South Australian Murray Darling Basin Threatened Flora Recovery … · 2015. 4. 27. · Part D: Management Practices .....171 Part E: Duration of Recovery Plan and Estimated Costs..........172

South Australian Murray Darling BasinThreatened Flora Recovery Plan

Chris Obst

May 2005

South Australian Murray Darling Basin Threatened Flora Recovery Plan

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A Recovery Plan prepared under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection andBiodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The preparation of this plan was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust II, through theSA Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board.

Cite as:Obst, C. (2005). South Australian Murray Darling Basin Threatened Flora RecoveryPlan. Report to the Threatened Species and Communities Section, AustralianGovernment Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.

Further copies of this Recovery Plan are available from:

Department for Environment and HeritagePO Box 231BERRISA 5343(08) 8595 2111

This recovery plan was written and produced by Environmental & BiodiversityServices on behalf of the Department for Environment and Heritage. It was releasedfor public comment in January, 2005.

Cover Photos all taken by Chris Obst:

Top left: Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa (Silver Daisy-bush)Bottom left: Prostanthera eurybioides (Monarto Mintbush)Top right: Acacia pinguifolia (Fat-leaf Wattle)Bottom right: Pterostylis arenicola (Sandhill Greenhood Orchid)


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Contents

List of Tables.................................................................................... v

List of Figures ................................................................................ vii

Abbreviations................................................................................ viii

Executive summary ........................................................................ ix

Introduction...................................................................................... 1

Part A: Species Names and General Requirements...................... 3

Species names and Conservation Status ....................................................................3Objects of the EPBC Act .............................................................................................4International Obligations..............................................................................................4Affected Interests ........................................................................................................5Role and Interests of Indigenous People .....................................................................6Benefits to other Species/Ecological Communities ......................................................7Social and Economic Impacts .....................................................................................7Evaluation of Success .................................................................................................7Definitions ...................................................................................................................8Explanation of Methods Used......................................................................................9

Part B: Summary of Recovery Objectives and Known andPotential Threats............................................................................ 11

Recovery Objectives…………………………………………………….…...................….11Known and Potential Threats…………………………………………….………………...11

Part C: Threatened Species included within this Plan................ 18

1. Acacia menzelii (Menzel’s Wattle)...................................................................... 181.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location ................................................ 181.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts ......................................................... 231.3 Known and Potential Threats........................................................................... 241.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria.................................. 25

2. Acacia pinguifolia (Fat-leaf Wattle) .................................................................... 332.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location ................................................ 332.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts ......................................................... 402.3 Known and Potential Threats........................................................................... 422.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria.................................. 44

3. Acacia rhetinocarpa (Resin Wattle).................................................................... 523.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location ................................................ 523.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts ......................................................... 573.3 Known and Potential Threats........................................................................... 583.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria.................................. 59


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4. Caladenia colorata (Coloured Spider-orchid).................................................... 674.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location ................................................ 674.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts ......................................................... 734.3 Known and Potential Threats........................................................................... 734.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria.................................. 75

5. Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa (Silver Daisy-bush).......................................... 845.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location ................................................ 845.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts ......................................................... 915.3 Known and Potential Threats........................................................................... 925.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria.................................. 94

6. Phebalium lowanense (Lowan Phebalium)...................................................... 1026.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location ...............................................1026.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts ........................................................1086.3 Known and Potential Threats..........................................................................1096.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria.................................110

7. Prostanthera eurybioides (Monarto Mintbush) ............................................... 1187.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location ...............................................1187.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts ........................................................1257.3 Known and Potential Threats..........................................................................1267.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria.................................128

8. Pterostylis arenicola (Sandhill Greenhood Orchid) ........................................ 1368.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location ...............................................1368.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts ........................................................1428.3 Known and Potential Threats..........................................................................1438.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria.................................144

9. Thelymitra epipactoides (Metallic Sun-orchid)................................................ 1529.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location ...............................................1529.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts ........................................................1609.3 Known and Potential Threats..........................................................................1619.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria.................................163

Part D: Management Practices ................................................... 171

Part E: Duration of Recovery Plan and Estimated Costs.......... 172

Resource Allocation ................................................................................................ 172Duration and Costs ................................................................................................. 172

References and Further Reading................................................ 178

Appendix 1. Development of a Threat Matrix............................. 182

Appendix 2. Summary Action Table ........................................... 184

Appendix 3. Current and Historical Sites................................... 189


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List of Tables

Table A. The names and status of nationally threatened plant species included withinthis recovery plan. ............................................................................................. ix

Table 1. The names and status of nationally threatened plant species included withinthis recovery plan. ..............................................................................................3

Table 2. List of current and potential stakeholders in the management of speciesincluded within this recovery plan. ......................................................................5

Table 3. Priority order of threats to threatened species in the SA MDB. ...................11

Table 4. Status of Acacia menzelii. ..........................................................................18

Table 5. IUCN Assessment for Acacia menzelii. ......................................................18

Table 6. Current and potential threats to Acacia menzelii in the SA MDB.................24

Table 7. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Acacia menzelii. .................25

Table 8. Status of Acacia pinguifolia. .......................................................................33

Table 9. IUCN Assessment for Acacia pinguifolia. ...................................................33

Table 10. Important populations of Acacia pinguifolia in the SA MDB. .....................38

Table 11. Current number of surviving translocated A. pinguifolia plants in the SAMDB region. .....................................................................................................41

Table 12. Current and potential threats to Acacia pinguifolia in the SA MDB............42

Table 13. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Acacia pinguifolia. ............44

Table 14. Status of Acacia rhetinocarpa...................................................................52

Table 15. IUCN Assessment for Acacia rhetinocarpa...............................................52

Table 16. Current and potential threats to Acacia rhetinocarpa in the SA MDB. .......58

Table 17. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Acacia rhetinocarpa. ........59

Table 18. Status of Caladenia colorata.....................................................................67

Table 19. IUCN Assessment for Caladenia colorata.................................................67

Table 20. Important populations of Caladenia colorata in the SA MDB.....................71

Table 21. Current and potential threats to Caladenia colorata in the SA MDB..........73

Table 22. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Caladenia colorata. ..........75

Table 23. Status of Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa. .................................................84

Table 24. IUCN Assessment for Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa. .............................84

Table 25. Important populations of Olearia pannosa ssp. Pannosa in the SA MDB..88

Table 26. Current and potential threats to Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa in the SAMDB. ................................................................................................................92

Table 27. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Olearia pannosa ssp.pannosa. ..........................................................................................................94

Table 28. Status of Phebalium lowanense. ............................................................102

Table 29. IUCN Assessment for Phebalium lowanense. ........................................102

Table 30. Important populations of Phebalium lowanense in the SA MDB. ............106


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Table 31. Current and potential threats to Phebalium lowanense in the SA MDB...109

Table 32. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Phebalium lowanense. ...110

Table 33. Status of Prostanthera eurybioides.........................................................118

Table 34. IUCN Assessment for Prostanthera eurybioides.....................................118

Table 35. Important populations of Prostanthera eurybioides in the SA MDB.........123

Table 36. Current number of surviving translocated P. eurybioides plants in the SAMDB. ..............................................................................................................125

Table 37. Current and potential threats to Prostanthera eurybioides in the SA MDB........................................................................................................................126

Table 38. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Prostanthera eurybioides........................................................................................................................128

Table 39. Status of Pterostylis arenicola. ...............................................................136

Table 40. IUCN Assessment for Pterostylis arenicola. ...........................................136

Table 41. Important populations of Pterostylis arenicola in the SA MDB ................139

Table 42. Current and potential threats to Pterostylis arenicola in the SA MDB......143

Table 43. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Pterostylis arenicola. ......144

Table 44. Status of Thelymitra epipactoides...........................................................152

Table 45. IUCN Assessment for Thelymitra epipactoides.......................................152

Table 46. Important populations of Thelymitra epipactoides in the SA MDB...........158

Table 47. Current and potential threats to Thelymitra epipactoides in the SA MDB........................................................................................................................161

Table 48. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Thelymitra epipactoides. 163

Table 49. Estimated duration and costs required to undertake recovery actions aimedat maintaining threatened species at their current abundance and status.......174

Table 50. Estimated duration and costs required to undertake recovery actions aimedat improving threatened species abundance and status. ................................175

Table 51. Estimated external funding that may be available if no other funding isforthcoming. ...................................................................................................176


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List of Figures

Figure 1. Location of the SA MDB and distribution of the threatened species coveredin this Recovery Plan......................................................................................... 2

Figure 2a & b. Acacia menzelii. a) shrub, b) phyllodes. ........................................... 19

Figure 3. Known locations and habitat critical to the survival of Menzel’s Wattle (Acacia menzelii) in the SA MDB..................................................................... 22

Figure 4 a & b. Acacia pinguifolia. a) shrub, b) flowers and phyllodes……………….34

Figure 5. Known locations and habitat critical to the survival of Fat-leaf Wattle(Acacia pinguifolia) in the SA MDB.................................................................. 39

Figure 6a & b. Acacia rhetinocarpa. a) shrub, b) phyllodes…………………….……..53

Figure 7. Known locations and habitat critical to the survival of Resin Wattle (Acaciarhetinocarpa) in the SA MDB........................................................................... 56

Figure 8a & b. Caladenia colorata. a) flowering plants, b) flower and bud…………..68

Figure 9. Known locations and habitat critical to the survival of Coloured Spider-orchid (Caladenia colorata) in the SA MDB ..................................................... 72

Figure 10a & b. Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa. a) flowering plant, b) flowers......... 85

Figure 11. Known locations and habitat critical to the survival of Silver Daisy-bush(Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa) in the SA MDB ............................................. 90

Figure 12 a & b. Phebalium lowanense. a) flowering plant b) flowers.................... 103

Figure 13. Known locations and habitat critical to the survival of Lowan Phebalium(Phebalium lowanense) in the SA MDB......................................................... 107

Figure 14a & b. Prostanthera eurybioides. a) shrub, b) flowers……………………..120

Figure 15. Known locations and habitat critical to the survival of Monarto Mintbush(Prostanthera eurybioides) in the SA MDB .................................................... 124

Figure 16a & b. Pterostylis arenicola. a) flowering plants, b) flowers. .................... 137

Figure 17. Known locations and habitat critical to the survival of Sandhill GreenhoodOrchid (Pterostylis arenicola) in the SA MDB ................................................ 141

Figure 18a & b. Thelymitra epipactoides. a) flower spikes, b) flowers. .................. 154

Figure 19. Known locations and habitat critical to the survival of Metallic Sun-orchid(Thelymitra epipactoides) in the SA MDB ...................................................... 159


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Acknowledgements

Initially I would like to thank the Natural Heritage Trust II, and the South AustralianMurray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board for funding this project.

I would also like to thank the staff at Environmental and Biodiversity Services whohad input into the project including Dr Travis How and Dr Leanne Pound. I would liketo thank the following people for their valuable advice, assistance, comments andinformation they have provided during the preparation of this recovery plan:

The South Australian Murray Darling Basin Threatened Flora Recovery Teamincluding Luke Geelen (DEH, Berri), Wendy Stubbs (DEH, Adelaide), Janet Kuys(RRSA), Tony Randall (GWLAP), Tim Jury (TPAG) and Yvonne Steed (TPAG),Karina Mercer (TSN) and Vicki-Jo Russell (TSN); David Taylor (DEH, KangarooIsland) and Annie Bond (DEH, Adelaide)

Others not on the Recovery Team included Andrew West (DEH, Adelaide), RandallJohnson (DEH, South East), Manfred Jusaitis (DEH, Botanic Gardens of Adelaide),Ben Simon (Murray Mallee Local Action Planning Association Inc), Phillip Ainsley(DEH, Botanic Gardens of Adelaide), Leanne Liddle (DEH, Aboriginal PartnershipsSection), Peter Bird (Animal and Plant Control Commission), Bill Gemmell (Animaland Plant Control Commission), Felicity Smith (DEH), Lissa Fountaine (DEH), DiWallace-Ward (DEH), Rosemary Taplin, Martin O’Leary (DEH, Botanic Gardens of Adelaide), Anna Murphy (DEH, South East), Tina Fowler (DEH, South East), OberonCarter (DSE, Victoria), Rick Davies, Jerry Smith, Matt Rose (Natural State), AndrewAllanson (TFL) and the Committee of the Eastern Hills & Murray Plains CatchmentGroup.

Thank you to all of the landholders for allowing access to their land and to those whogave their time and assistance in the field.

Abbreviations

ANPC Australian Network for Plant ConservationBGASCC Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, Seed Conservation Centre, DEHBMA Bush Management Advisor, DEHDEH Department for Environment & Heritage, South AustraliaDSE Department of Sustainability and EnvironmentDWLBC Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity ConservationEHMPCG Eastern Hills & Murray Plains Catchment GroupGWLAP Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning GroupHMRE Habitat Restoration Ecologist, DEHLAP Local Action Planning GroupLC Local CouncilTSN Threatened Species NetworkRRSA Rural Solutions SARE Regional Ecologist, DEHRPO Recovery Project OfficerRPT Recovery Project TeamSA MDB South Australian Murray Darling BasinSA MDB INRM South Australian Murray Darling Basin Integrated Natural Resource

Management GroupTFL Trees For LifeTPAG Threatened Plant Action Group


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Executive summary

Introduction

This project was initiated, with funding from the Natural Heritage Trust II, through theSouth Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board. Thisrecovery plan is a regional plan that focuses solely on species recovery within theSouth Australian Murray Darling Basin, and aims to make a significant contribution tothe conservation of nine threatened flora species. This plan should be referred to asthe South Australian Murray Darling Basin Threatened Flora Recovery Plan. Itseffective life-span is five years, after which its effectiveness and further goals willneed to be reviewed. The nine species within this recovery plan are varied, andrepresent several genera (see Table A).

This recovery plan has been produced within the requirements of theCommonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999and guidelines produced by the Department of the Environment and Heritage (2002).

Table A. The names and status of nationally threatened plant species included withinthis recovery plan.

Species CommonName

EPBC Act1999

NPW Act1972 (SA)(amendedin 2000)

BotanicalRegion Status

(Lang andKraehenbuehl

2002)

Acacia menzelii Menzel’s Wattle Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (MU)

Acacia pinguifolia Fat-leaf Wattle Endangered Endangered Endangered (MU)

Acacia rhetinocarpa Resin Wattle Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (MU)

Caladenia colorata ColouredSpider-orchid Endangered Endangered Endangered (MU)

Olearia pannosa ssp.pannosa

Silver Daisy-bush Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (MU)

Phebalium lowanense LowanPhebalium Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (SE)

Prostantheraeurybioides

MonartoMintbush Endangered Endangered Endangered (MU)

Pterostylis arenicolaSandhillGreenhoodOrchid

Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (MU)

Thelymitraepipactoides

Metallic Sun-orchid Endangered Endangered Endangered (MU)

MU Murray, SE South Eastern


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Recovery Objectives

The long-term objective of threatened species recovery is to reduce the probability ofextinction in the wild and to maximise the likelihood of threatened species becomingself-sustaining. To work toward this long-term objective, the current plan of five-yearduration has the following specific objectives:

1. Acquire accurate information on distribution, abundance, threats and critical andpotential habitat

2. Maximise the number of populations and amount of habitat that is protected3. Manage the threats from weeds4. Manage the threats from grazing herbivores5. Manage other threats to populations6. Monitor and evaluate populations and extension activities7. Manage fragmented populations8. Increase the knowledge of this species through targeted research9. Ensure sufficient resources are available to implement the recovery plan10. Effectively coordinate and implement the recovery plan

Recovery Actions and Performance Criteria

This plan identifies actions and associated performance criteria that are required inorder to meet the specified recovery objectives outlined above. These actions andcriteria are species specific and reflect the current level of understanding of thethreatening processes impacting upon each species. There are approximately 38actions outlined within this recovery plan for each species, each with one or moreassociated performance criteria.

Duration and Costs

Four species included within this regional recovery plan, Acacia pinguifolia,Phebalium lowanense, Prostanthera eurybioides and Thelymitra epipactoides areeach the subject of a national recovery plan. Cost estimates for those actions withinthis recovery plan which are also to be undertaken as part of these national recoveryplans are therefore potentially an overestimate. It will be the responsibility of therecovery team and the recovery project officer to liaise with the national recoveryteams to ensure there is no overlap or doubling up of efforts with regard to specificactions. The funding required to support this project over its life-span of five years,with the intention of improving threatened species status and abundance, is expectedto be approximately $794,500.


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Introduction

The South Australian Murray Darling Basin provides a unique environment for manyplant species, several of which are endemic to this area. This region also supportsseveral plant species which are now recognised as being nationally threatened.Figure 1 shows the approximate boundaries of the South Australian Murray DarlingBasin (SA MDB) that were used in this project, and the distribution of the threatenedspecies included in this plan. The boundaries are based on the boundaries of theSouth Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board, butalso include the northern part of the South East Natural Resources ManagementBoard. This plan should be referred to as the South Australian Murray Darling BasinThreatened Flora Recovery Plan.

This project has been initiated, with funding from the Natural Heritage Trust II,through the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources ManagementBoard. This recovery plan is a regional plan that focuses solely on species recoverywithin the South Australian Murray Darling Basin, and aims to make a significantcontribution to the conservation of nine threatened flora species. The effective life-span of this recovery plan is five years, after which its effectiveness and further goalswill need to be reviewed.

The nine species covered in this recovery plan are varied, and represent severalgenera. Specifically the species are; Acacia menzelii (Menzel’s Wattle), Acaciapinguifolia (Fat-leaf Wattle), Acacia rhetinocarpa (Resin Wattle), Caladenia colorata(Coloured Spider-orchid), Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa (Silver Daisy Bush),Phebalium lowanense (Lowan Phebalium), Prostanthera eurybioides (MonartoMintbush), Pterostylis arenicola (Sandhill Greenhood Orchid) and Thelymitraepipactoides (Metallic Sun-orchid).

Four of the species included within this regional recovery plan are also the subject ofnational recovery planning, with plans either prepared or in preparation for Acaciapinguifolia, Phebalium lowanense, Prostanthera eurybioides and Thelymitraepipactoides. The current recovery plan draws information from these plans whererelevant to these four species in the SA MDB.

The species within this plan are at risk from various threats. Through this project, wehave gained an improved understanding of each of the individual species, and theirhabitat, resource requirements and specific threats. This knowledge will be used todevelop effective and efficient conservation actions and management strategies totarget threatening processes.

Due to time and financial constraints the field work for this project focussedpredominantly on five of the nine species included within this plan. Specifically, thesespecies were; Acacia pinguifolia, Caladenia colorata, Prostanthera eurybioides,Pterostylis arenicola and Thelymitra epipactoides. Limited field work was conductedon Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa and Phebalium lowanense and no field work wasconducted on Acacia menzelii or Acacia rhetinocarpa.

This recovery plan has been produced within the requirements of theCommonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999and guidelines produced by the Department of the Environment and Heritage (2002).


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Part A: Species Names and General Requirements

Species names and Conservation Status

This recovery plan includes a total of nine plant species which are listed asthreatened under the Commonwealth Government’s Environment Protection andBiodiversity Conservation Act 1999 [s269A] and the South Australian Government’s National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (Schedules 7 & 8) (amended in 2000).

Table 1. The names and status of nationally threatened plant species included withinthis recovery plan.

Species CommonName

EPBC Act1999

NPW Act1972 (SA)(amendedin 2000)

Botanical RegionStatus (Lang and

Kraehenbuehl2002)

Acacia menzelii Menzel’s Wattle Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (MU)

Acacia pinguifolia Fat-leaf Wattle Endangered Endangered Endangered (MU)

Acacia rhetinocarpa Resin Wattle Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (MU)

Caladenia colorata ColouredSpider-orchid Endangered Endangered Endangered (MU)

Olearia pannosa ssp.pannosa

Silver Daisy-bush Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (MU)

Phebalium lowanense LowanPhebalium Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (SE)


MonartoMintbush Endangered Endangered Endangered (MU)

Pterostylis arenicolaSandhillGreenhoodOrchid



Metallic Sun-orchid Endangered Endangered Endangered (MU)

MU - Murray, SE - South Eastern


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Objects of the EPBC Act

Promoting a co-operative approach to the protection and management of theenvironment involving governments, the community, land-holders andindigenous peoples

It is expected that the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders necessary for theimplementation of this recovery plan will promote a co-operative approach to theplan, ensuring a successful outcome for environment protection and management.

Assisting in the co-operative implementation of Australia’s international environmental responsibilities

This recovery plan has been written with a view to meeting Australia’s internationalenvironmental responsibilities in a co-operative approach through the involvement ofa wide range of stakeholders. Specifically, this recovery plan complies with policyand legislative objectives at the national, state and regional levels.

Recognising the role of indigenous people in the conservation and ecologicallysustainable use of Australia’s biodiversity and Promoting the use of indigenous peoples’ knowledge of biodiversity with the involvement of, and in cooperation with, the owners of the knowledge

The Aboriginal Partnerships Section (APS) of the Department for Environment andHeritage has been contacted regarding the development of this recovery plan. Thelocations of populations of all nine species included within this plan have beenprovided to APS and forwarded to the Department of Aboriginal and IndigenousServices. This consultation was an initial approach to identify the relevant indigenouspeople that may have an interest in some or all of these species and the area inwhich they occur. The Aboriginal heritage organisations that were identified as beingpotentially interested have since been contacted but to date no comments have beenreceived from these organisations.

International Obligations

Acacia menzelii, A. pinguifolia, A. rhetinocarpa, Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa,Phebalium lowanense and Prostanthera eurybioides are not listed on any of therelevant international agreements, which include the following:

Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA), China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA), Convention on Migratory Species (CMS/Bonn Convention), and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and

Flora (CITES). Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

However, the three orchid species, Caladenia colorata, Pterostylis arenicola andThelymitra epipactoides are listed on one of the above international agreements,namely CITES. Whilst these three species are listed under CITES theimplementation of Australia’s international environmental responsibilities are notaffected by this plan. These three species are not listed on any of the otherinternational agreements above.


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Affected Interests

The community groups and statutory organisations presented in Table 2 have beenidentified as current and potential stakeholders in the management of the ninespecies included within this recovery plan.

Table 2. List of current and potential stakeholders in the management of speciesincluded within this recovery plan.

National Stakeholders

Department of the Environment and Heritage (Australian Government)

Threatened Species Network, WWF Australia

General Public

State Stakeholders

Department for Environment and Heritage (SA Government)

Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (SA Government)

Rural Solutions SA (South Australian Government)

Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH (SA Government)

Transport South Australia (SA Government)

Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victorian Government)

Threatened Plant Action Group

Nature Conservation Society of South Australia

Trees For Life

Greening Australia

Country Fire Service

General Public

Regional Stakeholders

Mount Lofty Ranges and Greater Adelaide Integrated Natural Resource Management Group

South Australian Murray Darling Basin Integrated Natural Resource Management Group

South East Integrated Natural Resource Management Group

Alexandrina Council

Tatiara District Council

Southern Mallee District Council

District Council of Karoonda East Murray

The Coorong District Council

The Rural City of Murray Bridge

Mid Murray Council

District Council of Mount Barker

City of Victor Harbor

Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Group

Mannum to Wellington Local Action Planning Group


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Murray Mallee Local Action Planning Group

Coorong District s Local Action Planning Group

Eastern Hills & Murray Plains Local Action Planning Group

Mid Murray Local Action Planning Group

Eastern Hills & Murray Plains Catchment Group

Threatened Flora and Habitat Recovery Officer, DEH, Naracoorte

NPWS–Murraylands, South East and Adelaide Regions

Murray Mallee Animal and Plant Control Board

Upper South East Animal & Plant Control Board

Lacepede, Tatiara and Robe Animal and Plant Control Board

Asparagus Weeds Working Group

Ngarrindjeri Heritage Committee Inc.

Raukken Aboriginal Community

Tattyara Aboriginal Heritage Consultancy

Kungari Heritage Association Inc.

Hindmarsh Island Landcare Group

Point Sturt Landcare Group

Rodwell Creek/Wistow Landcare Group

Langhorne Creek Landcare Group

Strathalbyn Natural Resource Centre

Signal Point Riverine Environment Group

Friends of Parks

Friends of Nurragi Association

Friends of the Upper South East

Murray Bridge Field Naturalists

Australian Plant Society

Natural State (Private Consultancy)

Role and Interests of Indigenous People

The requirements of the Native Title Act 1993 only apply to land where Native Titlerights and interests may exist. When implementing any recovery actions in thisthreatened species plan where there has been no Native Title determination, orwhere there has been no clear extinguishment of Native Title, there needs to beconsideration of the possibility that Native Title may continue to exist.

Generally the Native title Act 1993 requires certain procedures to be followed prior toundertaking activities –known as future acts that may include certain recoveryactions in this plan–which may affect Native Title rights and interests.

This threatened species plan is released and will be adopted subject to any NativeTitle rights and interests that may continue in relation to the land and/or waters.Nothing in the plan is intended to affect Native Title. The relevant provisions of theNative Title Act 1993 should be considered before undertaking any future acts thatmight affect Native Title.


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Procedures under the Native Title Act 1993 are additional to those required to complywith the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1998.

Benefits to other Species/Ecological Communities

Other species sharing a common distribution with the nine plant species includedwithin this plan may also benefit from the implementation of the recommendedactions. Benefits to numerous species as a response to this plan will positivelyimpact upon the vegetation communities in which the nine target species occur.Improvements will flow on to all species that co-exist in the habitat of threatenedplant species in which management works are carried out. This will occur throughhabitat improvements gained by actions such as weed control, feral animal control,fencing and many other actions identified in the plan. Furthermore, improving thehabitat of the nine target species may directly benefit any fauna species that utilisethose particular habitats.

Research conducted on the nine target species will increase the understanding ofgermination and establishment requirements and various aspects of the ecology ofthese species. Obtaining this information may be beneficial to future conservationefforts of other closely related plant species.

Social and Economic Impacts

The implementation of this recovery plan is unlikely to cause significant adversesocial and/or economic impacts. However, through the implementation of actionsoutlined in the recovery plan, there will be direct positive social impacts to localcommunities through their involvement with the recovery plan. Communityinvolvement with the recovery plan will foster the building of strong community linksand community empowerment, and develop interest and skills in natural resourcemanagement.

Benefits to agricultural production may also be experienced by landholders whencontrol programs for weeds and pest animals are implemented, with flow on effectsto local economies and communities.

Evaluation of Success

The monitored evaluation of this recovery plan and the planning and implementationof actions will be conducted by a recovery team. In this way, scientific experts andcommunity representatives with relevant qualifications or interests can regularlyreview the progress of the project. The recovery team will also ensure all on groundworks are conducted in an integrated manner with respect to any regional recoveryplans that may incorporate any of the nine species included within this plan.

Both ecological and social achievements need to be evaluated as a part of thisprocess. This is important because it may take a long time to see a change inecological benchmarks such as population numbers or increased germination atspecific populations. However, if we have managed to improve the socialenvironment for threatened species management, such as by raising awareness orgetting land holders or local government to alter their management of key threats atpriority sites, then that is a significant outcome.


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Definitions

Habitat that is critical to the survival of species/communities

Under regulation 7.09 of the EPBC Act 1999, habitat critical to survival mightcomprise:

Sites needed to meet essential life cycle requirements (e.g. breeding or seeddispersal processes),

sites of water, shelter, fire, drought and flood refuges or those used at othertimes of environmental stress,

sites necessary for seed dispersal mechanisms to operate or to maintainpopulations of species essential to the threatened species or ecologicalcommunity,

the habitat used by important populations, habitat that is required to maintain genetic diversity and long-term

evolutionary development, areas that may not be occupied by the species and/or ecological community

but are essential for the maintenance of those areas where they do occur.

According to the EPBC Act 1999, the Minister may, in identifying habitat critical tosurvival, also take into account:(Website link - http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/critical-habitat/index.html)

Whether the habitat is necessary for use as corridors to allow the species tomove freely between sites used to meet essential life cycle requirements;

Whether the habitat is necessary to ensure the long-term future of the speciesor ecological community through reintroduction or re-colonisation;

Any other way in which habitat may be critical to the survival of a listedthreatened species or a listed threatened ecological community.

For the purposes of this recovery plan the habitat considered critical to the survival ofeach species is the currently occupied habitat, including any native vegetationoccurring within a buffer around each population of 500 metres. This has beenmapped for each species.

