1.1.7 Ecology

Summary

The Central West subregion, located in central western NSW, includes the Castlereagh, Bogan and Macquarie river basins. Landforms in the area can be broadly classified into three types: the tablelands in the upper catchments to the east, the slopes to the west of the tablelands, and the alluvial floodplains of the lower valleys of the major rivers. This variety of landforms provides a number of important habitats for the vast array of plant and animal species, although many of the native communities are degraded and under pressure from changing land use and water regimes. The Central West subregion is home to numerous endangered and threatened wildlife and ecological communities. Large tracts of important wetland and floodplain communities occur in the western portions of the subregion, including the Ramsar-listed Macquarie Marshes on the lower floodplains of the Macquarie River, which contain large tracts of red gum woodlands and threatened coolibah-black box woodlands. These marshes are also a significant nesting site for over 40 species of waterbirds and provide breeding habitat for endangered and threatened aquatic species such as the trout cod, Murray cod and silver perch. In the upper tablelands of the Macquarie, Castlereagh and Bogan river basins, groundwater supports many aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. There are 65 aquatic and terrestrial threatened species including 16 migratory species listed in the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 that are predicted or known to occur within the Macquarie, Castlereagh and Bogan river basins. Also included are 26 plant, four reptile, one amphibian, four fish, six bird and eight mammal species. Over 140 species are listed in NSW’s Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and NSW’s Fisheries Management Act 1994.

Last updated:
5 January 2018