Flood Plain Lower Ringarooma River Ramsar site Ecological Character Description March 2012 Blank page Citation
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Knowledge GapsThe key knowledge gaps for the site include systematically collected data for all the critical components. Data should be gathered using standard methods that allow derivation of a ’point-in-time’ baseline which can be compared to future monitoring programs. Therefore, the initial sampling strategy must be designed in a way that allows repeatability (see section 8, below). The data should also be gathered using approaches and methods that allow comparison with other data sets within Tasmania and the rest of Australia. Data and information available for most components of the site are poor. The vegetation has been recently mapped for a considerable portion of the site (DPIW 2006). However, a supplementary survey of the remaining areas would allow a more complete assessment of the site’s vegetation biodiversity, habitat heterogeneity and rare species. Quantitative faunal surveys for mammal, amphibian, reptile and bird abundances and distributions are required to provide adequate baseline assessments for future comparisons. Fish communities in fresh, estuarine and marine environments underpin much of the components of this site and these populations need to be understood with baseline assessment and then monitored regularly to improve our understanding of their role in this ecosystem. Examples of the information types required are presented in Table 14. Priorities for knowledge gaps were established by considering the critical components which face the highest threat. The key knowledge gaps required to support the critical components fall into seven broad component categories:
Knowledge of these areas will allow a detailed understanding of the vegetation communities of the site which are structured by the hydrology, geomorphology and water quality. The vegetation communities have their own intrinsic value and also provide habitat to the frogs, fish and birds of the site. Table 14: Knowledge gaps for the Flood Plain Lower Ringarooma Ramsar site.
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