Potential habitat

Potential habitat is defined as habitat which may be currently unoccupied by aparticular species, but which could present opportunities for reintroduction orreinvasions, or may maintain only a dormant seed bank. Potential habitat needs to beidentified and protected and/or rehabilitated to ensure the long-term persistence ofthe species and/or ecological community.

Extent of Occurrence

IUCN (2001) defines the Extent of Occurrence as the area contained within theshortest continuous imaginary boundary which can be drawn to encompass all theknown, inferred or projected sites of present occurrence of a taxon, excluding casesof vagrancy. The figure given for each species is based on the known populations ofeach species surveyed during this project within the SA MDB. Any populationslocated outside of the SA MDB are not included within the figure.


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Population

Populations are defined as geographically or otherwise distinct groups within aspecies between which there is little chance of demographic or genetic exchange(typically one successful migrant individual or gamete per year or less) (IUCN, 2001).Little information is known on the genetics or demographics of populations of thespecies in this plan, and therefore a different more practical definition was needed,based on spatial criteria. For the purposes of this recovery plan it was decided thatgroups of plants that were geographically separate should be defined as separatepopulations. This distance varied between species, but was subjectively assessed asbeing groups greater than one kilometre apart, although this varied depending onhow the plants were distributed on the ground.

Area of Occupancy

The area of occupancy is defined as the area within its ‘Extent of Occurrence’ which is occupied by a taxon, excluding cases of vagrancy (IUCN 2001).

Important Populations

All populations of each threatened species covered in this recovery plan areconsidered important due to the small total numbers of these species, the restrictedrange of the species and/or the low number of populations. Hence all populationsshould be managed for the protection of these species.

Explanation of Methods Used

Methodology for prioritising important populations

All populations have been given a priority rating to assist those managing thesespecies in prioritising the actions of this plan. Prioritisation of important populationshas been made on the following basis:

Larger populations have been given a higher priority than smaller populations Natural populations have been given a higher priority than translocated or

planted populations Populations at the extremes of the species range have been given a higher

priority Populations where a threat is posing an immediate high risk to the species

have been given a higher priority

The distribution of populations of importance for each species has been mapped,with each map occurring in each species section.

Methodology for identifying current and potential threats

Each species has a table of threats in the appropriate section of this recovery plan,entitled current and potential threats. For the species surveyed in this recovery plan,threats were identified whilst in the field and also from past reports and discussionwith experts. For the two species that were not surveyed at all in this plan, i.e. Acaciamenzelii and Acacia rhetinocarpa, the identified threats are based on past reportsand plans. Where a threat has been recorded in a previous study, it has beenreferenced in the table. Some of these threats have been referenced as “This Study”,


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even though they have not been recorded from site visits. Threats recorded as suchare based on the author’s knowledge of the species and of threats that are considered likely to be significant now or in the future.

The threats listed in the current and potential threats table have been selected fromthe known and potential threats listed starting on page 11. Threats are listed in orderof the perceived risk each threat has or is likely to be having on the individualspecies. Each threat was given a rating of the perceived risk it posed to each speciesat all sites. The perceived risk was rated as high, medium, low or not applicable, witheach risk level defined as follows;

High Risk –threat is present and already having or likely to be having asignificant impact on the species.

Medium Risk –threat is present and already having or likely to be having amoderate impact on the species. If threat is not present, it is considered tobe likely to occur in the near future.

Low Risk –threat is present and already having or likely to be having a lowimpact on the species. If threat is not present, it is considered to be unlikelyto occur in the near future.

Not Applicable –threat is not present and unlikely to have a significantimpact on the species in the future.

Methodology for Prioritising Sites in the Recovery Objectives, Actions andPerformance Criteria Tables for each species.

When deciding which sites were of a higher priority for carrying out actions, the tableof Important Populations was used as a basis for this with higher priority populationsbeing considered as a higher priority for work. Consideration was also given to theauthor’s assessment of a site in the field for some actions, but generally the priority order for actions coincides with the priority order of the Important Population table.

Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria Tables

The use of a lighter grey scale text in the Recovery Objectives, Actions andPerformance Criteria Tables, is intended to indicate those actions that have alreadybeen carried out, or those that are not relevant to that species. It is intended to makethe tables easier to read, and to quickly indicate to the reader which actions are notrelevant. Normal black text has been used for actions that are still applicable.


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Part B: Summary of Recovery Objectives and Knownand Potential Threats

Recovery Objectives

The long-term objective of threatened species recovery is to reduce the probability ofextinction in the wild and to maximise the persistence of threatened species andlikelihood of them becoming self-sustaining. To work toward this overall objective, thecurrent plan of five-year duration has the following specific objectives:

1. Acquire accurate information on distribution, abundance, threats and critical andpotential habitat

2. Maximise the number of populations and amount of habitat that is protected3. Manage the threats from weeds4. Manage the threats from grazing herbivores5. Manage other threats to populations6. Monitor and evaluate populations and extension activities7. Manage fragmented populations8. Increase the knowledge of this species through targeted research9. Ensure sufficient resources are available to implement the recovery plan10. Effectively coordinate and implement the recovery plan

Known and Potential Threats

The following threats are listed in priority order based on the results of the threatmatrix (for each of the seven surveyed species) which is described in Appendix 1.This threat matrix score gives an indication of which threats are considered to be of ahigher priority for the seven surveyed threatened species in the SA MDB as a whole(see Table 3). This does not necessarily correlate with the priority order of threats forindividual species, which may occur in a different order. Refer to the section onIdentification of threats under each species, for a description of which threats apply toeach species, and their relative importance.

Table 3. Priority order of threats to threatened species in the SA MDB.

The higher the threat matrix score for an individual threat, the higher the incidence ofthe threat occurring across all seven of the surveyed species in this plan. The highestpossible threat score is 21.

PriorityOrder Threat

Ranking Value fromThreatMatrix

1 Inadequate Knowledge of Ecology and Threats 19

2 Fragmentation 17

3 Grazing 17

4 Weeds - Bridal Creeper 17

5 Weeds - Other 16

6 Inappropriate Fire Regime 15


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PriorityOrder Threat

Ranking Value fromThreatMatrix

7 Lack of Recruitment 15

8 Lack of Formal Protection 14

9Inadequate Knowledge of Distribution, Abundance andPopulation Trends 13

10 Weeds - Perennial Veldt Grass 11

11 Road/ Rail Maintenance Activities 8

12 Edge Effects eg spray drift 7

13 Vegetation Clearance 7

14 Phytophthora 6

15 Illegal Collection 6

16 Recreational Activities 5

17 Trampling 5

18 Other Disturbances eg rubbish dumping, flooding, bees 5

1. Inadequate Knowledge of Ecology and Threats

Without a good understanding of the ecology and threats relevant to threatened plantpopulations the ability to successfully plan for the recovery of these species will belimited. The knowledge required for recovery needs to be species specific in order tobest manage each population. Some of the species in this plan have beenresearched to a certain degree; however more knowledge on all of the species wouldbe beneficial to their effective management. Some species remain largely unstudiedwith very little information on even their most basic ecology.

Some necessary areas for research include investigating the key pollinators of orchidspecies to determine what they are (if unknown) and if they are still active atimportant populations. Seed predation is potentially an issue for some of the nonorchid species in this plan. Other important areas for research include seedlingrecruitment, germination, pollination, optimal population size and genetic diversity,disturbance and fire regimes, and effects of competition and grazing.

2. Fragmentation

The fragmented nature of remnant vegetation in the SA MDB poses a significantthreat to the populations of threatened species in this region. Fragmentation canaffect species by distance effects, edge effects and declining genetic viability.

If a catastrophic event such as disease or a fire destroys an isolated population ofthreatened plants, the large distance between populations reduces the chance ofpropagules recolonising the patch (Saunders et al, 1991). This reduction inpropagule transfer between patches of suitable habitat may also result in anincreased impact of global warming on species existing in fragmented landscapes.

Edge effects are often much greater in small fragments of vegetation as they have ahigh edge to area ratio (Taylor, 2003). Threatened plant populations occurring insuch fragments are more likely to be subject to impacts from threats which are likely


13

to occur along the perimeter of a vegetation fragment (Taylor, 2003)(see number 12below for more information on edge effects).

Exchange of genetic material with other sub-populations can be prevented whensmall sub-populations are isolated from one another. This lack of genetic exchangecan result in decreased levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding depression (the declinein vigour in the offspring of organisms that are closely related genetically) and higherrates of deleterious mutations (Glémin et al. 2001).

3. Grazing

Several threatened species within this plan are susceptible to the impacts of grazing,by native and introduced herbivores. The most severe impacts are thought to be fromrabbits and kangaroos, but invertebrates also have impacts on some species,particularly terrestrial orchid species. It is unknown what species of invertebrates areimpacting on these species, or even whether or not they are native. This will need tobe investigated further before any management actions are implemented. Domesticstock, particularly cattle are having an impact on some sites within the project area.In many cases further investigation is needed to determine exactly which grazinganimal is impacting on particular species.

Grazing upon seedlings of threatened plants may be responsible for greatly reducingrecruitment (Hussey 2002; Davies 1992). Grazing by sheep may also result incompaction of soil around individuals and an increase in nutrients from manure(Cropper 1993). Soil compaction can reduce the ability of seedlings to penetrate thesoil and germinate, whilst an increase in nutrients may facilitate the spread of weedseeds or be detrimental to some vegetation types (Cropper 1993).

It should be noted that appropriate grazing regimes could be useful in some habitattype’s e.g. grassy woodlands. Grazing has been recommended as the preferred management option for certain grassy woodlands interstate (Davies, 1997). It hasbeen used for controlling weeds and promoting some threatened species. Careneeds to be taken though before applying this in selected threatened species siteswithin the SA MDB, as potential damage could occur to soil crusts and other nativespecies (Davies, 1997). Further research is needed in this area before grazing canbe used as a reliable and well understood management tool. A recent study byVerrier and Kirkpatrick (2005) suggests that an appropriate mowing regime may alsohave beneficial effects for rare or threatened species that are superior to those of agrazing treatment.

4. Weeds - Bridal Creeper

Bridal Creeper (Myrsiphyllum asparagoides) is listed as a weed of nationalsignificance and it poses a particular threat to threatened plant species in the SAMDB. This species is widespread throughout the region and has the potential tocompete with both mature plants and seedlings due to its smothering nature (Jusaitis1991). All of the species surveyed within this plan were affected to some extent bythe presence of Bridal Creeper, although it was not present at all sites. BridalCreeper was not found at the Phebalium lowanense site, however it was present inthe vicinity of these sites, and has the potential to be a threat to this species in thenear future.


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5. Weeds - Other

Many other weed species, besides Bridal Creeper and Perennial Veldt Grass, whichoccur in the SA MDB basin are having or have the potential to significantly impact onthreatened species populations and habitats in general. Competition from weedspecies can be a threat to various life stages of threatened plant species (Jusaitis1991). For example, the establishment of seedlings may be inhibited by competitionfrom weed species (Threatened Plant Recovery Committee 1998, cited in Kahrimaniset al. 2001; Jusaitis 1991), as can mature plant growth (Jusaitis 1991). In the projectarea many of the other weed species have the potential to greatly increase inabundance if not targeted for control. Other common environmental weed speciesrecorded in the SA MDB include Pine trees (Pinus spp.), annual grasses (Avena sp.,Briza maxima, Bromus diandrus, Ehrharta longifolia, Vulpia myuros), Soursob (Oxalispes-caprae), Scabiosa (Scabiosa atropurpurea), Gazania (Gazania linearis) andFalse Caper (Euphorbia terracina).

6. Inappropriate Fire Regime

Altered fire regimes can pose a significant threat to those threatened plant speciesthat may rely on a fire event to regenerate. Fire events occurring either too often ortoo infrequently can severely impact upon the demography of threatened plantpopulations. Similarly, ill-timed fire may potentially threaten populations by damagingflowering or germinating plants.

7. Lack of Recruitment

Many of the threats listed in this section are known to be causing a lack of successfulrecruitment. However there are potentially other currently unknown factors that mayalso be causing a lack of recruitment. These may include elements to do with theecology of the species that are currently not well understood. The regeneration andpersistence of some of these species may be reliant upon appropriate disturbancedynamics, and in many cases these dynamics are unknown. Appropriate researchinto appropriate disturbance as a management tool needs to be conducted, with theaim of stimulating recruitment events.

8. Lack of Formal Protection

Protection of threatened species and their habitat within the national parks system,under heritage agreements or in council reserves is considered to provide legislativeand therefore greater protection to the habitat of threatened species. Protected areasare managed for conservation rather than sustainable production. Therefore specieson protected land are less likely to be impacted on by incremental vegetationclearance or disturbance threats, such as grazing or spray drift.

9. Inadequate Knowledge of Distribution, Abundance and Population Trends

A lack of knowledge relating to the distribution and abundance of threatened plantpopulations is a major threat to the successful management for recovery of thesespecies. Populations that are least understood or potentially currently unknown maybe those populations that are located in relatively remote or seldom visited areas.Assumptions regarding population distribution and critical habitat made in this plan


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reflect existing knowledge only, and this may change in the future as knowledge ofindividual species increases. It is essential that reliable and up to date information ona species abundance and distribution is known, in order to undertake the mosteffective and efficient management practices. Up to date information on populationtrends –whether a population is increasing or decreasing and at what rates, is alsocritical in determining whether particular management actions are required and towhat extent.

10. Weeds - Perennial Veldt Grass

Perennial Veldt Grass (Ehrharta calycina) is considered to be an environmental weedand has the potential to dominate the understorey once established. This specieshas the potential to inhibit the establishment of seedlings of threatened plant speciesthrough competition (Jusaitis 1991). It is a common weed in the SA MDB, particularlyon sandy soils, and is considered to be a major threat to the persistence andregeneration of all native plant species.

Perennial Veldt Grass is still being used by farmers as a pasture grass species, andis useful in stabilising sandy soils, and also for managing salinity. Its use is commonin the SA MDB, and it is still being promoted as a viable pasture grass species byagricultural institutions. It is still used in areas adjacent to native vegetation, eventhough it is a known environmental weed that will readily invade native vegetationareas given appropriate soil types and conditions. This is an important issue forNatural Resource Management Boards to look at, as many of the sites in this planare affected by Perennial Veldt Grass, and its further promotion and use will becontrary to many of the recommended actions in this plan.

11. Road/Rail Maintenance Activities

Road and rail maintenance activities such as weed spraying, road widening, roadgrading and vegetation trimming all have the potential to impact on threatened plantpopulations if not carried out in the correct manner. Weed spraying in particular iscurrently impacting, on more than one of the species in this plan, at several sites inthe project area.

12. Edge Effects

Populations of threatened species located in small or narrow blocks are at anincreased risk from edge effects due to their large perimeter to area ratio. Smallblocks are more likely to become degraded through increased edge effects fromfertiliser drift, weed infestation and higher pest animal populations on the edges(Kahrimanis et al, 2001). Roadside populations of threatened plants are at particularrisk from edge effects, especially when agricultural land occurs on the other side ofthe road. Spray drift of agricultural herbicides and pesticides from farmers wasconsidered to be an issue, for more than one of the species, at several sites in theproject area.

13. Vegetation Clearance

Although legal clearance is now managed under the State’s native vegetation legislation, illegal clearance does still occur, and both forms of clearance including


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incremental clearance for activities including production, road works, firemanagement, fence construction etc are considered a significant threat to threatenedplant populations. Land clearance not only reduces the number of surviving plantsand the natural habitat in which threatened plant populations may occupy but alsoreduces the potential for future expansion of or connections between populations.Disturbance of land near the edge of populations can also increase the negativeimpact of edge effects. Populations likely to be particularly at risk from vegetationclearance include those in narrow strips of vegetation such as roadside vegetationcorridors.

14. Dieback and Phytophthora

Dieback is a term given to plants which are suffering from a combination of visibleand physical factors. While dieback commonly refers to Phytophthora, a funguswhich attacks the root systems of some plant species, it also incorporates factorsincluding insect attack, increased soil nutrients, waterlogging, lack of available soilmoisture, soil compaction and other factors. Ultimately plant death occurs when theplant is unable to fight against the causal factor. The risk that these factors pose tospecies in the SA MDB is widespread and vary throughout the region. Although theimpact of Phytophthora on the nine species included within this plan is unknown,there is the potential for plants to experience dieback or even death due to the rootrotting effects of this soil pathogen.

Where working bees or any other management actions are to take place at individualpopulations, it will be very important to follow Phytophthora hygiene procedures toensure that Phytophthora is not directly transported to key sites. The RecoveryProject Officer will be responsible for ensuring that all people present carry out thesehygiene procedures by providing information sheets, training and ensuring thatPhytophthora car kits are readily available. An extensive amount of information andtechnical guidance on this subject can be found on the following website:http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/plantsand.html#pc

The Phytophthora Technical Group, DEH should be consulted to determinemonitoring and research activities that may be needed to determine the impact ofPhytophthora on the threatened species in this plan and important habitat.

15. Illegal Collection

The removal of individual plants by collectors is a potential threat to threatened plantpopulations. Removal of individuals has the potential to directly impact upon totalpopulation numbers and reduce genetic variability within populations and reduce theability of threatened species to successfully reproduce. Orchids are at particular riskfrom illegal collection due to their small size and impressive floral displays whichattract botanical enthusiasts.

16. Recreational Activities

Recreational activities including trail bike riding and horse riding may cause severephysical damage to populations of threatened plant species. These activities havethe potential to completely destroy young seedlings and cause severe damage toolder, established plants. Furthermore, these activities can cause compaction of soilthat may negatively impact upon the root structure and development of plants, and


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can disturb the soil surface encouraging the establishment of weeds. Populationsmost at risk from recreational activities include those populations that are locatedclose to existing bike and horse tracks.

17. Trampling

Trampling by people is considered to pose a potential threat to threatened plantspecies if species are highly sort after by botanical enthusiasts or populations arelocated close to roads or walking paths. Trampling may also be caused by vehiclesor stock animals. Trampling can result in reduced seedling establishment, juvenileplant destruction, damage to mature plants and soil compaction around plantpopulations.

18. Other Disturbances

A variety of factors, usually site specific can impact on threatened species, forexample rubbish dumping, flooding, bees and revegetation. Bees are considered apotential threat to the effective pollination of Thelymitra epipactoides (Davies, 1991).Inappropriate revegetation in remnant habitat of threatened species was noted as athreat at a Caladenia colorata site. Dumping of rubbish has been reported to be athreat to some populations of Prostanthera eurybioides (Bundey and Mowling 1976,cited in Davies 1992), and was observed at several Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosasites. This activity can cover and flatten young individuals and reduce the availableground area for seedling recruitment.


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Part C: Threatened Species included within this Plan

1. Acacia menzelii (Menzel’s Wattle)

1.1 Species Information, Distribution and Location

Conservation Status/Taxonomy/Description of Community

Table 4. Status of Acacia menzelii.

Scientificname

Commonname

EPBC Act1999

NPW Act 1972(SA) (amendedin 2000)

Botanical Region Status(Lang and Kraehenbuehl2002)

Acaciamenzelii

Menzel’s Wattle


SA–South Australia, MU–Murray

Regional IUCN Assessment and Implications

Table 5. IUCN Assessment for Acacia menzelii.

Species Acacia menzelii

IUCN status inthe SA MDB

Data Deficient (DD)

An IUCN assessment for this species could not be carried out as there is currentlyinsufficient data on populations, distribution, abundance and trends. It is anticipatedthat this data will become available as the recommended actions of this recoveryplan are implemented, after which an IUCN assessment will take place. Aclassification of data deficient (DD) under the IUCN criteria (IUCN, 2001), indicatesthat there is inadequate information to make a direct assessment of its risk ofextinction based on its distribution and/or population status.

Description

Acacia menzelii is an erect compact rounded spreading resinous shrub of 1-2m.Branching occurs near ground level resulting in numerous ascending stems, withbranchlets terete and resinous, with a few short fine white hairs present. Leaves arein the form of phyllodes which are terete or subterete, 1.5-3.5 cm long, 1 mm indiameter, straight or slightly curved, spreading erect with 5 or 6 longitudinal resinousnerves making leaves feel sticky. The apex of each phyllode is obtuse with nearly nopoint (Jessop and Toelken 1986).

Inflorescences are simple and axillary, present either as singles or doubles, withflower-heads containing 25-30 individual flowers. Peduncles are thin, glabrous and 4-


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8 mm long. Legumes are linear, 2.5-4.5 cm long, 2-3 mm broad, curved or slightlytwisted, brown in colour, acute at both ends with margins nerve-like and yellowish.Seeds are longitudinally arranged within the legume with a large fleshy whitish aril(Jessop and Toelken 1986).

a. Photo: Chris Obst b. Photo: Chris Obst

Figure 2a & b. Acacia menzelii. a) shrub, b) phyllodes.

Distribution and Conservation

Acacia menzelii is an endemic of South Australia (Davies 1992). Populations wereconfined to localised areas of the Murray Mallee, Southern Mount Lofty Ranges andFlinders Ranges (herbarium records at Adelaide Herbarium and National Herbariumof Victoria, Melbourne).

Davies (1992) confirmed the presence of three conserved populations and nineunprotected populations of A. menzelii in the Murray Mallee. He also located apopulation of plants possessing characters of both A. menzelii and A. montana in theMonarto area. A further two populations of A. menzelii in the Monarto area have beenreported by the Monarto Development Commission (1976), one of which wasrelocated in 1985 (specimen at Adelaide Herbarium) and another four populations inthe Monarto area have been reported in Davies (1992) however the original source ofthis information is unknown. A population has also been discovered on the easternMount Hack Range, in the Flinders Ranges (Davies 1995).

The distribution of A. menzelii is shown in Figure 3.


The extent of occurrence of this species is 364.2 km2 (36,422 hectares).

Habitat Critical to the Survival of the Species/Community

Given that A. menzelii is listed as vulnerable it is considered that all known habitat iscritical to the survival of the species. Recovery actions include surveying for furtherpopulations that would lead to the identification of additional habitat critical to thesurvival of the species. All habitat that is critical to the survival of this species in theSouth Australian Murray Darling Basin area is mapped in Figure 3.

1cm


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Topography and Soil Type

Acacia menzelii grows on the gentle slopes and undulating plains of the Murraymallee and Mount Lofty Ranges and frequently occurs amongst granite rock outcrops(Davies 1992). Associated soil types are described by Whibley (1980) as grey-browncalcareous loamy earths and by Davies (1992) as varying from loams, to loamysands, to sandy loams to fine sandy loams of pH 6 to 9, which are reddish brown,dark reddish grey or dark brown when dry, and dark reddish brown or very darkbrown when wet.

The population found in the Mount Hack Range grows on the west facing slope of asaddle with an elevation of 840 m extending to 890 m at the crest of a hill (Davies1995). Soil in this area is of a fine sandy loam of pH 6, and reddish brown when dryor wet. At this site Acacia menzelii occurs between sloping terraces and slabs ofquartzite (Davies 1995).

Vegetation Associations

Previous studies:

Whibley (1980) reports that in open areas A. menzelii grows in the followingvegetation association:

Eucalyptus socialis/E. incrassata open mallee

Davies (1992) reports that within the Monarto area Acacia menzelii occurs in thefollowing vegetation associations:

Eucalyptus socialis +/- E. leptophylla low open-woodland Eucalyptus dumosa tall sparse shrubland Eucalyptus porosa low woodland Eucalyptus odorata low woodland Callitris preissii open-woodland Eucalyptus odorata +/- E. fasciculosa +/- E. leucoxylon +/- E. dumosa low

woodland

Davies (1995) reports the following vegetation association in which A. menzelii isfound at Mount Hack Range:

Eucalyptus odorata tall open shrubland

Climate

Temperature and rainfall data from the weather station at Murray Bridge, the closestweather station to A. menzelii populations, have been obtained from the AustralianBureau of Meteorology website.(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/) (April 2004).

The mean annual rainfall is 346.8mm at Murray Bridge. The average maximum andminimum temperatures in January are 28.8 ºC and 14.4 ºC respectively, and theaverage maximum and minimum temperatures in June are 16.6 ºC and 6.1 ºCrespectively.


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Fire and Disturbance

At present there is no available information relating to the effect of fire anddisturbance on life history processes of A. menzelii.


As survey work was not conducted for this species during this project, prioritypopulations were unable to be identified. However, the distribution of this specieswas identified from past reports and database records. The distribution of A.menzelii, including all populations of importance, is shown in Figure 3.


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1.2 Past Research and Conservation Efforts

Previous Work on the Conservation of A. menzelii

There has been little effort toward the conservation of this species. However, thisspecies has been included within the following threatened species reports;

Davies (1992) Threatened plant species of the Murray Mallee, Mount LoftyRanges and Kangaroo Island regions of SA.

Davies (1995) Threatened plant species management in the arid pastoralzone of South Australia.

Davies (2000) Population Trends for Threatened Plant Species in Parks &Pastoral Leases in South Australia.

Davies (2000, and references therein) reports that A. menzelii was grown at theBotanic Gardens of Adelaide, the Australian national Botanic Gardens in Canberra,the Burrendong Arboretum in Wellington (New South Wales) and at the RoyalBotanic Gardens in Sydney. Plants were also reportedly being grown at the MountAnnan Botanic Gardens near Sydney (Davies, 1992).

A permanent monitoring site has also been established for the population of A.menzelii within the Mount Hack Range. This site was established by R. J.-P. Daviesin 1993 and it is located on the Warraweena Pastoral Lease (see Population Number601 in DEH ‘Threatened Plant Population Database (Davies 2000)). Since the establishment of this monitoring site in 1993 it has only been monitored twice due toits inaccessibility (Davies 2000).

Storage of A. menzelii seed at the Black Hill Flora Centre of the Botanic Gardens ofAdelaide was occurring before the closure of the centre (Davies, 2000, andreferences therein). Since this time, seeds from two populations at Callington werecollected in 2003. From this collection two thousand seeds are currently beingprepared for entry into long-term storage at -20°C. These seeds will be stored at theBotanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH and the MillenniumSeed Bank Project (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England) (P. Ainsley pers. comm.).

Ecology Relevant to Threatening Processes

Acacia menzelii is a perennial shrub and its flowering period extends from July toOctober (Jessop and Toelken 1986) however flowers can be produced as late atJanuary (herbarium specimens at Adelaide Herbarium and National Herbarium ofVictoria, Melbourne).

Past Research

There has been little past research conducted on aspects of the ecology of thisspecies.


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1.3 Known and Potential Threats

Identification of threats

Table 6. Current and potential threats to Acacia menzelii in the SA MDB.

ThreatsCurrent/Potential

PerceivedRisk Reference

Inadequate Knowledge ofEcology and Threats Current High This Study

Inadequate Knowledge ofDistribution, Abundance andPopulation Trends Current High This Study

Fragmentation Potential High Davies (1992)

Weeds–Other Potential High Davies (1992)

Grazing Potential High Davies (1992)

Road/Rail MaintenanceActivities Potential High Davies (1992)

Vegetation Clearance Potential Low Davies (1992)

Threats to Species and Species Recovery at Specific Populations

As this species was not surveyed during this project it is unknown which populationsare at particular risk to specific threats.


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1.4 Recovery Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria

Table 7. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Acacia menzelii.

Specific objective 1: Acquire accurate information on distribution, abundance, threats andcritical and potential habitat

Action Description Performance Criteria Responsibility PriorityPopulationNo. (listed inpriority order)

1.1 Acquire baseline populationdata on distribution,abundance and threats ofknown populations.

1. Undertake a preliminaryfield survey of knownpopulations within one yearof starting this plan.

2. Update records on DEHdatabase within one and ahalf years of starting thisplan.

3. Obtain accurate baselinedata and maps of all knownpopulation locations withinone and a half years ofstarting this plan.

4. Subsequent to action 1.1.1occurring, reassess theregional conservationstatus of this speciesaccording to IUCN criteria.

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO

High

Medium

High

High

All

NA

All

NA

1.2 Prioritise sites formanagement and protection.

1. Identify the priority level ofeach population formanagement within oneand a half years of startingthis plan.

RPO High All

1.3 Accurately survey knowncritical habitat.

1. Field survey of criticalhabitat carried out withinone and a half years ofstarting this plan.

2. Production of maps whichidentify critical habitat withintwo years of starting thisplan.

RPO

RPO

High

High

All

NA

1.4 Accurately identify, surveyand map potential habitat.

1. Identification of potentialhabitat carried out withintwo years of starting thisplan.

2. Field survey of potentialhabitat carried out withintwo and a half years ofstarting this plan.

3. Production of maps whichidentify potential habitatwithin three years ofstarting this plan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA


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Specific objective 2: Maximise the number of populations and amount of habitat that isprotected


2.1 Protect unreservedpopulations on public land.

1. Initiate agreements orprotocols on the protectionof unreserved populationson public land with therelevant authority withinone year of starting thisplan.

