Scott River Ironstone Association

Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list

This ecological community is described as a low to tall seasonally inundated shrubland or heathland, occurring on patches of shallow soils over massive ironstone formations of the Scott Coastal Plain in south-west Western Australia.

Government evidence of impact of climate change:

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  • Approved Conservation Advice for SCOTT RIVER IRONSTONE ASSOCIATION

    Summary of threats The ongoing threats to the ecological community are Land clearing Road; track; and firebreak maintenance Weed invasion Acid sulphate soils Grazing by native and non native animals and Phytophthora dieback disease caused by the root rot pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi The ecological community is potentially threatened by Scott River Ironstone Association Altered fire regimes Hydrological changes Changes to nutrient status (from surface water runoff on agricultural land) and Climate change.

    Threats which have the potential to significantly impact the ecological community are altered fire regimes; changes to hydrological regimes and climate change.

    Climate change There has been an observed significant change in rainfall in south west WA.

    South west WA s significant drying trend is forecast to worsen under climate change.

    Loss of habitat caused by climate change linked to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.

    The presence of weed species can also lead to altered fire regimes through easy ignition of high fuel loads produced by annuals (Luu and English; 2004).

    Impacts from altered fire regimes are noted in the Interim Recovery Plan (Luu and English; 2004).

    The disturbance created by fire can create increased nutrient levels and niche gaps which allow weed species to become established.