The Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Ramsar site, located in Namadgi National Park in the Australian Capital Territory, is made up of a series of interconnected flats known as Ginini Flats and Cheyenne Flats. The region’s geology is made up of intensively folded metasediments overlying granite. The metasediments allow deep penetration of water down to the granite layer, at which point the water flows along the granite layer until it emerges as seepages and springs. At Ginini Flats and Cheyenne Flats, which are low lying open areas with impeded drainage, the water pools and allows the formation of a bog complex on relatively deep peaty soils. Permanent small streams cross the flats. Ginini Flats and Cheyenne Flats comprises a mosaic of bog, wet heath, wet herbfield, sedgeland, dry heath, and tall wet heath surrounded by sub-alpine snowgum woodland. The flats contain some of the largest and best preserved Sphagnum bogs on the Australian mainland. Well developed peats have developed up to two metres deep beneath areas of wet heath and bog. The age of the peat is estimated to be over 3000 years old. Snow cover on the subalpine ranges in this area provides a significant winter water storage that is released slowly as the snow melts. Snowmelt may also be an important factor in maintaining the hydrological conditions that encourage Sphagnum development within the wetlands. The site is important for the conservation of the nationally threatened Northern Corroboree Frog. The numerous pools scattered throughout the bogs and wet heaths provide an important variety of potential breeding sites for this species. Lathams Snipe, an internationally listed migratory species, regularly uses the area during its intercontinental migration. Mt Ginini lies within the Walgalu country, and the Brindabella Range was visited by Ngunnawal and Ngarigo people. It is likely that the open flats would have been used as a route by indigenous people during their annual visits to the high peaks to harvest the Bogong Moth. The site is in a National Park. It is used for conservation, catchment management, education and recreational activities such as bushwalking and cross-country skiing.
Ginini Flats Wetland Complex
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Australian Government, Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Ramsar Site, Ecological Character Description
However; major threatening activities exist and include long term alterations in climate increases in intensity or frequency of fires changes to the hydrological regime from long term climate change feral animal (particularly pigs) activity . changes or increase in upper catchment infrastructure . weed invasion chytrid fungus disease impacts on the northern corroboree frog. vi Ecological Character Description Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Limits of acceptable change Following the identification of services and threats; limits of acceptable change were identified and are summarised in the table below. 1.
However; there has been a substantial natural disturbance (2003 fire); a significant decline in the population of the northern corroboree frog and potential ongoing; incremental changes of the functioning of the peatland system (ongoing climate alteration).
He has also been a member of expert panels considering the long term impacts of climate change on estuarine and wetland communities.
Threats to the ecological character of Ginini Flats Wetland Complex include climate change; fire; feral animals; weeds; chytrid fungus; alteration of its hydrological regime and changes to catchment infrastructure.
Given the wetland is already at the limit of climatic tolerance; the greatest threat to it relates to the global scale process of climate change and the myriad impacts and potential positive feedback mechanisms that can occur.
Climate change has the potential to alter all critical components and processes (for example hydrology; peat formation; vegetation; habitat availability; water quality; groundwater recharge; see Table 5 1 for further detail); and thus the services that characterise the ecological character of the wetland.
Long term alterations in climate Currently occurring Moderate to high Changes in hydrology; such as lowering of the water table; will influence available water and primary productivity of the ecosystem (Grover; 2006); which may lead to system imbalance and potential decline of peat creation and storage mechanisms.
Increased temperatures and altered rainfall regimes have been predicted for the Australian Alps under climate change scenario modelling (Hennessy et al.; 2003) which may in turn affect the carbon and water cle processes in the wetlands.
Modelled climate change impacts predict increased frequency and intensity of precipitation events that may alter the overall hydrology of peatlands (Hennessy et al.; 2003).
Other identified risks are less severe but may contribute to changes in character in the longer term when associated with climate change impacts.
However; there has been a substantial natural disturbance (2003 fire); a significant decline in the population of the northern corroboree frog and potential ongoing; incremental changes of the functioning of the peatland system (ongoing climate alteration).
Coupled with the ongoing risks associated with climate change; ongoing drought and drying and reduced groundwater recharge it is likely that the system could fall into a state of positive feedback whereby fire reduces the mass of peat layers that hold water and protect it against fire.
