In addition to threatening species that cannot adapt; climate change can exacerbate existing threats such as habitat loss; altered fire regimes and the spread of invasive species.

These losses may be compounded by climate change.

In addition there are the added complexities associated with climate change.

Climate change Climate change poses a serious long term threat to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems with the potential to change the ecology of these environments through changes to species composition and function (Dunlop et al.; 2012).

The fragmented nature of the ecological community greatly increases its vulnerability to the effects of a changing climate (for example; because movement of native species is limited).

In addition to threatening species that cannot adapt; climate change could also exacerbate existing threats such as habitat loss; altered fire regimes and the spread of invasive species.

Risks include plants and animals becoming stranded in isolated remnants of vegetation as climate zones change; due to a lack of suitable habitat for migration changes in the distribution of tree species and associated habitat possible increased pest invasions more frequent droughts and fires increased severe storm events.

However whilst the ecological community will be impacted by the effects of climate change; in a regional context it is still likely to play an important role in supporting ecological adaptation by providing refuge for species displaced from their preferred habitat.

Aggressive exclusion of birds from potential woodland and forest habitat by over abundant noisy miners (Manorina melanocephala) (EPBC Act) Predation by the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) (NSW TSC Act and EPBC Act) Predation by feral cats (EPBC Act and NSW TSC Act) Loss of terrestrial climatic habitat caused by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (EPBC Act) Anthropogenic climate change (NSW TSC Act).

Climate change is also likely to increase the severity of existing threats; as well as increasing stress on the ecological community.

Reduction in integrity through climate change As described in Appendix E (Description of Threats); climate change is likely to compromise the integrity of the community both directly and by altering the survival rates of constituent species.

The specific effects of climate change on recovery are difficult to quantify.

These losses may be compounded by climate change.

Fire intensity; frequency; seasonality and patchiness all influence vegetation composition and structure as well as the success of plant invasions and the subsequent impacts on native biota.

As such there is insufficient information to determine the eligibility of the ecological community for listing under any category of Criterion 3. 3.4 Criterion 4 Reduction in community integrity Substantial clearing; severe fragmentation; urbanisation; weed invasion; detrimental fire and grazing regimes; associated changes to vegetation structure and loss of faunal components have substantially reduced the integrity of this ecological community.

The number of species and the above ground relative abundance of species will change with time since fire ; and may also change in response to changes in fire regime (including changes in fire frequency).

For example; Themeda triandra declines in the absence of fire and Bursaria spinosa is found in higher abundance in low fire frequency sites to the point where the species can dominate much of the landscape (Watson and Morris; 2006).

Urbanisation also increases the impacts of introduced animals and weeds and can further alter fire regimes.

It is also likely to interact with other threats; such as changed fire regimes or the invasion of weeds.

Nevertheless changes in temperature and precipitation; as well as influences on the fire regime and the competitive relationships between species; may further limit the recovery of the ecological community.