BMA, RPO Unknown Whereapplicable

2.2 Protect populations onprivate land.

1. Initiate Heritage Agreementdiscussions with privatelandholders within one yearof starting this plan.


2.3 Implement the RoadsideMarker Scheme (RMS) onroadside reservepopulations, and encouragethe responsible authority toappropriately manage thepopulation.

1. Meetings to be held withrelevant councils and roadauthorities within one yearof starting this plan, todiscuss the implementationof the roadside markerscheme and managementof these areas.

2. Roadside markers are to beinstalled at 50% ofrecommended roadsidereserve populations withinone year of starting thisplan, and 100% ofrecommended roadsidereserve populations withintwo years of starting thisplan.

BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Unknown

Unknown

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable

Specific objective 3: Manage the threats from weeds


3.1 Control Bridal Creeperinfestations within a 200mradius of each populationusing appropriate methods.

1. Reduction in theabundance of bridalcreeper so that it is nolonger directly impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.

RPO Unknown Whereapplicable

3.2 Control Perennial VeldtGrass infestations within a200m radius of eachpopulation using appropriatemethods.

1. Reduction in theabundance of PerennialVeldt Grass so that it is nolonger directly impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.



27

3.3 Control other environmentalweed infestations within a200m radius of eachpopulation using appropriatemethods.

1. Reduction in theabundance ofenvironmental weedspecies so that they are nolonger directly impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.


3.4 Introduce biological controlagents for Bridal Creeper inthe most severe infestations.

1. Bridal Creeper rust and/orleaf hoppers to beintroduced to 50% of themost severely infested siteswithin two years of startingthis plan, and 100% ofthese sites within threeyears of starting this plan.


Specific objective 4: Manage the threats from grazing herbivores


4.1 Accurately determine whatherbivores are impacting onthis species.

1. Establish and implement amethod for investigatinggrazing by herbivores withintwo years of starting thisplan.

RPO, RE High Whereapplicable

4.2 Control the impact of grazingby herbivores.

1. Appropriate fencing to beerected around specificpopulations or individualsunder threat from grazingwithin two years of startingthis plan.

2. Rabbit control programs tobe initiated at sites whererabbit grazing is occurringwithin two and a half yearsof starting this plan, with a100% reduction in rabbitwarrens within 400m of thepopulation within five yearsof starting this plan. Wherepossible this should beimplemented as part of aregional control program.

3. Provide information to theKangaroo ManagementProgram, DEH about siteswhere kangaroo numbersare having a negativeimpact on the populationwithin two years of startingthis plan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable


28

Specific objective 5: Manage other threats to populations


5.1 Control the impacts of edgeeffects, including spray drift,intentional spraying, roadand rail maintenanceactivities.

1. Hold meetings ordiscussions with relevantgroups/individuals toemphasise the importanceof biodiversity values anddiscuss options for bestmanagement practiceswithin two and a half yearsof starting this plan.


5.2 Discourage activities suchas illegal collection,trampling and inappropriaterecreational activities.

1. Fence areas to preventimpacts from recreationalactivities at populationsunder threat within threeyears of starting this plan.

2. Erect appropriate signageto indicate importantvegetation is beingconserved within relevantareas within three years ofstarting this plan.

RPO, LC

RPO, LC

Unknown

Low

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable

5.3 Undertake Phytophthoratesting.

1. Soil sampling forPhytophthora testing to beconducted at suspect siteswithin three years ofstarting this plan.

2. If following soil samplingPhytophthora is found atsites, erect appropriatesignage and undertakeappropriate managementactions to reduce the risk ofspread within four years ofstarting this plan.

RPO

RPO

Low

High

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable

5.4 Prevent the furtherclearance of remnantvegetation containing thisspecies.

1. Discuss the importance ofremnant vegetation andthreatened species withrelevant landholders.

2. Provide advice on thedistribution and criticalhabitat of this species toorganisations governingvegetation clearance.

BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Low

Low

Whereapplicable

NA


29

Specific objective 6: Monitor and evaluate populations and extension activities


6.1 Develop and implement amonitoring program todetermine trends inpopulation numbers,recruitment and mortality,timing of life history stages,morphological data, threatsand the impacts of threatabatement activities.

1. Design a populationmonitoring program withinsix months of starting thisplan.

2. Implement an annualmonitoring and researchprogram for all populationswithin one year of startingthis plan.

RPO, RE

RPO

High

High

NA

All

6.2 Results from the abovemonitoring to beincorporated into futuremanagement activities.

1. Results from the monitoringprogram to be discussedwith the recovery team withany changes to futuremanagement activitiesidentified and recorded.

RPO, RPT High NA

6.3 Develop and maintain adatabase to efficiently andsecurely store survey andmonitoring data.

1. Create a database for datastorage within six months ofstarting this plan.

RPO Medium NA

6.4 Develop and implement aprogram to monitor andevaluate all communicationand extension activitiesthroughout the life of thisrecovery plan.

1. Design an extensionmonitoring program withinsix months of starting thisplan.

2. Document all extensionactivities carried out,including comments ontheir successes, failuresand improvements for thefuture.

3. Ensure an annual review ofextension activities iscarried out.

4. Initiate the development ofa communications strategyfor the recovery plan.

RPT

RPO

RPT

RPT

Medium

High

High

Medium

NA

NA

NA

NA

Specific objective 7: Manage Fragmented Populations


7.1 Manage the risk of losinggenetic diversity withinpopulations of this speciesby collecting andappropriately storing seedmaterial.

1. Seeds from representativenatural populations to becollected and stored withinone year of starting thisplan at the Botanic Gardensof Adelaide SeedConservation Centre, DEH(dependant on successfulseed set).

BGA, RPO High Whereapplicable


30

7.2 Where population numbersin the SA MDB are atcritically low levels (less than50 mature individuals) and indanger of extinction,establish populations incultivation.

1. Populations of 50 plants tobe established incultivation, in accordancewith the ANPCtranslocation guidelines,when and if considerednecessary by the recoveryteam.

BGA, RPO Medium NA

7.3 Prevent the furtherfragmentation or loss ofcritical and potential habitat.

1. Discuss the importance ofcritical and potential habitatwith relevant landholders.

BMA, RPO Low Whereapplicable

7.4 Where appropriate, createbuffer zones of nativevegetation around existingpopulations.

1. Initiate suitablerevegetation projects toestablish buffer zonesaround existing populationswhere needed within threeyears of starting this plan.

BMA, RPO,HMRE

Unknown Whereapplicable

7.5 Increase the size and areaof occupancy of existingpopulations by encouragingnatural regeneration.

1. Research into naturalgermination andestablishment requirementsto be initiated within oneyear of starting this plan.

2. Field trials to be conductedinto natural germination andestablishment within twoyears of starting this plan.

RPO, BGA

RPO, BGA

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable

7.6 Subsequent to 7.2, whereappropriate re-stockpopulations that are notnaturally increasing despiteencouragement or re-establish populations that nolonger exist.

1. Plants grown from seed tobe introduced at selectedsites as deemed necessaryby the recovery team.

RPO, RPT Unknown Whereapplicable

7.7 Improve connectivitybetween populations of thisspecies.

1. Initiate suitablerevegetation projects toestablish linking corridorsbetween isolatedpopulations/sub-populations within threeyears of starting this plan.

BMA, RPO,HMRE


Specific objective 8: Increase the knowledge of this species through targeted research


8.1 Conduct research into theecology of this species.

1. Research into relevantaspects of the ecology ofthis species to be initiatedwithin one year of startingthis plan and supported forthe duration of the recoveryplan.

RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

High NA


31

8.2 Conduct research into theecological genetics of thisspecies, and the impacts ofhaving fragmentedpopulations on its long termsurvival.

1. Research into provenanceboundaries, sub-populationstructure and optimalpopulation size and geneticdiversity for populationsurvival to be initiatedwithin one year of startingthis plan and supported forthe duration of the recoveryplan.

RPO, RPT, RE High NA

8.3 Conduct research into whysuccessful germination andrecruitment is not occurring,and ways to ameliorate this.

1. Research into factorsrelated to successfulnatural germination andrecruitment such asdisturbance/fire regimes,competition and grazing tobe initiated within one yearof starting this plan andsupported for the durationof the recovery plan.

2. Implementation ofappropriate managementtechniques to initiatesuccessful germination andrecruitment as determinedby research conductedunder 8.3.1.

RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

RPO

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable

8.4 If Phytophthora is confirmedat a site encouragemonitoring and research todetermine the impact on thisspecies.

1. If necessary, monitoringand research are to beinitiated to determine theimpact of Phytophthora,including the effect on thethreatened species andimportant habitat, andwhether there is evidenceof spread.

RPO, RE,PhytophthoraTechnical Group(DEH)

High Whereapplicable

8.5 Feedback information fromresearch into futuremanagement activities.

1. Initiate meetings withresearchorganisations/individualresearchers and therecovery team to discussresearch findings and waysto incorporate researchresults into futuremanagement activities.


Specific objective 9: Ensure sufficient resources are available to implement the recovery plan


9.1 Secure sufficient funding forthe duration of the recoveryplan to implement therecommended recoveryactions.

1. Sufficient funding obtainedfor the entirety of therecovery plan to ensure theappropriate implementationof recommended recoveryactions.

RPT, BMA, RPO High NA


32

9.2 Obtain sufficient funds toallow the proper functioningof a threatened flora projectofficer for the SA MDBregion.

1. Sufficient funding obtainedto support a ThreatenedFlora Project Officer for theSA MDB for the duration ofthe recovery plan.


Specific objective 10: To effectively coordinate and implement the recovery project


10.1 Build a network ofgovernment and non-government organisationsand individuals.

1. Interested government andnon-governmentorganisations to becontacted within one yearof starting this plan andkept up to date with regularcorrespondence throughoutthe duration of the recoveryplan.

RPO, RPT, BMA,DEH

High NA

10.2 Develop stakeholderawareness and appreciationof this species andencourage activeinvolvement in futuremanagement activities.

1. Engage interested natureconservation, landmanagement andlandholder groups in theactivities of the program.

2. Fact sheet on this speciesto be produced withinformation on ecology,distribution and within oneyear of starting this plan.

RPO

RPO

High

High

NA

NA

10.3 Support and encouragestakeholders across theregion to actively developskills and knowledge inmanaging this species.

1. Workshops to be held to aidstakeholders to develop theskills and knowledgerequired to manage thisspecies.

RPO High NA


33

2. Acacia pinguifolia (Fat-leaf Wattle)



Table 8. Status of Acacia pinguifolia.

Scientificname

Commonname

EPBC Act1999

NPW Act1972 (SA)(amended in2000)


Acaciapinguifolia

Fat-leafwattle

Endangered Endangered Endangered (MU)



Table 9. IUCN Assessment for Acacia pinguifolia.

Species Acacia pinguifolia


Critically Endangered, CR C1

IUCN criteria met(IUCN, 2001)

C. Population size estimated to number fewer than 250mature individuals, and

C1. An estimated continuing decline of at least 25% withinthree years or one generation

Recoveryopportunities

In order to down list this species from critically endangered toendangered, progress needs to be made in the following areas: recruitment of individuals needs to be increased understanding of why recruitment is not occurring needs to

be improved through targeted research the quality of habitat needs to be improved to increase the

chance of successful recruitment occurring

Five year targets

In five years time the target for this species is to: increase our knowledge of the ecology of this species,

particularly in relation to recruitment so that managementactions have been implemented to increase recruitment atall priority 1 populations

increase the number of individuals from the current 152 toover 200

reduce the abundance of priority threats at all priority 1populations so that they are no longer directly impacting onthose sites


34

Ten year targets

In ten years time the target for this species is to: increase our knowledge of the ecology of this species,

particularly in relation to recruitment so that managementactions can be implemented to increase recruitment at allpopulations


reduce the abundance of priority threats at all priority 1 and2 populations so that they are no longer directly impactingon those sites

Description

A dense glabrous spreading light-green shrub, Acacia pinguifolia grows 1-2 m inheight and often 2-3 m across. Numerous terete, ascending, arching branchesextend from just above or at ground level, with branchlets glabrous, smooth, reddish-brown and with thin bark which is pale grey at the base of the stems. Phyllodes are1-3.5 cm long, 2-3 mm in diameter and are straight or falcate, terete or somewhatcompressed, rigid, thick and fleshy and light green in colour. The surface of phyllodesbecomes wrinkled and grooved when dry and the apex ends abruptly with a minute,hard, thick point (Jessop and Toelken 1986).

Inflorescences are simple and axillary, solitary or twin, or sometimes up to fourheads. Flower-heads are globular, deep yellow, with 20-30 individual flowers.Peduncles are glabrous, 5-10 mm long and legumes are 5-7 cm long, 5 mm broad,curved and finally twisted, swollen and raised over the seeds, dark brown with light-brown margins and are slightly constricted between the seeds. The seeds arelongitudinally arranged within the legume, ellipsoid in shape with a whitish, fleshy aril(Jessop and Toelken 1986).


Figure 4a & b. Acacia pinguifolia. a) shrub, b) flowers and phyllodes.


Acacia pinguifolia is endemic to South Australia and has a widely separateddistribution with disjunct populations located on the Eyre and Fleurieu Peninsula’s.

2cm


35

Within the SA MDB Acacia pinguifolia has a very restricted distribution and is locatedon the Fleurieu Peninsula near the town of Finniss (Pickett and Mallen 2001; Davies1992). Only 116 naturally occurring individuals were observed within this area duringthis project (C. Obst, pers. obs.). These individuals are restricted to roadside or railreserves. A further 36 translocated individuals (translocated between 1993 and 2001)are still surviving within the Finniss area (C. Obst, pers. obs.).

Of the seven populations recorded during this field survey, two are conserved incouncil reserves and five are not conserved. No new populations were recordedduring this survey.

The distribution of A. pinguifolia is shown in Figure 5.




Given that A. pinguifolia is listed as endangered it is considered that all known habitatis critical to the survival of the species. Recovery actions include surveying for furtherpopulations that would lead to the identification of additional habitat critical to thesurvival of the species. All habitat that is critical to the survival of this species in theSA MDB is mapped in Figure 5.


Whibley (1980) generalises that A. pinguifolia grows on mainly sandy or hard alkalineyellow duplex soils. More specifically, A. pinguifolia in the Finniss area has beenfound on an undulating plain of sands, sandy clay loams and clay loams of pH 7.5 to9.5. These soils were a grey or brown colour when dry, and dark grey or dark brownwhen wet (Davies 1992). Acacia pinguifolia specimens collected from the southernEyre Peninsula were collected from an undulating terrain with a westerly aspect,either on cream loam with clay subsoil, on red loam (calcareous), brown clay-loam onschist (Adelaide Herbarium), brown clay loam on broken limestone, and pale greysand over ironstone gravel (National Herbarium of Victoria, Melbourne, cited inDavies 1992).


Previous studies:

Whibley (1980) reports that A. pinguifolia grows in the following vegetationassociation:

Eucalyptus odorata/E. incrassata/Melaleuca uncinata open mallee

Davies (1992) reports Acacia pinguifolia occurring in the following vegetationassociation within the Finniss area:

Eucalyptus incrassata or E. dumosa +/- E .leptophylla or E. calycogona tallshrubland (open to sparse) (Davies 1992).


36

On Eyre Peninsula Davies (1992) reports A. pinguifolia growing in the followingvegetation associations:

Eucalyptus calycogona mallee (Adelaide Herbarium), Eucalyptus incrassata mallee (Adelaide Herbarium), Eucalyptus cladocalyx mallee (Adelaide Herbarium), Melaleuca uncinata heath (National Herbarium of Victoria, cited in Davies

1992).

General comment

Acacia pinguifolia is also known to occur in association with Eucalyptus odorata, E.incrassata and Melaleuca uncinata in woodland or open scrub (Whibley 1980), andwith E. peninsularis and E. dumosa plant communities (Tay 1992, cited inDepartment for Environment and Heritage 2002).

Current study:

The current study found A. pinguifolia growing within the following vegetationassociation within the Finniss area:

Eucalyptus leptophylla/E. incrassata +/- E. phenax +/- E. calycogona +/- E.fasciculosa mallee

Eucalyptus fasciculosa/E. incrassata/E. socialis mallee Eucalyptus phenax +/- E. leptophylla +/- E. incrassata +/- E. socialis open

mallee

Native species commonly found in the mid-storey of A .pinguifolia habitat included (inalphabetical order);

- Acacia paradoxa- Acacia pycnantha- Callistemon rugosa- Dodonaea baueri- Grevillea ilicifolia- Hakea rostrata- Lasiopetalum baueri- Melaleuca lanceolata- Melaleuca uncinata

Native species commonly found in the understorey of A .pinguifolia habitat included(in alphabetical order);

- Austrostipa elegantissima- Austrostipa sp.- Dianella revoluta var. revoluta- Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa- Gahnia deusta- Lepidosperma viscidum- Lomandra multiflora

Climate

Temperature and rainfall data from the weather station at Goolwa (Hindmarsh IslandMarina), the closest weather station to A. pinguifolia populations, have been obtainedfrom the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website.


37

(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/) (April 2004).

The mean annual rainfall at this weather station is 437.8mm. The average maximumand minimum temperatures in January are 23.6 ºC and 15.4 ºC respectively. Averagemaximum and minimum temperatures in June are 15.8 ºC and 7.6 ºC respectively.


There is little information available regarding the impact of fire on A. pinguifolia.Burning trials were carried out at the Brimarvi Road Council Reserve site by theThreatened Plant Action Group (TPAG) and Alexandrina Council Project Officersbetween 1998 and 2000.Within the report written by Pickett and Mallen (2003) the following information waspresented on burning and disturbance of Acacia pinguifolia.

The trials involved using 1 x 1 m burn-boxes to burn ground level patches adjacent tomature individual’s of A. pinguifolia. The trials from the winter of 1998 resulted inthree seedlings germinating, however these seedlings were dead by the summer of2000. Three additional patches adjacent to mature plants were burnt during thewinter of 1999. Several seedlings germinated, however they died during the followingsummer. Two more burn-box burns carried out in the winter of 2000 did not result inany new seedlings.

Additional trials were carried out to determine whether soil disturbance wouldencourage seed germination. Edge sections of the old Brimarvi Road surface(unsealed) were ripped to a depth of 30 cm. Subsequent inspections revealed noseedlings germinating. A raking trial was also conducted in winter 1999, whichinvolved raking out leaf litter and some surface soil from beneath several A.pinguifolia plants. The raked material was spread over the ripped road edges toabout 1.5 m from each plant. Subsequent inspections found one seedlinggerminating in this area, however it died soon after.

From these results it appears that fire and disturbance does initiate seedlinggermination in A. pinguifolia, however in these trials all seedlings soon died beforereaching maturity. Observations of populations of A. pinguifolia populations on theEyre Peninsula indicate that in this area disturbance of soil does initiate seedgermination and seedling establishment (A. Freebairn, pers. comm.). Furtherresearch is needed in this area to increase the understanding of the factors involved.


38


The distribution of A. pinguifolia, including all populations of importance in the SAMDB, is shown in Figure 5.

Table 10. Important populations of Acacia pinguifolia in the SA MDB.

Priorityorder

forwork

PopulationNumber

Land Tenure,Nearest Town

No. ofnaturallyoccurring

plants

No. oftranslocated

plantsTotal No.of plants

Area ofoccupancy

(m2)

1 5

Steam RangerRailway Line,

Finniss 60 0 60 9770

1 1

Brimarvi RoadCouncil

Reserve,Finniss 40 4 44 9000

1 2Woolshed Rd,

Finniss 10 4 14 125

2 3Dry Plains Rd,

Finniss 4 1 5 7

2 4

Finniss toMilang Rd,

Finniss 4 2 6 30

2 6

Nurragi CouncilReserve,Finniss 0 20 20 332

3 7

LanghorneCreek

Cemetery,Langhorne

Creek 0 3 3 100Total 118 34 152


39


40


Past/Present Work on the Conservation of A. pinguifolia

Acacia pinguifolia has been the focus of considerable conservation effort with thespecies being included in several threatened species projects in recent years. Theseprojects include;

Brimarvi Road Closure and Habitat Protection (Acacia pinguifolia) –a NaturalHeritage Trust (NHT) project (1998-1999, Project Number SA1149) funded byAlexandrina Council, HGT and the Threatened Plant Action Group (TPAG)(Picket and Mallen 2000),

The Brimarvi Road site is also a field site for TPAG, and has been worked onsince 1994. During this time working bees have concentrated on weedcontrol, but other work has involved lobbying, fencing, seed collection,propagation, planting, direct seeding and research activities.

Alexandrina Council Threatened Species Protection Project –a ThreatenedSpecies Network (TSN) Community Grants project (1998-1999, ProjectNumber SA14/199) funded by Alexandrina Council, TSN and TPAG (Picketand Mallen 2001),

Brimarvi Road and Environs –Threatened Species Protection Project –aNatural Heritage Trust (NHT) project (2001-2003, Project Number 001629)funded by NHT, and Alexandrina Council (Pickett and Mallen 2003).

Davies (1992) Threatened plant species of the Murray Mallee, Mount LoftyRanges and Kangaroo Island regions of SA,

Tumby Bay Roadside Management Plan (1994).

Prior to these projects, A. pinguifolia was included in the following study;

Conservation Studies on Endangered Plant Species from South Australia’s Agricultural Regions (Jusaitis and Sorensen 1994).

This study aimed to improve the general understanding of the ecology and threats tothis species so as to enable informed long-term management and recovery decisionsto be made.

The earliest reports of conservation of A. pinguifolia are by Davies (1992, andreferences therein) which report the species being grown in botanic gardensincluding the nursery at Black Hill, the Australian National Botanic Gardens inCanberra and the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens near Sydney.

Acacia pinguifolia is also included in a recovery plan and project on 25 threatenedflora species on the Eyre Peninsula;

Freebairn, A. and Pobke, K. (2003). Draft Recovery Plan for 25 Plant Taxa onEyre Peninsula, South Australia 2004-2009. Department for Environment andHeritage, Port Lincoln.

Conservation work undertaken has included translocations of A. pinguifolia seedlingsat various locations which have occurred over several years (Nigel Mallen, pers.comm.). The following table shows the number of translocated plants remaining atthe time of the current survey work (August and September 2004).


41

Table 11. Current number of surviving translocated A. pinguifolia plants in the SAMDB region.

Year oftranslocation

Location Number survivingin 2004

Translocated by

1999-2001 Brimarvi Rd, Finniss 4

M. Pickett and N.Mallen, AlexandrinaCouncil

1999-2001Finniss to Milang Rd,Finniss 2


1999-2001Dry Plains Rd,Finniss 1


1999-2001 Woolshed Rd, Finniss 4


2000Langhorne CreekCemetery 3


1993Nurragi Reserve,Finniss 20

Friends of NurragiConservation Reserve

Additional conservation work in the form of working bees concentrating on weedcontrol has occurred at the Brimarvi Road site. This work has been carried out byTPAG and has been ongoing since at least the mid 1990’s.

Seed has been collected from A. pinguifolia populations located on the EyrePeninsula during 2004 by the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed ConservationCentre, DEH. No seed was collected from individuals in the Finniss/Milang area dueto poor seed set. The seed collected from the Eyre Peninsula populations will betested for viability in 2005 prior to storage at the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide SeedConservation Centre, DEH and the Millennium Seed Bank (P. Ainsley, pers. comm.).


Flowering occurs from July to October (Jessop and Toelken 1986) howeverspecimens have been collected flowering in June and also January (AdelaideHerbarium, National Herbarium of Victoria, Melbourne, cited in Davies 1992).Specimens with fruit have been collected from October to February (AdelaideHerbarium and National Herbarium of Victoria, Melbourne), and pods ripen anddehisce between November and January (Jusaitis and Sorensen 1994). Growthflushes occur during spring and early summer with growth rates slowing considerablyduring autumn and winter (Jusaitis and Sorensen 1994).

Past Research

Legume, or fruit set in A. pinguifolia is extremely low. An experiment conducted byJusaitis and Sorensen (1994) on plants located at Finniss (site 90-26) and along theTod Highway (site 90-25) found that no tagged flowers developed into pods in oneyear and only 1.6 % of flowers developed into legumes in a second year. Seed setaveraged 5-6 seeds per legume.


42

Trials to determine conditions required for natural regeneration of A. pinguifolia havenot been very successful. Trials conducted to date include ripping of ground, rakingand fire trials (Pickett and Mallen 2003).

Past research into propagation techniques has resulted in a high seed germinationrate of >60%, following rupture of the seed coat, either by boiling seed in water for 30seconds or by soaking seed in concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) for 30 minutes(Jusaitis and Sorensen 1994). However, seedlings produced often have poor vigourand are often unsuitable for introductions in the field (Pickett and Mallen 2003).


Identification of Threats

Table 12. Current and potential threats to Acacia pinguifolia in the SA MDB.



Weeds–Bridal Creeper Current HighThis study, Pickett andMallen (2000)

Weeds–Other Current HighThis study, Pickett andMallen (2000)

Edge Effects Current High This study

Lack of Recruitment Current High This study

Road/Rail MaintenanceActivities Current High

This study, Jusaitis andSorensen (1994),Pickett and Mallen(2001)

Fragmentation Current High This study

Lack of formal protection Current High This study

Inappropriate Fire Regime Current High This study

Inadequate Knowledge ofEcology and Threats Current High This study

Recreational Activities Current Medium This study

Grazing Current Medium

This study, Jusaitis andSorensen (1994),Pickett and Mallen(2000)

Dieback and Phytophthora Potential Medium This study

Weeds–Perennial VeldtGrass Current Low This study

Other Disturbances egrubbish dumping, flooding,bees Current Low This study

Illegal Collection Potential Low This study


43

ThreatsCurrent/Pot

entialPerceived

Risk Reference

Vegetation Clearance Potential LowThis study, Jusaitis andSorensen (1994)


Threats relevant to this species vary in severity and importance at the knownpopulations. Threats of a medium or high risk include: Weed species are a significant threat at all populations. Bridal Creeper is a threat

at all populations; Bridal Veil is threatening population 1, and Perennial VeldtGrass threatens population 2. All populations are threatened by Scabiosa,Soursobs and annual grasses to varying degrees.

Edge effects are a serious threat to all populations. Lack of recruitment is affecting all populations. Road/rail maintenance activities are a threat to populations 3-5. Fragmentation is a threat to all populations. Lack of formal protection is a threat to populations 3-5. Inappropriate fire regimes potentially threaten all populations. Inadequate knowledge of the ecology and threats is an issue relevant to all

populations. Trail bike riding is occurring at populations 2 and 5. This may ultimately damage

or kill individual plants. Grazing by rabbits and/or hares is a threat to populations 1, 2 and 5. Phytophthora poses a potential threat to all populations, particularly population 1

where signs of Phytophthora were evident.


44


The use of a lighter grey scale text in the following table is intended to indicate thoseactions that have already been carried out, or those that are not relevant to thatspecies.

Table 13. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Acacia pinguifolia.




1. Field survey of knownpopulations carried outwithin six months ofstarting this plan.

2. Update records on DEHdatabase within six monthsof starting this plan.

1. Obtain accurate baselinedata and maps of allknown populationlocations within six monthsof starting this plan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

Done

Low

Done

NA

NA

NA


1. Identify the priority level ofeach population formanagement within sixmonths of starting thisplan.

RPO Done NA




RPO

RPO

High

High

All

NA


1. Identification of potentialhabitat within one year ofstarting this plan.

2. Field survey of potentialhabitat carried out withinone and a half years ofstarting this plan.

3. Production of maps whichidentify potential habitatwithin two years of startingthis plan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA


45





BMA, RPO High 5



BMA, RPO NA NA


1. Meetings to be held withrelevant councils and roadauthorities within sixmonths of starting this planto discuss theimplementation of theroadside marker schemeand management of theseareas.

2. Roadside markers are to beinstalled at allrecommended roadsidereserve populations withinone year of starting thisplan.

BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

High

High

NA

3, 4




1. Reduction in theabundance of BridalCreeper so that it is nolonger directly impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.

