Editing Freycinet National Park (section)

== Ecology ==
[[File:Dolphins_in_Wineglass_Bay.jpg|thumb|right|Dolphins swimming in Wineglass Bay.<ref>Groves, L. (2007). Freycinet Dolphins [Photograph]. Retrieved 5 May 2016, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/130200334@N05/26550857120</ref>]]
Forty-nine species endemic to Tasmania are found at Freycinet.<ref name="tasmap" /> 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.<ref name="tasmap" />

The [[Tasmanian devil]] was once common at the park, but has seen a significant drop in density due to the [[devil facial tumour disease]]. [[Cetacean]]s such as [[southern right whale]], [[humpback whale]], and [[bottlenose dolphin]]s are known to use the bay to feed, calve or to take rests.

=== Flora ===
[[File:Banksia_marginata_Freycinet.jpg|thumb|left|''Banksia marginata'' found in Freycinet National Park.<ref>Groves, L. (2007). Banksia [Photograph]. Retrieved 5 May 2016, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/130200334@N05/26789159286</ref>]]
The vegetation in Freycinet National Park is indicative of temperature ranges and precipitation, just as it is through the rest of Tasmania.<ref name=Mackenzie>Mackenzie, L., & Moss, P. (2014). A late Quaternary record of vegetation and climate change from Hazards Lagoon, eastern Tasmania. ''Quaternary International''. {{doi|10.1016/j.quaint.2014.11.051}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Mackenzie/> 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.<ref name=Mackenzie/>

More than 500 plants have been recorded within the park, with over 80 species of orchids being sighted.<ref name=management2000/> 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'').<ref name=management2000/>

=== Fauna ===
[[File:Bennetts_Wallaby_Freycinet.jpg|thumb|right|Bennett's Wallaby (''Macropus rufogriseus)''.<ref>Groves, L. (2016). Freycinet Bennetts Wallaby [Photograph]. Retrieved 5 May 2016, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/130200334@N05/26789149926</ref>]]

==== 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.<ref name=mammalsFNP>{{cite web |url=http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6616 |title=Mammals of Freycinet Peninsula|last=Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service |date=2011 |website=Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name=fancourt2015>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.</ref> 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.<ref name=Macqueen>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.</ref>

[[File:Echidna_at_Freycinet.jpg|thumb|left|Echidna (''Tachyglossus aculeatus'') searching for food among sand dunes at Friendly Beaches.<ref>Groves, L. (2016). Freycinet Echidna [Photograph]. Retrieved 5 May 2016, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/130200334@N05/26550859400</ref>]]

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.<ref name=Eldridge>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.</ref> 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.<ref name=harris>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.</ref> 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.<ref name=lazenby>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.</ref>

==== 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.<ref name=reptilesFNP>{{cite web |url=http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6549 |title=Reptiles and Amphibians of Freycinet National Park|last=Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service |date=2000 |website= Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service |access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref> Other species found include the blotched blue-tongued lizard (''[[Tiliqua nigrolutea]]''), mountain dragon (''[[Rankinia diemensis]]'') and lowland copperhead snake (''[[Austrelaps superbus]]'').<ref name=reptilesFNP/> 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.<ref name=reptilesFNP/> 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]]'').<ref name=reptilesFNP/>

==== Birds ====
[[File:White-bellied_sea_eagle.jpg|thumb|White-bellied sea eagle sitting on a tree (''Haliaeetus leucogaster)''.<ref>Groves, L. (2007). Freycinet white-bellied sea eagle [Photograph] Retrieved 5 May 2016, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/130200334@N05/26755901321</ref>]]

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]]'').<ref name=birdsFNP>{{cite web |url=http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6546 |title=Bird list of Freycinet National Park|last=Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service |date=2005 |website= Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service |access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref> 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]]'').<ref name=birdsFNP/> 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.<ref name=webb>Webb, M. H., Holdsworth, M. C., & Webb, J. (2012). Nesting requirements of the endangered Swift Parrot (''Lathamus discolor''). ''Emu, 112'', 181-188.</ref>