National Recovery Plan for Malleefowl (Leipoa Ocellata
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National Recovery Plan for Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata Malleefowl Recovery Plan Prepared by Dr Joe Benshemesh, for the Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia. This recovery plan was prepared in accordance with the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. ISBN 978-0-9806503-6-5 © Government of South Australia This publication is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Government of South Australia. Requests and inquiries regarding reproduction should be addressed to: Department for Environment and Heritage GPO Box 1047 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Note: This recovery plan sets out the actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, the listed threatened species. The plan has been developed with the involvement and cooperation of a broad range of stakeholders, but individual stakeholders have not necessarily committed to undertaking specific actions. The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds may be subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved. Proposed actions may be subject to modification over the life of the plan due to changes in knowledge. This plan should be cited as follows: Benshemesh, J. (2007). National Recovery Plan for Malleefowl. Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia. Acknowledgments This plan was prepared with support from DEH (SA) and Natural Heritage Trust funding (Australian Government). Input into the content of the plan was received from DEC (WA), DECC (NSW), DEH (SA), NRETA (NT), MPG (WA), SAM (SA), TSN (SA, VIC), VMRG (VIC). The Malleefowl Recovery Team provided direction and guidance, and I am thankful to Peter Copley, Stephen Davies, Ray Dayman, Jody Gates, Damon Oliver, Julie Kirkwood, Vicki-Jo Russell, Peter Sandell, and Jeff Short for detailed comments. Cover photograph: Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata by Sharon Gillam 2 Malleefowl Recovery Plan Contents Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. 2 Contents ................................................................................................................................ 3 Abbreviations and Acronyms.............................................................................................. 5 Summary ............................................................................................................................... 6 Part A Species information and general requirements ..................................................... 9 Species ................................................................................................................................. 9 Taxonomy............................................................................................................................. 9 Conservation status ............................................................................................................ 9 International obligations .................................................................................................. 10 Affected interests..............................................................................................................10 Role and interests of indigenous people ....................................................................... 11 Benefits to other species or communities ...................................................................... 11 Social and economic impacts........................................................................................ 12 Part B Distribution and location.......................................................................................... 14 Distribution.......................................................................................................................... 14 Habitat critical for survival................................................................................................ 14 Malleefowl habitat and fire........................................................................................... 16 Mapping of habitat critical to the survival of the species and identification of important populations...................................................................................................... 18 Part C Known and potential threats .................................................................................. 20 Biology and ecology relevant to threatening processes ............................................ 20 Threats ................................................................................................................................ 24 Populations and areas under threat .............................................................................. 30 Existing conservation research and management practices..................................... 31 Part D Objectives, criteria and actions............................................................................. 45 Recovery objectives and criteria.................................................................................... 45 Overall objective............................................................................................................. 45 Specific objectives........................................................................................................45 Peformance criteria......................................................................................................45 Recovery Actions................................................................................................................54 A) MANAGING POPULATIONS ......................................................................................... 54 B) PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND MONITORING............................................................... 64 C) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PROJECT COORDINATION................................ 87 E Management practices .................................................................................................. 90 3 Malleefowl Recovery Plan F Duration and costs ........................................................................................................... 91 References .......................................................................................................................... 92 Personal Communications............................................................................................... 104 Appendix I Aboriginal Names for Malleefowl................................................................ 106 Appendix II Distribution Tables and Maps ...................................................................... 109 Appendix III Some Important Legislation, Policy and Programs .................................. 115 Appendix IV Contacts...................................................................................................... 120 4 Malleefowl Recovery Plan Abbreviations and Acronyms APL Anangu-Pitjantjatjara Lands APYLM Anangu-Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Management (SA) ARC Australian Research Council AWC Australian Wildlife Conservancy BA Birds Australia CALM Department of Conservation and Land Management (WA) (now DEC) CMA Catchment Management Authority CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation DECC Department of Environment and Climate Change, New South Wales (formerly Department of Environment and Conservation) DEC NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, New South Wales (now Department of Environment and Climate Change) DEC WA Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia (formerly CALM) DEH Department for Environment and Heritage (SA) EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) GIS Geographic Information System GPS Global Positioning System FONEM Friends of North Eastern Malleefowl (WA) FoxTAP Fox Threat Abatement Program (NSW) ISP Internet Service Provider IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (or World Conservation Union) MPG Malleefowl Preservation Group (WA) NCMPG North Central Malleefowl Preservation Group (WA) NHT Natural Heritage Trust NP National Park NRETA Department of Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts (NT) NRM Natural Resource Management NSW New South Wales NT Northern Territory PIT Passive Integrated Transponder SA South Australia SAM South Australian Museum TSN Threatened Species Network VMRG Victorian Malleefowl Recovery Group WA Western Australia 5 Malleefowl Recovery Plan Summary Current taxon status Nationally, the Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata is listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 and this classification is consistent with international standards (IUCN 2001, criteria VU A1c,e and A2b,c,e). The Malleefowl occurs in all mainland states except Queensland and is recognised as threatened wherever it occurs. The species is listed as Critically Endangered in the Northern Territory, Endangered in New South Wales and Victoria, Vulnerable in South Australia, and as Fauna That Is Rare Or Is Likely To Become Extinct in Western Australia. Habitat requirements and limiting factors The Malleefowl is found in semi-arid to arid shrublands and low woodlands, especially those dominated by mallee and/or acacias. A sandy substrate and abundance of leaf litter are required for breeding. Densities of the birds are generally greatest in areas