THREATENED SPECIES SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Minister’s delegate approved this Conservation Advice on 01/04/2016.

Conservation Advice Grevillea kennedyana

flame spider-flower

Conservation Status Grevillea kennedyana (flame spider-flower) is listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act). The species is eligible for listing as prior to the commencement of the EPBC Act, it was listed as Vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth).

The main factors that are the cause of the species being eligible for listing in the Vulnerable category are its geographic distribution is precarious for its survival due to its limited extent of occurrence, area of occupancy and number of locations.

Grevillea kennedyana is listed as Vulnerable under Schedule 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Description The flame spider-flower is an erect, multi-branched shrub, which grows to 1–1.5 m high (occasionally to 2 m). The species has silver-green foliage with linear or (rarely) narrow, lanceolate, rigid leaves which are 5–33 mm long. Inflorescences (clusters of individual flowers) are erect and 2.5–3.5 cm long. The flowers are a conspicuous rich red colour and are 14–21 mm long and occur in later winter-spring. The fruit is a smooth oval shape tapering towards the stem, and is 12–17 mm long (McGillivray & Makinson 1993; Olde & Mariott 1995).

Distribution The flame spider-flower occurs over a restricted distribution in the extreme north-west of NSW and far south-west Queensland asscociated with low sparse arid shrubland (BRI Rare and Threatened Plant Database 2001; Duncan 1992; Makinson 2000). The species is known to occur in 12 subpopulations with an extent of occurrence of 1460 km² and an area of occupancy of 12 km² (NSW NPWS 2000 cited in Silcock 2014).

Populations vary in size from very few to hundreds of plants. In 1997, the total population was estimated to be more than 13 000 plants (Enke & Mills cited in NSW NPWS 2000). Most individuals occur in Sturt National Park in north western NSW. Population estimations have attempted to take into account 'clumps' formed by connecting rhizomes (modified underground stems) and 'clumps' formed by seedling establishment, however, a group was often treated as an individual. Therefore, total population number is probably an underestimate. The report by NSW NPWS (2001) contains census numbers at individual sites (from 1998).

Relevant Biology/Ecology The flame spider-flower occurs on scree slopes of mesas, steep jump-ups and rocky drainage lines. The species grows in loamy soils on weathered silcrete (Makinson 2000) in areas which receive low annual rainfall. On lower slopes, the flame spider-flower is usually the only species of low shrub present with other low shrub and tree species occurring on higher slopes (BRI Rare and Threatened Plant Database 2001).

The species normally occurs in sparse shrubland or low woodland of Acacia aneura, A. cambagei, A. tetragonophylla, Atalaya hemiglauca and occasionally Casuarina pauper with a chenopodiaceous ground cover (BRI Rare and Threatened Plant Database 2001; Duncan 1992; Grevillea kennedyana (flame spider-flower) Conservation Advice Page 1 of 5

NSW Herbarium undated). Other associated low shrubs include Eremophila freelingii (predominant upslope), Scaevola spinescens and Senna spp. (Duncan 1992). Ground layer species include Astrebla spp., Sclerolaena spp. and Ptilotus nobilis (NSW NPWS 2000).

The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 140–200 m. Slopes range from almost level (c. 10°) to steep (c. 75°) (NSW NPWS 2000).

Flowering has been observed throughout winter and spring (NSW NPWS 2000) and appears to occur 2–4 months after a significant cool season rainfall event. Pollinators, particularly birds and insects, generally forage in a way that may facilitate both out-crossing and self-pollination (Collins & Rebelo 1987). Birds, mammals and arthropods have been identified as visitors to the inflorescences of many species of the Proteaceae family. Duncan (1992) suggests that the red colour and long styles of the flame spider-flower indicates that it is likely to be bird pollinated and Olde and Marriott (1995) report it being tended by birds (NSW NPWS 2000).

The fruits are thought to mature 6–8 weeks after fertilisation and seed would be dispersed shortly thereafter. Dispersal is likely to be wind-assisted (seeds are equipped with 'wings'). Dormancy characteristics are not known, but other species of Grevillea exhibit dormancy up to 3–4 years (B. Makinson, pers. comm.). Germination is thought to be similar to other arid-zone species, which require exceptional rainfall events in the appropriate season or above-average rainfall over successive years (NSW NPWS 2000).

