cliff top, in tall open- Gnephosis ? tenuissima Cass. Asteraceae X heath. Eriachne mucronata R.Br. Poaceae Goodenia sp. ASG 11508. Goodeniaceae X Herb with underground stolons; fls yellow. Caespitose perennial grass. In sand, in tall open-heath. In sand, in low open-heath. Eriochilus dilatatus Lindl. Orchidaceae X* Grevillea stenophylla W . V. Fitzg. Proteaceae X* Orchid with tuber; in old fruit. Sprawling shrub 40 cm; fls cream on reddish On sandy hill, in low open-heath. pedicels. In sand, in closed-heath. Erodium angustilobum Carolin. Geraniacaeae X Ephemeral herb. Guichenotia ledi folia J. Gay. Sterculiaceae X* Spreading shrub to 80 cm; fls pale pink. Erodium cygnorum Nees subsp. cygnorum. Gerania- In sand, in tall open-heath. ceae X X Ephemeral herb. Gyrostemon ramulosus Desf. Gyrostemonaceae X X Eucalyptus baudiniana Carr & Carr. Myrtaceae Sprawling mallee 1 - 5 m. In sand, in tall open-heath. X Tree 3 m, male; no female seen. In sand, as emergent in tall open-heath. Halgania lit t oralis Gaud. Boraginaceae X Eucalyptus dongarraensis Maiden & Blakely. Myrta- Shrub 40 cm; fls deep blue. ceae .... X X In sand, in low open-heath/hummock grassland. Mallee 1-2-5 m; bark rough at base, exfoliating in broad, ± smooth strips above. Haloragis gossei F. Muell. Haloragaceae ! X In sand or sand over limestone in tall open-heath. Ephemeral herb. 81 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Table 2 — continued sw E SB SW 1 E SB 1 Haloragis trigonocarpa F. Muell. Haloragaceae X Leptomeria spinosa (Lehm.) DC. Santalaceae X Ephemeral herb. In loam over limestone, in open grazed area. Collected by Cunningham. Limonium salicorniaceum (F. Muell.) Kuntze. Plum- Hannafordia quadrivalvis F. Muell. Sterculiaceae X X baginaceae X Shrub 35 cm; fls pale yellow, brown outside. In sand, in tall open-heath. Perennial herb; fls white. On saline flat, forming closed herbland with Samolus, A triplex, etc. around small soak. Helipterum condensation F. Muell. Asteraceae X X Ephemeral herb; bracts white; fls yellow. Limosella australis R.Br. Scrophulariaceae X* On coastal dune, in tall open-heath. Ephemeral herb; fls white In loam over limestone, in open grazed area by Helipterum humboldtianum (Gaud.) DC. Asteraceae X X mill. Ephemeral herb; fls bright yellow. In sand, in tall open-heath. Loania sp. Loganiaceae X Helipterum op po sit i folium S. Moore. Asteraceae X* Lotus cruentus Court. Papilionaceae X Ephemeral herb; bracts cream-white and bronze. Ephemeral herb; fls maroon. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath. In sand, in low open-heath near coast. Helipterum polycephalum (A. Gray) Benth. Aster- Loxocarya flexuosa (R.Br.) Benth. Restionaceae .. . X* aceae .... X Caespitose perennial sedge. Ephemeral herb; fls cream. In sand over limestone, in shelter of shrubs in In sand, in low open-heath. tall open-heath. Lvsiana murrayi (F. Muell. et Tate) Tiegh. Lorantha- ceae .... X Heterodendrum oleifolium Desf. Sapindaceae X Mistletoe on Acacia ligulata. Shrub to 3 m. In limestone, in tall open-heath. Melaleuca cardiopltylla F. Muell. Myrtaceae X X Shrub. Hymenolobus procumbens (L.) Nutall. Brassicaceae X* In sand, in tall and low open-heath. Ephemeral herb. In soil pockets on limestone by sea, and on saline Melaleuca aff. heugelii Endl. Myrtaceae X* flat near airstrip. Sprawling shrub 1 m tall x 4 m broad; fls pink. In sand or limestone, in low open-heath. Indigofera boviperda A. Morrison. Papilionaceae X Sprawling perennial herb; fls deep pink. In sand, in low open-heath. Melaleuca lanceo/ata Otto. Myrtaceae Spreading shrub or tree to 4 m ; bark grey, stringy. In shell grit near saline flat. X* Jasminum calcareum F. Muell. Oleaceae X Small shrub or straggling climber; fls white. Melaleuca ? oldfieldii F. Muell. Myrtaceae X* sweetly scented. In sand, in tall open-heath. Millotia myosoticlifolia (Benth.) Steetz. Asteraceae X X Ephemeral herb; fls white. J uncus bufonius L. Juncaceae In sand, in open grazed area by mill. X On sand dunes in open-heath near coast. Mirbelia ramulosa (Benth.) C. A. Gardn. Papilion- Kennedia prostrata R.Br. Papilionaceae X* aceae ... X X Collected by Gaudichaud Sprawling shrub, fls yellow and red. In sand, in low open-heath/hummock grassland. Keraudrenia hermanniifolia J.Gay. Sterculiaceae X Shrub to 35 cm; fls purple with yellow stamens. Myoporum acuminatum R.Br. Myoporaceae X X In sand, in tall open-heath. Shrub 1 m; fls white. On coastal dune, in tall open-heath. Lasiopetalum angustifolium W.V.Fitzg. Sterculiaceae Spreading shrub to 40 cm tall; fls pale pink. In sand in tall open-heath. X Myoporum adscendens R.Br. Myoporaceae X Myoporum deserti A.Cunn. ex Benth. Myoporaceae X X Lawrencia densiflora (Bak.f.) Melville. Malvaceae X Shrub 50 cm. In sand, in tall open-heath. In sand, in open-heath. Lawrencia sp. Malvaceae Myoporum tetrandrum (Labill.) Domin. Myoporaceae X* Collected by Cunningham and Milne. Lechenaultia linarioides DC. Goodeniaceae X* Tangled perennial herb 1 m; fls yellow and red. Neosciadium glochidiatum (Benth.) Domin. Apiaceae X* In sand, in low open-heath. Ephemeral herb; fls cream. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Lechenaultia subcymosa Gardn. & George. Goodeni- aceae .... X X Nicotiana Occident alis Wheeler. Solanaceae X X Perennial herb; fls pale mauve. Ephemeral herb; fls pale cream. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath. In sand, in tall open-heath. Lepidium linifolium (Desv.) Benth. Brassicaceae X X Nitraria schoberi L. Zygophyllaceae X X Straggling ephemeral herb to 1 m tall, fls white. In sand, in tall open-heath. Much-branched shrub to 2 m; fls pale greenish- cream. On sand dune by coast, in tall open-heath. Lepidium pseudo-ruderale Thell. Brassicaceae X* Slender ephemeral herb. In sand, in mustering yard. Olearia axillaris (DC.) Benth. var. obovata Benth. Asteraceae X Lepidium rotundum DC. Brassicaceae X X Ephemeral herb. In sand, in tall open-heath. Olearia pimelioides (DC.) Benth. Asteraceae X* Lepidobolus preissianus Nees. Restionaceae X* Olearia sp. ASG 1 1568. Asteraceae Caespitose sedge, dioecious. Straggling shrub, rays white. In sand, in low open-heath. In limestone, in tall open-heath. 82 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Table 2 — continued SW E SB Opercularia spermacocea Labill. Rubiaceae Perennial herb to 35 cm. In sand, in low open-heath. X* Ophioglossum lusitanicum L. subsp. coriciceum (A. Cunn.) Clausen. Ophioglossaceae In sandy pockets on limestone, in low open-heath. X X Oxalis corniculata L. Oxalidaceae ... FIs yellow. In shelter of shrubs of sandy depression, in tall open-heath. X X Paractaneum novae-hollandiae Beauv. Poaceae Ephemeral grass; fls purplish. In sand, in mustering yard. X Parietaria debilis Forst.f. Urticaceae Ephemeral herb; stems red, fls green. