Badjaling Nature Reserve

Badjaling Nature Reserve is a nature reserve located at Badjaling in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Nominally located at 31°59′21″S 117°29′56″E / 31.98917°S 117.49889°ECoordinates: 31°59′21″S 117°29′56″E / 31.98917°S 117.49889°E,[1] it is a 272 hectare reserve of native bushland, surrounded by land long since cleared for agriculture.[2]

Vegetation consists of shrubland (54%), woodland (32%), a complex of halophytes occurring in a saline watercourse (11%), and a small amount of heath (3%). The woodland is mostly composed of low, shrublike trees of Banksia and Xylomelum, so it might be argued that a strong majority of reserve's vegetation is shrubby in nature. A 1980 survey recorded 111 plant species in the reserve,[3] but this did not include the endangered Banksia cuneata (Quairading Banksia), which was discovered there in 1971 but not published until 1981.[4]

The mammal fauna of the reserve is impoverished. The only native species recorded there are the Common Dunnart and Gould's Wattled Bat. The introduced House Mouse, Black Rat, European Rabbit and Fox have also been recorded.[5] 64 bird species have been recorded, comprising 37 passerines and 27 non-passerines.[6] 5 frogs species are known, and 17 reptiles.[7]

References

  1. "Badjaling Nature Reserve". Gazetteer of Australia Online. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  2. Chapman, A (1980). "Introduction to Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve and Yoting Water Reserve". Biological Survey of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, Part 12: Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve & Yoting Water Reserve. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 12. pp. 9–11.
  3. Muir, B. G. (1980). "Vegetation of Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve and Yoting Water Reserve". Biological Survey of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, Part 12: Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve & Yoting Water Reserve. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 12. pp. 12–40.
  4. George, A. S. (1981). "The genus Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae)". Nuytsia 3 (3): 239–473.
  5. Kitchener, D. J.; Chapman, A. (1980). "Mammals of Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve and Yoting Water Reserve". Biological Survey of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, Part 12: Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve & Yoting Water Reserve. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 12. pp. 41–44.
  6. Dell, John (1980). "Birds of Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve and Yoting Water Reserve". Biological Survey of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, Part 12: Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve & Yoting Water Reserve. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 12. pp. 45–58.
  7. Chapman, A; Dell, John (1980). "Frogs and Reptiles of Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve and Yoting Water Reserve". Biological Survey of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, Part 12: Badjaling Nature Reserve, South Badjaling Nature Reserve, Yoting Town Reserve & Yoting Water Reserve. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 12. pp. 59–64.