Freycinet National Park is a national park on the east coast of Tasmania, Australia, northeast of Hobart. It occupies a large part of the Freycinet Peninsula, named after French navigator Louis de Freycinet, and Schouten Island. Founded in 1916, it is Tasmania's oldest park, along with Mount Field National Park. Bordering the national park is the small settlement of Coles Bay, and the largest nearby town is Swansea. Freycinet contains part of the rugged Tasmanian coastline and includes the secluded Wineglass Bay. Features of the park include its red and pink granite formations and a series of jagged granite peaks in a line, called "The Hazards".
Because of the range of rare and endemic flora and fauna species present, as well as the diversity of landscapes and communities at Freycinet National Park, its role in conservation is particularly significant. The area within the park is also of cultural importance, with many Aboriginal and European sites protected, though deeper investigation into human history within the park still needs to be undertaken. Large sections of the park remain undisturbed by humans, including parts of the catchment and the landscape.
Tourism at Freycinet forms a significant component of the economy for the eastern part of Tasmania, with visitors drawn to the region by the natural environment, weather and recreational activities available in the area. Every year thousands of people are attracted to the coastal environments and the area's rural and isolated setting.Patterson, C. (2008). Cultural capital and place: Coles Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania. Geographical Research, 46, 350-360.
Geology Devonian granite is the dominant rock type at Freycinet. Orthoclase, a pink feldspar, gives the mountains and coastline their characteristic pink tint. Black micas and white quartz are also found. The western side of Schouten Island is composed of Jurassic dolerite.
Ecology
Forty-nine species endemic to Tasmania are found at Freycinet. Mammals found include the brushtail possum, ringtail possum, sugar glider, eastern pygmy possum, little pygmy possum, echidna, wombats, New Holland mouse, swamp rat, water rat, Tasmanian bettong and the long-nosed potoroo.
The Tasmanian devil was once common at the park, but has seen a significant drop in density due to the devil facial tumour disease. Cetaceans such as southern right whale, humpback whale, and bottlenose dolphins are known to use the bay to feed, calve or to take rests.
Flora
The vegetation in Freycinet National Park is indicative of temperature ranges and precipitation, just as it is through the rest of Tasmania.Mackenzie, L., & Moss, P. (2014). A late Quaternary record of vegetation and climate change from Hazards Lagoon, eastern Tasmania. Quaternary International. In this part of the state it is dominated by dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands, with black peppermint (Eucalyptus amygdalina) growing over an understorey of varying heaths such as Banksia spp., Leptospermum spp., Thryptomene spp., Melaleuca spp. and Calytrix spp. in the area of Hazards Lagoon. West of the lagoon the coastal scrub consists of Acacia longifolia with a thick forest of Allocasuarina verticillata, and to the east Eucalyptus ovata and Eucalyptus obliqua dominate the dry woodlands.
More than 500 plants have been recorded within the park, with over 80 species of orchids being sighted. Several species have a restricted distribution and numerous species, such as Melaleuca pustulata, Cyphanthera tasmanica, Epacris barbata and Westringia brevifolia var. raleighi are listed under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (TSP Act).
Fauna
Mammals The red-necked wallaby, also called Bennett's wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus), is one of the most commonly seen animals within the park and can be spotted grazing on low lying vegetation such as grass, they are also known to gather around people. Another common species seen is the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), a marsupial carnivore which was previously sighted on the mainland of Australia but is now only found in Tasmania.Fancourt, B. A., Bateman, B. L., VanDerWal, J., Nicol, S. C., Hawkins, C. E., Jones, M. E., & Johnson, C. N. (2015). Testing the role of climate change in species decline: is the eastern quoll a victim of a change in the weather? PLoS ONE, 10, 1-15. Also extinct on the mainland, the Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) is still common in Freycinet National Park but they are rarely seen during the day, coming out at night to feed.Macqueen, P., Goldizen, A. W., & Seddon, J. M. (2009). Response of southern temperate marsupial, the Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii), to historical and contemporary forest management. Molecular Ecology, 18, 3291-3306.
Echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) can be seen during the day foraging through litter on forest floors, or among coastal vegetation, searching for ants or other food sources.Eldridge, D. J., & Mensinga, A. (2007). Foraging pits of the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) as small-scale patches in a semi-arid Australian box woodland. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 39, 1055-1065. The eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus) and the little pygmy possum (Cercartetus lepidus) are listed as vulnerable in several mainland Australian states but are not listed in Tasmania, and although they can be found at Freycinet, sightings of them are uncommon.Harris, J. M., Munks, S. A., Goldingay, R. L., Wapstra, M., & Hird, D. (2007). Distribution, habitat and conservation of the eastern pygmy-possum Cercartetus nanus in Tasmania. Australian Mammalogy, 29, 213-232. The New Holland mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae) is listed as endangered under the Tasmanian TSP Act and sightings are rare, but it is known to be present within Freycinet National Park.Lazenby, B., Pye, T., Richardson, A., & Bryant, S. L. (2007). Towards a habitat model for the new Holland mouse Pseudomys novaehollandiae in Tasmania – population vegetation associations and an investigation into individual habitat use. Australian Mammalogy, 29, 137-148.