RPO High 5, 1, 2, 6, 4, 3,7



RPO Low 5, 2


1. Reduction in theabundance ofenvironmental weedspecies, includingScabiosa, Soursobs andannual grasses so that they

RPO High 5, 1, 2, 6, 4, 3,7


46

are no longer impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.


1. Bridal Creeper rust and/orleaf hoppers to beintroduced to 50% of themost severely infested siteswithin two years of startingthis plan, and 100% ofthese sites by September2008.

RPO High 5, 2

3.5 Control Bridal Veilinfestations within a 200mradius of each populationusing appropriate methods.

1. Reduction in theabundance of Bridal Veil sothat it is no longer directlyimpacting upon prioritypopulations within twoyears of starting this plan.

RPO High 1





RPO, RE Medium NA





RPO

RPO

RPO

Medium

Medium

Unknown

5, 1, 2, 6, 4, 3,7

5, 1, 2

Whereapplicable


47





BMA, RPO High 5, 1, 2, 6, 4, 3,7




RPO, LC

RPO, LC

Medium

Low

5, 2

5



2. If following soil samplingPhytophthora is found atsites, erect appropriatesignage and undertakeappropriate managementactions to reduce the risk ofspread by June 2009.

RPO

RPO

High

High

1

Whereapplicable




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Low

Low

Whereapplicable

NA


48






RPO, RE

RPO

High

High

NA

5, 1, 2, 6, 4, 3,7



RPO, RPT High NA



RPO Medium NA




3. Ensure an annual review ofextension activities occurs.


RPT

RPO

RPT

RPT

Medium

High

High

Medium

NA

NA

NA

NA







49



BGA, RPO Medium NA






BMA, RPO,HMRE

Medium 1, 2, 3, 4



2. Field trials to be conductedinto natural germination andestablishment within threeyears of starting this plan.

RPO, BGA

RPO, BGA

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable



RPO, RPT Medium Whereapplicable



BMA, RPO,HMRE

Medium Whereapplicable



8.1 Encourage further researchinto the ecology of thisspecies.


RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

Medium NA


50

8.2 Encourage research into theecological genetics of thisspecies, and the impacts ofhaving fragmentationpopulations on its long termsurvival.



8.3 Encourage research intowhy successful germinationand recruitment is notoccurring, and ways toameliorate this.

1. Research into factorsrelated to successfulnatural germination andrecruitment such asdisturbance/fire regimes,competition and grazing tobe initiated within one yearof starting this plan andsupported for the durationof the recovery plan.Incorporate informationfrom monitoring ofpopulations on the EyrePeninsula following recentfires.


RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

RPO

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable









51












1. Interested government andnon-governmentorganisations to becontacted within the firstyear of starting this planand kept up to date withregular correspondencethroughout the duration ofthe recovery plan.

RPO, RPT, BMA,DEH

High NA



2. Fact sheet on this speciesto be produced withinformation on ecology,distribution and threatswithin six months of startingthis plan.

RPO

RPO

High

Done

NA

NA



RPO High NA


52

3. Acacia rhetinocarpa (Resin Wattle)



Table 14. Status of Acacia rhetinocarpa.

Scientificname

Commonname

EPBC Act1999



Acaciarhetinocarpa

ResinWattle




Table 15. IUCN Assessment for Acacia rhetinocarpa.

Species Acacia rhetinocarpa


Data Deficient (DD)

An IUCN assessment for this species could not be carried out as there is currentlyinsufficient data on populations, distribution, abundance and trends. It is anticipatedthat this data will become available as the recommended actions of this recoveryplan are implemented, after which an IUCN assessment will take place. Aclassification of data deficient (DD) under the IUCN criteria (IUCN, 2001), indicatesthat there is inadequate information to make a direct assessment of its risk ofextinction based on its distribution and/or population status.

Description

An erect, compact, rounded, resinous spreading shrub, A. rhetinocarpa grows to aheight of 0.5-1.5 m. Branchlets are hairy and light yellowish-brown in colourbecoming dark grey towards the base. Phyllodes are obliquely obovate, 2-5 mm long,2-3 mm broad, flat, thick, erect, yellowish-green, resinous and with an oblique point(Jessop and Toelken 1986).

Inflorescences are simple, axillary and singular. Flower heads are globular, brightyellow with 12-15 individual flowers. Peduncles are glabrous, 4-7 mm long andlegumes are linear, 1-3.5 cm long, 2-2.5 mm broad, straight or curved, biconvex,brown, resinous and glossy with an acute apex. Seeds are positioned longitudinallywithin the legume and have a fleshy aril (Jessop and Toelken 1986).


53


Figure 6a & b. Acacia rhetinocarpa. a) shrub, b) phyllodes.


Acacia rhetinocarpa is a South Australian endemic found in small and scatteredpopulations near the east coast of Eyre Peninsula around Arno Bay, the east coast ofYorke Peninsula near Curramulka, the south-eastern Mount Lofty Ranges and in theMonarto area of the SA MDB (Davies 1992; Whibley 1980).

A population of only eight individuals is present within the Monarto conserved area(Davies 2000) and a further three populations survive on private land (Davies 1992).Three populations were also present in the Ferries-McDonald Conservation Park(Davies 2000) and a single population of 25 individuals was confined to a railwayreserve in the vicinity of Finniss (Davies 1992). A further three populations havesince been found in the Finniss area (Pickett and Mallen 2001). All but onepopulation from the Eyre Peninsula are found in road reserves with the exception of alarge population of several hundred plants occurring in Coopana Water Reserve(Briggs pers. comm.). Populations on Yorke Peninsula are confined to roadsides andin paddocks, however one population of over 100 individuals is located on councilland (Davies 1992).

The distribution of A. rhetinocarpa is shown in Figure 7.



Habitat critical to the survival of the species/community

Given that A. rhetinocarpa is listed as vulnerable it is considered that all knownhabitat is critical to the survival of the species. Recovery actions include surveying forfurther populations that would lead to the identification of additional habitat critical tothe survival of the species. All habitat that is critical to the survival of this species inthe SA MDB is mapped in Figure 7.


Davies (1992) has observed A. rhetinocarpa growing on the lower eastern flanks ofthe Mount Lofty Ranges in sandy loam of pH 7 which was dark greyish brown whendry and very dark brown when wet, frequently with scattered limestone nodules.

1cm


54

These plants were growing on undulating floors of large, shallow, broad depressionsand on the gentle west to north-east facing slopes of low broad ridges. Specimens ofA. rhetinocarpa have been collected from the Eyre Peninsula from sand of deepyellow on the gentle east facing slopes of a wide valley, between low sand ridges(National Herbarium of Victoria, Melbourne). Whibley (1980) generalises that A.rhetinocarpa grows on calcareous sands, red shallow porous loam or grey-browncalcareous loamy earths.


Previous studies:

Whibley (1980) reports Acacia rhetinocarpa usually grows within the followingvegetation association:

Eucalyptus gracilis/E. socialis/E. incrassata open mallee

In the eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Davies (1992) reports A. rhetinocarpa is foundwithin the following vegetation associations:

Eucalyptus porosa low woodland Eucalyptus socialis/E. leptophylla/E. dumosa tall open-shrubland Eucalyptus leptophylla/E. incrassata tall open-shrubland

Herbarium records (National Herbarium of Victoria, Melbourne) reveal that A.rhetinocarpa grows on the Eyre Peninsula in the following vegetation association:

Eucalyptus dumosa/E. leptophylla/E. calycogona/E. incrassata/E. brachycalyxlow mallee.

Climate

Temperature and rainfall data from the weather station at Murray Bridge, the closestweather station to A. rhetinocarpa populations, have been obtained from theAustralian Bureau of Meteorology website.(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/) (April 2004).

The mean annual rainfall is 346.8 mm at Murray Bridge. The average maximum andminimum temperatures in January are 28.8 ºC and 14.4 ºC respectively, and theaverage maximum and minimum temperatures in June are 16.6 ºC and 6.1 ºCrespectively.


Davies (2000) hypothesises that the lack of successful recruitment in A. rhetinocarpais due to a decrease in fire frequency which may be due to the small size of parks inwhich some populations of A. rhetinocarpa are found, coupled with these parks beingsurrounded by agricultural land. A. rhetinocarpa has also been described as an earlystage of post-fire (or other major disturbance) successional species (Opperman1991).


55

Important populations

As survey work was not conducted for this species during this project, prioritypopulations were unable to be identified. However, the distribution of this specieswas identified from past reports and database records. The distribution of A.rhetinocarpa, including all populations of importance, is shown in Figure 7.


56


57


Previous Work on the Conservation of A. rhetinocarpa

The importance of the need to conserve Acacia rhetinocarpa has been highlighted inrecent years with the species being included in the following threatened speciesprojects;

Alexandrina Council Threatened Species Protection Project –a ThreatenedSpecies Network (TSN) Community Grants project (1998-1999, ProjectNumber SA14/199) funded by Alexandrina Council, TSN and TPAG (Picketand Mallen 2001),

Brimarvi Road and Environs –Threatened Species Protection Project –aNatural Heritage Trust (NHT) project (2001-2003, Project Number 001629)funded by NHT, and Alexandrina Council (Pickett and Mallen 2003),

One site at Gilbert’s Siding on the Victor Harbor Tourist Railway is also a field site for TPAG, and has been worked on since the 1990’s. During this time working bees have concentrated on weed control among other activities.

Davies (1992) Threatened plant species of the Murray Mallee, Mount LoftyRanges and Kangaroo Island regions of SA.

Davies (1995) Threatened plant species management in natural parks andwildlife reserves in South Australia.

Davies (2000) Population Trends for Threatened Plant Species in Parks &Pastoral Leases in South Australia.

Green (1993) Threatened plants of Yorke Peninsula.

The earliest reports of conservation of A. rhetinocarpa are by Davies (1992, andreferences therein) which report that seed of the species and 20 plants were beingheld at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens nursery at Black Hill Flora Centre. TheAdelaide Botanic Gardens was reportedly conserving the species ex situ. Acaciarhetinocarpa was also reported to be grown at the Australian National BotanicGardens in Canberra, the Burrendong Arboretum in Wellington, NSW, the Society forGrowing Australian Plants and the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens near Sydney.

The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH attempted tocollect seed from A. rhetinocarpa growing in the Finniss/Milang area in 2003,however low seed set prevented any seed collection. No seed was collected during2004. In 2005 the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH willattempt to collect seed from both the Finniss/Milang and Eyre Peninsula populationsfor storage (P. Ainsley, pers. comm.). These seeds, once collected, will be stored atthe Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH and theMillennium Seed Bank Project (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England) (P. Ainsleypers. comm.).


The flowering period of Acacia rhetinocarpa ranges from August through to October(Jessop and Toelken 1986). Herbarium records indicate that A. rhetinocarpa canflower as late as March, with fruiting material collected from August to January(Adelaide Herbarium and National Herbarium of Victoria, Melbourne).


58

Past Research

Davies (2000) hypothesises that the lack of successful recruitment in A. rhetinocarpais due to a decrease in fire frequency which may be due to the small size of remnantvegetation in which some populations are found, coupled with these areas beingsurrounded by agricultural land. A. rhetinocarpa has also been described as an earlystage of post-fire (or other major disturbance) successional species (Opperman1991).



Table 16. Current and potential threats to Acacia rhetinocarpa in the SA MDB.



Fragmentation Potential High Davies (1992)

Weeds–Other Potential High Davies (2000 & 1992)

Grazing Potential High Davies (1992)

Road/Rail MaintenanceActivities Potential High Davies (2000 & 1992)



Dieback and Phytophthora Potential Low This study

Vegetation Clearance Potential Low Davies (1992)


As these populations were not surveyed during this project it is unknown whichpopulations are at particular risk to specific threats.


59



Table 17. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Acacia rhetinocarpa.




1. Undertake a preliminaryfield survey of knownpopulations within one yearof starting this plan.



4. Subsequent to action 1.1.1occurring, reassess theregional conservationstatus of this speciesaccording to IUCN criteria.

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO

High

Medium

High

High

All

NA

All

NA


1. Identify the priority level ofeach population formanagement within oneand a half years of startingthis plan.

RPO High All




RPO

RPO

High

High

All

NA




RPO

RPO

High

High

NA

NA


60

3. Production of maps whichidentify potential habitatwithin two and a half yearsof starting this plan.

RPO High NA












BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Unknown

Unknown

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable










61


1. Reduction in theabundance ofenvironmental weedspecies so that they are nolonger directly impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.









RPO, RE High NA





RPO

RPO

RPO

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable


62





BMA, RPO Unknown NA




RPO, LC

RPO, LC

Unknown

Low

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable




RPO

RPO

Low

High

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Low

Low

Whereapplicable

NA


63






RPO, RE

RPO

High

High

NA

All



RPO, RPT High NA



RPO Medium NA






RPT

RPO

RPT

RPT

Medium

High

High

Medium

NA

NA

NA

NA




1. Seeds from representativenatural populations to becollected and stored withinone year of starting thisplan at the BotanicGardens of Adelaide SeedConservation Centre, DEH(dependant on successfulseed set).



64



BGA, RPO Medium NA






BMA, RPO,HMRE



1. Research into naturalgermination andestablishmentrequirements to be initiatedwithin one year of startingthis plan.

2. Field trials to be conductedinto natural germinationand establishment withintwo years of starting thisplan.

RPO, BGA

RPO, BGA

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable



RPO, RPT Unknown Whereapplicable



BMA, RPO,HMRE




8.1 Encourage research into theecology of this species.


RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

High NA


65







RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

RPO

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable

















66





RPO, RPT, BMA,DEH

High NA



2. Fact sheet on this speciesto be produced withinformation on ecology,distribution and threatswithin one year of startingthis plan.

RPO

RPO

High

High

NA

NA



RPO High NA


67

4. Caladenia colorata (Coloured Spider-orchid)



Table 18. Status of Caladenia colorata.

Scientificname

Commonname

EPBC Act1999


Botanical Region Status(Lang andKraehenbuehl 2002)

Caladeniacolorata

ColouredSpider-orchid




Table 19. IUCN Assessment for Caladenia colorata.

Species Caladenia colorata


Vulnerable VU D1


D1. Population size estimated to number fewer than 1000mature individuals


In order to down list this species from vulnerable to nearthreatened, progress could be made in the following areas: additional potential and critical habitat needs to be

surveyed to find new populations population data needs to be gathered over several years

to determine accurate abundance of individuals andpopulation trends

Five year targets

In five years time the target for this species is to: increase the knowledge on distribution, abundance and

population trends so that a re-assessment of theconservation status of this species can occur


Ten year targetsIn ten years time the target for this species is to: increase the number of individuals from the current 851 to

over 1500


68

Description

Originally thought to be a form of Caladenia patersonii, C. colorata differs from the C.patersonii complex in its small stature, multicoloured flowers with short segments,faint petrochemical odour and short clavate tips to sepals and petals (Bates 1992).

The formal description of C. colorata is by Jones (1991) and is outlined below. Thisterrestrial herb has leaves that are stiffly or coarsely hairy, measuring 4-10 cm x 6-9mm, linear to linear-elliptical in shape, of dull green colour with a reddish base and oferect habit. Inflorescences are 5-30 cm long, wiry and densely hairy. Flowers areusually solitary, about 5 cm across, commonly cream-green with a maroon labellumbut variable including wholly blood red and mauve to pink, caudae blackish with afloral, musky fragrance. Individual petals are 28-35 mm x 1.5-2 mm, linear-lanceolatein the proximal half, then tapered to a linear-filiform, heavily glandular cauda (tail-likeappendage). Anthers are approximately 3 mm x 2 mm, green or reddish, with aterminal rostrum (extension) of about 6 mm in length. Pollinia four, about 2.5 mmlong, broadly boomerang-shaped, flat, yellow in colour and covered with a scurfypowder like flour. The stigma is about 2 mm wide, green, more or less elliptical andsunken. No description of the capsule is available.

a. Photo: Chris Obst b. Photo: Jerry Smith

Figure 8a & b. Caladenia colorata. a) flowering plants, b) flower and bud.


Caladenia colorata is located in South Australia and Victoria. Within South AustraliaC. colorata is found in the Murray Mallee, Murray Plains, Eastern Mount LoftyRanges and South East (Jones 1991; Threatened Plant Population Database 1998).Collections have been made from the Hartley, Milang, Monarto and Freeling areas(Threatened Plant Population Database 1998).

Of the eleven populations recorded during this field survey, five are conserved inHeritage Agreements, one is conserved in a National Park and five are notconserved. Six new populations (that were previously unrecorded in governmentdatabases) were recorded during this survey.

The distribution of C. colorata is shown in Figure 9.

1cm


69




Given that C. colorata is listed as endangered it is considered that all known habitatis critical to the survival of the species. Recovery actions include surveying for furtherpopulations that would lead to the identification of additional habitat critical to thesurvival of the species. All habitat that is critical to the survival of this species in theSouth Australian Murray Darling Basin area is mapped in Figure 9.


This species is known to grow on sand over loam (Jones 1991).


Previous studies:

Little research has been undertaken on the habitat of C. colorata however thevegetation association in which this species can be found has been described byJones (1991) as:

Eucalyptus leucoxylon/E. fasciculosa/Allocasuarina stricta and Callitris preissiiwoodland

Current study:

This study found individuals of C. colorata growing in the following vegetationassociations:

Callitris preissii +/- Eucalyptus fasciculosa +/- E. porosa woodland Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon +/- E. fasciculosa +/- Callitris preissii

woodland

Native species commonly found in the mid-storey of C. colorata habitat included (inalphabetical order);

- Acacia pycnantha- Baeckea behrii- Bursaria spinosa

Native species commonly found in the understorey of C. colorata habitat included (inalphabetical order);

- Austrostipa sp.- Dianella revoluta var. revoluta- Hibbertia virgatus- Kunzea pomifera- Lepidosperma viscidum- Microseris lanceolata- Thomasia petalocalyx

Eucalyptus fasciculosa +/- E. porosa +/- Callitris preissii open woodland


70

Native species commonly found in the mid-storey of this association included (inalphabetical order);

- Acacia calamifolia- Acacia paradoxa- Bursaria spinosa- Melaleuca acuminata- Melaleuca uncinata

Native species commonly found in the understorey of this association included (inalphabetical order);

- Arthropodium strictum- Austrostipa sp.- Drosera whittakeri- Gahnia deusta- Lepidosperma viscidum- Lomandra effusa- Microseris lanceolata

Eucalyptus diversifolia +/- Acacia pycnantha +/- Allocasuarina verticillata +/-Myoporum insulare mallee


- Dodonaea viscosa ssp. spatulata- Melaleuca lanceolata- Xanthorrhoea caespitosa


- Dianella revoluta var. revoluta- Hakea rostrata- Hibbertia sericea- Lepidosperma carphoides- Lepidosperma viscidum- Microseris lanceolata- Thomasia petalocalyx

Climate

Temperature and rainfall data from the weather stations at Meningie and Strathalbyn,the closest weather stations to populations of C. colorata, have been obtained fromthe Australian Bureau of Meteorology website.(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/) (December 2004).

The mean annual rainfall is 467.4 mm at Meningie and 492.5 mm at Strathalbyn. AtMeningie, the average maximum and minimum temperatures in January are 25.8 ºCand 13.8 ºC respectively, and the average maximum and minimum temperatures inJune are 15.5 ºC and 7 ºC respectively. At Strathalbyn the average maximum andminimum temperatures in January are 27.4 ºC and 13.6 ºC respectively, and theaverage maximum and minimum temperatures in June are 15.6 ºC and 6.6 ºCrespectively.


71


The distribution of C. colorata, including all populations of importance in the SA MDB,is shown in Figure 9.

Table 20. Important populations of Caladenia colorata in the SA MDB.

Priorityorder

forwork

PopulationNumber



plants

No. oftranslocated


Area ofoccupancy

(m2)

1 6

HeritageAgreement,

Hartley 378 0 378 13000

1 8

PrivateProperty,Callington 161 0 161 100000

1 7


1 4Jaensch Rd,

Hartley 9 0 9 150

2 10

PrivateProperty,

Coonalpyn 59 0 59 1400

2 2

HeritageAgreement,

Hartley 50 0 50 22500

2 11

Coorong NP(Potters Scrub),

Meningie 36 0 36 55

2 1

HeritageAgreement,Coonalpyn 35 0 35 39

2 5


3 3

HeritageAgreement,

Hartley 2 0 2 2

3 9

HeritageAgreement,

Finniss 2 0 2 200Total 851 0 851


72


73


Previous Work on the Conservation of C. colorata

Within South Australia it appears that there has been no prior conservation effortdirected toward this species.

No seed or mycorrhizal fungi for C. colorata are currently in long or short-termstorage. The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH incollaboration with the Millennium Seed Bank Project (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,England) will begin collecting orchid seed for storage in 2005, subject to funding (P.Ainsley, pers. comm.). The isolation and storage of mycorrhizal fungi will also bedependant on the availability of resources and expertise.


The flowering period of Caladenia colorata extends through August and September(Bates 1992).

Past Research

There has been little past research conducted on aspects of the ecology of thisspecies.



Table 21. Current and potential threats to Caladenia colorata in the SA MDB.



Grazing Current HighThis Study, Kahrimaniset al. (2001)


Fragmentation Current Medium This Study

Lack of formal protection Current Medium This Study

Recreational Activities Current Medium This Study

Weeds - Bridal Creeper Current Medium This Study

Weeds - Perennial VeldtGrass Current Medium

This Study, Barrie(2003)

Weeds–Other Current LowThis Study, Kahrimaniset al. (2001)


74



Other Disturbances egrubbish dumping, flooding,bees, revegetation Current Low This Study

Road/Rail MaintenanceActivities Current Low This Study

Lack of Recruitment Potential Low This Study


Illegal Collection Potential LowThis Study, Kahrimaniset al. (2001)

Vegetation Clearance Potential Low Jones (1991)Trampling Potential Low This study


Threats relevant to this species vary in severity and importance at the knownpopulations. Threats of a medium or high risk include: Grazing or nipping off of leaves and flowers is threatening populations 1, 3-9 and

11. The herbivores causing this are unknown, but are likely to be rabbits,kangaroos or invertebrates. Grazing by stock is an issue at population 5.

Fragmentation is a threat for populations 1-5 and 9-11. Inadequate Knowledge of Distribution, Abundance and Population Trends is an

issue relevant to all populations. Lack of formal protection is an issue at populations 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10. Recreational activities’, in this case trampling by horse riding is an issue at

population 4. Perennial Veldt Grass is an issue at populations 8, 7, 11, 1 and 9. Bridal Creeper

is an issue at populations 8, 7, 11, 1, 4 and 9.


75



Table 22. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Caladenia colorata.






3. Obtain accurate baselinedata and maps of all knownpopulation locations withinone year of starting thisplan.

4. Verify population numbersat sites where additionaltime surveying wouldprovide more accuratepopulation estimates withintwo years of starting thisplan.

5. Investigate long term trendsin population numbers inlight of environmental cues

6. Confirm taxonomy of allpopulations

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO, OrchidResearch Groupat the Centre forPlant BiodiversityResearch

Done

Medium

Done

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA

6, 8, 7, 10, 2,5, 9

All

All


1. Identify the priority level ofeach population formanagement within sixmonths of starting this plan.

RPO Done NA




RPO

RPO

High

High

All

NA


76


1. Identification of potentialhabitat carried out withinone year of starting thisplan.



RPO

RPO

RPO

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA





BMA, RPO Low 4



BMA, RPO Medium 8, 7, 10, 5



2. Roadside markers are to beinstalled at all roadsidereserve populations withinone year of starting thisplan.

BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Medium

Medium

4

4





RPO Medium 8, 7, 11, 1, 4, 9


77



RPO Medium 8, 7, 11, 1, 9


1. Reduction in theabundance ofenvironmental weedspecies including WildTurnip, Pentaschistis,False Caper, AfricanBoxthorn, Capeweed andannual grasses so that theyare no longer directlyimpacting upon prioritypopulations within twoyears of starting this plan.

RPO Low 8, 7, 2, 11, 5


1. Bridal Creeper rust and/orleaf hoppers to beintroduced to 50% of themost severely infestedsites within two years ofstarting this plan and 100%of these sites within threeyears of starting this plan.

RPO Medium 4, 9




1. Establish and implement amethod for investigatinggrazing by herbivoreswithin two years of startingthis plan.

RPO, RE High NA


1. Appropriate fencing/cagingto be erected aroundspecific populations orindividuals under threatfrom grazing within twoyears of starting this plan.


RPO

RPO

High

High

4, 6 (part), 10,1, 3, 7, 9, 11(part)

8, 7, 10, 11, 1,5, 4, 3, 9


78


4. Discuss the possibility ofremoving sheep from siteswhere grazing of remnantvegetation is occurring withrelevant landholders.

RPO

RPO, BMA

High

Medium

6, 8, 10, 11, 1,3

5




1. Hold meetings ordiscussions with relevantgroups/individuals toemphasise the importanceof biodiversity values anddiscuss options for bestmanagement practiceswithin two years of startingthis plan.

BMA, RPO NA NA


1. Fence areas to preventimpacts from horse ridingand other recreationalactivities at populationsunder threat within threeyears of starting this plan.


3. Discuss with landownersthe appropriateness ofrevegetation within remnanthabitat and partial removalof past plantings within oneyear of starting this plan.

4. Discuss with landowners theappropriateness of mowingremnant habitat andalternative approacheswithin one year of startingthis plan.

RPO, LC

RPO, LC

RPO, BMA

RPO, BMA

Medium

Medium

Medium

Medium

4

4

7

8



RPO Low Whereapplicable


79


RPO High Whereapplicable




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Low

Low

8, 7, 10, 5

NA






RPO, RE

RPO

High

High

NA

6, 8, 7, 10, 2,11, 1, 5, 4, 3, 9



RPO, RPT High NA



RPO Medium NA





RPT

RPO

RPT

Medium

High

High

NA

NA

NA


80


RPT Medium NA



7.1 Manage the risk of losinggenetic diversity withinpopulations of this speciesby collecting andappropriately storing seedand mycorrhizal fungusmaterial.

1. Seeds and mycorrhizalfungi from representativenatural populations to becollected and stored withinone year of starting thisplan at the Botanic Gardensof Adelaide SeedConservation Centre, DEH(dependant on successfulseed set). A proportion ofthis seed needs to be setaside for reintroduction in7.6.2.




BGA, RPO Medium NA






BMA, RPO,HMRE

Low Whereapplicable



2. Field trials to be conductedinto natural germinationand establishment withintwo years of starting thisplan.

RPO, BGA

RPO, BGA

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable



RPO, RPT Low 3, 9, 4


81

2. Collected seed to bereintroduced at sites wherepopulation numbers are atcritically low levels withinthree years of starting thisplan. Seed to be sownduring the followinggermination season tominimise predation of seedby soil invertebrates andboost recruitment.

RPO Medium 3, 9, 4



BMA, RPO,HMRE

Low Whereapplicable





1. Research into the impactsof inappropriate stockgrazing on this species tobe initiated within one yearof starting this plan.

RPO, BMA, RE,HMRE, RPT


Low

Low

NA

5



RPO, RPT, RE Medium NA



RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

NA NA


82


RPO NA NA




















RPO, RPT, BMA,DEH

High NA


83




RPO

RPO

High

Done

NA

NA



RPO High NA


84

5. Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa (Silver Daisy-bush)



Table 23. Status of Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa.

Scientificname

Commonname

EPBC Act1999



Oleariapannosassp.pannosa

SilverDaisy-bush




Table 24. IUCN Assessment for Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa.

Species Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa


Endangered EN C2a(i)


3. C. Population size estimated to number fewer than 2500mature individuals, and

4. C2. a continuing decline projected in numbers of matureindividuals

5. C2a(i). no subpopulation estimated to contain more than250 mature individuals


In order to down list this species from endangered to vulnerableprogress needs to be made in the following areas: recruitment of individuals needs to be increased the quality of habitat needs to be improved to increase the

chance of successful recruitment occurring existing and potential habitat needs to be protected existing habitat should be expanded through targeted

revegetation

Five year targets

In five years time the target for this species is to: increase the number of individuals from the current 1074 to

over 1200 enhance 30% of priority 1 populations through targeted

habitat restoration and revegetation reduce the abundance of priority threats at 50% of priority

1 populations so that they are no longer directly impactingon those sites


85

Ten year targets

In ten years time the target for this species is to: increase the number of individuals from the current 1074 to

over 1500 enhance 50% of priority 1 populations through targeted

habitat restoration and revegetation reduce the abundance of priority threats at 100% of priority

1 populations so that they are no longer directly impactingon those sites

Description

Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa is an undershrub or shrub which grows to a height of1.5 m and produces root suckers. Stems are woody, at least at the base, branchedappressed-tomentose and without ribs. Leaf petioles are 3-15 mm long and leaflamina are 3-9 cm long, elliptic to ovate, with the length usually twice the width,obtuse to acute at the base, much larger on basal shoots than on the branchlets ofold stems and margins are flat and entire. Lower leaf surfaces are densely coveredwith short, soft, matted hairs and upper leaf surfaces are prominently reticulate-veined, glabrous or glabrescent and shiny to somewhat rugose (Jessop and Toelken1986).