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland, and in limestone by sea. X X Paspalidium gracile (R.Br.) Hughes. Poaceae Perennial grass; fls green. On rocky limestone near coast, in low open- shrubland. X X Pentatropis linearis Dene. Asclepiadaceae Climber; fls pale brown-green. In sand, in tall open-heath. X Phyllanthusl crassifolius Muell. Arg. Euphorbiaceae Small shrub. In limestone, in low shrubland. X Pileanthus limacis Labill. Myrtaceae Sprawling shrub to 70 cm tall x 3 m broad, fls pale pink. In limestone soil, on cliffs by sea. X X Pimelea gilgiana E.Pritzel. Thymelaeaceae Shrub to 35 cm, dioecious ; fls white, mostly over. In sand, in hummock grassland and low shrub- land. X* Pimelea microcephala R.Br. Thymelaeaceae Shrub to 1-5 m, dioecious; male fls cream; fr orange or red. In sand, in tall and low open-heath and low shrubland. X X Pittosporum phylliraeoides DC. Pittosporaceae Tree to 3 m; fls cream. In sand, as emergent in tall open-heath, and at base of cliff near sea. X X Pityrodia atriplicina (F. Muell.) F. Muell. ex Benth. Chloanthaceae Shrub 1 m; fls pink. In sand, in low closed-heath/hummock grass- land. X* Pityrodia cuneata (Gaud.) Benth. Dicrastylidaceae Much-branched shrub to 1 m; fls pale pink, spotted. In sand, in low open-heath. X Plant ago varia R.Br. Plantaginaceae In loam over limestone, in open grazed area. X X Plectrachne sp. Poaceae Spinifex; fls straw-pale purple. Common, especially in sand, in tall or low open- heath and hummock grassland. X* X Podolepis canescens A. Cunn. ex DC. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb; fls yellow. X X Podolepis gardneri G. L. Davis. Asteraceae X Podotheca angustifolia (Labill.) Less. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb; fls pale yellow. In sand, in tall open-heath. X* Podotheca gnaphalioides Grah. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in tall open-heath. X* X 1 SW E SB Porana sericea (Gaud.) F. Muell. Convolvulaceae Climber; fls blue-purple. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X Poranthera microphylla Brongn. Euphorbiaceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X Ptilotus alexandri Beni. Amaranthaceae .... Ephemeral herb. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X Ptilotus divaricatus (Gaud.) F. Muell. Amaranthaceae Straggling perennial herb; fls pink. In sand, in low open-heath. X X Ptilotus exaltatus (Nees) Benth. Amaranthaceae Ephemeral herb; fls pink. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X Ptilotus gaudichaudii (Steud.) J. M. Black var. pervi- florus (Benth.) Beni. Amaranthaceae Ephemeral herb; fls yellow. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X Ptilotus obovatus (Gaud.) F. Muell. Amaranthaceae Shrub to 70 cm; fls pink. X X Ptilotus villosiflcrus F. Muell. Amaranthaceae Ephemeral herb; fls cream-green and pale pink. On sand dune by coast, in open-heath. X X Rhagodia crassifolia R.Br. var. latifolia Benth. Chenopodiaceae X X Rhagodia gaudichaucliana Moq. Chenopodiaceae Collected by Gaudichaud. X Rhagodia preissii Moq. Chenopodiaceae .. . Shrub to 1 - 3 m; fruit succulent red. X X Rhagodia sp. ASG 11503. Chenopodiaceae Sprawling shrub. In sand, in tall open-heath. Rhagodia sp. ASG 11580. Chenopodiaceae Shrub 40 cm. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath. Rulingia cygnorum (Steud.) C. A. Gardn. Sterculia- ceae .... Shrub to 40 cm; fls cream. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath. X* Ruppia maritima L. Ruppiaceae Aquatic herb. In pool on saline flat. X* X Salicornia blackiana Ulbrich. Chenopodiaceae Shrub, red and green. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. X Salsola kali L. subsp. ruthenica (Iljen) Soo. Cheno- podiaceae On sand dunes by coast. X X Samolus repens (Forst.) Pers. Primulaceae In limestone, by coast. X X Santalum spicatum (R.Br.) D.C. Santalaceae Shrub. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X Sarcostemma australe R.Br. Asclepiadaceae Shrub to l'5m with latex; fls cream. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X Scaevola crassifolia Labill. Goodeniaceae Shrub to 1 m; fls white or pale blue. In sand, in low open-heath. X X Scaevola holosericea De Vr. Goodeniaceae Perennial herb to 40 cm; fls pale blue. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X 83 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Table 2 — continued Scaevola spinescens R.Br. Goodeniaceae Divaricately-branched shrub to 70 cm; fls white. In sand, in tall open-heath. Scaevola tomentosa Gaud. Goodeniaceae .... Much-branched shrub to 1 • 5 m ; fls gold, turning orange, anthers brown. In sand, in tall open-heath. Scirpus cernuus Vahl. Cyperaceae In limestone, in open grazed area. Scirpus sp. ASG 11610. Cyperaceae Small ephemeral sedge. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Senecio glossanthus (Sond.) Belcher. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb. On saline flat, in low open-shrubland. Senecio lautus Willd. Asteraceae Perennial herb; fls yellow. In sand or limestone, in low open-heath. Sida calyxhymenia J. Gay. Malvaceae Shrub 70 cm; fls pale yellow. In sand, in tall open-heath. Sida corrugata Lindl. Malvaceae Solanum lasiophyllum Dun. Solanaceae Solanum aff. oldfieldii F.Muell. Solanaceae Small shrub 5-40 cm. suckering; fls purple. In sand, in tall open-heath. Solanum orbiculatum Dun. Solanaceae Spreading shrub to 50 cm; fls pale purple. On sand dune near coast. Spinifex longifolius R.Br. Poaceae Perennial grass, dioecious. On coastal dunes. Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth. Poaceae Perennial rhizomatous grass; fls purplish. In sand, in low open-heath near coast. Spyridium complication F.Muell. Rhamnaceae Rounded shrub to 40 cm, with old fls. In sand, in low open-heath. Spyridium ? divaricatum Benth. Rhamnaceae Small, much-branched shrub. In sand, in low open-heath. Stackhousia viminea Srn. Stackhousiaceae Ephemeral herb; fls yellow. In sand, in tall open-heath. Stenopetalum sphaerocarpum F.Muell. Brassicaceae Ephemeral herb; fls pale yellow. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath. Stipa crinita Gaud. Poaceae In sand, in open-heath. Stipa elegantissima Labill. Poaceae Perennial grass. Stipa sp. ASG 11394. Poaceae On sand dune by coast, in open-heath and in low open-shrubland. Stylobasium spathulatum Desf. Stylobasiaceae Shrub to 1 m. In sand, in open-heath. Swainsona beasleyana F.Muell. subsp. elegantoides A. Lee. Papilionaceae Ephemeral herb; fls maroon-pink, turning blue, eye pale yellow. In sand over limestone, on sea cliffs. Swainsona kingii F.Muell. subsp. kingii. Papilionaceae Prostrate ephemeral herb; fls maroon. In limestone, in tall open-heath. Swainsona phacoides F.Muell. subsp. grandiflora (Benth.) A. Lee. Papilionaceae Prostrate ephemeral herb, scapes erect; fls maroon, turning blue, eye yellow. In sand, in low open-heath. Swainsona sp. ASG 11570. Papilionaceae Prostrate ephemeral herb; fls pink. In limestone, in tall open-heath. sw E SB SW 1 E X X Tetragonia amplexicoma (Miq.) Hook.f. Aizoaceae Straggling shrub, fls yellow. In sand, in tall open-heath. X* I X X Tetragonia diptera F. Muell. Aizoaceae Ephemeral herb. In sand at base of low cliff. X X* Threlkeldia diffusa R.Br. Chenopodiaceae Diffuse perennial herb, lvs succulent. In sand by homestead. X X X X Thryptomene baeckeacea F.Muell. Myrtaceae Sprawling shrub to 50 cm tall xl’m broad; fls pink. Common, in sand and limestone, in tall and low open-heath. X X X Thysanotus patersonii R.Br. Liliaceae Twining herb with tubers, fls pale purple. In sand over limestone, in tall open-heath. X X X X Thysanotus speckii Brittan. Liliaceae In shelter of shrubs, in sand in low very open- heath. X X X X Trachymene elachocarpa (F.Muell.) B. L. Burtt. Apiaceae Ephemeral herb; fls white. In sand, in low open-heath. X Trachymene aff. pilosa Sm. Apiaceae Tiny ephemeral herb; fruit ± smooth. In sand, in open-heath. X X Tribulus occidentalis R.Br. Zygophyllaceae Near homestead. X X X Trichodesma zeylanicum (L.) R.Br. Boraginaceae Collected by Milne. X X X Triccryne elatior R.Br. Liliaceae Collected by Gaudichaud. X X* Triglochin calcitrapa Hook. var. isingiana Black. Juncaginaceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in open grazed area by mill. X X X Triglochin mucronata R.Br. Juncaginaceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in open grazed area by mill. X* X X Triglochin trichophora Nees. Juncaginaceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X* X* X Triodia plurinervata N.T. Burbidge. Poaceae Spinifex, in clumps to 40 cm tall x 2 m broad; foliage fine, ± bright green. In sand, in low open/closed-heath with hummock grassland. X X Vittadinia sp. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb; rays pale mauve, fls yellow. In sand over limestone, in tall open-heath. X x 1 Wahlenbergia sp. Campanulaceae Ephemeral herb; fls pale blue. In sand over limestone, in low open-heath. j X Waitzia citrina (Benth.) Steetz. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb; fls yellow. In sand, in tall open-heath. X X : j X Waitzia podolepis (Gaud.) Steetz. Asteraceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in open-heath. x X Westingia rigida R.Br. Lamiaceae Much-branched shrub to 70 cm; fls white. In sand, in tall open-heath. x i Zygophyllum ammophilum F.Muell. Zygophyllaceae Ephemeral herb. In sand, in low open-heath. X X Zygophyllum aurantiacum Lindl. Zygophyllaceae Straggling perennial herb; fls pale yellow. In sand, in open-heath. Zygophyllum aff. aurantiacum Lindl. Zygophyllaceae Much-branched perennial herb; fls white. On sand dune by coast, in open-heath. X X | Zygophyllum aff. fruticulosum DC. Zygophyllaceae 84 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Table 3 Exotic species naturalised on Dirk Hartog Island. Species Family Place of Origin Anagallis arvensis L. var. caerulea Gouan Primulaceae Europe Arc to theca calendula (L.) Levyns Asteraceae South Africa Asphodelus fistulosus L. Liliaceae Mediterranean region A vena barbata Brot. Poaceae Mediterranean region Brassica tournefortii Gouan Brassicaceae Mediterranean region Briza minor L. Poaceae Mediterranean region Bromus diandrus Roth Poaceae Mediterranean region Bromus hordeaceus L. Poaceae Mediterranean region Cenchrus ciliaris L. Poaceae .... Africa/N. India Cenchrus setigerus Vahl Poaceae Alrica/N. India Centaurea melitensis L. Asteraceae Europe — W. Asia Cerastium glomeratum Thuill. Caryophyllaceae Europe Chenopodium murale L. Chenopodiaceae Europe Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Poaceae South Africa Diplotaxis muralis (L.) DC. Brassicaceae Europe Ehrharta brevi folia Schrad. .... Poaceae South Africa Emex australis Steinh. \ Polygonaceae South Africa Erodium cicutarium (L.) L.Her. ex Ait. Geraniaceae Europe — S. Asia Hordeum leporinum Link Poaceae Mediterranean region Hypochoeris glabra L. Asteraceae Europe — Asia Koeleria phleoides (Vill.) Pers. Poaceae .... Mediterranean region Lavatera cretica L Malvaceae Mediterranean region Lolium loliaceum (Bory et Chaub.) Hand-Mazz. .... Poaceae Mediterranean region Medicago polvmorpha L. subsp. polymorpha Papilionaceae Mediterranean region Melilotus indicus (L.) All. Papilionaceae Europe — W. Asia Nicotiana glauca R. Graham Solanaceae Argentina Poa annua L Poaceae Europe — W. Asia Polvcarpon tetraphyllum (L.) L Caryophyllaceae Europe Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae .... India — tropical Africa Silene gallica L. Caryophyllaceae Europe Sisymbrium irio L Brassicaceae Mediterranean region Sisybrium orientate L. Brassicaceae Mediterranean region Solanum nodiflorum Jacq. Solanaceae N. & S. America Sonchus oleraceus L. Asteraceae Europe — Asia Spergularia rubra (L.) J. & C. Presl. Caryophyllaceae Europe Urospermum picroides (L.) Desf. Asteraceae Mediterranean region cymosa and Brachysema macrocarpum. Of the three dominant species on the island — Acacia ligulata, Thryptomene baeckeacea and Plec- trachne sp. — the Acacia and Thryptomene extended well into the South West Province while the Plectrachne, though of a typical Eremean genus, is restricted to the island and Edel Land and is marginally Eremean. Several major families which characterise the South West Province are lacking (e.g. Epacridaceae, Droser- aceae, Dilleniaceae) or poorly represented (e.g. Proteaceae [1 sp.], Orchidaceae LI sp.], Haemo- doraceao [1 sp.]). If life-form is considered, it can be seen that the woody shrubs are more South Western than Eremean, while the ephemeral herbs are pre- dominantly Eremean. Of the 77 purely South West species on the island, 42 are shrubs or perennial herbs, while of the 61 Eremean only 24 are shrubs or perennial herbs. Vegetation formation (physiognomy) presents no clearer picture. The widespread open-heath can be considered intermediate, though similar formations but lacking Triodia or Plectrachne occur near the coast between Tamala and Kal- barri to the south of Shark Bay. It is clearly difficult to place Dirk Hartog Island in either Province, and it may be best left in a “Transitional zone”. However if placed in one or the other the South West Province is preferable because 1. a majority of the species present are either South Western or have strong South Western affinities; 2. the vegetation formations, apart from hummock grassland, are more represen- tative of the South West than the Eremean. Naturalised flora Table 3 lists 36 introduced species which are considered naturalised. The country of origin is given after the family. Most have their origin in Europe (especially the Mediterranean region) or South Africa. Several grasses have probably been introduced as pasture