Key messages for the Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Ramsar site arising from this ECD; which should be promoted through the CEPA program include the status of this wetland as a Ramsar listed wetland based on fulfilment of internationally established criteria the large scale northerly extent of a nationally listed threatened sphagnum bogs and associated fens vegetation community the provision of habitat and captive breeding stock for the endangered northern corroboree frog Ecological Character Description Ginini Flats Wetland Complex the genetic and ecological diversity of a number of endemic and restricted flora species found in this vegetation community specifically peat moss (Sphagnum cristatum); alpine plum pine (Podocarpus lawrencei); alpine ballart (Exocarpos nanus); dwarf buttercup (Ranunculus millanii); silver caraway (Oreomyrrhis argentea) the distinctive processes of peat formation; Sphagnum growth and hydrological interactions in peatland systems the carbon capture and cycling in peatland systems and their valuable role worldwide in carbon dioxide sequestration and storage and the interaction with climate change.
Comparisons of net carbon capture of peatlands and rainforest systems would provide perspective on relative value of these systems the threats from climate change to these systems and the concept of positive feedback whereby release of carbon dioxide may be sped up if climate change increases temperature; changes hydrology and results in oxidation of peat the overall concept of ecosystem service provisioning from wetland systems . the ability for depositional systems such as sphagnum bogs and peatlands to provide stratigraphic layers to allow investigation of historical changes such as pollen analysis following on from substantial investigations already completed at Australian National University (ANU).
However; major threatening activities exist and include long term alterations in climate increases in intensity or frequency of fires changes to the hydrological regime from long term climate change feral animal (particularly pigs) activity . changes or increase in upper catchment infrastructure . weed invasion chytrid fungus disease impacts on the northern corroboree frog. vi Ecological Character Description Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Limits of acceptable change Following the identification of services and threats; limits of acceptable change were identified and are summarised in the table below. 1.
However; there has been a substantial natural disturbance (2003 fire); a significant decline in the population of the northern corroboree frog and potential ongoing; incremental changes of the functioning of the peatland system (ongoing climate alteration).
He has also been a member of expert panels considering the long term impacts of climate change on estuarine and wetland communities.
Threats to the ecological character of Ginini Flats Wetland Complex include climate change; fire; feral animals; weeds; chytrid fungus; alteration of its hydrological regime and changes to catchment infrastructure.
Given the wetland is already at the limit of climatic tolerance; the greatest threat to it relates to the global scale process of climate change and the myriad impacts and potential positive feedback mechanisms that can occur.
Climate change has the potential to alter all critical components and processes (for example hydrology; peat formation; vegetation; habitat availability; water quality; groundwater recharge; see Table 5 1 for further detail); and thus the services that characterise the ecological character of the wetland.
Ecological Character Description Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Altered hydrological regime Changes in the hydrological regime due to drought; climate change; fires or changes in the catchment (for example clearing for infrastructure; groundwater extraction; drainage works) have the potential to influence water table levels and water balance within the wetland; and hence the peatlands and vegetation communities.
Long term alterations in climate Currently occurring Moderate to high Changes in hydrology; such as lowering of the water table; will influence available water and primary productivity of the ecosystem (Grover; 2006); which may lead to system imbalance and potential decline of peat creation and storage mechanisms.
Increased temperatures and altered rainfall regimes have been predicted for the Australian Alps under climate change scenario modelling (Hennessy et al.; 2003) which may in turn affect the carbon and water cle processes in the wetlands.
Modelled climate change impacts predict increased frequency and intensity of precipitation events that may alter the overall hydrology of peatlands (Hennessy et al.; 2003).
Other identified risks are less severe but may contribute to changes in character in the longer term when associated with climate change impacts.
Low Vegetation Sphagnum and Peat Accumulation 1; 2 and Inferred fire history for the site showing an average interval around LAC 7 An increase in fire frequency greater than 25 years or inferred increase in intensity.
There are data on the frequency of fire events in adjacent woodland at Mt Ginini (Zylstra; 2006).
This fire was preceded by drought conditions which would have resulted in drier conditions in the bogs that predisposed them to fire impacts.
The impact of this fire has been considered further below and has been taken into consideration during the discussion of current ecological condition and discussion of Ramsar threats (Section 5.1). 2.
The effects of the January 2003 fire on all these parameters (other than pH) are evident as a clear increase in concentrations after the fires (Figure 3 1).
The fire history of the surrounding snow gum woodland has been determined by dendrochronological evidence by Banks (1989) and shows a high frequency of events of moderate to high intensity (Zlystra; 2006) with an increase in frequency between 1850 and 1950 with up to ten fires per decade recorded in the woodland.
However; given general fire behaviour in bogs burning the drier areas (Carey et al.; 2003) it is likely that edges of the bog were impacted in these past fires.
In some areas the fire sterilised peats have not regenerated with bog species and they have remained dry with water passing under the peat (Hope et al.; 2009) Fire results in changes to vegetation; peat formation; hydrology and water quality (see Table 5 1 for further detail).