Reptiles and amphibians
There are numerous reptiles that are found at Freycinet including lizards, skinks and snakes. The ocellated skink (Niveoscincus ocellatus), Tasmanian tree skink (Niveoscincus pretiosus) and she-oak skink (Cyclodomorphus casuarinae) are all endemic to Tasmania and found in the park. Other species found include the blotched blue-tongued lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea), mountain dragon (Rankinia diemensis) and lowland copperhead snake (Austrelaps superbus). The Tasmanian froglet (Ranidella tasmaniensis) is also endemic to Tasmania and can be seen in several creeks in Freycinet, along with the frequently spotted common eastern froglet (Crinia signifera) found in low-lying water bodies such as swamps. Other amphibians found include the southern toadlet (Pseudophryne semimarmorata), spotted grass frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis), southern brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii) and growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis).
Birds
Owing to the varying ecosystems in Freycinet there are many species of birds that either inhabit or fly through the park. They range from large predator species such as the brown falcon (Falco berigora) and white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) to smaller species including the superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) and flame robin (Petroica phoenicea). There are also several species which are listed on the TSP Act, such as the black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris), shy albatross (Thalassarche cauta), Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax fleayi), white-fronted tern (Sterna striata), Australian fairy tern (Sternula nereis nereis) and the swift parrot (Lathamus discolor). The endangered swift parrot breeds on the east coast of Tasmania from September through to January, their movements corresponding to the flowering of several Eucalyptus spp. before they migrate to the mainland over winter.Webb, M. H., Holdsworth, M. C., & Webb, J. (2012). Nesting requirements of the endangered Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor). Emu, 112, 181-188.
Climate The park receives on average 600 mm (23.6 in.) of rain per year. It has a climate similar to that of Southern France with on average more than 300 days of sunshine.
Environmental threats
There are numerous threats to species within Freycinet National Park, and with recreation and tourism in natural areas becoming increasingly popular further stresses can be placed on flora and fauna already struggling to survive.Pickering, C. M., & Hill, W. (2007). Impacts of recreation and tourism on plant diversity and vegetation in protected areas in Australia. Journal of Environmental Management, 85, 791-800. There can be many impacts caused by the building and maintenance of roads, tracks, lookouts and various types of accommodation. A study conducted by JonesJones, M. E. (2000). Road upgrade, road mortality and remedial measures: impacts on a population of eastern quolls and Tasmanian devils. Wildlife Research, 27, 289-296. observed that species such as the Tasmanian devil and eastern quoll are more susceptible to being killed by cars after road upgrades to increase the volume of tourist traffic.
There can also be direct and indirect damage to vegetation and habitats from activities such as bushwalking and horse riding, as well as an increased risk of alterations to soil characteristics and the transmission of disease. An example of this is the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, which numerous plant families in Freycinet National Park are susceptible to, and which also places rare and endangered species at greater risk of extinction.Barker, P. C. J., Wardlaw, T. J., & Brown, M. J. (1996). Selection and design of Phytophthora management areas for the conservation of threatened flora in Tasmania. Biological Conservation, 76, 187-193. Visitors to the park may also inadvertently bring in seeds of weeds on clothing or equipment.
One of the most serious threats faced by any species within Freycinet is the devil facial tumour which has seen the Tasmanian devil's (Sarcophilus harrisii) conservation status upgraded in 2008 to endangered under the TSP Act. Studies have shown there has been a decline in the population of the Tasmanian devil in the area, with this decrease in numbers being associated with the devil facial tumour.Hawkins, C. E., Baars, C., Hesterman, H., Hocking, G. J., Jones, M. E., Lazenby, B., Mann, D., Mooney, N., Pemberton, D., Pyecroft, S., Restani, M., & Wiersma, J. (2006). Emerging disease and population decline of an island endemic, the Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii. Biological Conservation, 131, 307-324. This infectious disease, caused by a transmissible cancerBruniche-Olsen, A., Burridge, C. P., Austin, J. J., & Jones, M. E. (2013). Disease induced changes in gene flow patterns among Tasmanian devil populations. Biological Conservation, 165, 69-78. has become a serious threat to populations of devils throughout Tasmania and has seen a change to the age structure within the population at Freycinet National Park.Jones, M. E., Cockburn, A., Hamede, R., Hawkins, C., Hesterman, H., Lachish, S., Mann, D., McCallum, H., & Pemberton, D. (2008). Life-history change in disease-ravages Tasmanian devil populations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105, 10023-10027. A decrease in breeding age adults has placed pressure on the persistence of the speciesLachish, S., McCallum, H., & Jones, M. (2009). Demography, disease and the devil: life-history changes in a disease-affected population of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii). Journal of Animal Ecology ,78, 427-436. with most females now only having the opportunity to breed once rather than typically producing offspring annually for 3 years after the age of two.