Surveys for arboreal mammals, Long-Footed Potoroo and Spiny Crayfish in proposed logging coupes 840-502-0015 and 840-502- 0019, Brown Mountain Creek Catchment, Brodribb Forest Block, Errinundra Plateau

January-March 2009 Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment. Melbourne, August 2009

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SURVEYS FOR ARBOREAL MAMMALS, LONG-FOOTED POTOROO AND SPINY CRAYFISH IN PROPOSED LOGGING COUPES 840-502-0015 AND 840-502-0019, BROWN MOUNTAIN CREEK CATCHMENT, BRODRIBB FOREST BLOCK, ERRINUNDRA PLATEAU, JANUARY-MARCH 2009

Stephen Henry and Tony Mitchell Biodiversity Group Department of Sustainability and Environment Orbost Office

Background

Brown Mountain Creek is a small catchment (approximately 450 ha) on the edge of the Errinundra Plateau in East Gippsland. With the exception of about 50 ha at the northern end of the catchment which is part of The Gap Scenic Reserve, the area is State forest which is General Management Zone in the East Gippsland Forest Management Plan. The part of the catchment west of Legge Road is in the North Goongerah Icon Area identified for addition to National Park as part of the 2006 Labour Party Election policy platform.

The vegetation of the catchment is mapped as Wet Forest dominated by Shining Gum and Messmate with scattered Errinundra Peppe rmint.

In 2007 three coupes (the two subject to this survey and 840-502-0020) were approved as part of an amendment to the East Gippsland Timber Release Plan. Between October 2008 and January 2009 coupe 840-502-0020 was harvested and the other two were scheduled to be harvested in late summer and early autumn.

Conservation groups conducted protests in coupe 840-502-0020 while it was being logged. They also conducted or sponsored surveys in the other proposed coupes targeting arboreal mammals, large forest owls, Long-footed Potoroos and Orbost Spiny Crayfish. All these animals have prescriptions for the protection of sites through Action Statements or the East Gippsland Forest Area Management Plan.

These surveys indicated that sufficient Greater Gliders and Yellow-bellied Gliders may be present to trigger the prescription for protection of the surrounding forest.

1 The surveys also claimed to have found evidence of Long-footed Potoroos and the presence of the Orbost Spiny Crayfish.

DSE Biodiversity Group staff were instructed to undertake surveys to investigate the reports.

The status of target species and relevant prescriptions

Arboreal Mammals – Greater Gliders and Yellow-bellied Gliders

The Greater Gliders and Yellow-bellied Glider are not listed on Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 or the Advisory List Of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna In Victoria (DSE 2007).

Greater Gliders are found in forest from Victoria to Queensland. They den in tree hollows, eat eucalypt leaves and are most abundant in Wet Forest.

Yellow-bellied Gliders are found in forest in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. They also den in tree hollows and eat eucalypt sap, insects, nectar, honeydew and pollen. They utilise a wide variety of forest types.

Both species are regarded as sensitive to intensive logging.

No Action Statements exist for Greater Gliders or Yellow-bellied Gliders as they are not listed under FFG Act.

The East Gippsland Forest Management Plan prescription for arboreal mammals is:

“Arboreal mammals. For each of the following occurrences, approximately 100 ha of suitable habitat will be included in the SPZ (Special Protection Zone): - resident Koala populations. - Greater Glider and Common Brushtail Possum - >2 individuals per ha, >10 per km, or >15 per hour of spotlighting. - Yellow-bellied Glider - >0.2 per ha, >5 per km, or >7 per hour of spotlighting. - Eastern Pygmy Possum - >5 per standard pitfall line over 5 days. - substantial populations of the above species that are isolated or in unusual habitat.”

Previous surveys

2

DSE undertook extensive flora and fauna surveys across East Gippsland from 1983-1993.

The Brown Mountain Creek catchment is in Brodribb Forest Block which received a prelogging survey in 1986 (report no 19). This site of the proposed coupes was not surveyed for arboreal mammals, nor was it identified as a Site of Significance. The extreme northern end of the catchment was identified as a Site of Significance. This is now part of The Gap Scenic Reserve.