Fire increase Vegetation changes favouring fire tolerant rhizomatous sedges over Sphagnum in intensity or (Whinam; 1995) and resultant changes in hydrological processes. frequency Reduced peatbog area and increased dried peat or alpine humus soil area; resulting in variations in hydrology; nutrient fluxes; acidity and primary productivity (Grover; 2006).
Change in floristics to more fire tolerant species.
Low Vegetation Sphagnum and Peat Accumulation 1; 2 and Inferred fire history for the site showing an average interval around 25 30 years LAC 7 An increase in fire frequency greater than 25 years or inferred increase in intensity.
There are data on the frequency of fire events in adjacent woodland at Mt Ginini (Zylstra; 2006).
The edges of the system are most likely to have been impacted and there is conjecture that the extent of the bog has reduced over time in response to fire amongst other factors such as extended drying cycles.
However; if the frequency or intensity of fire is too great; this is likely to lead to a change in ecological character.
Low Vegetation Sphagnum and Peat Accumulation 1; 2 and Inferred fire history for the site showing an average interval around LAC 7 An increase in fire frequency greater than 25 years or inferred increase in intensity.
There are data on the frequency of fire events in adjacent woodland at Mt Ginini (Zylstra; 2006).
This fire was preceded by drought conditions which would have resulted in drier conditions in the bogs that predisposed them to fire impacts.
The impact of this fire has been considered further below and has been taken into consideration during the discussion of current ecological condition and discussion of Ramsar threats (Section 5.1). 2.
The effects of the January 2003 fire on all these parameters (other than pH) are evident as a clear increase in concentrations after the fires (Figure 3 1).
The fire history of the surrounding snow gum woodland has been determined by dendrochronological evidence by Banks (1989) and shows a high frequency of events of moderate to high intensity (Zlystra; 2006) with an increase in frequency between 1850 and 1950 with up to ten fires per decade recorded in the woodland.
However; given general fire behaviour in bogs burning the drier areas (Carey et al.; 2003) it is likely that edges of the bog were impacted in these past fires.
In some areas the fire sterilised peats have not regenerated with bog species and they have remained dry with water passing under the peat (Hope et al.; 2009) Fire results in changes to vegetation; peat formation; hydrology and water quality (see Table 5 1 for further detail).
Fire increase Vegetation changes favouring fire tolerant rhizomatous sedges over Sphagnum in intensity or (Whinam; 1995) and resultant changes in hydrological processes. frequency Reduced peatbog area and increased dried peat or alpine humus soil area; resulting in variations in hydrology; nutrient fluxes; acidity and primary productivity (Grover; 2006).
Low Vegetation Sphagnum and Peat Accumulation 1; 2 and Inferred fire history for the site showing an average interval around 25 30 years LAC 7 An increase in fire frequency greater than 25 years or inferred increase in intensity.
There are data on the frequency of fire events in adjacent woodland at Mt Ginini (Zylstra; 2006).
The edges of the system are most likely to have been impacted and there is conjecture that the extent of the bog has reduced over time in response to fire amongst other factors such as extended drying cycles.
However; if the frequency or intensity of fire is too great; this is likely to lead to a change in ecological character.
General temperature lapse rates of a 6.5 C drop in ambient air temperature for every 1000 metres (Nunez and Colhoun; 1980); suggest that the wetland site is likely to be slightly warmer than the monitoring station; particularly in winter; due to the exposed nature of the weather station.
This fire was preceded by drought conditions which would have resulted in drier conditions in the bogs that predisposed them to fire impacts.
Changes in snow cover depth; duration and melt patterns may result in a reduced snow pack; which will impact water availability in drought and decrease pools for frog breeding (Osborne and Green; 1998).
The edges of the system are most likely to have been impacted and there is conjecture that the extent of the bog has reduced over time in response to fire amongst other factors such as extended drying cycles.
General temperature lapse rates of a 6.5 C drop in ambient air temperature for every 1000 metres (Nunez and Colhoun; 1980); suggest that the wetland site is likely to be slightly warmer than the monitoring station; particularly in winter; due to the exposed nature of the weather station.
However; given the lack of extensive grasslands or heathlands in the immediate vicinity; this use is likely to have been intermittent outside serious drought periods.
This fire was preceded by drought conditions which would have resulted in drier conditions in the bogs that predisposed them to fire impacts.
Changes in snow cover depth; duration and melt patterns may result in a reduced snow pack; which will impact water availability in drought and decrease pools for frog breeding (Osborne and Green; 1998).
The edges of the system are most likely to have been impacted and there is conjecture that the extent of the bog has reduced over time in response to fire amongst other factors such as extended drying cycles.
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