Capitula are solitary, terminal and in the upper leaf axils on robust peduncles that are12-30 cm long, appressed, white to cream or a very pale rusty-brown and often withone or two reduced leaves. Bracts are 15-22 mm long, 5-6 seriate, lanceolate, acute,tomentose, becoming reflexed in fruit. There are 12-24 ray florets, ligules are linear,20-30 mm long, white or rarely pale-mauve and there are 35-50 disk florets which areyellow. Achenes are terete, 5-8 mm long, striate and pubescent and there are 50-60pappus bristles which are multiseriate, mostly 8-10 mm long with a few outer onesshorter (Jessop and Toelken 1986).


Figure 10a & b. Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa. a) flowering plant, b) flowers.


Populations of O. pannosa ssp. pannosa are scattered throughout the agriculturalareas of South Australia including Eyre Peninsula, the Eastern Mount Lofty Rangesand Murray Mallee/Murray Plains, and the South East (Croft et al. 1999; Briggs andLeigh 1995) with a single collection from Kangaroo Island (Cropper 1993). Jessopand Toelken (1986) also report that the distribution of O. pannosa ssp. pannosaextends to the Yorke Peninsula, Southern and Northern Mt. Lofty Ranges and the

10cm


86

Flinders Ranges, and interstate into Victoria and New South Wales. Records indicatethat O. pannosa ssp. pannosa is mainly distributed around the south-western end ofthe SA MDB, particularly between Monarto and Goolwa, with large numbers beingrecorded around Strathalbyn.

Of the thirty four populations recorded during this field survey, one is conserved in aHeritage Agreement, one is conserved in a council reserve and thirty two are notconserved. Twenty three new populations (that were previously unrecorded ingovernment databases) were recorded during this survey.

The distribution of O. pannosa ssp. pannosa is shown in Figure 11.


The extent of occurrence of this sub-species is 8058.5 km2 (805,846 hectares).


Given that O. pannosa ssp. pannosa is listed as vulnerable it is considered that allknown habitat is critical to the survival of the sub-species. Recovery actions includesurveying for further populations that would lead to the identification of additionalhabitat critical to the survival of the sub-species. All habitat that is critical to thesurvival of this sub-species in the South Australian Murray Darling Basin area ismapped in Figure 11.


Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa has been found in areas with flat, sandy terrain, andwoodland or mallee areas with rocky soils (Kahrimanis, 2001; Cropper 1993).


Previous studies:

Jessop and Toelken (1986) state that Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa occurs inmallee, woodland and forest communities. Other communities in which Oleariapannosa ssp. pannosa has been recorded include mallee, low heath scrubassociated with Acacia calamifolia, Eucalyptus gracilis mallee and Eucalyptusdiversifolia mallee (Threatened Plant Populations database, 1998).

Current study:

This study found individuals of O. pannosa ssp. pannosa growing in many differentvegetation associations.

The most common associations were:

Eucalyptus phenax ssp. phenax mallee commonly associated with severalother overstorey species including E. socialis, E. calycogona, E. odorata, E.brachycalyx and E. gracilis.

Eucalyptus odorata woodland commonly associated with several otheroverstorey species including E. leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon, E. phenax ssp.phenax, E. socialis, E. rugosa, E. porosa, E. gracilis, E. oleosa, E. leptophylla,


87

E. fasciculosa, E. brachycalyx, Myoporum platycarpum and Allocasuarinaverticillata.

Eucalyptus fasciculosa woodland commonly associated with several otheroverstorey species including E. odorata, E. leptophylla, E. rugosa,Eucalyptus phenax ssp. compressa, E. oleosa, E. socialis, E. phenax ssp.phenax and Allocasuarina verticillata

Eucalyptus rugosa mallee commonly associated with several other overstoreyspecies including E. leptophylla, E. socialis, E. phenax ssp. phenax, E.fasciculosa, E. gracilis, E. odorata

The less common associations were:

Eucalyptus calycogona/E. odorata/E. rugosa/E. socialis mallee

Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon/E. porosa woodland

Eucalyptus leptophylla/E. socialis/Myoporum platycarpum mallee

Eucalyptus porosa/Callitris preissii/E. leptophylla woodland

Eucalyptus socialis/E. phenax ssp. phenax mallee

Melaleuca uncinata/Bursaria spinosa/Callistemon rugulosus tall shrubland

Native species commonly found in the mid-storey of O. pannosa ssp. pannosahabitat included (in alphabetical order);

- Acacia acinacea- Acacia brachybotrya- Acacia paradoxa- Acacia pycnantha- Acacia spinescens- Bursaria spinosa- Dodonaea viscosa ssp. spatulata- Grevillea huegelii- Melaleuca lanceolata- Melaleuca uncinata- Pittosporum phylliraeoides var. microcarpa- Rhagodia crassifolia- Rhagodia parabolica- Santalum acuminatum- Senna artemisioides ssp. petiolaris- Xanthorrhoea semiplana

Native species commonly found in the understorey of O. pannosa ssp. pannosahabitat included (in alphabetical order);

- Austrostipa sp.- Clematis microphylla- Danthonia sp.- Dampiera dysantha- Dianella revoluta var. revoluta- Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa- Goodenia varia


88

- Lomandra effusa- Lomandra multiflora ssp. dura- Maireana brevifolia- Sclerolaena diacantha- Threlkeldia diffusa

Climate

Temperature and rainfall data from the weather stations at Strathalbyn and Goolwa,the closest weather stations to populations of O. pannosa ssp. pannosa, have beenobtained from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website.(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/) (December 2004 and April 2004).

The mean annual rainfall is 492.5 mm at Strathalbyn and 437.8 mm at Goolwa. AtStrathalbyn, the average maximum and minimum temperatures in January are27.4 ºC and 13.6 ºC respectively, and the average maximum and minimumtemperatures in June are 15.6 ºC and 6.6 ºC respectively. At Goolwa the averagemaximum and minimum temperatures in January are 23.6 ºC and 15.4 ºCrespectively, and the average maximum and minimum temperatures in June are15.8 ºC and 7.6 ºC respectively.


The distribution of O. pannosa ssp. pannosa, including all populations of importancein the SA MDB, is shown in Figure 11.

Table 25. Important populations of Olearia pannosa ssp. Pannosa in the SA MDB.

Priorityorder

forwork

PopulationNumber

Land Tenure, NearestTown


plants

No. oftranslocated

plants

TotalNo. ofplants

Area ofoccupancy

(m2)

1 14Dry Plains Rd,

Strathalbyn 262 0 262 31406

1 26Council Reserve, DC

Murray Bridge 146 0 146 10000

1 10Heritage Agreement,

Finniss 102 0 102 900

1 32Roadside Vegetation,

Keith 100 0 100 NA

1 22Research Rd,Strathalbyn 98 0 98 27500

1 6Steam Ranger Railway

Line, Goolwa 60 0 60 10000

1 34Roadside Vegetation,

Keith 50 0 50 NA

1 25Steam Ranger Railway

Line, Strathalbyn 38 0 38 4500

2 24Braewood Rd,


2 20Private Property,

Callington 32 0 32 53002 1 Law Rd, Monarto 27 0 27 95002 16 Tucker Rd, Strathalbyn 21 0 21 4000


89

Priorityorder

forwork

PopulationNumber

Land Tenure, NearestTown


plants

No. oftranslocated

plants

TotalNo. ofplants

Area ofoccupancy

(m2)

2 17Stone End Rd, Mt

Barker 18 0 18 6000

2 8Old Goolwa Cemetery,

Goolwa 14 0 14 625

2 21South Bremer Rd,

Callington 12 0 12 15002 2 Princes Hwy, Monarto 10 0 10 1502 18 St Ives Rd, Mt Barker 10 0 10 15003 7 Boettcher Rd, Goolwa 7 0 7 1250

3 11Finniss to Milang Rd,

Finniss 5 0 5 103 30 Nine Mile Road, Milang 5 0 5 10

3 5Strathalbyn to Goolwa

Rd, Strathalbyn 4 0 4 6000

3 23Unnamed Rd,Strathalbyn 3 0 3 15

3 13 Landseer Rd, Finniss 2 0 2 8

3 15Koennecke Rd,


3 27Mannum to Adelaide

Road, Palmer 2 0 2 3

3 29Private Property,

Milang 2 0 2 253 33 Rail Corridor, Keith 2 0 2 NA

3 3Strathalbyn to Goolwa

Rd, Strathalbyn 1 0 1 43 4 Hunt's Rd, Strathalbyn 1 0 1 6

3 9Gilbert's Siding Rd,

Finniss 1 0 1 4

3 12Ballandown Rd,

Strathalbyn 1 0 1 2.25

3 19

Callington toStrathalbyn Rd,Woodchester 1 0 1 1

3 28 Fisher Road, Palmer 1 0 1 1.5

3 31Dog Lake Rd,

Langhorne Creek 1 0 1 4Total 1074 0 1074


90


91


Previous Work on the Conservation of O. pannosa ssp. pannosa

Within South Australia prior conservation effort directed toward this sub-species hasoccurred both on the Eyre Peninsula and in the South-east. In the South-east ofSouth Australia, the Threatened Flora and Habitat Recovery Officer (DEH) isimplementing recovery actions on this sub-species. No conservation work directedspecifically at this sub-species has occurred in the SA MDB.

Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa is included in a recovery plan and project on 25threatened flora species on the Eyre Peninsula;


Seeds of this sub-species have been collected from populations in the Mount LoftyRanges by the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH during2004. These seeds will be tested for viability and quality in 2005 before storage (P.Ainsley, pers. comm.). These seeds will be stored at the Botanic Gardens ofAdelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH and the Millennium Seed Bank Project(Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England) (P. Ainsley pers. comm.). Somerevegetation and native plant propagation companies are successfully growing thisspecies from seed and cuttings, with the resulting plants being used in revegetationand landscaping projects. Currently there is no system in place to keep track of theseplants and therefore the recovery team will need to look at implementing a propersystem to administer this.


The flowering time for Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa ranges from August to October(Cropper, 1993; Jessop and Toelken 1986) and seed become ripe from December(Cropper, 1993). Once seed have developed they may remain on the seed head untilMay of the following year and seed dispersal appears to be limited due to the smallpappus and relatively heavy seed (Cropper, 1993).

Past Research

Within South Australia there are two recognised subspecies of Olearia pannosa;Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa and Olearia pannosa ssp. cardiophylla. WithinVictoria the two subspecies are not formally recognised. The following information isfrom two Victorian references (Bartley 1990; Wisniewski et al. 1987, cited in Cropper,1993) which refer only to the name Olearia pannosa but the information is likely to berelevant to Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa.

Olearia pannosa plants develop decumbent stems from which new shoots mayoriginate. Hence, outlying branches may appear to be separate plants when they areactually part of a single plant. Adult plants may therefore spread across a distance of10-20 m. Small, outlying shoots may be distinguished from seedlings by thepresence of teeth on the edges of young leaves which are present on seedlings butnot on shoots. Plants also develop tuberous roots after only four months of growthwhich may be an invaluable source of water and food reserves during the driermonths of summer.


92

Natural populations of Olearia pannosa have been found to have poor seed set rates,and seed recruitment within most populations is negligible. Adult plants have beenfound on average to produce 2.1 flowers which contain between 36 and 77 fruits. Ofthese fruits between 0.6 and 7.7% contained germinable seed. Failure of fruits todevelop viable seed was found, in part, to be the result of a mould and a fungus-eating beetle in the genus Corticaria. The current project found that many adultplants were flowering prolifically during the spring of 2004.



Table 26. Current and potential threats to Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa in the SAMDB.



Weeds - Bridal Creeper Current High

This Study, Kahrimaniset al. (2001), Croft et al.(1999)

Weeds–Other Current High


Edge Effects Current High This Study

Lack of Recruitment Current High This Study

Road/Rail MaintenanceActivities Current High


Fragmentation Current High This Study

Lack of formal protection Current High This Study



Weeds - Perennial VeldtGrass Current Low This Study

Recreational Activities Current Low This Study

Other Disturbances egrubbish dumping, flooding,bees, revegetation Current Low This Study



Trampling Current Low This Study


93



Inappropriate Fire Regime Current Low This Study


Vegetation Clearance Potential Low This Study


Threats relevant to this species vary in severity and importance at the knownpopulations. Threats of a medium or high risk include: Weed species are a significant threat, particularly Bridal Creeper which is a

specific threat to populations 1-18, 20, 22, 24-26, 29. Other weed species ofconcern include; Soursob at populations 1-2, 4-9, 12, 14-25, Scabiosa atpopulations 5, 11-12, 14-16, 23 and annual grasses (in particular Wild Oats andAnnual Veldt Grass) at populations 1-2, 5, 13-16, 19-26.

Edge effects are a threat to populations 1-7, 9, 11-20, 22-24, 27-28, 30-31. Lack of recruitment is a threat to populations 1-9, 11-20, 23-24, 27-31. Road/rail maintenance is a threat to populations 1-7, 9, 11-19, 21-24, 27-28, 30-

31 Fragmentation is a threat to all populations. Lack of formal protection is a threat to populations 1-9, 11-25, 27-31. Inadequate knowledge of the distribution and abundance of the species is

relevant to all populations. Inadequate knowledge of the ecology and threats is an issue relevant to all

populations.


94



Table 27. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Olearia pannosa ssp.pannosa.




1. Complete field survey ofknown populations withinone year of starting thisplan.



4. Verify population numbers atsites where estimates onlyhave been obtained, byundertaking additionalvegetation surveys withintwo years of starting thisplan.

5. Establish and implement amethod for more accuratelycounting individual plants ofthis species within twoyears of starting this plan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO

High

Medium

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA

All

NA



RPO High NA




RPO

RPO

High

High

All

NA


95




3. Production of maps whichidentify potential habitatwithin two and a half yearsof starting this plan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA





BMA, RPO High 6, 25, 8,



BMA, RPO High 20, 8, 29




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

High

High

NA

14, 22, 32, 6,34, 25, 24, 1,16, 17, 8, 21,2, 18, 7, 11,30, 5, 23, 13,15, 27, 29, 3,4, 9, 12, 19,28, 31


96





RPO High 14, 26, 10, 22,6, 20, 25, 24,1, 16, 17, 8, 2,18, 7, 11, 5,13, 15, 29, 3,4, 9, 12



RPO High 10, 25, 4


1. Reduction in theabundance ofenvironmental weedspecies including Scabiosa,Soursobs and annualgrasses so that they are nolonger directly impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.

RPO High 14, 26, 10, 22,6, 20, 25, 24,1, 16, 17, 8,21, 2, 18, 7,11, 30, 5, 23,13, 15, 29, 3,4, 9, 12, 19, 31



RPO Medium 14, 26, 10, 6,20, 25, 8, 29





RPO, RE Low 20, 25, 24, 8,2, 27, 29, 28



RPO Low 20, 8, 29


97



RPO

RPO

High

Low

20, 25, 24, 8,2, 27, 29, 28

20



5.1 Control the impacts of edgeeffects, including spray drift,intentional spraying, rubbishdumping, and road and railmaintenance activities.


2. Hold meetings ordiscussions with relevantindividuals to discuss theissue of rubbish dumpingand emphasise theimportance of biodiversityvalues within two and a halfyears of starting this plan.

BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

High

High

14, 22, 32, 6,34, 20, 24, 1,16, 17, 2, 18,7, 11, 30, 5,23, 13, 15, 27,33, 3, 4, 9, 12,19, 28, 31

14




RPO, LC

RPO, LC

Low

Low

2, 27, 28

2, 27, 28



RPO Low Whereapplicable


98


RPO High Whereapplicable




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Low

Low

Whereapplicable

NA






RPO, RE

RPO

High

High

NA

All



RPO, RPT High NA



RPO Medium NA





RPT

RPO

RPT

Medium

High

High

NA

NA

NA


99


RPT Medium NA








BGA, RPO Low NA



BMA, RPO High Whereapplicable



BMA, RPO,HMRE

High 14, 22, 6, 20,24, 1, 16, 17,8, 21, 2, 18, 7,11, 30, 5, 23,13, 15, 27, 3,4, 9, 12, 19,28, 31, 32, 34,33




RPO, BGA

RPO, BGA

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable



RPO, RPT Low Whereapplicable


100



BMA, RPO,HMRE

Low Whereapplicable





RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

High NA







RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

RPO

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable






101
















RPO, RPT, BMA,DEH

High NA




RPO

RPO

High

High

NA

NA



RPO High NA


102

6. Phebalium lowanense (Lowan Phebalium)



Table 28. Status of Phebalium lowanense.

Scientificname

Commonname

EPBC Act1999



Phebaliumlowanense

LowanPhebalium

Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (SE)

SA–South Australia, SE–South Eastern


Table 29. IUCN Assessment for Phebalium lowanense.

Species Phebalium lowanense


Vulnerable VU D2


6. D2. Population with a very restricted area of occupancy(less than 20km2) such that it is prone to the effects ofhuman activities or stochastic events within a very shorttime period in an uncertain future, and is thus capable ofbecoming Critically Endangered or even Extinct in a veryshort time period


In order to down list this species from vulnerable to nearthreatened progress needs to be made in the following areas: appropriate fire management strategies need to be

implemented the protection of isolated populations away from the main

stronghold for this species should be increased additional populations need to be re-established at sites

where they have disappeared

Five year targets

In five years time the target for this species is to: implement an appropriate fire management strategy in all

priority 1 populations initiate and establish agreements or protocols on the

protection of all isolated populations with the relevantauthority

undertake experimental burns at two past populations totry to re-establish these populations


103

Ten year targets

In ten years time the target for this species is to: implement an appropriate fire management strategy in all

populations initiate and establish agreements or protocols on the

protection of any new isolated populations discovered withthe relevant authority

undertake experimental burns at four past populations totry to re-establish these populations

Description

Phebalium lowanense is a shrub that grows to a height of 0.6 m (rarely to 0.9 m) withsilvery to rust coloured scaly branches. Leaves are subsessile and linear, 4-12 mmlong and 1 mm wide with rounded tips. Margins are strongly revolute, obtuse, withthe upper surface glabrous and the lower surface scaly (Jessop and Toelken 1986).

Inflorescences are terminal and are arranged in a 1-6 flowered umbel-like cluster.Pedicels are 3-7 mm long, thick and broadening towards the apex and the calyx is 3-4 mm long, scaly, silvery at the base to red-brown at the apex, glabrous inside withlobes about 2 mm long. Petals are obovate, about 5 x 2.5 mm, yellow and with silveryor rust coloured scales on the outside. The anthers are yellow. The pistil contains 5carpels which are about 1 mm high and silvery-scaly and the style is coiled andrecurved in the bud, remaining so during and after anthesis and is about 2 mm long.Seeds are 2-2.5 mm long, finely corrugate and black (Jessop and Toelken 1986).

a. Photo: Luke Geelen b. Photo: Luke Geelen

Figure 12a & b. Phebalium lowanense. a) flowering plant b) flowers.


Phebalium lowanense is confined to a small area of Western Victoria (in and aroundthe Big Desert complex of parks) and an adjacent area in South Australia whichincorporates the Hundreds of Senior and Shaugh. Jusaitis (2000) located two largepopulations within the Ngarkat Conservation Park along the main Bordertown –Pinnaroo Road. These populations were separated by approximately 15 km. Anotherpopulation was located along a nearby 4WD track (Jusaitis, 2000). An additionallarge area of Ngarkat Conservation Park was burnt by wildfire in 1986 and post-firemonitoring found prolific natural regeneration within six months.

2cm


104

Two historical records of P. lowanense, one at Mt Rescue Conservation Park nearBucks Camp Well and another south of Pigsty Soak, were searched by Jusaitis(2000) but no populations were found.

A few small populations on private and public land south of Ngarkat CP wererecorded in 2004 (O. Carter pers. comm.). Further searches are warranted in remoteareas of Ngarkat CP (and adjacent Big Desert parks in Victoria), where P. lowanensemay be expected to occur. Three heritage agreement areas with past records of P.lowanense need to be surveyed, along with any other populations on private land.

Of the four populations recorded during this field survey, one is conserved in aConservation Park and three are not conserved. Three new populations (that werepreviously unrecorded in government databases) were recorded during this survey.

The distribution of P. lowanense is shown in Figure 13.




Given that P. lowanense is listed as vulnerable it is considered that all known habitatis critical to the survival of the species. Proposed recovery actions include searchingfor further populations that would lead to the identification of additional habitat criticalto the survival of the species. All habitat that is critical to the survival of this species inthe South Australian Murray Darling Basin area is mapped in Figure 13.


Soil types in which P. lowanense are found are described as deep, well drained,bleached sands which are slightly acidic (pH 6.0-6.3) (Jusaitis 2000).


Previous studies:

Phebalium lowanense grows in varied vegetation associations which Jusaitis (2000)describes as:

Eucalyptus incrassata/Allocasuarina pusilla/Callitris verrucosa low openwoodland, and

Banksia ornata/Baeckea behrii//Allocasuarina pusilla/Leptospermummyrsinoides/Boronia coerulescens/Argentipallium obtusifolium openshrubland

Current study:

Phebalium lowanense was found growing in the following vegetation associations;

Banksia ornata open shrubland

Native species commonly found in the understorey of this association include (inalphabetical order);

- Adenanthos terminalis


105

- Astroloma conostephioides- Baeckea crassifolia- Brachyloma ericoides- Callitris verrucosa (regenerating)- Daviesia brevifolia- Dillwynia spp.- Eucalyptus incrassata (regenerating)- Hakea rostrata- Hibbertia riparia- Lepidobolus drapetocoleus- Lepidosperma viscidum- Lepidosperma carphoides- Leucopogon sp.- Spyridium subochreatum- Xanthorrhoea spp

Baeckea behrii open shrubland (This vegetation association was observed atone site that had been burned approximately 5 years previous, thus themature state of the community could not yet be reliably determined. (O.Carter, pers. comm.))


- Adenanthos terminalis- Baeckea crassifolia- Boronia coerulescens ssp. coerulescens- Daviesia brevifolia- Exocarpos sparteus- Lepidosperma carphoides- Lepidosperma viscidum- Leptospermum continentale- Lomandra glauca- Schoenus breviculmis

Climate

Temperature and rainfall data from the weather station at Keith, the closest weatherstations to populations of P. lowanense, have been obtained from the AustralianBureau of Meteorology website.(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/) (April 2004).

The mean annual rainfall is 467.2 mm at Keith. The average maximum and minimumtemperatures in January are 29.8 ºC and 13 ºC respectively, and the averagemaximum and minimum temperatures in June are 15.5 ºC and 6 ºC respectively.


Fire plays an important role in the successful regeneration of P. lowanense.Following a fire event seed germination occurs in profusion however, in the absenceof a fire, recruitment is extremely rare (Barrie, 2002; Jusaitis, 2000). High fluctuationsin size of standing populations can occur, depending on the fire regime imposed andthis poses a serious risk to this species.

A fire occurring in January 2005 burnt out a part of the Mt Rescue Conservation Parkin a section that Phebalium lowanense (see site 11 in Appendix 3) was recorded in


106

previously. It is essential that this site be surveyed in the near future to determinewhether regeneration of this species occurs. As P. lowanense does not flower withinits first four years (Jusaitis, 2000) it may be difficult to identify until after this time haselapsed. If this species can not be accurately identified until after this time period,then surveying should commence in this area, upon flowering or at a stage when itcan be accurately identified.

The relationship between fire events and P. lowanense demography is discussedfurther under ‘Past research’ on page 109. Additional information on the fire response of this species is located in the section on Distribution on page 104.


The distribution of P. lowanense, including all populations of importance in the SAMDB, is shown in Figure 13.

Table 30. Important populations of Phebalium lowanense in the SA MDB.

Priorityorder

forwork

PopulationNumber



plants

No. oftranslocated


Area ofoccupancy

(m2)

1 1

NgarkatConservationPark, Keith 10429403 0 10429403 2580400

2 2Pine Hill Rd,Bordertown 44 0 44 na

3 4Somers Rd,Bordertown 12 0 12 na

3 3

Pinnaroo -Bordertown Rd,

Bordertown 3 0 3 naTotal 10,429,462 0 10,429,462


107


108


Previous Work on the Conservation of P. lowanense

Phebalium lowanense has been included in the following two threatened speciesprojects in recent years;

The first report presents information on a variety of assessments, experiments andmonitoring which spanned a total of 9 years;

Jusaitis (2000) The Ecology, Biology and Conservation of ThreatenedPhebalium Species in South Australia.

The second report was a Coorong District LAP Project –a Threatened SpeciesNetwork (TSN) Community Grants project (1999-2000, Project Number SA06/299)funded by the Coorong District Council, TSN, TPAG, Transport SA, DEH and theTintinara Area School. It investigated the habitat and demography of the species andidentified threats along with recommended actions to abate these threats. The projectproduced species fact sheets, on-ground activities and a report entitled:

Barrie, D.J. (2002) Four Phebaliums. Reversing Decline in a ThreatenedGenus.

There is also a national recovery plan in preparation for this species;

Carter, O. (2005) Draft recovery plan for Phebalium lowanense (LowanPhebalium). Arthur Ryleh Institute, Victoria.

The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH intended tocollect seed of P. lowanense in 2004 for storage, however this was prevented due topoor seed set. Collection of seed will be attempted again in 2005 (P. Ainsley, pers.comm.). These seeds, once collected, will be stored at the Botanic Gardens ofAdelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH and the Millennium Seed Bank Project(Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England) (P. Ainsley pers. comm.).


The first flowering of Phebalium lowanense may occur within the first four years ofgrowth, although because low flower numbers were observed it is anticipated that afurther couple of years may be necessary for prolific flowering (Jusaitis 2000).Sufficient seed production may not occur until after about six years (Jusaitis 2000).Seeds produced have a hard seed coat and form a long-lived soil seed bank (Jusaitis2000). Hence long-unburned sites such as those in small remnants between NgarkatCP and Bordertown may recover from future fires such that abundance of standingplants increases considerably.

Past Research

Research has shown that seeds of Phebalium lowanense germinate rapidly after afire event and very rarely germinate without a fire event (Barrie, 2002; Jusaitis 2000).Jusaitis (2000) observed no recruitment events over a period of 9 years inpopulations that had not experienced fire during that time. At the one site where firehad occurred two years prior to the establishment of photopoints Jusaitis (2000)observed that abundant germination of P. lowanense occurred, with 16 seedlings m-2,


109

increasing during the third year after the fire to 20 seedlings m-2. This numbereventually stabilised to 11 seedlings m-2 by the sixth year after fire. First floweringoccurred during the fourth year after fire however seed set was low and it waspredicted that at least six years of growth would be required for substantial seedproduction to occur. None of the burnt adult plants resprouted, indicating that existingplants and rootstocks did not survive the burn (Jusaitis, 2000).

The average age for P. lowanense individuals is about 20 years (Barrie, 2002;Jusaitis 2000), however some individuals may live to about 40 years (Barrie (2002).For management of this species Barrie (2002) suggests that fire events should notoccur more frequently than every 10 years, however fire free periods in excess of 40years may also put P. lowanense populations at risk.



Table 31. Current and potential threats to Phebalium lowanense in the SA MDB.



Inappropriate Fire Regime Current High

This Study, Jusaitis(2000), Carter, O (pers.comm.)

Lack of formal protection Current Medium This study

Inadequate Knowledge ofDistribution, Abundance andPopulation Trends Current Medium This Study


Barrie (2002), ThisStudy, Carter, O (pers.comm.)