species, e.g. Cenchrus ciliaris, C. setigerus and Bromus diandrus. The others have probably come to the island with sheep. All are common weeds of south western Australia except the two Cenchrus species. There are 12 Poaceae, 5 Asteraceae, 4 Brassi- caceae, 4 Caryophyllaceae, 2 Papilionaceae, 2 Solanaceae and 1 each of seven other families. Thirty are ephemeral herbs, 4 are perennial and 2 are shrubs. Fauna Mammals Lagostrophus fasciatus (Peron). Banded Hare-wallaby. — This species was first described by Peron in 1807. He reported it as being very common on Dirk Hartog as well as on Bernier 85 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. and Dorre Islands. It is presumably the wallaby seen by William Dampier in 1699 (Dampier 1729, p. 85). L. fasciatus is known only from the South west of Western Australia and its northern limit is Bernier Island. To-day there is little doubt that this species is extinct on Dirk Hartog as well as on the mainland. It survives only on Bernier and Dorre Islands. Local knowledge from the Shark Bay area puts the date of extinction of the “wallabies” (possibly including the two species below) in the 1920s. It must have been some time ago since we did not locate any skeletal remains. It is perhaps pertinent that Shortridge (1909, p. 818) stated that . . in the south of Dirk Hartog there is a large sheep station and the wallabies are said to have entirely left that end of the island”. Following our 1972 visit the Western Austra- lian Wildlife Authority and Sir Thomas Wardle agreed on a programme, to be carried out by the Western Australian Wildlife Research Centre, to attempt the re-introduction of the Banded Hare-wallaby to Dirk Hartog Island. In April 1974 11 adult animals (4 male, 7 female, 6 with small pouch young) which had been captured on Dorre Island were placed in two pens on Dirk Hartog. By December, 1976, the breeding colony had increased to 33 adults and 3 dependent young. An attempt to reduce feral cat numbers (see below) is under way, and the first releases of wallabies to the wild took place during May 1977. Knowledge of the biology of Lagostrophus is summarised by Ride and Tyndale-Biscoe (in Ride et al. 1962) and Tyndale-Biscoe (1965). Lag or chest es hirsutus (Gould). Western Hare-wallaby. — This wallaby occurs on Bernier and Dorre Islands but is very rare on the main- land. While some authors have noted that it occurred or probably occurred on Dirk Hartog (e.g. Shortridge 1909; Glauert 1933; Main 1961; Main and Yadav 1971) it appears that no speci- men has been collected and some doubt must remain that it ever existed there. Bettongia lesueur (Quoy & Gaimard). Boo- die. — The Boodie was first collected as a skull picked up on Dirk Hartog by Freycinet’s Expedition (Quoy and Gaimard 1824). They obtained no entire animals but caught glimpses of an animal that lived in burrows and foraged in the debris on the beaches at night. This description fits that of B. lesueur, but not of any of the hare wallabies. No specimen has since been collected on Dirk Hartog. The Boodie once had a wide distribution in the southern two thirds of Australia. It appears to be extinct on the mainland and is now confined to Barrow, Boodie (a small island south of Barrow), Bernier and Dorre Islands. We saw no sign of it during our visits. Peravieles bougainville (Quoy & Gaimard). Marl. — This bandicoot is common on Bernier and Dorre Islands, but has not been collected on Dirk Hartog. It was first collected on Peron Peninsula by Quoy and Gaimard and the West- ern Australian Museum has a single specimen from Onslow which was collected in 1909. The only possible reference to this species on Dirk Hartog is the sighting of a “small opossum” on the island by A. C. Cunningham, the botanist with King’s expedition in 1821 (King 1827). This has been interpreted by Alexander (1915, p. 123) as being a reference to Perameles bougainville. We saw no evidence of it during our visit. Pseudomys hermannsburgensis (Waite). Sandy Mouse. — Nine specimens have been taken from the island. Four were from a trapline located 10 km south of the homestead. This area con- sists of deep white sand with occasional lime- stone outcrops and the vegetation is an Acacia low shrubland mixed with spinifex ( Plectrachne sp.). One was from an Acacia thicket at the base of a dune 13 km south of the homestead. Two came from red sand near Sandy Point out- camp where the vegetation is a tall shrubland of Acacia ligulata, Alyogyne cuneiformis and Thryptomene baeckeacea with spinifex ( Plec- trachne sp.) as a scattered ground cover. One specimen from Sandy Point was taken during September 1972, the remainder in April 1974. A. G. Wells collected two specimens at Herald Bay in September 1973. The species has not previously been recorded from Dirk Hartog. It has a wide distribution in the dry parts of the interior (Ride 1970) and is also known from Rosemary Island (Burbidge and Prince 1972). Pseudomys albocinereus (Gould). Ashy-grey Mouse. — Two specimens were taken, both in April 1974, at a location 10 km south of Dirk Hartog homestead. The soil and vegetation are described above under P. hermannsburgensis. This species was also previously unknown from Dirk Hartog. It occurs on Bernier and Dorre Islands, and on the mainland in various sand- plain habitats in the south-west. Mus musculus (Linnaeus). House Mouse. — Nine specimens have been collected, two in Sep- tember 1972 and the remainder in April 1974. This species was present in all habitats which were trapped and occurs commonly around the homestead. Nyctophilus geoffroyi (Leach). Lesser Long- eared Bat. — In September 1972, one specimen was captured by hand as it was flying out of a cave in the cliffs on the western side of the island near West Coast Mill. The species has a wide distribution. Eptesicus pumilis (Gray). Little Bat. — Two specimens were taken in April 1974. One was collected at Sandy Point Outcamp and the other in a cave near West Coast Mill. The species has a wide distribution. Capra hircus (Linnaeus). Goat. — We saw about 140 goats during the 1972 visit. Four flocks were seen; one of 56, one of about 50 and two of 20. At the time station hands estimated that there were about 700 goats on the island. Our observations suggest that this figure may be conservative. The domestic goat turned feral is now a common animal in many parts of Western Aus- tralia and the damage which it is doing to the 86 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia., Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. vegetation is only beginning to be appreciated by pastoralists and the general public. On Bernier Island goats were introduced in 1899 and extensive damage has been done to the vegeta- tion. Air photographs show that the number and extent of sand dune blowouts have increased