In 25.6 hours of spotlighting during the survey undertaken in 1986, 5 Greater Gliders and 13 Yellow-bellied Gliders were detected. No sites had observed arboreal mammals densities which met above thresholds for high density.

Environment East Gippsland states that surveys undertaken on 22-25 January 2009 achieve the glider densities required for this prescription to be applied.

Neither DSE or VicForests routinely undertake pre-logging coupe surveys.

Long-footed Potoroo

The Long-footed Potoroo is listed on Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and it is listed in the Advisory List Of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna In Victoria (DSE 2007) as endangered.

It is also listed as endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Long-footed Potoroos are restricted to the forests of Great Dividing Range in eastern Victoria. They are ground dwelling and are strongly associated with forest with a dense understorey. They live almost entirely on hypogeous fungi. There are about 60 confirmed Long-footed Potoroo site in East Gippsland.

Prescription

An Action Statement (No 58) was published in 1995.

Under the current Action Statement, Long-footed Potoroo sites generate a Special Management Area (SMA) of 450-500 ha until 17,500 ha of SMAs is reached. Timber harvesting and new roading is not permitted in SMAs. Each SMA is to have

3 a core zone of 150 - 200 ha. Once 17,500 ha is reached, any new sites are to be assessed for habitat quality and the SMA system adjusted so that in lesser priority sites the core zone is protected, and 17,500 ha is not exceeded.

17,500 ha of SMAs was reached several years ago and new sites found since then have generated the adjustment process.

In this case any SMA would include the two proposed coupes on either side of Brown Mountain Creek.

The Action Statement is currently under review. Under the proposed revised Action Statement, a record such as this would generate a 150 ha Special Management Zone of which a minimum of 50 ha of the best Long-footed Potoroo habitat would be protected from disturbance.

DSE undertook extensive flora and fauna surveys across East Gippsland from 1983-1993. Brown Mountain Creek catchment is in Brodribb Forest Block which received a prelogging survey in 1986 (report no 19). This particular site was not surveyed for LFP. It was not identified as a Site of Significance.

There have been extensive systematic and ad hoc targeted surveys for Long- footed Potoroos in East Gippsland since 1985. The Brown Mountain area west of Legge Road was surveyed in 2001 and a Long-footed Potoroo was confirmed. Long-footed Potoroos have also been detected at two sites along Errinundra Rd since 2000. No surveys for these animals have been undertaken by DSE in this area since.

Environment East Gippsland reported to DSE on 3 February 2009 that a Long- footed Potoroos had been detected (using hairtubing). The hair sample was identified as Long-footed Potoroos by an expert in this field (Barbara Triggs).

The sample was reported as collected within 100m of Brown Mountain Creek at approx grid ref 6560 E 58744. This is on the western side of Brown Mountain Ck on the edge of proposed coupe 840-502-0019.

Orbost Spiny Crayfish

Orbost Spiny Crayfish is listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

4 No invertebrates are listed in Advisory List Of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna In Victoria (DSE 2007).

An action statement (no 128) has been prepared for the Orbost Spiny Crayfish. The action statement prescription is “Linear Reserves consisting of an undisturbed buffer of approximately 100m on each bank of the stream for one kilometre upstream and downstream of the detection site will be established at all sites on public land where Orbost Spiny Crayfish are recorded … These measures will be reviewed once 20 sites have been located.”

Surveys for freshwater crayfish in the presumed distribution of the OSC have occurred periodically between 1986 and the present. The species is recorded from 12 sites in the upper Brodribb River catchment and 1 site in Yandown Creek in the Queensborough River catchment. There are no records of previous surveys in Brown Mountain Creek.

The Spiny Crayfish genus comprises many closely related species which are difficult to tell apart. Three species occur in East Gippsland and the Orbost Spiny Crayfish is very similar to one of these, Bidwalls Spiny Crayfish. Identification of these species requires the animal to be in-hand or high quality photographs of the appropriate features. The taxonomy of this group is apparently under review at present.

