Biodiversity

Prior to European settlement the Adelaide plains contained a wide variety of flora and fauna including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, spiders, butterflies and other insects.

The indigenous vegetation in the Prospect area would have primarily been mallee woodland, grading to grasslands in the north western areas. More information about the indigenous vegetation of the City of Prospect area, including a plant species list, can be found here.

For the Prospect area there is little specific information about the fauna which once lived here, however Red kangaroos, Bilbies, Bettongs, Hairy nosed wombats, Numbats, Possums, Bats and a wide variety of birds, reptiles and other species were likely to have been present.

The urbanisation of the Adelaide plains which has occurred since 1836 has seen much of the native flora destroyed and fragmented, with a resulting loss of natural habitat for fauna. Many animal and plant species are now locally extinct and it is unlikely that some species will ever return.

Despite the almost complete destruction of natural habitat in the area, many species of fauna still find food and shelter in our suburban areas.

Councils research to date has revealed that up to nine species of mammals, at least 28 species of birds, seven or eight reptiles and 20 or so species of butterflies which may be encountered in the City of Prospect area.

Species lists and sources of further information can be found by clicking on the links for each type of fauna above.

Council is keen to hear from any residents or visitors to the Council area regarding fauna species that are either present now or have been observed in the past.

Council would also be keen to hear from any residents who have attracted native fauna to their gardens by establishing native plants or by providing water, food or shelter.

If you have any information which may assist Council with building up its knowledge of the native fauna or flora of the area, please contact Council's Environmental staff.

Attracting Native Fauna to your Garden

There are several general principles which apply for attracting native fauna to suburban gardens. These include:

• providing a variety of native plants (of all sizes and ages) in your garden.
• providing "structural habitat" such as rock piles, dead logs, mulch or tree boxes.
• minimising the chance of pets killing or scaring fauna away.
• minimising or avoiding pesticide and herbicide use in the home and garden.

The SA Urban Forests Biodiversity Program has some excellent information on attracting native fauna and managing threats to fauna in urban situations on their Backyards for Wildlife page. Information for attracting specific types of fauna is included on the Wildlife living in or visiting your garden page.

Injured Fauna

The suburban area can present some hazards to fauna and in some cases residents or visitors may find injured fauna in their gardens or neighbourhoods. Fortunately there are organisations and volunteers who can assist with caring for native fauna, such as FaunaRescue and the Bird Care and Conservation Society.

Further Information

There are also many websites containing information about the flora and fauna of Adelaide, including the SA Urban Forests Biodiversity Program and the SA Museum. Links to various other websites relating to fauna can be found on the pages specific to each type of fauna.

For further information on the native fauna or flora of the Prospect area, please contact Council's Environmental staff on 8269 5355 or by email.

Further information about Adelaide's fauna and flora can be found in the following publications. Those marked with # are available for loan through the City of Prospect library.

#Grasses of South Australia, by John Jessop, Gilbert Dashorst and Fiona James, 2006.

#The Native Plants of Adelaide, by Phil Bagust and Lynda Tout Smith, 2005.

#Adelaide - Nature of a City, edited by Christopher Daniels and Catherine Tait, 2005.

#The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia, by Michael F. Braby, 2004.

A Biodiversity Survey of the Adelaide Park Lands South Australia, by M. Long, 2003.

#A Complete Field Guide to Reptiles of Australia, by S.K. Wilson and G. Swan, 2003.

Conserving Adelaide's Biodiversity: Resources , Matthew Turner, 2001 (available online)

#Field Guide to Australian Birds, by Michael Morcombe, 2000

#Australian Bats, by Sue Churchill, 1998.

#Pre-European Vegetation of Adelaide - a Survey from the Gawler River to Hallett Cove, by Darrell Kraehenbuehl, 1996.

#Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills, by Gilbert Dashorst and John Jessop, 1990.

#It's Blue with Five Petals - Wildflowers of the Adelaide Region, by Ann Prescott, 1988.

#Wirra - the Bush that was Adelaide, by Wal Bushman, 1986.

Marbled Gecko Photo Courtesy Ben Moulton Ant Mound Photo courtesy BioCity Common Xenica Photo courtesy Roger Grund Eastern Blue Tounged Lizard Photo courtesy Mark Hutchinson, SA Museum Galahs eating on a fence Photo courtesy BioCity Three toed skink Photo courtesy Mark Hutchinson, SA Museum