greatly over the past 20 years. Following the recommendations of a party of scientists who visited the island in 1959 (Ride et al. 1962) the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife carried out a campaign of attack on the goats and by 1972 more than 450 had been shot. We estimate that at the commencement of shooting in 1959 Bernier Island carried about 350 goats, or 1 goat to 12 ha. With a similar density Dirk Hartog could support a population of about 5 000. However, on Dirk Hartog goat density is affected by two factors not present on Bernier. These are the presence of drinking troughs which may allow an even greater density, and com- petition for food from sheep. Sheep numbers in the past have been over 10 000 (see below) and this may have kept goat numbers down. However, goats tend to browse shrubs much more than do sheep and would not always be in direct competition for food. Damage to vegetation by sheep and goats on Dirk Hartog was obvious but it did not appear to be worse than that on Bernier Island except where heavy overgrazing had occurred near drinking troughs. Following the 1972 visit we voiced our concern about goats to Sir Thomas War die and he res- ponded by placing a bounty on them. About 800 were destroyed during the following two years. Ovis aries (Linnaeus). Sheep. — Dirk Hartog has been used as a sheep station since 1899. The number of sheep on the island has usually been between 10 000 and 11 000. In 1972 the popula- tion was only about 4 000 and only the southern two-thirds of the island was stocked. Equus caballus (Linnaeus) . Horse. — During our 1972 visit we were told that there were about 12 horses on the island, all mares. Camelus dromedarius (Linnaeus). Camel. — Carter (1917) records that during his visit camels were used to take rations to men stationed at outcamps and windmills. There are no camels on the island at present. Felis catus (Linnaeus). Domestic Cat. — The domestic cat is well established on Dirk Hartog. Although sightings of the animal itself were infrequent, tracks were seen all over the island. It is not known when the species became established but it seems probable that cats were taken to the island when the sheep station was established. Carter (1917, p. 605) states that “cats . . . are now becoming numerous on the island”. Feral cats are common and widespread on the Australian mainland. They are also known from three other islands off the west coast — Trimouille and Hermite islands in the Monte Bello group and Rottnest Island near Perth. On Hermite they have apparently been responsible for the disappearance of two species of marsupials and two species of birds (Burbidge 1971). These are the Spectacled Hare- wallaby (Lagorchestes con- spicillatus) , Golden Bandicoot (Isoodon auratus) , Black and White Wren (Malurus leucopterus) and Spinif ex-bird (Eremiornis carteri) . On Rottnest Island the cats have been reduced in number by poisoning programmes. Two cats shot near the homestead in April 1974 had a variety of materials in their stomachs. In both a large centipede predomin- ated but one had the remains of a Zebra Finch and the gecko Gehyra variegata while the other contained remains of a Silver Gull. Dugong dugon (Lacepede). Dugong. — Shark Bay is considered to be the southern limit of the range of this species on the west coast, although occasional animals have been sighted further south, for example off Geraldton. On 3 September 1972, we saw between 30 and 40 Dugong feeding in shallow water adjacent to Quoin Bluff South. One or two are often seen near the homestead. Neophoca cinerea (Peron & Lesueur). Aus- tralian Sea Lion. — King (1827) records that Cunningham, the botanist accompanying his expedition, saw a Sea Lion on Dirk Hartog Island in 1821. Local knowledge indicates that this species is occasionally found in Shark Bay, although the northern limit of its distribution is usually the Abrolhos Islands. Mammalian Sub-fossil Material. — Because of the lack of evidence regarding the presence of Lagorchestes hirsutus and Perameles bougainville we arranged for Dr D. Merrilees and Mr A. Bavnes of the Western Australian Museum to visit the island and collect sub-fossil material. During a short visit in April 1974 they excavated cave deposits at Herald Heights and Notch Point with the following results (Merrilees and Baynes, pers. comm.). Herald Heights Sminthopsis cf. murina Antechinus apicalis Dasycercus cristicauda Perameles bougainville Bettongia lesueur Bettongia penicillata Leporillus conditor Pseudomys hermannsburgensis Pseudomys shortridgei Pseudomys praeconis Pseudomys sp. Notch Point Dasyurus geoffroii Perameles bougainville Bettongia lesueur cf. Pseudomys praeconis The Pseudomys sp. from Herald Heights is not P. albocinereus but is larger and might be P. desertor. It can be seen that although Perameles did occur on Dirk Hartog at some time the deposits did not yield remains of Lagorchestes. This does not prove that Lagorchestes did not 87 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. occur there. With the exception of the Bettongia spp., all the above are comparatively small animals and the deposits may have been accumu- lated by owls or other similar-sized predators. Bettongia lesueur live in burrows and could have made their own way into these caves. There are no Lagostrophus in the deposits, and it and the similarly sized Lagorchestes may have been too large to be taken by the predator concerned. In April 1974, W. K. Youngson found what appeared to be the sub-fossil remains of an owl pellet deposit in a cave near the ocean adjacent to West Coast Mill. This deposit contained remains from the following species: Perameles bougainville, Dasyurus geoffroii, Dasycercus cris- ticauda, Sminthopsis cf. murina, Leporillus con- ditor, Pseudomys hermannsburgensis, P. prae- conis, P. shortridgei and Nyctophilus geoffroyi. Birds Observations on the birds of Dirk Hartog Island have been the subject of a number of publications over the years, including Carter (1917, 1923), Whitlock (1921), Ashby (1927), Sedgwick (1968), Wells and Wells (1974) and Davies and Chapman (1975). The last of these provides a comprehensive summary of the obser- vations of previous authors and lists some 77 species for the island, four of which are seabirds listed as “off Dirk Hartog”. To this we can add 7 species — Anas gibberifrons (Grey Teal), Tringa brevipes (Grey-tailed Tattler) seen in April 1972, Nymphicus hollandicus (Cockatiel) seen in April 1974, Calidris canutus (Knot), Sterna dougallii (Roseate Tern), S. bengalensis (Lesser Crested Tern) and Cheramoeca leucosternum (White- backed Swallow) seen in December 1976. Tatt- lers were also plentiful at the time of this visit. We also observed a single Rock Dove or Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia) on