Weeds–Bridal Creeper Current Medium Barrie (2002)

Weeds–Other Current MediumThis Study, Barrie(2002)

Weeds–Perennial VeldtGrass Current Medium Barrie (2002)Inadequate Knowledge ofEcology and Threats Current Low This Study

Edge Effects Current Low This Study

Road/Rail MaintenanceActivities Current Low This Study

Fragmentation Current Low This Study


Vegetation Clearance Potential Low This Study


110

Threats to species and species recovery at specific populations

Threats relevant to this species vary in severity and importance at knownpopulations. Threats of a medium or high risk include: Inappropriate fire regime is a threat to all populations Inadequate knowledge on the distribution and abundance of the species which is

a threat to all populations. Grazing by kangaroos is considered to be a minor threat at population 1, with

rabbits and/or hares being a threat at populations 1, 2 and 4. Deer are present atpopulation 1, and are a potential impact on this species.



Table 32. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Phebalium lowanense.




1. Complete field survey ofknown populations withinone year of starting thisplan.



4. Verify population numbersat sites where estimatesonly have been obtained,by undertaking additionalvegetation surveys withintwo years of starting thisplan.

5. Undertake vegetationsurveys of recently burntareas.

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO, RE

High

Medium

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA

1

Whereapplicable



RPO High NA


111




RPO

RPO

High

High

All

NA




3. Production of maps whichidentify potential habitatwithin three years ofstarting this plan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA





BMA, RPO Medium 2, 4, 3



BMA, RPO NA NA




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Medium

Medium

2, 4, 3

2, 4, 3


112





RPO Medium 1



RPO Medium 1, 2


1. Reduction in theabundance ofenvironmental weedspecies including SalvationJane, Cape weed,Horehound, Onion weedand Evening Primrose sothat they are no longerdirectly impacting uponpriority populations withintwo years of starting thisplan.

RPO Medium 1, 2, 4, 3



RPO Medium Whereapplicable





RPO, RE Low 1



RPO Medium Whereapplicable


113



RPO

RPO

Medium

Medium

1,2,4

1





BMA, RPO Low 1, 2, 4, 3


1. Fence areas to preventimpacts from recreationalactivities at populationsunder threat by June 2008.

2. Erect appropriate signageto indicate importantvegetation is beingconserved within relevantareas by June 2008.

RPO, LC

RPO, LC

NA

NA

NA

NA


1. Soil sampling forPhytophthora testing to beconducted at suspect sitesby June 2008.

2. If following soil samplingPhytophthora is found atsites, erect appropriatesignage and undertakeappropriate managementactions to reduce the risk ofspread by June 2009.

RPO

RPO

Low

High

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable





114


BMA, RPO Low NA






RPO, RE

RPO

High

High

NA

All



RPO, RPT High NA



RPO Medium NA






RPT

RPO

RPT

RPT

Medium

High

High

Medium

NA

NA

NA

NA


115








BGA, RPO NA NA



2. Ensure security ofpopulations and habitatsdistant from those on publicland.

BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Low

High

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable



BMA, RPO,HMRE

Low 2, 4, 3




RPO, BGA

RPO, BGA

NA

NA

NA

NA



RPO, RPT NA NA



BMA, RPO,HMRE

Low 1, 2, 4, 3


116





RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

Low NA






2. Where recent fires haveoccurred initiate vegetationsurveys and monitoring todetermine if regeneration ofthis species has occurred.

3. Implementation ofappropriate managementtechniques to initiatesuccessful germination andrecruitment. Incorporateinformation from monitoringof recently burntpopulations.

4. Undertake experimentalburns at sites where thisspecies was previouslyrecorded, with the aim ofre-establishing pastpopulations.

RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

RPO, RE

RPO

RPO, BMA, RE,HMRE

NA

High

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable






117
















RPO, RPT, BMA,DEH

High NA




RPO

RPO

High

High

NA

NA



RPO High NA


118

7. Prostanthera eurybioides (Monarto Mintbush)



Table 33. Status of Prostanthera eurybioides.

Scientificname

Synonym Commonname

EPBC Act1999

NPW Act 1972(SA)(amended in2000)

Botanical RegionStatus(Lang andKraehenbuehl2002)


none Monartomintbush


MU–Murray, SE–South Eastern.


Table 34. IUCN Assessment for Prostanthera eurybioides.

Species Prostanthera eurybioides


Critically Endangered CR B2ab(v)


7. B2. Area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 10km2,and

8. B2a. the population is severely fragmented, and9. B2b(v). a continuing decline in number of mature individuals

is projected


In order to down list this species from critically endangered toendangered progress needs to be made in the following areas: recruitment of individuals needs to be increased the quality of habitat needs to be improved to increase the

chance of successful recruitment occurring existing habitat should be linked or expanded through

targeted revegetation


119

Five year targets


over 250 increase our knowledge of the ecology of this species,



enhance 30% of priority 1 populations through targetedhabitat restoration and revegetation

Ten year targets


350 reduce the abundance of priority threats at all populations

so that they are no longer directly impacting on those sites enhance 100% of priority 1 populations through targeted

habitat restoration and revegetation

Description

Prostanthera eurybioides is a low spreading shrub growing to a height of less thanone metre with branches that are densely covered with curled, 0.1 to 0.2 mm longhairs. Leaves are clustered on short shoots and are thick, glabrous or sparsely hairyand sparsely to moderately glandular. Petioles are either absent or to 0.1 mm longand the leaf blades are elliptic to ovate, 1.5-2.5 mm long, 0.6-2.2 but usually 1-2 mmwide, the base is obtuse to rounded and the margins are entire. The leaf apex isobtuse and venation (including the midrib) is not visible (Jessop and Toelken 1986).

Pedicels are 0.5-1.3 mm long, moderately hairy and have bracteoles inserted on thedistal half of the pedicel which are narrowly elliptic, 1.3-1.7 mm long, 0.2-0.5 mmwide, sparsely to moderately hairy. The calyx is mid-green with a red tinge on thedistal parts of the tube, or maroon tinge distally especially on the lobes with the outersurface having the occasional hair present and moderately glandular with the innersurface glabrous with no glands. The tube of the flower is 2.5-3 mm long, the lowerlobe is very broadly ovate to very broadly oblong, 1.7-3.1 mm long, 2.3-3.5 mm wideand the upper lobe is depressed-ovate, 1.5-2.2 mm long and about 5-6 mm wide.The corolla is 10-12 mm long, violet to mid-purple, inner lower surface of the mouthand distal part of the tube is white with mid-brown to light-orange dots or rarely yellowdots, laterally with numerous small dark-purple dots. The outer surface of the corollais glabrous, or with an occasional hair (Jessop and Toelken 1986).


120


Figure 14a & b. Prostanthera eurybioides. a) shrub, b) flowers.


An endemic of South Australia, P. eurybioides has a limited distribution in twodisjunct areas; Monarto (near Murray Bridge) and the Mount Monster ConservationPark in the south east of the state (near Keith).

Within the project area previous estimates suggested 1656 P. eurybioides individualswere present within the general Monarto area. Of these the majority, approximately1413 individuals, have been planted, with approximately 243 occurring naturally. Ofthose individuals planted out in the Monarto area, State Flora Murray Bridge plantedapproximately 1000 plants in 2003 at Rocky Gully Reserve (P. Collins, pers. comm.).These plants were all propagated from cuttings from an unknown but small numberof remnant shrubs within the reserve (P. Collins, pers. comm.). The current studyfound only 452 surviving plants of the initial 1000 plants.

Other planted individuals within this area were seedlings propagated from locallycollected seed, with 130 located within the grounds of Monarto Zoo, 67 were plantedby the land holder in the south-western portion of a Heritage Agreement at Monarto(Jusaitis and Smith 1999), and 196 translocated to Section 530, Hundred of Monarto(Jusaitis et al. 1998). A further 10 plants reportedly survive from an initial 30 plantsthat were planted on private land in 1996 (Jusaitis and Smith 1999) and another 10plants were planted on a property under a Scientific Heritage Agreement (grazingprohibited), however their origins are unclear.

Of the five populations recorded during this field survey, three are conserved inHeritage Agreements, one is conserved in a Forestry SA reserve and one is notconserved. No new populations were recorded during this survey.

The distribution of P. eurybioides is shown in Figure 15.




Given that P. eurybioides is listed as endangered it is considered that all knownhabitat is critical to the survival of the species. Recovery actions include surveying forfurther populations that would lead to the identification of additional habitat critical to

3cm


121

the survival of the species. All habitat that is critical to the survival of this species inthe South Australian Murray Darling Basin area is mapped in Figure 15.


Davies (1992) reports that P. eurybioides grows on sandy loam, fine sandy loam andloam of pH 6 to 7. These soils were brown, reddish brown or dark brown in colourwhen dry and dark brown or dark reddish brown when wet. At all known locations P.eurybioides were growing in association with rocky outcrops of gneissic schist,granodiorite or granite. All individuals within the Monarto area were present on gentleslopes of low broad hills or ridges, or on undulating plains. In the Mount Monster areaindividuals were only found on rocky outcrops on south to west facing slopes, of up to40º inclination on the ridges of Mount Monster (Davies 1992).


Previous studies:

Prostanthera eurybioides occurs in the following vegetation associations within theMonarto area:

Eucalyptus porosa +/- E. leucoxylon low open-woodland (Jusaitis 1991;Davies 1992)

Eucalyptus leucoxylon +/- E. porosa or E. odorata very low open-woodland(Davies 1992)

Eucalyptus dumosa and/or E. leptophylla +/- E. incrassata tall shrubland(closed to open) (Davies 1992)

Melaleuca uncinata +/- Acacia rhigiophylla tall shrubland/heathland (Davies1992)

Within the Mount Monster Conservation Park P. eurybioides grows in the followingvegetation association:

Acacia paradoxa or Baeckea behrii sparse heathland or shrubland, (Jusaitis1991; Davies 1992).

Current study:

This study found Prostanthera eurybioides occurring in the following vegetationassociations;

Melaleuca uncinata shrubland with occasional Eucalyptus phenax ssp.phenax and E. incrassata and emergent E. socialis, E. porosa and E.leptophylla around the edge of the association


- Acacia calamifolia- Acacia nyssophylla- Acacia spinescens- Baeckea behrii- Bursaria spinosa- Dodonaea hexandra- Pittosporum phylliraeoides var. microcarpa


122


- Arthropodium strictum- Austrostipa sp.- Danthonia sp.- Dianella revoluta var. revoluta- Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa- Gonocarpus elatus- Hibbertia sericea- Lomandra effusa

Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon scattered woodland


- Acacia rhigiophylla- Callistemon rugulosus- Melaleuca uncinata


- Austrostipa sp.- Danthonia sp.- Dianella revoluta var. revoluta- Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa- Hibbertia sericea- Lepidosperma viscidum- Lomandra effusa- Lomandra multiflora ssp. dura

Eucalyptus porosa/E. leptophylla/Callitris preissii woodland


- Acacia calamifolia- Acacia menzelii- Melaleuca uncinata


- Austrostipa sp.- Danthonia sp.- Dianella revoluta var. revoluta- Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa- Gonocarpus elatus- Lomandra effusa

Climate

Temperature and rainfall data from the weather station at Murray Bridge, the closestweather station to populations of P. eurybioides, have been obtained from theAustralian Bureau of Meteorology website.(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/) (April 2004).


123

The mean annual rainfall is 346.8 mm at Murray Bridge. The average maximum andminimum temperatures in January are 28.8 ºC and 14.4 ºC respectively, and theaverage maximum and minimum temperatures in June are 16.6 ºC and 6.1 ºCrespectively.


The impact of fire on P. eurybioides is not thoroughly understood, however plantshave been reported to have regenerated after a fire on one property in 1988 andseed germination is known to be stimulated by the use of smoked water (Jusaitis andSmith 1999).


The distribution of P. eurybioides, including all populations of importance in the SAMDB, is shown in Figure 15.

Table 35. Important populations of Prostanthera eurybioides in the SA MDB.

Priorityorder

forwork

PopulationNumber



plants

No. oftranslocated


Area ofoccupancy

(m2)

1 2

HeritageAgreement,


1 1

HeritageAgreement,


1 4

Forestry SAReserve,


2 5Monarto Zoo,Murray Bridge 0 130 130 12900

2 3

HeritageAgreement,

Murray Bridge 1 0 1 1Total 193 624 817


124


125


Previous Work on the Conservation of P. eurybioides

Four previous recovery plans/projects have been undertaken on Prostantheraeurybioides, namely;

Jusaitis (1991) Recovery Plans: Prostanthera eurybioides; Pterostylisarenicola; Acacia cretacea; Pultenaea trichophylla. Australian National Parksand Wildlife Service (ANPWS) Endangered Species Program, Project #151.

Prostanthera eurybioides Recovery Plan Project (1993-1998) undertaken bythe Prostanthera eurybioides Recovery Team.

Taji et al. (1996) Comparative anatomy of four rare Australian plants grown invitro.

Davies (1992) Threatened Plant Species of the Murray Mallee, Mount LoftyRanges and Kangaroo Island Regions of South Australia.

There are also several current recovery plans in preparation for this species;

Environmental and Biodiversity Services (2004) Draft recovery plan forProstanthera eurybioides (Monarto mintbush).

Johnson (2004) Draft Regional action plan for Monarto Mint Bush(Prostanthera eurybioides) for the South East of South Australia.

In the South-east of South Australia, the Threatened Flora and Habitat RecoveryOfficer (DEH) is implementing recovery actions on this species. Conservation workundertaken has also included translocations of P. eurybioides seedlings at variouslocations which have occurred over several years. The following table shows thenumber of translocated plants that were remaining at the time of the current surveywork (October and November 2004).

Table 36. Current number of surviving translocated P. eurybioides plants in the SAMDB.

Year oftranslocation

Location Number survivingin 2004

Translocated by

2003 Rocky Gully452 (from 1000planted)

State Flora MurrayBridge

Private PropertyHeritageAgreement 17

John Boland, HeritageAgreement Owner

Private Property,HeritageAgreement 25

Peter Giles, HeritageAgreement Owner

1993-1999 Monarto Zoo 130Black Hill Flora Centre &Monarto Mallee Minders

Seeds of P. eurybioides are currently being stored at the Botanic Gardens ofAdelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH. Some of these seeds were collectedduring the mid 1990’s by Manfred Jusaitis from both the Mount Monster and Monartopopulations. Seeds were collected from the Mount Monster population in 2004 and it


126

is intended that these seeds will be tested in 2005 before storage. Seeds werecollected from population number 1 (see table 35) in the Monarto area in 2004,however it is anticipated that the number of seeds obtained from this will be low. It ishoped that more seeds will be collected from the Monarto populations in 2005.

Further work at the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH isbeing directed towards understanding the germination requirements of seed fromProstanthera sp. All seeds will be stored at the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide SeedConservation Centre, DEH and the Millennium Seed Bank Project (Royal BotanicGardens, Kew, England) (P. Ainsley pers. comm.).


Prostanthera eurybioides flowers from September to November (Jessop and Toelken1986). One flower was observed on an individual Prostanthera eurybioides plantduring a field trip at Mt Monster in March, 2004 (Obst 2004 pers. obs.) andcollections of flowering material have also been made during January, March andApril (Davies, 1992) .

An estimated third of individuals located in the Mount Monster Conservation Parkwere considered to be juveniles out of a total population of 142 individuals (Davies1992). Other populations observed within the Monarto area had no evidence ofregeneration (Jusaitis 1991; Davies 1992).

Past Research

Research has been conducted on germination and propagation requirements ofProstanthera eurybioides. Seeds were successfully germinated within petri dishes,with the addition of an anti-fungal agent to the gibberellic acid irrigation solution toreduce the problem of fungal infection of seeds (Jusaitis and Smith 1999).Experiments have also found that seeds will successfully germinate using a smokedwater treatment which was effective at varying concentrations (Jusaitis et al. 1998).Research into tissue culture requirements has been undertaken, with growth andshoot proliferation gained using a half-strength MS medium (with full-strengthorganics) supplemented with a combinatioin of the growth hormones BAP andKinetin (Jusaitis et al. 1998). However, this media did not stimulate root development.

Attempts to pot up seedlings following successful seed germination experimentswere hindered as a problem was encountered with the larvae of fungus gnats (FamilySciaridae) during seedling establishment. These larvae were feeding on the roots ofyoung seedlings, destroying many (Jusaitis and Smith 1999).



Table 37. Current and potential threats to Prostanthera eurybioides in the SA MDB.



Lack of Recruitment Current HighThis Study, Jusaitis(1991)

Weeds - Bridal Creeper Current HighThis Study, Jusaitis(1991)


127



Weeds–Other Current HighThis Study, Jusaitis(1991), Davies (1992)

Grazing Current HighThis Study, Jusaitis(1991)

Fragmentation Current HighThis Study, Jusaitis(1991)

Inappropriate Fire Regime Current High This Study


Weeds - Perennial VeldtGrass Current Low This Study

Recreational Activities Current LowThis Study, Davies(1992)

Illegal Collection Current LowThis Study, Davies(1992), Jusaitis (1991)

Vegetation Clearance Potential Low Jusaitis (1991)


Threats relevant to this species vary in severity and importance at the knownpopulations. Threats of a medium or high risk to all four populations include: Bridal Creeper and annual grasses (especially Wild Oats, Silver Grass and

Annual Veldt Grass) are threatening all populations. African Boxthorn is a minorthreat at populations 1 and 2, and Perennial Veldt Grass is a threat at population4.

Lack of recruitment is threatening all populations. Grazing by kangaroos and rabbits (and/or hares) is threatening all populations. Fragmentation is a threat to all populations. Inappropriate fire regimes are a threat to all populations. Inadequate knowledge of the ecology and threats is an issue relevant to all

populations.


128



Table 38. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Prostanthera eurybioides.






3. Obtain accurate baselinedata and maps of all knownpopulation locations withinsix months of starting thisplan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

Done

Medium

Done

NA

NA

NA



RPO Done NA




RPO

RPO

High

High

All

NA





RPO

RPO

RPO

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA


129





BMA, RPO NA NA



BMA, RPO NA NA




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

NA

NA

NA

NA





RPO High 2, 1, 4, 5, 3



RPO Low 4


130


1. Reduction in theabundance ofenvironmental weedspecies including AfricanBoxthorn and annualgrasses so that they are nolonger directly impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.

RPO High 2, 1, 4, 5, 3


1. Bridal Creeper rust and/orleaf hoppers to beintroduced to 50% of themost severely infested siteswithin two years of startingthis plan and 100% of thesesites by September 2008.

RPO High 2, 1, 4, 5, 3





RPO, RE High 2, 1, 4, 5, 3



2. Rabbit control programs tobe initiated at sites whererabbit grazing is occurringwithin two and a half yearsof starting the plan, with a100% reduction in rabbitwarrens within 400m of thepopulation within five yearsof starting the plan. Wherepossible this should beimplemented as part of aregional control program.


RPO

RPO

RPO

Medium

Medium

Medium

2, 1, 4, 5

2, 1, 4, 5, 3

2, 1, 4, 5, 3


131





BMA, RPO NA NA


1. Fence areas to preventimpacts from recreationalactivities at populationsunder threat by June 2008.

2. Erect appropriate signageto indicate importantvegetation is beingconserved within relevantareas within three years ofstarting the plan.

RPO

RPO

NA

Low

NA

4, 5


1. Soil sampling forPhytophthora testing to beconducted at suspect siteswithin three years ofstarting the plan.

2. If following soil samplingPhytophthora is found atsites, erect appropriatesignage and undertakeappropriate managementactions to reduce the risk ofspread within four years ofstarting the plan.

RPO

RPO

Low

High

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable



2. Provide advice on thedistribution and criticalhabitat of this species toorganisations governingvegetation clearance andland disposal.

BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

High

High

4, 5

NA


132






RPO, RE

RPO

High

High

NA

2, 1, 4, 5, 3



RPO, RPT High NA



RPO Medium NA






RPT

RPO

RPT

RPT

Medium

High

High

Medium

NA

NA

NA

NA







133



BGA, RPO Medium NA





1. Initiate suitablerevegetation projects toestablish buffer zonesaround existing populationswhere needed within threeyears of starting the plan.

BMA, RPO,HMRE

High 4, 3, 1, 2, 5




RPO, BGA

RPO, BGA

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable



RPO, RPT Medium 3, 2, 1, 4, 5



BMA, RPO,HMRE

Medium All



8.1 Encourage further researchinto the ecology of thisspecies.


RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

High NA


134







RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

RPO

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable














135








RPO, RPT, BMA,DEH

High NA




RPO

RPO

High

Done

NA

NA



RPO High NA


136

8. Pterostylis arenicola (Sandhill Greenhood Orchid)



Table 39. Status of Pterostylis arenicola.

Scientificname

Synonym Commonname

EPBC Act1999


BotanicalRegion Status(Lang andKraehenbuehl2002)

Pterostylisarenicola

none SandhillGreenhoodOrchid




Table 40. IUCN Assessment for Pterostylis arenicola.

Species Pterostylis arenicola


Vulnerable VU B1ab(iii)


10. B1. Extent of occurrence estimated to be less than20,000km2, and

11. B1a. population is severely fragmented, and known to existat no more than 10 locations, and

12. B1b(iii). a projected continuing decline in quality of habitat


In order to down list this species from vulnerable to nearthreatened progress needs to be made in the following areas: the quality of habitat needs to be improved to continue to

allow successful recruitment to occur

Five year targets

In five years time the target for this species is to: reduce the abundance of priority threats at all priority 1

populations so that they are no longer directly impacting onthose sites

increase the knowledge on distribution, abundance andpopulation trends so that a re-assessment of theconservation status of this species can occur

Ten year targets

In ten years time the target for this species is to: reduce the abundance of priority threats at all populations

so that they are no longer directly impacting on those sites


137

Description

Pterostylis arenicola is described as a solitary, tuberous terrestrial herb, with a basalrosette of leaves which are usually senescent at flowering (Bates and Weber 1990).It is similar to Pterostylis boormanii, with the main differences being P. arenicola haslonger lateral sepals with less pronounced marginal thickening and a longer labellumwith numerous setae on a distinct basal lobe (Clements and Jones 1991).


Figure 16a & b. Pterostylis arenicola. a) flowering plants, b) flowers.


Pterostylis arenicola is endemic to South Australia and in 1991 was considered to berestricted to less than 1% of its original distribution (Bates and Weber 1990), howevermore populations have since been found. Populations are present at Tailem Bend,Grange (suburban Adelaide), Potter’s Scrub in the Coorong National Park and Poltalloch (near Meningie) (Jusaitis and Sorensen 1997).

The current study located populations at Tailem Bend, Grange, Potter’s Scrub in the Coorong National Park, Poltalloch and other locations on the Narrung Peninsula.

Of the nine populations recorded during this field survey, two are conserved inNational Parks, one is conserved in a council reserve, one is conserved in a HeritageAgreement and five are not conserved. Three new populations (that were previouslyunrecorded in government databases) were recorded during this survey.

The distribution of P. arenicola is shown in Figure 17.




Given that P. arenicola is listed as vulnerable it is considered that all known habitat iscritical to the survival of the species. Recovery actions include surveying for furtherpopulations that would lead to the identification of additional habitat critical to thesurvival of the species. All habitat that is critical to the survival of this species in theSA MDB is mapped in Figure 17.

2cm


138


South of Tailem Bend, Pterostylis arenicola grows on a very gentle south-west facingslope of an undulating plain, in sand and sandy loam with a pH of 7 to 7.5. Soils arereddish brown when dry and dark reddish brown when wet. Pterostylis arenicolagrowing in the Adelaide suburb of West Lakes occurs on pale red sand on sandhills(R. Bates pers. comm. cited in Davies 1992).


Previous studies:

Pterostylis arenicola is described by Jusaitis (1991) and Davies (1992) as beingpresent within the following vegetation association:

Callitris preissii woodland with an understorey of grasslands in dry to semi-arid areas.

Current study:

This study found P. arenicola growing within the following vegetation associations;

Eucalyptus porosa/Allocasuarina verticillata woodland Acacia pycnantha +/- Allocasuarina verticillata very low woodland Callitris preissii +/- Allocasuarina verticillata woodland

When a mid-storey was present in these vegetation associations it was dominated bythe following species (in alphabetical order);

- Acacia pycnantha- Rhagodia candolleana- Xanthorrhoea caespitosa

The understorey was often dominated by exotic species but did include the followingnative species (in alphabetical order);

- Austrostipa sp.- Danthonia sp.- Einadia nutans- Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa- Isolepis nodosa- Muehlenbeckia gunnii- Senecio lautus- Tetragona tetragonioides- Wahlenbergia sp.

Eucalyptus diversifolia +/- Acacia pycnantha +/- Allocasuarina verticillatamallee

Dominant species in the understorey of this association included (in alphabeticalorder);

- Clematis microphylla- Dianella revoluta var. revoluta- Hakea rostrata- Hibbertia sericea


139

- Kennedia prostrata- Lepidosperma carphoides- Lepidosperma viscidum- Microseris lanceolata- Tetragona tetragonioides- Thomasia petalocalyx

Climate

Temperature and rainfall data from the weather stations at Meningie and TailemBend, the closest weather stations to populations of P. arenicola, have been obtainedfrom the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website.(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/) (December 2004).

The mean annual rainfall is 467.4 mm at Meningie and 375.8 mm at Tailem Bend. AtMeningie, the average maximum and minimum temperatures in January are 25.8 ºCand 13.8 ºC respectively, and the average maximum and minimum temperatures inJune are 15.5 ºC and 7 ºC respectively. At Tailem Bend the average maximum andminimum temperatures in January are 29.6 ºC and 13.8 ºC respectively, and theaverage maximum and minimum temperatures in June are 16.3 ºC and 6.2 ºCrespectively.


The distribution of P. arenicola, including all populations of importance in the SAMDB (including the Grange Population), is shown in Figure 17.

Table 41. Important populations of Pterostylis arenicola in the SA MDB.

Priorityorder

forwork

PopulationNumber



plants

No. oftranslocated


Area ofoccupancy

(m2)

1 4

HeritageAgreement,Meningie 89760* 0 89760* 1600000

1 2Coorong NP,

Meningie 3078 0 3078 8799

1 6

Grange GolfCourse,Adelaide 104 0 104 450

1 3

PrivateProperty,Meningie 96 0 96 1450

1 5

Tailem BendForest

ConservationPark, Tailem

Bend 92 0 92 3500

2 8

PrivateProperty,Narrung 51 0 51 325

2 7



140

Priorityorder

forwork

PopulationNumber



plants

No. oftranslocated


Area ofoccupancy

(m2)

2 9


3 1

PangarindaArboretum,Wellington 0 8 8 100

Total 93,257 8 93,265* - estimate based on transect surveys


141


142


Previous Work on the Conservation of P. arenicola

The need to conserve this species has been highlighted in the following reports;


Davies (1995) Threatened Plant Species Management in National Parks &Wildlife Act Reserves in South Australia.

Jusaitis (1991) Recovery Plans: Prostanthera eurybioides; Pterostylisarenicola; Acacia cretacea; Pultenaea trichophylla. Australian National Parksand Wildlife Service (ANPWS) Endangered Species Program, Project #151.

Jusaitis and Sorensen (1994) Conservation studies on endangered plantspecies from South Australian agricultural regions.

Whilst P. arenicola has been included within the reports listed above it appears thatnot all recommendations contained within these reports have been implemented.

Within South Australia prior conservation effort directed toward this species hasfocused on the Grange population in Adelaide. TPAG has conducted working bees atthis population for many years, with weed control being the main focus.

No seed or mycorrhizal fungi for P. arenicola are currently in long or short-termstorage. The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH incollaboration with the Millennium Seed Bank Project (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,England) will begin collecting orchid seed for storage in 2005, subject to funding (P.Ainsley, pers. comm.). The isolation and storage of mycorrhizal fungi will also bedependant on the availability of resources and expertise.


This species is deciduous after fruit is produced with the underground tuberoidscontinuing the life-cycle after an annual period of dormancy (Bates and Weber 1990).A new stem is produced from the apical bud within the tuberoid over the wintermonths (Jones 1988). The flowering season is from September to December (Batesand Weber 1990) and seed matures between November and December (Jusaitis1991).

Flowers of P. arenicola are pollinated by fungus gnats (Mycetophilids) (R.Bates pers.comm. cited in Davies 1992).

Past Research

Propagation requirements for both in vitro and in situ propagation of Pterostylisarenicola have been investigated by Jusaitis and Sorensen (1994). In vitro seedgermination was optimal when seed was incubated together with mycorrhizal fungusat 23 C in the dark on oatmeal medium. Conditions required for successful in situgermination suggested that the presence of Casuarina needles may provide somedegree of desiccation protection for both the seed and mycorrhizal fungus. Directseeding trials were undertaken within small plots cleared of vegetation by hand. Seedwas mixed with finely sieved peat moss and sprinkled into grooves which were thenlightly backfilled and patted by hand. Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungus was then


143

carried out using a light spray with the fungus suspension in distilled water. Thesetrials were unsuccessful with only one seedling emerging.



