Environment

Animals, Plants and Algae in Wetlands

The Blacktown Council State of the Environment Report for 2002-2003 has recorded the numbers of vulnerable and endangered animal and plant species found in the Blacktown area.

Year	Vulnerable plant/animal species	Endangered plant/animal species
2000-2001	14	9
2001-2002	10	9
2002-2003	14	10

Animals

Birds

There are many birds that visit or live around the wetlands and waterways in the Blacktown area. They include:

*Eastern Swamp Hen

*Herons

*Plovers

*Cormorants

*Australian White Ibises

*Dotterels

*Latham's Snipe

*Dusky Moorhens

*Darters

*Egrets

*Coots

*Yellow-billed Spoonbills

*Geese (introduced)

*Swans

*Native Ducks (eg Wood Duck)

*Grebes

*Introduced Duck (eg Mallard)

Frogs

Some frog species that live in and around Blacktown wetlands and waterways include:

*Brown Striped Marsh Frog

*Brown Tree Frog

*Dwarf Green Tree Frog

*Large Green Tree Frog (more common in the past)

*Rocket Frog

*Whirling Tree Frog

*Green and Golden Bell Frog (endangered)

*Cane Toad

*Whistling Tree Frog

Reptiles

Some reptiles that live in and around Blacktown wetlands and waterways include:

*Diamond Python

*Swamp Snake

*Red-bellied Black Snake

*Eastern Brown Snake

*Eastern Long-Necked Turtle

*Water Skink

*Water Dragon

*Tiger Snake

Mammals

Some mammals that live around Blacktown wetlands and waterways include:

*Water Rat

*Platypus (confirmed sighting at South Creek)

Water Bugs

There are many water bugs that live in the wetlands and waterways of the Blacktown area. Some include:

*Insects (Beetles, Dragonflies, Damselflies, Mayflies)

*Water Snails

*Water Striders

*Freshwater Mussels

*Water Spiders

*Water Treaders

*Bloodworms

*Freshwater Prawns

*Midges

*Diving Beetles

*Water Mites

*Mosquito Larvae

*Water Scorpions

Water Plants

There are four main groups of water plants in the Blacktown LGA:

1. Submerged water plants (grow under the water)

For example Ribbonweed is one of the most common native water plants in Australia. It is a summer growing plant and can survive in salty water. It is a useful species but it can prevent the natural flow in a wetland or waterway and could need to be removed. This plant likes still or fast flowing water of coastal or inland wetlands and waterways and is found in all states of Australia.

2. Floating water plants

For example Duckweed is a small native plant that covers large areas of water surface and is often confused for algae. Duckweed has small roots and is found in slow moving water with high nutrient levels. This plant is an important food source for birds.

3. Emergent water plants (the roots are under the water but the plant grows partially out of the water)

These plants soak up excess nutrients in a wetland or waterway, which helps to reduce the growth of harmful algae. For example Common Rush is a native plant, which can grow to 1m in height. The plant flowers mainly in spring and summer and grows in damp or waterlogged soil or in shallow water. This plant provides competition for introduced species in a wetland or waterway.

4. Surrounding trees and shrubs

For example Paperbarks like still or slow flowing water in swamps, creeks, drains and channels. They are used worldwide as windbreaks, erosion control and in gardens. This plant provides a habitat for animals but can block waterways and choke wetlands.

1. Submerged Water Plants	2. Floating Water Plants	3. Emergent Water Plants	4. Surrounding trees and shrubs

Algae

Algae are simple water plants that can vary in size, colour and shape. Algae occur naturally in habitats such as creeks, rivers, lakes and damp soil and provide a food source for animals, fish and water bugs. Algae can be harmful if it clogs up wetlands and waterways. This can be caused by it being 'overfed' by pollution such as from fertilisers, dog droppings and detergents.

There are three main groups of algae:

1. Plankton algae are microscopic, free-floating algae, which makes the water green or brown in appearance. This algae is so tiny that on average, if fifty of these microscopic algae were lined up end-to-end, it would only measure one millimetre! The plankton algae are at the start of the food chain and are therefore an important food source for all other organisms.

2. Filamentous algae are long strands of algae cells that form floating mats.

3. Chara and Nitella algae are upright algae that look like a submerged plant with roots.

Blue Green Algae

Although it looks like algae, Blue Green Algae is not a true algae - it is more like bacteria. Blue Green Algae is known scientifically as Cyanobacteria. Blue-Green Algae can be toxic to animals and humans.

Past Uses of Wetlands and Waterways