the island in 1972. This was a stray racing pigeon, carry- ing a Pigeon Racing Federation band. Wells and Wells (1974) recorded another racing pigeon in 1973. From Davies and Chapman’s Appendix 5 — Species not seen since 1921 — we can remove Large Sand Dotterel (seen in 1972 and 1976), Greenshank (1974 and 1976), Bar-tailed Godwit (1972 and 1976) and Little Wood Swallow (1972). * Pelecanus conspicillatus * Phalacrocorax varius * Egretta sacra f Tadorna tadornoides * Anas gibberifrons Accipiter fasciatus * Accipiter cirrocephalus * Aquila audax Hieraaetus morplinoides * Haliaeetus leucogaster Circus assimilis * Pandion lialiaetus * Falco cenchroides Falco berigora Turnix varia Rallus philippensis * Eupodotis australis * Haematopus ostralegus * Haematopus fuliginosus * Vanellus tricolor Peltohyas australis * Charadrius alexandrinus * Charadrius leschenaulti f Pluvialis squatarola * Arenaria interpres f Numenius pliaeopus t Numenius madagascariensis t Tringa nebularia Tringa hypoleucos * Tringa brevipes f Calidris canutus * Calidris acuminata * Calidris ruficollis * Limosa lapponica * Himantopus himantopus * Burhinus magnirostris * Larus pacificus * Larus novaehollandiae * Hydroprogne caspia t Sterna dougallii Sterna nereis Australian Pelican Pied Cormorant Reef Heron Mountain Duck Grey Teal Australian Goshawk Collared Sparrowhawk Wedge-tailed Eagle Australian Little Eagle White-breasted Sea Eagle Spotted Harrier Osprey Nankeen Kestrel Brown Falcon Painted Quail Banded Landrail Australian Bustard Pied Oystercatcher Sooty Oystercatcher Banded Plover Australian Dotterel Red-capped Dotterel Large Sand Dotterel Grey Plover Turnstone Whirnbrel Eastern Curlew Greenshank Common Sandpiper Grey-tailed Tattler Knot Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Red-necked Stint Bar-tailed Godwit White-headed Stilt Southern Stone-Curlew Pacific Gull Silver Gull Caspian Tern Roseate Tern Fairy Tern * Sterna bergii t Sterna bengalensis Geopelia cuneata Phaps chalccpiera Cacatua sanguinea Cacatua roseicapilla t Nymphicus hollandicus Neophema petrophila Cuculus pallidus Clirysococcyx basalis Ninox novaeseelandiae Eurostopodus guttatus f Cheramoeca leucosternum i * Hirunda neoxena Petroclielidon nigricans ! * Anthus novaeseelandiae Coracina novaehollandiae Cinclcrhamphus cruralis \ * Malurus leucopterus i * Malurus lamberti ! * Stipiturus malachurus \ * Sericornis maculatus j * Calamantlius fuliginosus Amytornis textilis ! * Eplithianura albifrons Ephthianura tricolor Petroica goodenovii Petroica cucullata | * Rliipidura leucophrys Oreoica gutturalis Dicaeum hirundinaceum * Zcsterops gouldi Lichmera indistincta * Meliphaga virescens * Poephila guttata Grallina cyanoleuca * Artamus cinereus * Artamus minor * Cracticus tcrquatus * Corvus bennetti Crested Tern Lesser Crested Tern Diamond Dove Common Bronzewing Little Corella Galah Cockatiel Rock Parrot Pallid Cuckoo Horsfield Bronze Cuckoo Boobook Owl Spotted Nightjar White-backed Swallow Welcome Swallow Tree Martin Australian Pipit Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike Brown Songlark Black-and-white Wren Variegated Wren Southern Emu-Wren Spotted Scrub-Wren Field-Wren Western Grass-Wren White-fronted Chat Crimson Chat Red-capped Robin Hooded Robin Willie Wagtail Crested Bell-Bird Mistletoe Bird Western Silvereye Brown Honeyeater Singing Honeyeater Zebra Finch Magpie-Lark Black-faced Wood-Swallow Little Wood-Swallow Grey Butcher-Bird Little Crow 88 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. A full list of those species known from the island follows. Those birds observed by us in 1972 are marked with an asterisk and additional species seen by us since 1972 with a dagger. The avifauna of Dirk Hartog Island does not comprise a large number of species but it does show some interesting differences from that of Peron Peninsula, immediately to the east. Wrens are much more common on the island. Indeed Carter (1917, p. 571) suggested that “Dirk Hartog might be called an island of Wrens, as at least ninety of every hundred land-birds seen are Wrens”. On the other hand a number of common arid zone species which occur on Peron Peninsula are uncommon or absent on the island, e.g. Crested Pigeon, Wedgebill, Pallid Cuckoo and Crested Bell-Bird. Davies and Chapman (1975) suggest that this could be due to some species having only recently arrived in the area. It could also be due to the difference in soils and vegetation — Peron Peninsula has a vegetation similar to much of the Murchison (Beard 1976) while Dirk Hartog has no Bowgada (Acacia ramulosa ) and has a less dense shrub layer and more heath-like formations. Dirk Hartog’s avi- fauna will probably prove to be more akin to the mainland south of the island (Edel Land) which has a similar vegetation. Most species recorded from Dirk Hartog have wide-ranging distributions and many, e.g. the Zebra Finch, Little Crow and Little Wood-Swal- low are typical of the arid zone. However, two southern species, the Rock Parrot and the Southern Emu-Wren occur here at the northern end of their range. The Spotted Scrub-Wren extends northward only as far as Bernier and Dorre Islands. Other species close to the north- ern end of their range are the Western Silvereye and White-fronted Chat. The Black-and-white Wren is of special interest, being restricted to Dirk Hartog and Barrow Islands. On 3 September 1972 we inspected the nesting colony of Pied Cormorants at Quoin Bluff South. We estimated the number of nests at about 2 500, the same figure reached by Whitlock in 1920. Only about 1% contained eggs; most contained half grown young. Other birds which were breeding during this visit included Grey Teal (young almost fully fledged), Nankeen Kestrel (eggs), Caspian Tern (one nest with 2 eggs on Cape Ransonnet), Crested Tern (one chick on Meade Island), White-breasted Sea Eagle (a chick in a nest at Quoin Bluff South), Osprey (several nests, both eggs and chicks present), Banded Plover (a nest at Two Wells Mill, one young almost fully fledged near Bottom Ten Mile Mill) and Little Crow (several nests; one we inspected had 6 eggs, another at Cape Inscription had newly hatched chicks) . On 9 December 1976 we found a Roseate Tern colony of between 200 and 300 nests on the northern tip of Meade Island which is adjacent to the Homestead and joined to Dirk Hartog Island at low tide. Most nests had one egg, 2 to 3% had two eggs and in about 5% the eggs had recently hatched. Over 500 terns were sighted in the vicinity; between 5 and 10% were in juvenile plumage. Reptiles The following species have been collected from Dirk Hartog Island and specimens are lodged in the Western Australian Museum. GEKKONIDAE Crenadactylus ocellatus horni (Lucas & Frost) Diplodactylus spinigerus Gray Diplodactylus vittatus Gray Gehyra variegata (Dumeril & Bibron) Heteronotia binoei (Gray) Nephrurus levis occidentalis Storr Phyllurus mili Bory PYGOPODIDAE Delma nasuta Kluge Lialis burtonis Gray Pygopus lepidopodus (Lacepede) AGAMIDAE Amphibolurus maculatus maculatus Gray Amphibolurus minor Sternfeld Amphibolurus parviceps (Storr) Amphibolurus reticulatus (Gray) SCINCIDAE Cryptoblepharus carnabyi Storr Ctenotus fallens Storr Ctenotus lesueurii (Dumeril & Bibron) Ctenotus youngsoni Storr Egernia stokesii badia Storr Lerista elegans (Gray) Moretliia lineoocellata (Dumeril & Bibron) Lerista lineopunctulata (Dumeril & Bibron) Lerista praepedita (Boulenger) Omolepida branchialis (Gunther) Tiliqua rugosa (Gray) VARANIDAE Varanus gouldii (Gray) ELAPIDAE Demansia olivacea (Gray) Demansia reticulata (Gray) Pseudechis australis (Gray) Vermicella littoralis Storr HYDROPHIIDAE Hydropliis elegans (Gray) Hydrophis major (Shaw) Ours were the first extensive collections of reptiles made on Dirk Hartog Island. In general the species present are typical of the warmer and drier parts of south-western Australia. The only northern element is the gecko Nephrurus levis, which, however, extends as far south as Geraldton. The skink Ctenotus youngsoni is restricted to the Shark Bay area, being known only from Dirk Hartog and the northern part of Edel Land. Invertebrates No systematic collecting of invertebrates was attempted. On 29 April 1974, W. K. Youngson collected a sample of humic soil from near Sandy Point from which five species of land snail were obtained. These were Westralaoma sp., Thema- pupa sp., Australbinula sp., Austrosuccinea sp. and Bothriembryon sp. Publications on inverte- brates from Dirk Hartog include Ashby (1929), Hale (1929) and Allender (1969). 89 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Acknowledgements . — We are most grateful to Sir Thomas Wardle, the lessee of Dirk Hartog Station, for inviting us to visit the island and for assisting us in many ways. Our thanks also to go to Dr. G. M. Storr and Mr. A. Baynes of the Western Australian Museum for identifying the reptile collection and the Pseudomys respectively. Assistance in determining plants was received from Professor and Mrs. D. G. Carr, Australian National University (Eucalyptus) ; Dr. Hj. Eichler, Her- barium Australiense ( Neosciadium ); Mr. D. Hassall, University of Queensland ( Euphorbia , Chamaesyce) ; Mr. T. Macfarlane, Australian National University (Anguil- laria); Mr. D. McGillivray, National Herbarium of New South Wales (Grevillea) ; Mr. B. R. Maslin, Western Australian Herbarium (Acacia); Dr. D. E. Symon, Waite Institute (Solarium); and Mr. P. G. Wilson, Western Australian Herbarium (Chenopodiaceae and Asteraceae). Finally we are very appreciative of the pleasant com- panionship and assistance of Mr. T. Evans and Mr. W. K. Youngson who collected many of the specimens. Our thanks also go to Mr. P. Fuller who assisted during the 1976 visit. References Alexander, W. B. (1914). — History of Zoology in Western Australia — Part 1. Discoveries in the 17th Century. J. Nat. Hist. Sci. Soc. West. Austr. 5: 13-15. Alexander, W. B. (1915). — History of Zoology in Western Australia — Part II. 1791-1829. J. Roy. Soc. West. Aust. 1: 83-149. Allender, B. M. (1969). — The Ghost Crabs (Ocypode) of Dirk Hartog Island. West. Aust. Nat. 11: 59-65. Ashby, E. (1929). — Notes on the fauna of Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia. No. 1— Introduc- tion, No. 2 — Aves, No. 3 — Polyplacophora. Trans. Roy. Soc. South Aust. 53: 57-66. Baudin, N. (1974). — The Journal of Post Captain Nicolas Baudin, translated by C. Cornell. Libraries Board of South Australia, Adelaide. Beard, J. S. (1976). — The vegetation of the Shark Bay and Edel Area, Western Australia. Vegmap Publications, Perth. Burbidge, A. A. (1971). — The Fauna and Flora of the Monte Bello Islands. Report No. 9, Depart- ment of Fisheries and Fauna, Western Australia. Burbidge, A. A. and Prince, R. I. T. (1972). — The Fauna, Flora and Planned Usage of the Dampier Archipelago. Report No. 11, Department of Fisheries and Fauna, Western Australia. Carter, T. (1917). — The Birds of Dirk Hartog Island and Peron Peninsula, Shark Bay, Western Aus- tralia, 1916-17. Ibis (10) 5: 564-611. Carter, T. (1923). — Supplementary notes on some birds from Western Australia and from Dirk Har- tog Island. Ibis (11) 5: 218-228. Davies, S. J. J. F. and Chapman, G. S. (1975). — The Status of birds on Peron Peninsula and Dirk Hartog Island, Shark Bay, W.A. Emu 75: 55-61. Dampier, W. (1729). — A Voyage to New Holland, Etc., in the year 1699. 3rd Edition. J. & J. Knapton: London (Argonaut Press Edition, 1939: London). Flinders, M. (1814, 1966). — A voyage to Terra Australis, etc. G. and W. Nicol, London. Facsimile edition. Libraries Board of South Australia. Gaudichaud-Beaupre, C. (1826). — Voyage autour du monde . . . sur les Corvettes de S. M. l’Uranie et la Physicienne pendant les annees 1817-1820. Botanique. Paris. George, A. S. (1971). — The plants seen and collected in North-Western Australia by William Dam- pier. West. Aust. Nat. 11: 173-178. Glauert, L. (1933). — The distribution of the marsupials in Western Australia. J. Roy. Soc. West. Aust. 19:17-32. Grey, G. (1841). — Journal of two expeditions of Discovery in North-West, and Western Australia during the years 1837, 38 and 39, etc. (T. and W. Boone: London). Hale, H. M. (1929). — Notes on the Fauna of Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia. No. 4 — Crustacea. Trans. Roy. Soc. South Aust. 53: 67-70. King, P. P. (1827). — Narrative of a survey of the inter- tropical and western coasts of Australia per- formed between the years 1818 and 1822. Vol. II (John Murray: London). Logan, B. W., Read, J. F. and Davies, G. R. (1970).— History of Carbonate Sedimentation, Quat- ernary epoch, Shark Bay, Western Australia. American Assoc. Petroleum Geologists, Memoir 13: 38-84. Main, A. R. (1961). — The occurrence of Macropodidae on Islands and its climatic and ecological implications. J. Roy. Soc. West. Aust. 44: 84-89. Main, A. R. and Yadav, M. (1971). — Conservation of Macropods in Reserves in Western Australia. Biological Conservation. 3: 123-133. Mueller, F. (1883). — The plants indigenous around Sharks Bay and its vicinity. Parlt. Paper No. 26. Government Printer, Perth. Peron, F. (1807). — Voyage de Decouvertes Aux Terres Australes. 3 Vols, Paris. Quoy, J. R. C. and Gaimard, P. (1824). — Voyage Autour du monde . . . sur les corvettes l’Urante et la Physicienne . . . Zoologie. Paris. Ride, W. D. L., Mees, G. F., Douglas, A. M., Royce, R. D. and Tyndale-Biscoe, C. H. (1962). — The Results of an Expedition to Bernier and Dorre Islands, Shark Bay, Western Australia in July, 1959. Fauna Bulletin No. 2. (Ed. A. J. Fraser). Fisheries Department, Western Australia. Sedgwick, L. E. (1967). — Birds of Dirk Hartog Island. An annotated list based on observations made during the Wesley College Excursion, September, 1967. Unpublished Report. Sedgwick, L. E. (1963). — Bird observations from Dirk Hartog Island. West. Aust. Nat. 11: 21. Shortridge, G. C. (1909). — An account of the Geo- graphical Distribution of the Marsupials and Monotremes of South-West Australia, having special reference to the specimens collected during the Balston Expedition of 1904-1907. Proc. Zool. Soc. London. 