Table 42. Current and potential threats to Pterostylis arenicola in the SA MDB.



Weeds - Bridal Creeper Current HighThis Study, Jusaitis andSorensen (1997)

Inappropriate Fire Regime Current High This Study



Grazing Current MediumThis Study, Jusaitis andSorensen (1997)

Other Disturbance Current Medium This StudyWeeds - Perennial VeldtGrass Current Medium

This Study, R. Daviespers. comm.

Weeds–Other Current LowThis Study, Jusaitis andSorensen (1997)

Trampling Current LowThis Study, Davies(1992), Jusaitis (1991)

Fragmentation Current Low This Study

Lack of formal protection Current Low This Study


Illegal Collection Potential LowDavies (1992), Jusaitis(1991)


Threats relevant to this species vary in severity and importance at the knownpopulations. Threats of a medium or high risk include: Perennial Veldt Grass is a threat at all populations. Bridal Creeper is threatening

all populations, except for population 6. Annual grasses (especially Hare’s Tail Grass, Wild Oats, Silver Grass and Annual Veldt Grass) are threateningpopulations 2-8, and African Boxthorn is a minor threat at populations 2-5 and 9.

Grazing by kangaroos is considered to be a minor threat at population 4, withrabbits and/or hares being a threat at populations 2-5 and 7-8. Cattle grazing is athreat at populations 7 and 8.

Inadequate fire regime is a threat to populations 2-5 and 8. Knowledge on the distribution and abundance of the species is relevant to all

populations.


144

Knowledge on the ecology and threats to the species is relevant to allpopulations.

Other disturbance is a threat at population 5. During the field survey carried outfor this project during 2004, it was observed on later site visits that many rosettesthat were observed on earlier site visits had disappeared. It is still unknown whatcaused the disappearance of these plant, but possibilities include illegalcollection or digging out by White-winged Choughs. Monitoring of this populationneeds to occur to determine what is causing this.



Table 43. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Pterostylis arenicola.







4. Verify population numbers atsites where additional timesurveying would providemore accurate populationestimates within two years ofstarting this plan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

RPO

Done

Medium

Done

High

NA

NA

NA

4, 2, 5



RPO Done NA




RPO

RPO

High

High

All

NA


145





RPO

RPO

RPO

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA





BMA, RPO NA NA



BMA, RPO Medium 6, 7, 8, 9, 3




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

NA

NA

NA

NA





RPO High 4, 2, 5, 3, 8, 7,9, 1


146



RPO High 4, 5, 6, 3, 8, 7,9, 1


1. Reduction in theabundance ofenvironmental weedspecies including AfricanBoxthorn and annualgrasses so that they are nolonger directly impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.

RPO Low 4, 2, 5, 6, 3, 8,7, 1


1. Bridal Creeper rust and/orleaf hoppers to beintroduced to 50% of themost severely infested siteswithin two years of startingthis plan and 100% of thesesites within three years ofstarting this plan.

RPO High 4, 2, 5, 3, 8, 7,9





RPO, RE Medium NA


1. Appropriate fencing/cagingto be erected aroundspecific populations orindividuals under threatfrom grazing within twoyears of starting this plan.


RPO

RPO

Low

High

4 (part), 2(part), 5(part),3, 8, 7, 9,

4, 2, 5, 3, 8, 7,9,


147


4. Discuss the possibility ofremoving cattle from siteswhere grazing of remnantvegetation is occurring withrelevant landholders.

RPO

RPO, BMA

Medium

Medium

4, 2, 5, 3, 8, 7,9,

8, 7





BMA, RPO NA NA




3. Undertake monitoring ofpopulations where unknownthreats are impacting on thepopulation within one yearof starting this plan.

RPO

RPO

RPO

NA

Low

Medium

NA

5, 2

5




RPO

RPO

Low

High

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable


148




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Low

Low

3, 8, 7, 9

NA






RPO, RE

RPO

High

High

NA

4, 2, 5, 6, 3, 8,7, 9, 1



RPO, RPT High NA



RPO Medium NA






RPT

RPO

RPT

RPT

Medium

High

High

Medium

NA

NA

NA

NA


149




1. Seeds and mycorrhizalfungi from representativenatural populations to becollected and stored withinone year of starting thisplan at the Botanic Gardensof Adelaide SeedConservation Centre, DEH(dependant on successfulseed set).




BGA, RPO Medium NA






BMA, RPO,HMRE

Low Whereapplicable




RPO, BGA

RPO, BGA

Low

Low

NA

Whereapplicable



RPO, RPT NA NA



BMA, RPO,HMRE

Low 2, 3, 8, 7, 9


150





3. Research into the impactsof inappropriate stockgrazing on this speciesinitiated within one year ofstarting this plan.



Medium

High

NA

7,9



RPO, RPT, RE Medium NA




RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

RPO

Low

Low

NA

Whereapplicable






151
















RPO, RPT, BMA,DEH

High NA




RPO

RPO

High

Done

NA

NA



RPO High NA


152

9. Thelymitra epipactoides (Metallic Sun-orchid)



Table 44. Status of Thelymitra epipactoides.

Scientificname

Synonym Commonname

EPBC Act1999


BotanicalRegion Status(Lang andKraehenbuehl2002)


none MetallicSun-orchid

Endangered Endangered Endangered(MU)



Table 45. IUCN Assessment for Thelymitra epipactoides.

Species Thelymitra epipactoides


Critically Endangered CR C2a(i)


13. C. Population size estimated to number fewer than 250mature individuals, and

14. C2. continuing decline projected in numbers of matureindividuals, and

15. C2a(i). no subpopulation estimated to contain more than 50mature individuals


In order to down list this species from critically endangered toendangered progress needs to be made in the following areas: recruitment of individuals needs to be increased understanding of why recruitment is not occurring needs to

be improved through targeted research additional potential and critical habitat needs to be

surveyed to find new populations the quality of habitat needs to be improved to continue to

allow successful recruitment to occur


153

Five year targets


over 150 increase our knowledge of the ecology of this species,



Ten year targets


over 250 aim to consistently count over 150 individuals from years 5

to 10 of this plan. 150 individuals has been chosen to takeinto account the extreme fluctuations in populationnumbers that this species experiences

increase our knowledge of the ecology of this species,particularly in relation to recruitment so that managementactions have been implemented to increase recruitment atall populations

reduce the abundance of priority threats at all populationsso that they are no longer directly impacting on those sites

Description

Thelymitra epipactoides has a robust habit and grows to a height of 21-52 cm. Asingle leaf is produced which is long, fleshy, lanceolate and tubular at the base on astem which has 1-2 bracts that are leafy (Jessop and Toelken 1986).

Racemes have between 6 and 18 flowers that are 20-25 mm in diameter, pedicellate,usually of a peculiar iridescent greyish-green colour with pinkish tints, sometimesbrown with a metallic lustre. Perianth segments are ovate-lanceolate, 10-11 mm long,the column is widely winged, with hair-tufts white, and turned upwards. The segmentbetween the hair-tufts is deeply 3-lobed, the post-anther lobe is incurved, irregularlyfinely toothed at the top and reaching a higher level than the adjacent ones. Thelateral lobes are finely toothed, with oblique tips, passing upwards and inwards andoften interlocking like the fingers of 2 hands. The anthers are concealed behind thestigma with the exception of the anther point. The stigma is situated well below themiddle of the column (Jessop and Toelken 1986).


154

a. Photo: Matt Rose b. Photo: Matt Rose

Figure 18a & b. Thelymitra epipactoides. a) flower spikes, b) flowers.


Thelymitra epipactoides has a scattered distribution with populations being recordedin the Murraylands, Eyre Peninsula and the South East (Jessop and Toelken 1986).This species was also present within the Southern Mt. Lofty Ranges but it is nowconsidered extinct in this area. Populations also occur interstate in Victoria (Jessopand Toelken 1986).

The current study found populations of T. epipactoides located around the towns ofMurray Bridge, Tailem Bend, Coonalpyn and Meningie within the SA MDB.

Of the ten populations recorded during this field survey, two are conserved inNational Parks, one is conserved in a council reserve, two are conserved in HeritageAgreements and five are not conserved. Six new populations (that were previouslyunrecorded in government databases) were recorded during this survey.

The distribution of T. epipactoides is shown in Figure 19.




Given that T. epipactoides is listed as endangered it is considered that all knownhabitat is critical to the survival of the species. Recovery actions include surveying forfurther populations that would lead to the identification of additional habitat critical tothe survival of the species. All habitat that is critical to the survival of this species inthe SA MDB area is mapped in Figure 19.


The soils and topography that T. epipactoides are found on vary substantiallybetween locations. In the Murray Mallee and Upper South East soil types where T.epipactoides grow vary from sands, sandy loams and loamy sands of pH 6.5 to 8.5,which were brown, strong brown, or dark brown when dry and dark yellowish brown,

1cm


155

dark brown, or very dark brown when wet. The populations in these areas were foundon undulating plains, crests of hills, on gentle slopes of low broad ridges facing anortherly direction and at the bottom of broad, shallow swales (Davies 1992).

Herbarium specimens report that collections of T. epipactoides from the Lower SouthEast were from stony slopes and red gum flats and collections from the EyrePeninsula were from slopes of quartzite hills.

Calder et al. (1989) report that populations of T. epipactoides growing in Victoriawere observed on duplex sandy loams overlying a brown or red coloured, sometimesyellow-grey clay and occasionally on sands to 1 m with a uniform texture and nearblack to pale grey in colour. The pH of the more waterlogged soils was generallyneutral (pH 6-7.5) and drier sites with improved drainage were slightly acidic (pH 5.6-6.3).


Previous studies:

Davies (1992 and various personal communications therein) has summarised thedifferent vegetation associations for T. epipactoides.

In the Murray Mallee T. epipactoides grows in the following vegetation association:

Melaleuca uncinata open heath with an understorey of Lepidospermaviscidum

Callitris preissii woodland

In the Upper South East T. epipactoides grows within many varying vegetationassociations, including:

Eucalyptus leucoxylon low open woodland Eucalyptus diversifolia +/- E. incrassata +/- E. leptophylla tall shrubland Eucalyptus leptophylla sparse shrubland Eucalyptus camaldulensis woodland Hakea rugosa/Allocasuarina pusilla/Melaleuca brevifolia open heath Leptospermum continentale/Allocasuarina muelleriana/Hakea sp./Dillwynia

sericea/Calytrix tetragona heathland Sedgeland

It was noted that populations of T. epipactoides occurring on the Eyre Peninsulagrow in association with species including Eucalyptus cladocalyx, Lissanthe strigosaand Melaleuca uncinata.

In Victoria vegetation associations with T. epipactoides include open areas betweenclosed-scrub, grasslands and sedgelands, woodland, and scrubby coastal heath.Dominant species within these associations may include Leucopogon parviflorus,Leptospermum continentale, Xanthorrhoea spp. Banksia marginata, Eucalyptusdumosa, E. incrassata, E. leptophylla, E. viridis, Themeda triandra, Poa poiformis,Callitris preissii, Baumea juncea and Acacia calamifolia.


156

Current study:

Thelymitra epipactoides was found within the following vegetation associations;

Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. stephaniae +/- Eucalyptus diversifolia openwoodland


- Acacia pycnantha- Baeckea behrii- Banksia marginata- Banksia ornata- Bursaria spinosa- Correa reflexa- Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima- Leptospermum myrsinoides- Xanthorrhoea caespitosa


- Austrostipa sp.- Astroloma conostephioides- Carpobrotus rossii- Dampiera rosmarinifolia- Hibbertia exutiacies- Isopogon ceratophyllus- Kunzea pomifera- Lepidosperma carphoides- Lepidosperma viscidum- Microseris lanceolata

Callitris preissii/Allocasuarina verticillata woodland


- Acacia ligulata- Bursaria spinosa- Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima


- Austrostipa sp.- Dampiera dysantha- Danthonia sp.- Kunzea pomifera- Lepidosperma carphoides- Lomandra micrantha

Eucalyptus diversifolia +/- Allocasuarina verticillata +/- Acacia pycnantha lowwoodland


- Banksia marginata


157

- Bursaria spinosa- Lasiopetalum behrii- Melaleuca lanceolata- Senna artemisioides ssp. petiolaris- Xanthorrhoea caespitosa


- Astroloma conostephioides- Austrostipa sp.- Boronia coerulescens ssp. coerulescens- Carpobrotus rossii- Clematis microphylla- Dianella revoluta var. revoluta- Hakea rostrata- Kunzea pomifera- Lepidosperma carphoides- Lepidosperma viscidum- Microseris lanceolata- Thomasia petalocalyx

Climate

Temperature and rainfall data from the weather stations at Meningie and TailemBend, the closest weather stations to populations of T. epipactoides, have beenobtained from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website.(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/) (December 2004).

The mean annual rainfall is 467.4 mm at Meningie and 375.8 mm at Tailem Bend. AtMeningie, the average maximum and minimum temperatures in January are 25.8 ºCand 13.8 ºC respectively, and the average maximum and minimum temperatures inJune are 15.5 ºC and 7 ºC respectively. At Tailem Bend the average maximum andminimum temperatures in January are 29.6 ºC and 13.8 ºC respectively, and theaverage maximum and minimum temperatures in June are 16.3 ºC and 6.2 ºCrespectively.


The abundance of T. epipactoides at several sites in Victoria is related to theregularity of disturbance events (Cropper, 1993). The species is an earlysuccessional post-disturbance coloniser, with suitable disturbance events includinganimal scratching, death of a plant, human activities or fire (Cropper, 1993). Burningduring the dormant phase of T. epipactoides (summer/autumn) has been found tobreak dormancy and result in an increase in flower production (Beardsell andParsons 1980, 1986, in Davies 1992). Fire also reduces competition from shrubs andgrasses whilst providing suitable open sites for seedling establishment. Following afire there is a dramatic increase in recruitment several yeas after the fire (Cropper,1993). Furthermore, a fast, hot burn is also more beneficial for this species comparedwith a slow smouldering burn as a prolonged burn is more likely to damage the roottuberoid which is located just below the soil surface (Cropper, 1993).


158


The distribution of T. epipactoides, including all populations of importance in the SAMDB, is shown in Figure 19.

Table 46. Important populations of Thelymitra epipactoides in the SA MDB.

Priorityorder

forwork

PopulationNumber



plants

No. oftranslocated


Area ofoccupancy

(m2)

1 4

CouncilReserve,Meningie 28 0 28 100000

1 7Coorong NP,

Meningie 19 0 19 75

1 1


1 6

PrivateProperty,

Tailem Bend 16 0 16 1600

2 10Messent CP,Salt Creek 4 0 4 8

2 8

PrivateProperty,Meningie 4 0 4 100

2 5


3 2

CouncilReserve,


3 3

PrivateProperty,

Coonalpyn 1 0 1 1

3 9

PrivateProperty,

Tailem Bend 1 0 1 1Total 89 0 89


159


160


Previous Work on the Conservation of T. epipactoides

Efforts to conserve T. epipactoides have been undertaken, with results highlighted inthe following publications;

Beardsell, C. and Parsons, R. (1980, 1986) A Register of Rare andEndangered Native Plant Species in Victoria. A. Summary. Thelymitraepipactoides. Department of Botany, La Trobe University, Melbourne.(Unpublished).

Calder, D.M, Cropper, S.C. and Tonkinson, D. (1989). The ecology ofThelymitra epipactoides F. Muell. (Orchidaceae) in Victoria, Australia, and theimplications for management of the species. Australian Journal of Botany, 37:19-32.


Cropper, S.C. (1993) Management of endangered plants. CSIRO, Victoria. Davies (1995) Threatened Plant Species Management in National Parks &

Wildlife Act Reserves in South Australia. Cutten, J. & Squire, E. (2002) Messent Conservation Park, Senecio

macrocarpus and Thelymitra epipactoides Survey. NPWS SA, South EastRegion.

Cutten, J. & Squire, E. (2003) Messent Conservation Park, 2002 Post-fireSurvey of Senecio macrocarpus and Thelymitra epipactoides. NPWS SA,South East Region.

Cutten, J. & Squire, E. (2004) Internal Report. Messent Conservation Park2003 Post-fire Survey of Senecio macrocarpus and Thelymitra epipactoides.NPWS SA, South East Region.

Thelymitra epipactoides is also included in a recovery plan and project on 25threatened flora species on the Eyre Peninsula, and in a national recovery plan;


Coates, F., Jeanes, J. and Pritchard, A. (2002). Recovery plan for twenty-fivethreatened orchid taxa of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales2003-2007. Department for Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

No seed or mycorrhizal fungi for T. epipactoides are currently in long or short-termstorage. The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH incollaboration with the Millennium Seed Bank Project (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,England) will begin collecting orchid seed for storage in 2005, subject to funding (P.Ainsley, pers. comm.). The isolation and storage of mycorrhizal fungi will also bedependant on the availability of resources and expertise.


Thelymitra epipactoides flowers during the period September to November (Jessopand Toelken 1986), but has also been recorded flowering during August (Herbariumspecimen, Adelaide Herbarium). Seed is set during December and plants aredormant between the end of December and February (pers. comm. in Davies, 1991).


161

Past Research

A summary of reproductive biology work on T. epipactoides by Davies (1992) citingnumerous personal communications provides the following information. Flowers of T.epipactoides remain for up to four weeks but wither a week after pollination. Plantscan produce flowers from their second year of growth onwards for up to fourconsecutive years, but no more (Calder et al. 1989). Individual plants can remaindormant for up to 2 years then grow to produce flowers. However, if dormant for fouryears or more, plants generally do not reappear (Calder et al. 1989). Native bees(species unsure) are the only visiting insect species to act as pollen vectors (Calderet al. 1989). The mycorrhizal fungi, Tulasnella asymmetrica, is required to initiatesuccessful seed germination and seeds tend to be short lived (Calder et al. 1989).Thelymitra epipactoides is a species that reproduces almost exclusively from seedthat is dispersed to sites where soil or community disturbance has occurred (Calderet al. 1989).

The abundance of T. epipactoides at several sites in Victoria is related to eitherburning or, if vegetation is mature, to clearly defined gaps such as path margins(Beardsell and Parsons 1980, 1986, in Davies 1992). Burning during the dormantphase of T. epipactoides has been found to break dormancy and result in anincrease in flower production (Beardsell and Parsons 1980, 1986, in Davies 1992).



Table 47. Current and potential threats to Thelymitra epipactoides in the SA MDB.



Lack of Recruitment Current High This Study

Grazing Current HighThis Study, Davies(1992)

Fragmentation Current HighThis Study, Davies(1992)

Inappropriate Fire Regime Current HighThis Study, Davies(1992)


Inadequate Knowledge ofEcology and Threats Current High This StudyRoad/Rail MaintenanceActivities Potential High This Study

Weeds - Perennial VeldtGrass Current High

This Study, Barrie(2003)

Weeds - Bridal Creeper Current Medium This Study

Lack of formal protection Current Medium This Study


162



Weeds–Other Current LowThis Study, Davies(1992), Barrie (2003)

Recreational Activities Current LowThis Study, Davies(1992)

Other Disturbances egrubbish dumping, flooding,bees Current Low This Study

Illegal Collection Current LowThis Study, Davies(1992)

Trampling Current LowThis Study, Davies(1992)

Dieback and Phytophthora Potential Low This studyVegetation Clearance Potential Low This study


Threats relevant to this species vary in severity and importance at the knownpopulations. Threats of a medium or high risk include: Lack of recruitment is relevant to all populations. Grazing or nipping off of leaves and flowers is threatening all populations. The

herbivores identified include deer, rabbits (and/or hares), kangaroos andinvertebrates. Kangaroos and rabbits (and/or hares) are known to be causinggrazing damage at populations 2, 5-6 and 7. The herbivores causing this damageat other populations are likely to include deer, rabbits (and/or hares), kangaroos,and invertebrates.

Fragmentation is a threat to all populations. Inappropriate fire regime threatens all populations. Knowledge on the distribution and abundance of the species is relevant to all

populations. Knowledge on the ecology and threats to the species is relevant to all

populations. Lack of formal protection is considered to be at threat to populations 3-4, 6, 8 and

9. Bridal Creeper and Perennial Veldt Grass are threatening populations 1, 2 and 4-

6. Wild Turnip is a threat at population 7, Capeweed at population 2, andpopulation 4 is threatened by Pine trees, Gazania, False Caper and severalwoody weeds.


163



Table 48. Recovery actions and performance criteria for Thelymitra epipactoides.







RPO

RPO

RPO

Done

Medium

Done

NA

NA

NA



RPO Done NA




RPO

RPO

High

High

All

NA





RPO

RPO

RPO

High

High

High

NA

NA

NA


164





BMA, RPO High 4



BMA, RPO Medium 6, 8, 3, 9




BMA, RPO

BMA, RPO

Medium

High

4

4





RPO Medium 4, 6, 7, 1, 5, 2



RPO High 4, 6, 7, 1, 5, 2


165


1. Reduction in theabundance ofenvironmental weedspecies including WildTurnip, Capeweed, Pinetrees, Gazania, FalseCaper and several woodyweeds so that they are nolonger directly impactingupon priority populationswithin two years of startingthis plan.

RPO Low 4, 7, 2


1. Bridal Creeper rust and/orleaf hoppers to beintroduced to 50% of themost severely infested siteswithin two years of startingthis plan, and 100% ofthese sites by September2008.

RPO Medium 2, 5, 7, 1





RPO, RE High NA


1. Appropriate fencing/cagingto be erected aroundspecific populations orindividuals under threatfrom grazing within twoyears of starting this plan.Cage smaller populationsor individuals wherenecessary.


RPO

RPO

High

High

4, 7, 1, 10, 8,5, 2, 3, 9

7, 6, 5, 2


166


4. Deer control programs tobe initiated at sites wheredeer grazing is within threeyears of starting this plan.

RPO

RPO

High

High

7, 6, 5, 2

10





BMA, RPO NA NA

5.2 Discourage activities suchas illegal collection,trampling and inappropriaterecreational activities, inparticular trail bike riding.



RPO

RPO

Low

Low

4

4, 2




RPO

RPO

Low

High

Whereapplicable

Whereapplicable



BMA, RPO High 4, 6, 8, 3, 9


167


BMA, RPO Low NA






RPO, RE

RPO

High

High

NA

4, 7, 1, 6, 8, 5,2, 3, 9



RPO, RPT High NA



RPO Medium NA






RPT

RPO

RPT

RPT

Medium

High

High

Medium

NA

NA

NA

NA


168




1. Seeds and mycorrhizalfungi from representativenatural populations to becollected and stored withinone year of starting thisplan at the Botanic Gardensof Adelaide SeedConservation Centre, DEH(dependant on successfulseed set). A proportion ofthis seed needs to be setaside for reintroduction in7.6.2.




BGA, RPO Medium NA






BMA, RPO,HMRE

Low Whereapplicable




RPO, BGA

RPO, BGA

Low

Low

NA

Whereapplicable



2. Collected seed to bereintroduced at sites wherepopulation numbers are atcritically low levels withinthree years of starting thisplan. Seed to be sownduring the followinggermination season tominimise predation of seedby soil invertebrates andboost recruitment.

RPO, RPT

RPO

Low

Low

2, 3, 9, 5, 8

8, 5, 2, 3, 9


169



BMA, RPO,HMRE

NA NA





RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

High NA







RPO, RPT, RE,HMRE

RPO

High

High

NA

Whereapplicable






170
















RPO, RPT, BMA,DEH

High NA




RPO

RPO

High

Done

NA

NA



RPO High NA


171

Part D: Management Practices

It is important for the long-term effectiveness of a recovery plan that any proposeddevelopment activities or current management issues that may have a significant andnegative impact upon the species covered in this plan are carefully considered.

One major development being proposed in the Monarto area is a composting facilityand the associated road widening along Ferries-McDonald Road. The road is beingwidened to allow easier and safer access for trucks to access the facility. Monartoand Ferries-McDonald Conservation Parks and significant stands of roadsidevegetation occur along this road, and these vegetation areas would be under threat ifthe road is widened. There are records of Acacia rhetinocarpa, Thelymitraepipactoides and Caladenia colorata from within these parks, and the vegetation thatwould be cleared could be considered as potential habitat for these species. Thecomposting facility itself should not impact on any of the species mentioned above,however the road widening associated with the development has the potential tohave a significant impact on these species. From a threatened species point of viewit is recommended that no clearance of vegetation take place for road widening inthis area and that an alternative route be found, or that the road not be widened.

Aside from this, there were no other proposed development activities identified duringthe writing of this recovery plan that would directly affect the nine species includedwithin this plan. However, the plan has been structured so that populations ofthreatened plants will be protected from any future development activities. Forexample, populations of threatened plant species within roadside vegetation havebeen highlighted for protection under the roadside marker scheme.

Current management practices for each species have been identified in this plan asfar as possible. These management practices have been prioritised with the goal ofprotecting threatened plant populations to avoid the possibility of extinction, to restoreand protect habitat that is critical to the survival of each species, and to manage andreduce the impact of threatening processes. Where a lack of knowledge hasprevented specific management practices from being identified, the plan hasidentified this and actions have been established to gain the required information. Forexample, where current baseline information on species is limited, actions within thisplan include further survey work to identify any additional populations and documenttheir distribution, to establish current demographic processes, and to identifythreatening processes. Other actions include conducting research where informationon factors such as seed germination and recruitment is limited. Acquiring suchinformation is essential in order to develop management strategies that will beeffective in conserving each species.

The management practises included within this plan are focussed on in situmanagement to directly aid in the conservation of current populations. However,where population numbers are critically low or have the potential to become criticallylow, provision has been made within this plan for ex situ management practises.These include seed storage and cultivation of ex situ populations to provide a furtherseed source or to provide a source of plants if translocation becomes essential forpopulation survival. In order to maximise the impact of management practises onpopulation conservation, actions within this plan include monitoring of populations toidentify any further threats and to assess the effectiveness of current actions.Through monitoring, modification of actions can be implemented to further streamlineconservation efforts.


172

Part E: Duration of Recovery Plan and EstimatedCosts

Resource Allocation

Four species included within this regional recovery plan, Acacia pinguifolia,Phebalium lowanense, Prostanthera eurybioides and Thelymitra epipactoides areeach the subject of a national recovery plan. Cost estimates for those actions withinthis recovery plan which are also to be undertaken as part of these national recoveryplans are therefore potentially an overestimate. It will be the responsibility of therecovery team and the recovery project officer to liaise with the national recoveryteams to ensure there is no overlap or doubling up of efforts with regard to specificactions.

Duration and Costs

Three separate budget scenarios have been prepared for this recovery plan for a fiveyear period. They are based on the following scenarios:

1. Maintain threatened species at their current abundance and status throughlimited action.

2. Improve the status and abundance of threatened species through increasedaction.

3. No action taken to manage threatened species with a consequent decline instatus and abundance.

The aim of the first budget is to maintain threatened species at their current statusrather than aiming at species recovery. In this scenario costs are anticipated to beongoing indefinitely with no reduction over time. The aim of the second budget is toimprove the status and abundance of threatened species. Downgrading of the IUCNrating is the long term goal. This scenario may require more funding and inputs in theshort term, but should over time decrease as the results of management actions arerealised and consolidated. The third scenario has no funding being directed tomanagement of threatened species from the SA MDB INRM Group or DEH.Estimates of potential funding from external sources such as Envirofund, ThreatenedSpecies Network or Local Action Planning Groups have been given, but it should beemphasised that these funding sources are not guaranteed. This scenario is likely toresult in a decline in the status and abundance of threatened species.

The estimated costs and duration of undertaking the actions that are outlined inbudget scenarios 1, 2 and 3 are presented in Tables 49, 50 and 51.

Funding Sources

The funds required to implement this Recovery Plan are likely to exceed thoseavailable directly to the program. Therefore the Recovery Team is encouraged toseek additional funding sources from both within and outside the region. It was


173

unclear at the time of writing the present recovery plan how much funding would beaccessible to the program and its partners from within the SA MDB INRM Groupprogram, in particular from the region’s devolved grant’s programs. The task of balancing the effort to acquire additional funding and prioritise the implementation ofactivities within the Plan will be a significant one. Possible external funding sourcesinclude Envirofund, Threatened Species Network or Local Action Planning Groups.