Environment East Gippsland reported the collection of an Orbost Spiny Crayfish on 6 January 2009. The specimen linked to this report was identified by DSE on 13/1/09 as a Bidawal Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus bidawalus).

Environment East Gippsland reported record of 2nd suspected Orbost Spiny Crayfish specimen on 10th January. EEG was to provide photographs to DSE and return specimen to stream. DSE did not receive photographs.

DSE received advice from EEG on 27 January 2009 that a 3rd Orbost Spiny Crayfish specimen had been located. Photographs of the specimen were provided to DSE, however, the photos were not adequate to accurately determine the identity of the species.

5 DSE Survey Program

Greater Glider and Yellow-bellied Glider (and other nocturnal vertebrates)

DSE conducted surveys on the nights of 21 January, 5 February and 12 March.

Personnel involved were Tony Mitchell (all surveys), Stephen Henry (all surveys), Lucy Clausen (5 February) and Jonathon Ricciardello (5 February). Barry Vaughan (VicForest Regional Manager, East Gippsland) accompanied the survey team on 5 February.

Methods

The surveyors operated in pairs. The selected transects were at least one km long. Each transect was walked slowly by the surveyors and the trees surveyed with 50 watt portable spotlights. Animals were located by sighting or sound (either call or movement). Both surveyors checked the identity of a sighting or call. Locations were recorded by GPS and in a notebook.

Greater Gliders are fairly sedentary and are generally readily detected by their bright eyeshine in a spotlight.

Yellow-bellied Gliders are much more difficult to see but have loud calls. However they are very mobile and it can be difficult to distinguish different individuals based on calls unless the calls are detected more or less simultaneously. Thus counts of individuals were conservative.

Other species detected were also recorded.

6 Results

Summary of animals detected (and numbers per km for species with a prescription) is in Table 1. The attached map(s) indicate the locations of detections and details of detections are provided in the Appendix.

Table 1 – Nocturnal animals detected by spotlighting in the study area. Date: 28.1.09 5.2.09 5.2.09 5.2.09 5.2.09 12.3.08 Time: 2135-0130 2105-2400 0030-0315 2115-2400 0040-0330 1950-2355 Observers: TM, SH JR, SH, BV JR, BV, SH TM, LC TM, LC TM, SH Route: Transect 1 Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 2 Transect 1 Transect 3 1100m 1100m 1800m 1800m 1100m 1000m (no/km) (no/km) (no/km) (no/km) (no/km) (no/km) Greater Glider 10 (9.1) 10 (9.1) 3 (1.7) 6 (3.3) 9 (8.2) 11 (11) Yellow-bellied Glider 5 (4.5) 4 (3.6) 8 (4.4) 9 (5) 4 (3.6) 7 (7) Bobuck 3 1 2 5 5 3 Sugar Glider 0 2 1 1 Common Ringtail 1 Feathertail Glider 1 1 Long-nosed Bandicoot 1 1 1 Boobook Owl 2 1 1 2 Powerful Owl 1 (distant) Owlet Nightjar 1 1 2 3 2 Tawny Frogmouth 1 Numbers above prescription threshold in bold

Transect 1 – 1.1 km long. Legge Rd along western edge of proposed coupe 840-502-0015 and informal walking track through proposed coupe from Legge Rd to Brown Mountain Creek.

Transect 2 – 1.8 km long. Dozer track around boundary of proposed coupe 840-502-0019.

Transect 3 – 1.0 km long. Informal walking track through proposed coupe 840-502-0015 from Legge Road to Brown Mountain Creek, then across creek and east to the dozer track along the western edge of proposed coupe 840-502-0019.

Long-footed Potoroo

A survey using remote cameras was undertaken by Tony Mitchell (DSE Biodiversity Group, Orbost)

Method

Long-footed Potoroos were surveyed by placing remote cameras at six sites spaced out across the survey area (see map). There were left in place for two sessions of 16 days and 11 days respectively. The cameras are tripped by a heat

7 sensor aimed at a bait station. The bait station is baited with a mix of peanut oil and pistachio essence on an absorbent strip of material.

