Flora and Fauna
The site contains a unique stand of enormous Tahitian Chestnut trees. Sydney Dale is a recorded site for the critically endangered endemic fern, the Christmas Island Spleenwort. The various wetland types of the Dales support populations of endemic and threatened animals, including the Christmas Island Hawk-owl, Christmas Island Goshawk, Abbott's Booby, Christmas Island Shrew and the Christmas Island Blind-snake. Coastline habitats within the site provide breeding and spawning grounds for Red and Blue Crabs. The main threat to the site comes from introduced species, in particular the Yellow Crazy Ant and the development of Immigration Reception Centre nearby, above the springs.
Read more about this topic: The Dales (Christmas Island)
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