Abbreviations of funding sources used in the following tables include:

SA MDB INRM Group –South Australian Murray Darling Basin IntegratedNatural Resource Management Group

DEH–Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia External – funding sources such as Envirofund and Threatened Species

Network Grants LAP–Local Action Planning Groups


174

Table 49. Estimated duration and costs required to undertake recovery actions aimed at maintaining threatened species at their currentabundance and status.

Cost estimate ($)No. Action No. Description Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total Funding Source

1 All othersProject Officer Salary(PSO2.2 + 22% on costs) $67,000 $67,000 $67,000 $67,000 $67,000 $335,000 SA MDB INRM Group

2 9.3.1 Office and Administration $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $20,000 SA MDB INRM Group3 9.3.1 Vehicle & Fuel $12,000 $12,000 $12,000 $12,000 $12,000 $60,000 SA MDB INRM Group

4 2.3.2Roadside Marker Scheme(RMS) Signs & Installation $3,500 $3,500 $0 $0 $0 $7,000

External/ SA MDB INRMGroup

53.1.1, 3.2.1,3.3.1, 3.4.1 Weed Control $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $50,000

External/ SA MDB INRMGroup

6 4.2.1, 5.2.1 Fencing $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $17,500SA MDB INRM Group/LAP

7 4.2.2 Rabbit Control $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $10,000External/ SA MDB INRMGroup

8 5.2.2, 5.3.2 Signage $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0External/ SA MDB INRMGroup

9 5.3.1 Soil Phytophthora Testing $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 SA MDB INRM Group

10

7.5.1-2, 8.1.1,8.2.1,

8.3.1,8.4.1 Research $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0SA MDB INRM Group/DEH/ Universities

11 7.1.1, 7.2.1Seed Conservation CentreWork $17,500 $14,500 $1,000 $1,000 $9,000 $43,000 DEH

12 7.4.1, 7.7.1Revegetation & WeedControl $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $15,000

SA MDB INRM Group/LAP

13 8.3.2MiscellaneousManagement Activities $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 SA MDB INRM Group

14 10.2.2 Publishing/Printing $1,000 $0 $0 $500 $0 $1,500SA MDB INRM Group/DEH

Total $123,500 $119,500 $102,500 $103,000 $110,500 $559,000


175

Table 50. Estimated duration and costs required to undertake recovery actions aimed at improving threatened species abundance and status.

Cost estimate ($)

No. Action No. Description Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total Funding Source

1 All othersProject Officer Salary(PSO2.2 + 22% on costs) $67,000 $67,000 $67,000 $67,000 $67,000 $335,000 SA MDB INRM Group

2 9.3.1 Office and Administration $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $20,000 SA MDB INRM Group3 9.3.1 Vehicle & Fuel $12,000 $12,000 $12,000 $12,000 $12,000 $60,000 SA MDB INRM Group

4 2.3.2Roadside Marker Scheme(RMS) Signs & Installation $3,500 $3,500 $0 $0 $0 $7,000

External/ SA MDBINRM Group

53.1.1, 3.2.1,3.3.1, 3.4.1 Weed Control $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 $125,000

External/ SA MDBINRM Group

6 4.2.1, 5.2.1 Fencing $17,500 $17,500 $17,500 $17,500 $17,500 $87,500SA MDB INRM Group/LAP

7 4.2.2 Rabbit Control $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $3,000 $3,000 $21,000External/ SA MDBINRM Group

8 5.2.2, 5.3.2 Signage $0 $0 $5,500 $1,000 $0 $6,500External/ SA MDBINRM Group

9 5.3.1 Soil Phytophthora Testing $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $5,000 SA MDB INRM Group

10

7.5.1-2, 8.1.1,8.2.1,

8.3.1,8.4.1 Research $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $50,000SA MDB INRM Group/DEH/ Universities

11 7.1.1, 7.2.1Seed Conservation CentreWork $17,500 $14,500 $1,000 $1,000 $9,000 $43,000 DEH

12 7.4.1, 7.7.1Revegetation & WeedControl $0 $0 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $21,000

SA MDB INRM Group/LAP

13 8.3.2Miscellaneous ManagementActivities $0 $0 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $12,000 SA MDB INRM Group

14 10.2.2 Publishing/Printing $1,000 $0 $0 $500 $0 $1,500SA MDB INRM Group/DEH

Total $153,500 $154,500 $159,000 $158,000 $169,500 $794,500


176

Table 51. Estimated external funding that may be available if no other funding is forthcoming. A predicted decline in status and abundance ofthreatened species is likely.

Cost estimate ($)Action No. Description Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total Funding Source

All othersProject Officer Salary(PSO2.2 + 22% on costs) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

9.3.1 Office and Administration $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $09.3.1 Vehicle & Fuel $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

2.3.2Roadside Marker Scheme(RMS) Signs & Installation $3,500 $3,500 $0 $0 $0 $7,000 External

3.1.1, 3.2.1,3.3.1, 3.4.1 Weed Control $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $10,000 External4.2.1, 5.2.1 Fencing $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $10,000 External / LAP

4.2.2 Rabbit Control $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $5,000 External5.2.2, 5.3.2 Signage $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

5.3.1 Soil Phytophthora Testing $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $07.5.1-2, 8.1.1,

8.2.1,8.3.1,8.4.1 Research $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

7.1.1, 7.2.1Seed Conservation CentreWork $17,500 $14,500 $1,000 $1,000 $9,000 $43,000 DEH

7.4.1, 7.7.1 Revegetation & Weed Control $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $15,000 External / LAP

8.3.2Miscellaneous ManagementActivities $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

10.2.2 Publishing/Printing $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0Total $29,000 $26,000 $9,000 $9,000 $17,000 $90,000


177

Qualifications for Table 50

The cost estimates given in the above tables are estimates only and areintended to act as a guide as to the approximate cost of implementing theactions in this recovery plan. All estimates are based on the actual number ofsites where specific actions have been recommended within this plan.

Not all of the above actions may be necessary (eg fencing); however anallowance has been made for these actions.

An estimated cost of $200 per site for the cost of RMS markers and theirinstallation has been made.

The Project Officer will need to reassess weed control costs after the first twoyears of the project to assess whether more funds are needed. An initialbudget has been set, with the aim of carrying out as much priority weedcontrol work as possible within that budget.

Fencing costs have been estimated at $3500 per km for rabbit proof fencing.This figure will vary depending on the type of fencing required and theaccessibility of the site. This figure will need to be reassessed after the firsttwo years of the project to determine whether more funds are needed.

Revegetation works have allowed only for direct seeding and does not includeinfill planting at a later date. Direct seeding has been estimated at $400 perha, with $100 per ha for site preparation and $200 per ha for two follow upweed control events. Therefore a 1ha site will cost $700. An allowance hasbeen made to carry out 10 ha of direct seeding in years 3, 4 and 5 of thisrecovery plan. Further funding will need to be sought if infill planting isconsidered necessary.

Phytophthora testing has allowed for 2 sites per year to be tested. Anallowance has been made for $100 per soil sample and 5 samples per site.

An allowance of $500 per site has been made for the installation of signs on11 sites initially. A $1000 allowance has been made for any extra signsneeded due to the presence of Phytophthora.

Costs of research projects have allowed for $10,000 per year to fund one ormore honours or PhD projects per year.

Botanic Gardens of Adelaide Seed Conservation Centre, DEH costs arebased on information supplied by Dr Phillip Ainsley.

Additional funding may need to be sought by the Project Officer or theRecovery Team during the life of this project to make up budget shortfalls orto carry out additional works, if the above initial estimates prove to beinsufficient.

Miscellaneous management activities have been allowed for in the final threeyears of this recovery plan. These funds are intended to be directed towardsany shortfalls in other areas that may become obvious at this stage of theplan.

Small allowances have been made for publishing of fact sheets or any otherpromotional material.

LAP groups have the potential to contribute to some on-ground works such asfencing and revegetation work.

These qualifications have also been used for tables 49 and 51.


178

References and Further Reading

Adelaide Herbarium (2004). The Adelaide Herbarium Database. Adelaide Herbarium,South Australia.

Barrie, D.J. (2002). Four Phebaliums. Reversing Decline in a Threatened Genus.Department for Environment and Heritage.

Barrie, D.J. (2003). Biodiversity Audit, Report and Management Plan. The responseto wildfire of HA 286-01, Coonalpyn. Unpublished Report.

Bartley, M.J. (1990). Notes on fruit condition, germinability and seedling morphologyof Olearia pannosa Hook. (Velvet Daisy-bush). Victorian Naturalist 107(3): 80-85.

Bates, R. (1992). South Australia’s rarest orchids No’s 20 and 21. Native OrchidSociety of South Australia 16: 30.

Beardsell, C. and Parsons, R. (1980, 1986). A register of rare and endangered nativeplant species in Victoria. B. Details. Thelymitra epipactoides. Department of Botany,La Trobe University, Melbourne. (Unpublished).

Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996). Rare or threatened Australian plants. CSIROPublishing.

Briggs, J.D. and Weber, J.Z. (1990). Orchids of South Australia. Government Printer,South Australia.

Calder, D.M, Cropper, S.C. and Tonkinson, D. (1989). The ecology of Thelymitraepipactoides F. Muell. (Orchidaceae) in Victoria, Australia, and the implications formanagement of the species. Australian Journal of Botany, 37: 19-32.

Carter (2005) Draft recovery plan for Phebalium lowanense (Lowan Phebalium).Arthur Ryleh Institute, Victoria.

Clements M.A. and Jones, D.L. (1991). New Australian orchid taxa-3: Pterostylis.Australian Orchid Research Volume 2. Australian Orchid Foundation, Essendon,Australia.

Coates, F., Jeanes, J. and Pritchard, A. (2002). Recovery plan for twenty-fivethreatened orchid taxa of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales 2003-2007.Department for Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

Croft, T., Carruthers, S., Possingham, H, and Inns, B. (1999). Biodiversity Plan forthe South East of South Australia. Department for Environment, Heritage andAboriginal Affairs, South Australia.

Cropper, S.C. (1993). Management of endangered plants. CSIRO Publications,Victoria.

Cropper, S.C., Calder, D.M. and Tonkinson, D. (1989). The floral biology ofThelymitra epipactoides F. Muell. (Orchidaceae): The morphology, biology and


179

conservation of an endangered species. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria,101: 89-101.

Cutten, J. & Squire, E. (2002) Messent Conservation Park, Senecio macrocarpusand Thelymitra epipactoides Survey. NPWS SA, South East Region.

Cutten, J. & Squire, E. (2003) Messent Conservation Park, 2002 Post-fire Survey ofSenecio macrocarpus and Thelymitra epipactoides. NPWS SA, South East Region.

Cutten, J. & Squire, E. (2004) Internal Report. Messent Conservation Park 2003Post-fire Survey of Senecio macrocarpus and Thelymitra epipactoides. NPWS SA,South East Region.

Davies, R.J.-P. (1992). Threatened plant species of the Murray Mallee, Mount LoftyRanges and Kangaroo Island Regions of South Australia. Conservation Council ofSouth Australia Inc. Adelaide.

Davies, R.J.-P. (1995). Threatened Plant Species Management in the Arid PastoralZone of South Australia. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Davies, R.J.-P. (1997). Weed Management in Temperate Native Grasslands and BoxGrassy Woodlands in South Australia. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and StateHerbarium, South Australia.

Davies, R.J.-P. (2000). Population Trends for Threatened Plant Species in Parks &Pastoral Leases in South Australia. Department for Environment and Heritage.

Department for Environment and Heritage (2002). Biodiversity Plan for EyrePeninsula. Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia.

DEH (2004a). Threatened Plant Populations Database. Department for Environmentand Heritage, South Australia.

DEH (2004b). Opportune Sighting Database. Department for Environment andHeritage, South Australia.

DEH (2004c). Reserve Database. Department for Environment and Heritage, SouthAustralia.

DEH (2004d). Biosurvey Database. Department for Environment and Heritage, SouthAustralia.

Environment Australia (2002). Revised Recovery Plan Guidelines for NationallyListed Threatened Species and Ecological Communities under the CommonwealthEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Department of theEnvironment and Heritage, Canberra.

Environmental and Biodiversity Services (2004) Draft recovery plan for Prostantheraeurybioides (Monarto mintbush)

Freebairn, A. and Pobke, K. (2003). Draft Recovery Plan for 25 Plant Taxa on EyrePeninsula, South Australia 2004-2009. Department for Environment and Heritage,Port Lincoln.


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Glémin, S., Bataillon, T., Ronfort J., Mignot, A. and Olivieri, I. (2001). InbreedingDepression in Small Populations of Self-Incompatible Plants. Genetics, 159: 1217-1229.

Green, P. (1993) Threatened plants of Yorke Peninsula. Nature Conservation Societyof South Australia.

Hussey, B.M.J. (2002). Wattle I plant for wildlife? Conservation Science W. Aust. 4(3): 62-71.

IUCN. (2001). IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. IUCN SpeciesSurvival Commission. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. ii + 30 pp.

Jessop, J.P. and Toelken (1986). Flora of South Australia. South AustralianGovernment Printing Division, Adelaide.

Johnson (2004) Draft Regional action plan for Monarto Mint Bush (Prostantheraeurybioides) for the South East of South Australia

Jones, D.L. (1988). Native orchids of Australia. Reed Books Pty Ltd. Sydney,Australia.

Jones, D.L. (1991). Australian Orchid Research –Volume 2. New Taxa of AustralianOrchidaceae. Australian Orchid Foundation. Essendon, Australia.

Jusaitis, M. (1991). Recovery Plans. ANPWS Endangered Species Program Project# 151. Black Hill Flora Centre, South Australia.

Jusaitis, M. (2000). The Ecology, Biology and Conservation of Threatened PhebaliumSpecies in South Australia. Plant Biodiversity Centre. Adelaide.

Jusaitis, M. and Sorensen, B. (1994). Conservation Studies on Endangered Plantspecies from South Australia’s Agricultural Regions.Black Hill Flora Centre.

Jusaitis, M. and Sorensen, B. (1997). Recovery Plan –Pterostylis arenicola. AnnualReport for the Pterostylis arenicola Recovery Team.

Jusaitis, M., Sorensen, B. and Polomka, L. (1998). Recovery Plan –Prostantheraeurybioides. Annual Report. Black Hill Flora Centre, South Australia.

Jusaitis, M. and Smith, K. (1999). Prostanthera eurybioides Recovery Plan AnnualReport, 1998. Director, Environment Australia and Department for Environment,Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia.

Kahrimanis, M.J., Carruthers, S., Oppermann, A. and Inns, R. (2001). BiodiversityPlan for the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin. Department for Environment andHeritage, South Australia.

Lang, P.J. and Kraehenbuehl, D.N. (2002). Plants of Particular ConservationSignificance in South Australia’s Agricultural Regions.January 2002 update ofunpublished database. Department for Environment and Heritage.

Leigh, J., Boden, R. and Briggs, J. (1984). Extinct and Endangered Plants ofAustralia. Macmillan: Melbourne.


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Mallen, N. (2004) Personal Communication.

Opperman, A. (1991). Field study of Acacia rhetinocarpa. Unpublished populationbiology paper. Mawson Graduate Centre for Environmental Studies, The Universityof Adelaide.

Pickett, M. and Mallen, N. (2000). Brimarvi Road Closure and Habitat Protection(Acacia pinguifolia). Unpublished report on a Natural Heritage Trust project, preparedfor the Alexandrina Council, Goolwa, South Australia.

Pickett, M. and Mallen, N. (2001). Alexandrina Council Threatened SpeciesProtection Project. Unpublished report on a Threatened Species Network CommunityGrant Project Report, prepared for the Alexandrina Council, Goolwa, South Australia.

Pickett, M. and Mallen, N. (2003). Brimarvi Road and Environs - Threatened SpeciesProtection Project. Unpublished report on a Natural Heritage Trust project, preparedfor Alexandrina Council, Goolwa, South Australia.

Saunders, D.A., Hobbs, R.J. and Margules, C.R. (1991). Biological consequences ofecosystem fragmentation: a review. Conservation Biology 5(1): 18-32.

Taji et al. (1996) Comparative anatomy of four rare Australian plants grown in vitro.

Tay, S.P. (1992). Threatened Species and Habitats in South Australia. ConservationCouncil of South Australia. Adelaide.

Taylor, D.A. (2003) Draft Recovery Plan for 15 Nationally Threatened Plant Specieson Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Report to the Threatened Species andCommunities Section, Environment Australia.

Tumby Bay Roadside Management Plan (1994)

Transport SA, Environmental Operations Unit, (2000). Phytophthora (Dieback)Control Operational Instruction.

Verrier, F.J. and Kirkpatick, J.B. (2005). Frequent mowing is better than grazing forthe conservation value of lowland tussock grassland at Pontville, Tasmania. AustralEcology 30: 74-78.

Whibley, D.J. (1980). Acacias of South Australia. State Herbarium of South Australia,Adelaide.

Wisniewski, J.E., Scarlett, N.H. and Parsons, R.F. (1987). Rare and endangeredVictorian plants 4. Olearia sp. aff. pannosa. Victorian Naturalist 104 (4): 108-114.


182

Appendix 1. Development of a Threat Matrix

The method used to develop this threat matrix is based on the system developed andused in Taylor (2003). A matrix of threats to each threatened species in this plan isshown below. The matrix has been used as a guide to highlight which threats areconsidered to have the highest total impact on all of the species in the recovery plan.It should be noted that the matrix has been used as a guide only in determining therelative importance of threats for individual species, as the exact extent of a threat inthe field is sometimes difficult to ascertain accurately.

Threat scores for each identified threat were determined separately for each speciesbased on field observations and past reports. As Acacia menzelii and Acaciarhetinocarpa were not surveyed they have not been included in the threat matrix.

The criteria used to determine the extent of the threat on a species was based on theproportion of the population determined to be effected by that threat, either from fieldobservations or from discussions with relevant experts. The presence or absence ofa threat was noted at each site, and this was tallied for all of the sites for eachspecies. From this the proportion of the sites affected by each threat could be workedout for each species. Scores were allocated on the following basis:

0–0% of sites affected1–1-33% of sites affected2–34-66% of sites affected3–67-100% of sites affected

If a threat was considered possible to impact on a species, in the short or long term,even if it was not currently present, it was given a score of 1 in the above scoringsystem. This was done to take into account those threats that were considered tohave possible impacts in the future. The higher the threat matrix score for anindividual threat, the higher the incidence of the threat occurring across all seven ofthe surveyed species in this plan. The highest possible threat score is 21.


183

Threat Matrix for nationally threatened plant species in the SA MDB

Species Veg

etat

ion

Cle

aran

ce

Wee

ds

-B

rid

alC

reep

er

Wee

ds

-P

eren

nia

lVel

dt

Gra

ss

Wee

ds

-O

ther

Rec

reat

ion

alA

ctiv

itie

s

Oth

erD

istu

rban

ces

Ed

ge

Eff

ects

Lac

ko

fR

ecru

itm

ent

Ph

yto

ph

tho

ra

Illeg

alC

olle

ctio

n

Gra

zin

g

Tra

mp

ling

Ro

ad/R

ailM

ain

ten

ance

Act

ivit

ies

Fra

gm

enta

tio

n

Lac

ko

ffo

rmal

pro

tect

ion

Inap

pro

pri

ate

Fir

eR

egim

e

Inad

equ

ate

Kn

ow

led

ge

of

Dis

trib

uti

on

,Ab

un

dan

cean

dP

op

ula

tio

nT

ren

ds

Inad

equ

ate

Kn

ow

led

ge

of

Eco

log

yan

dT

hre

ats

Acacia pinguifolia 1 3 1 3 1 1 3 3 1 1 2 1 3 3 3 3 0 3

Caladenia colorata 1 2 2 2 1 1 0 3 1 2 3 1 1 3 2 0 1 3

Olearia pannosassp. pannosa 1 3 1 3 1 1 3 3 1 0 1 1 3 3 3 1 3 3

Phebaliumlowanense 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 3 3 3 1

Prostantheraeurybioides 1 3 1 3 1 0 0 3 0 1 3 0 0 3 0 3 0 3

Pterostylis arenicola 1 3 3 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 3 1 0 1 1 2 3 3

Thelymitraepipactoides 1 2 2 1 1 1 0 3 1 1 3 1 0 3 2 3 3 3

Total 7 17 11 16 5 5 7 15 6 6 17 5 8 17 14 15 13 19


184

Appendix 2–Summary Action Table

Species Name

Aca

cia

men

zelii

Aca

cia

pin

guif

olia

Aca

cia

rhet

ino

carp

a

Cal

aden

iaco

lora

ta

Ole

aria

pan

no

sass

p.p

ann

osa

Ph

ebal

ium

low

anen

se

Pro

stan

ther

aeu

ryb

ioid

es

Pte

rost

ylis

aren

ico

la

Th

elym

itra

epip

acto

ides

Action Description Responsibility Priority

1.1 Acquire baseline population dataon distribution, abundance andthreats of known populations.

RPO High Low High High High High Medium High Medium

1.2 Prioritise sites for managementand protection.

RPO High Done High Done Done Done Done Done Done

1.3 Accurately survey known criticalhabitat.

RPO High High High High High High High High High

1.4 Accurately identify, survey andmap potential habitat.


2.1 Protect unreserved populations onpublic land.

BMARPO

High High High Medium High Medium NA NA High

2.2 Protect populations on privateland.

BMARPO

High NA High Medium High NA NA Medium Medium

2.3 Implement the Roadside MarkerScheme (RMS) on roadsidereserve populations, andencourage the responsibleauthority to appropriately managethe population.

BMARPO

High High High Medium High Medium NA NA High

3.1 Control Bridal Creeper infestationswithin a 200m radius of eachpopulation using appropriatemethods.

RPO Unknown High Unknown Medium High Medium High High Medium

3.2 Control Perennial Veldt Grassinfestations within a 200m radiusof each population usingappropriate methods.

RPO Unknown Low Unknown Medium High Medium Low High Medium

3.3 Control other environmental weedinfestations within a 200m radiusof each population usingappropriate methods.

RPO Unknown High Unknown Low High Medium High Low Low


185

Species Name

Aca

cia

men

zelii

Aca

cia

pin

guif

olia

Aca

cia

rhet

ino

carp

a

Cal

aden

iaco

lora

ta

Ole

aria

pan

no

sass

p.p

ann

osa

Ph

ebal

ium

low

anen

se

Pro

stan

ther

aeu

ryb

ioid

es

Pte

rost

ylis

aren

ico

la

Th

elym

itra

epip

acto

ides


3.4 Introduce biological control agentsfor Bridal Creeper in the mostsevere infestations.

RPO Unknown High Unknown Medium Medium Medium High High Medium

3.5 Control Bridal Veil infestationswithin a 200m radius of eachpopulation using appropriatemethods.

RPO NA High NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

4.1 Accurately determine whatherbivores are impacting on thisspecies.

RPORE

High Medium High High Low Low High Medium High

4.2 Control the impact of grazing byherbivores.

RPOBMA

Unknown Medium Unknown High High Medium Medium High High

5.1 Control the impacts of edgeeffects, including spray drift,intentional spraying, road and railmaintenance activities.

BMARPO

Unknown High Unknown NA High Low NA NA NA

5.2 Discourage activities such asillegal collection, trampling andinappropriate recreationalactivities.

RPOLC

BMA

Low Medium Low Medium Low NA Low Medium Low

5.3 Undertake Phytophthora testing. RPO Low High Low Low Low Low Low Low Low5.4 Prevent the further clearance of

remnant vegetation containing thisspecies.

BMARPO

Low Low Low Low Low Low High Low High

6.1 Develop and implement amonitoring program to determinetrends in population numbers,recruitment and mortality, timing oflife history stages, morphologicaldata, threats and the impacts ofthreat abatement activities.

RPORE

High High High High High High High High High

6.2 Results from the above monitoringto be incorporated into futuremanagement activities.

RPORPT



186

Species Name

Aca

cia

men

zelii

Aca

cia

pin

guif

olia

Aca

cia

rhet

ino

carp

a

Cal

aden

iaco

lora

ta

Ole

aria

pan

no

sass

p.p

ann

osa

Ph

ebal

ium

low

anen

se

Pro

stan

ther

aeu

ryb

ioid

es

Pte

rost

ylis

aren

ico

la

Th

elym

itra

epip

acto

ides


6.3 Develop and maintain a databaseto efficiently and securely storesurvey and monitoring data.

RPO Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium

6.4 Develop and implement a programto monitor and evaluate allcommunication and extensionactivities throughout the life of thisrecovery plan.

RPORPT


7.1 Manage the risk of losing geneticdiversity within populations of thisspecies by collecting andappropriately storing seedmaterial.

BGARPO


7.2 Where population numbers in theSA MDB are at critically low levels(less than 50 mature individuals)and in danger of extinction,establish populations in cultivation.

BGARPO

Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium NA Medium Medium Medium

7.3 Prevent the further fragmentationor loss of critical and potentialhabitat.

BMARPO

Low Low Low Low Low Low High Low High

7.4 Where appropriate, create bufferzones of native vegetation aroundexisting populations.

BMARPO

Unknown Medium Unknown Low High Low High Low Low

7.5 Increase the size and area ofoccupancy of existing populationsby encouraging naturalregeneration.

RPOBGA

High High High High High NA High Low Low

7.6 Subsequent to 7.2, whereappropriate re-stock populationsthat are not naturally increasingdespite encouragement or re-establish populations that nolonger exist.

RPORPT

Unknown Medium Unknown Medium Low NA Medium NA Low

7.7 Improve connectivity betweenpopulations of this species.

BMARPO

Unknown Medium Unknown Low Low Low Medium Low NA


187

Species Name

Aca

cia

men

zelii

Aca

cia

pin

guif

olia

Aca

cia

rhet

ino

carp

a

Cal

aden

iaco

lora

ta

Ole

aria

pan

no

sass

p.p

ann

osa

Ph

ebal

ium

low

anen

se

Pro

stan

ther

aeu

ryb

ioid

es

Pte

rost

ylis

aren

ico

la

Th

elym

itra

epip

acto

ides



RPORPTRE

HMRE

High Medium High Low High Low High High High

8.2 Encourage research into theecological genetics of this species,and the impacts of havingfragmentation populations on itslong term survival.

RPORPTRE

HMRE

High High High Medium High High High Medium High

8.3 Encourage research into whysuccessful germination andrecruitment is not occurring, andways to ameliorate this.

RPORPTRE

High High High NA High High High Low High

8.4 If Phytophthora is confirmed at asite encourage monitoring andresearch to determine the impacton this species.

RPORE

DEH


8.5 Feedback information fromresearch into future managementactivities.

RPORPTRE


9.1 Secure sufficient funding for theduration of the recovery plan toimplement the recommendedrecovery actions.

RPTBMADEHRPO


9.2 Obtain sufficient funds to allow theproper functioning of a threatenedflora project officer for the SA MDBregion.

RPTBMADEHRPO


10.1 Build a network of government andnon-government organisations andindividuals.

RPORPTBMADEH



188

Species Name

Aca

cia

men

zelii

Aca

cia

pin

guif

olia

Aca

cia

rhet

ino

carp

a

Cal

aden

iaco

lora

ta

Ole

aria

pan

no

sass

p.p

ann

osa

Ph

ebal

ium

low

anen

se

Pro

stan

ther

aeu

ryb

ioid

es

Pte

rost

ylis

aren

ico

la

Th

elym

itra

epip

acto

ides


10.2 Develop stakeholder awarenessand appreciation of this speciesand encourage active involvementin future management activities.


10.3 Support and encouragestakeholders across the region toactively develop skills andknowledge in managing thisspecies.


Abbreviations used in this table:

BMA–Bush Management Advisor, DEHDEH–Department for Environment and Heritage, South AustraliaHMRE–Habitat Restoration Ecologist, DEHLC–Local CouncilRE–Regional Ecologist, DEHRPO–Recovery Project OfficerRPT–Recovery Project Team


189

Appendix 3–Current and Historical Sites

This appendix has been hidden for security and privacy reasons. If you require access to thisfor legitimate reasons please contact the Bush Management Advisor or Regional Ecologist atthe Department for Environment and Heritage at Berri on (08) 8595 2174.

Documents

South Australian Murray Darling Basin Threatened Flora Recovery … · 2015. 4. 27. · Part D: Management Practices .....171 Part E: Duration of Recovery Plan and Estimated Costs..........172