55: 803-848. Specht, R. L., Rce, E. L. & Boughton, V. H. (1974). — Conservation of Major Plant Communities in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Aust. J. Bot. Suppl. Ser. No. 7. Tyndale-Biscoe, C. H. (1965). — The female urogenital system and reproduction of the marsupial Lagostroplius fasciatus. Aust. J. Zool. 13: 255-267. Wells, B. A. and Wells, A. G. (1974). — Report on a visit to Dirk Hartog Island August-September, 1973 with some observations on the flora and fauna. West. Aust. Nat. 13: 19-23. Whitlock, F. L. (1921). — Notes on Dirk Hartog Island and Peron Peninsula, Shark Bay, Western Australia. Emu 20: 168-189. 90 Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978, n. 91-96. New data on the origin and distribution of Western Australian sand fulgurites by J. E. Glover Geology Department, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, W.A. 6009 Manuscript received 26 July 1977 / accepted 23 August 1977 Abstract Lechatelierite fragments totalling 1 084 g, part of a large sand fulgurite, have been recovered from Black Point, Western Australia. Black to very dark brown, altered, woody material plugged the lumen of many tubular fragments when collected. Finely macerated woody material from the fulgurite shows fibrous and cellular structure under the microscope, is anisotropic, and brown to orange. The mean refractive index of the woody material ranges from 1.574±0.002 to 1.598±0.002, but most of it is close to 1.579 ± 0.002. The evidence indicates that the Black Point fulgurite formed around a root. Whether this is a common mode of formation for fulgurites is still open to question, for roots are not necessary for the development of the tubular shape typical of fulgurites. Lechatelierite tubes are also recorded from west Willetton in the Perth Metropolitan Area, and Mica Hill near Manjimup. Sand fulgurites have now been recorded from the north of Western Australia almost to its extreme south, but their apparent concentration in the south-west is probably a function of population distribution. Fulgurites are likely to be found in all sandy desert areas of Western frequency is high. Introduction Sand fulgurites have been recorded from numerous localities in Western Australia, par- ticularly in the south-west (Simpson 1931; Glover 1974, 1975). Most Western Australian fulgurites are represented by a few small frag- ments of lechatelierite (silica glass) and some by only one piece. Larger collections have been made in the Perth Metropolitan Area from Willetton (500 fragments, totalling about 100 g) and Beechboro (250 fragments, 92 g). The recent recovery of a fulgurite from Black Point (Fig. 1) is of special interest because it is made up of many large tubes containing altered woody material, evidently the remains of a pre-existing root. The possibility that sand fulgurites have formed around roots has been considered by several authors (Lewis 1936, Fenner 1949, Schonland 1964, Trendall 1964) but undoubted field evidence of genetic association has not been adduced. Another point of interest about the fulgurite from Black Point is the large weight of lechatelierite recovered, 1 084 g. Fulgurite tubes from two other localities, namely west Willetton, and Mica Hill, near Man- jimup, are recorded. Lechatelierite from the Black Point fulgurite is stored in the Western Australian Museum (Nos. G13408 to G13410 inclusive) and the , particularly in the north where lightning Geology Department, University of Western Australia (Nos. 84672 to 84675 inclusive). Woody material from the Black Point fulgurite (No. 82871) and lechatelierite from the west Willetton fulgurite (No. 82872) are stored in the Geology Department, University of Western Australia. The Black Point fulgurite Microscopic appearance The Black Point fulgurite was found on 20 March 1977 by Mr George Gardner, Mrs Linda Ronk and Mr Alan Ronk near the western edge of a sand blow-out 1 km north-east of Black Point (Pemberton 1:250 000 map, Series R502, SI 50-10, co-ordinates 354749). When in place it consisted of a fragmented tubular body branching downward into five main off-shoots which decreased in diameter with depth. The branches ended 4 or 5 cm below the waterlogged sand, that is, a little more than 1 m below the surface. A few fragments from the tops of the branches are quite large. One flattened tubular piece with prominent flanges roughly parallel to its length is 20.5 cm long, up to 6.5 cm wide and about 1.5cm thick (Fig. 2, left). Other frag- ments are not flattened in one plane, but are twisted rather irregularly (Fig. 2, right). Frag- 115 “T“ 120 125 • Fulgurite site • Area containing numerous recorded fulgurite sites Figure 1. — Average annual thunder day map of Western Australia showing fulgurite sites. The large solid circle around Perth includes 9 separate fulgurite sites, and it is evident that fulgurite recovery is related to population density, and does not reflect the probable distribution of fulgurites. Isobronts after Common- wealth Bureau of Meteorology (1967). Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, Vol. 60, Part 3, 1978. Figure 2. — Two large fragments from the top of the Black Point fulgurite. The fragment on the left is highly flanged, and is flattened in the plane of the photograph. The fragment on the right is flattened in several planes, as though twisted. Scale in cm. ments from near the end of branches are thin and fragile, with numerous projections (Fig. 3). The inside of the tube, known as the lumen, is up to 1 cm in diameter in large fragments (Fig. 4), but is commonly flattened or triangular in cross-section. The tube walls of lechatelierite range from about 0.5 to 1 mm in thickness. The rough, dull, outer surface of the frag- ments is made up of sand grains embedded in the glass, and contrasts with the shiny, smooth and somewhat mammilated glass on the inside. The outer surface ranges from very light grey (N8) to medium dark grey (N4), but is gener- ally very light grey to light grey (N7) (See Rock-color Chart Committee 1963 for colour terms and accompanying numerical designa- tion). Locally, the outer surface has orange or brownish hues, and material from the water- logged section is mainly very pale orange (10YR8/2) to pale yellowish brown (10YR6/2). The colour of the inner surface ranges from light grey (N7) to black