BIODIVERSITY

REPORT- III
Abstract:
In this age of urbanisation, it is very important to survey the biodiversity of urban green spaces as it is
an important factor in determining the health of an ecosystem.
In this study we used invertebrate analysis to look at the biodiversity of Centennial Park and
Randwick environmental park. We examined the leaf litter samples from both parks and hand counted
invertebrates in each leaf litter sample and statistically analysed this data and found out that
Centennial Park has higher biodiversity than Randwick environmental park. Centennial Park is larger
in area and has more abundant plants and waterbodies, this might be a sign that it is a healthier
ecosystem than Randwick environmental park, since biodiversity is a direct indicator of ecosystem
health.

Discussions:
The results indicate a higher abundance of invertebrates in Centennial Park (CP). This is contrary to
the hypothesis which predicted that Randwick environmental park (REP) would have a more
abundant biodiversity index. This could be due to a few different reasons, first one being Randwick
environmental park was nurtured as a park only from 2010, till then it was a part of the abandoned
Randwick army barracks (Randwick city council, website). Whereas Centennial Park was given
proper attention a park should be given starting 1888 (Centennial parklands, website). Even though
Randwick environmental park has a lot of endemic species than the ones in centennial park since
centennial park is being taken care of for a longer time, it is completely plausible that more
biodiversity is present in Centennial Park. Centennial Park was part of Lachlan swamp system which
was of great indigenous cultural and natural conservation significance during the pre-colonial period,
(Hamilton and Penny, 2015) thus it was still taken care of before colonisation making it a long
standing partially protected Parkland, for the contrast something like army barracks can be deleterious
to the ecosystem surrounding it for a very long time (Lawrence.et.al, 2015). Another notable reason is
the proximity of houses to Randwick environmental park, Since the park is smaller the toxic run-off
from the houses might be more concentrated hence this must have harmed the ecological balance of
the park. Another factor that could have played a role in disparity of biodiversity between the parks
could also be hidden behind the origination of the water bodies, Randwick environmental park being
Ephemeral and Centennial Park originating from Lachlan swamp which is a natural spring. The long-
term availability of fresh water could have enhanced the biodiversity at Centennial Park (Wright.et.al.,
1984).

This is an important finding for both parks as this means that since the biodiversity at Randwick
environmental park is lower and at probable risk due to current pollution and past exploitation, it
should be implemented with strict restoration and conservation measures at the earliest. As for
Centennial Park since it is a biodiversity hotspot from the past that manages to balance its
biodiversity, more native species of plants and animals should be re-introduced to create a healthier
ecosystem within the park to enhance and protect its abundant biodiversity even better.

Therefore, it is very important to investigate the history and current biodiversity of urban spaces to
ensure that the ecosystem within is functioning healthy. And a healthy urban space can be more
productive for humanity aesthetically and resourcefully.

To understand this study better I would suggest taking the samples at different timings from both sites
over different seasons as seasonal variations in invertebrates is a possibility (Haapala and Muotka,
1998) which could alter the results as our samples were only collected in one single batch of few parts
in the same season. It would also be beneficial to know the different kinds of microbial communities
living in both water bodies, so a culture of the waterbody samples is highly favourable for more
accurate analysis.

The effect of urbanisation on urban green spaces is a growing threat to the biodiversity, overall health
and productivity of urban green spaces. While it is important to build new parks and make them
environmentally friendly, it is also very important to take care of the parks that are in existence which
might have been be a biodiversity hotspot through the time. Having endemic species makes a park
important while it is also noteworthy of how a place which used to have endemic species which was
replanted with new plants can still maintain a certain level of biodiversity. Therefore, proper planning
which is ecologically friendly and biodiversity enhancing is to be done and implemental to protect and
revitalise these urban spaces. This study clearly demonstrates that Centennial Park has more
biodiversity than Randwick environmental park.

Acknowledgements:

We would like to acknowledge Bidjigal and Gadigal people of Eora nation who are the traditional.
custodians of the land on which the field work was conducted. We would like the also thank the
Centennial Park and Randwick environmental park management and administration team for allowing
us to take the samples. We would like to thank the University of New South Wales for providing us
the funding and resources for completing this experiment, and special mentions to Dr. Hayley bates
and Prof. Richard Kingsford for supervising this project. Additionally, we would like to thank
Anastasia and her team of pro-active members who guided us and helped us complete our laboratory
practices.

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