The cameras have been a successful method of detecting Long-footed Potoroos in East Gippsland, with a higher rate of detections than hair-tubing and trapping.

8 Results

The remote cameras were active for a total of 97 camera/nights. Five species were detected by the cameras (see table 3). No Long-footed Potoroos were detected.

Table 3 Species detected by remote survey cameras. Camera Coupe Location Dates Number Species detected of nights Camera 1 840-502-0019 18/02/09 – 6/03/09 16 Bushrat

Camera 2 840-502-0015 18/02/09 – 6/03/09 16 Mountain Brushtail Possum Long-nosed Bandicoot Camera 3 840-502-0015 18/02/09 – 6/03/09 16 Bushrat

Camera 4 840-502-0019 18/02/09 – 6/03/09 16 Mountain Brushtail Possum Feral Cat Camera 2B 840-502-0015 6/03/09 – 17/03/09 11 Nil Camera 3 840-502-0015 6/03/09 – 17/03/09 11 Nil Camera 4B 840-502-0019 6/03/09 – 17/03/09 11 Long-nosed Bandicoot Red Fox

The non-detection of Long-footed Potoroos must be interpreted with caution. The survey was implemented using standard methodology and level of effort and it had a high probability of detecting the species if it was present. However, the species can be very difficult to detect – often detections are not confirmed until a third or even fourth return visits to a site, despite the presence of diggings which are strongly suggestive of the species presence. Some diggings of this type were seen in the study area, and the forest type was assessed as good quality habitat for Long-footed Potoroos. A confirmed Long-footed Potoroo site also occurs immediately to the west of the study area, on the other side of Legge Rd, and thus it is plausible that that the species may be present at the site.

Orbost Spiny Crayfish

Method

A reconnaissance survey was undertaken by Andrew Murray (DSE Biodiversity Group, Orbost) on 27 March 2009. The survey used 10 baited box traps complimented by active hand searching along approximately 500m of Brown

9 Mountain Creek upstream and downstream of the point where the informal walking track meets the stream.

The stream was found to be particularly shallow, and it was very difficult to locate pools deep enough (ie greater than 15cm) in order to place the box traps. Nonetheless, 10 traps were set and left in situ for approximately 3 hours.

Results

None of traps yielded any crayfish (neither Orbost Spiny Crayfish or Bidawal Spiny Crayfish) or any species of fish. Surveys of this type also usually yield freshwater amphipods or shrimp, but neither of these were detected.

Active hand searching also failed to detect any crayfish.

Brown Mountain Creek is a first-order creek that lacks a great deal of complexity in terms of both instream structure and deep pools, both of which tend to be important to freshwater crayfish in the genus Euastacus. The habitat present was considered to be sub-optimal for Orbost Spiny Crayfish.

No Spiny Crayfish were detected at the site and the habitat at the site was assessed as unlikely to provide the appropriate habitat. However, Spiny Crayfish can also be hard to find, especially as steam levels had dropped through the summer. Further survey work is recommended to clarify both the presence of freshwater crayfish in the catchment and the identity of species present.

CONCLUSIONS

The survey program produced the following key results:

1. Sufficient Greater Gliders and Yellow-bellied Gliders were detected to achieve the thresholds for a high density population of these species as stipulated in the “Conservation Guideline – Arboreal Mammals” within the East Gippsland Forest Area Management Plan. 2. No Long-footed Potoroos were detected. 3. No Orbost Spiny Crayfish were detected.

Spotlight surveys were conservative estimates of the numbers of animals actually present. The consistent detection of high numbers of Greater Gliders and Yellow- bellied Gliders confirms that the site supports a high density population.

10 Given the relatively short amount of time available for the surveys of Long-footed Potoroo and the presence of nearby records and suitable habitat, it is possible that a more intensive and longer survey may record the species at the site.

Further survey may also detect Orbost Spincy Crayfish, however, the habitat was considered to be sub-optimal for the species.

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