The flame spider-flower is also capable of vegetative reproduction via rhizomes (NSW NPWS 2000). The average life span of individual plants is not known, however, long life spans are observed in many other arid zone species.

Threats Table 1 – Threats

Threat factor Threat Threat Evidence base type status

Grazing/browsing known current It is likely that the flame spider-flower can by domestic withstand browsing pressure. Much of the range stock of the species may have been subject to prolonged and intensive grazing and browsing pressures by domestic stock in the 1890s and the first half of the 1900s. Although domestic livestock are excluded from Sturt National Park, grazing/browsing may be implicated in the observed lack of seedling recruitment. The possible impacts of grazing on the species remain unresolved as in 2000 there was no proposal to regulate or modify grazing practices on leasehold land (NSW NPWS 2000).

Invasive species Grazing/browsing known current Rabbits have been recorded as grazing on the by rabbits and species and may be implicated in the lack of goats observed seedling recruitment (NSW NPWS 2000). Goats, as generalist browsers, are also a potential threat to the species if their densities increase.

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Fire Fire frequency potential future While it is likely that fire intensities and frequencies have been altered in the last 100– 150 years, the nature and consequences of these changes for the flame spider-flower are unknown. Fire may be implicated in breaking seed dormancy, as it is known to do so in other species of Grevillea (NSW NPWS 2000).

Conservation Actions

Conservation and Management priorities Impacts of domestic species

o If livestock grazing occurs in the area, ensure land owners/managers use an appropriate management regime and density that does not detrimentally affect this species to allow regeneration from seedlings and manage total grazing pressure at important sites through exclusion fencing or other barriers. Invasive species

o Manage sites by using appropriate control measures, in consultation with relevant landholders, to control and reduce the densities and spread of rabbits and goats. Fire

o Manage fire frequency to avoid intervals of less than 20 years, as may reduce population sizes by interrupting plant life-cycle processes.

o Any use of prescribed or experimental fires must be justified in an adaptive management framework involving objectiives of both learning and management. Prescribed fire operations should be integrated into an experimental design and a monitoring program.

o Prescribed fires should not be used to reduce fuels or manage wildfire risks to the flame spider flower. This is unlikely to be an effective tool in arid environments, such as the flame spider flower habitat, in which fire spread is sensitive to ephemeral fuels that do not respond favourably to prescribed fires.

o Provide maps of known occurrences to local and state Rural Fire Services and seek inclusion of mitigation measures in bush fire risk management plan/s, risk register and/or operation maps. Stakeholder Engagement

o Improve the management of any identified threats by involving the community in the conservation of the species and through liaison with relevant landholders to reduce habitat degradation.

Survey and Monitoring priorities • Update assessments of population size, distribution, ecological requirements and the relative impacts of threatening processes and survey suitable habitat and potential habitat to locate any additional populations. • Design and implement a monitoring program or, if appropriate, support and enhance existing programs to evaluate changes in populations and their causes, with particular attention to browsing. Grevillea kennedyana (flame spider-flower) Conservation Advice Page 3 of 5

• Monitor the the effectiveness of management actions and the need to adapt them if necessary.

Information and research priorities • Research the species' response to fire using observational methods and laboratory experiments that have minimal impacts on the species population and its habitat. • Undertake exclosure experiments to quantify the effect of grazing/browsing pressure. • Undertake seed germination trials to determine the requirements for successful establishment the wild. • Research the effects of public access where this is likely and the effects are unknown. • Implement an annual census to monitor reproductive success and survival.

References cited in the advice

BRI Rare and Threatened Plant database (2001).

Collins, B.G. & Rebelo, T. (1987). Pollination biology of the Proteaceae in Australia and southern Africa. Australian Journal of Ecology 12: 387–421.

Duncan, A. (1992). Aspects of the ecology of the rare Grevillea kennedyana (Proteaceae) in north-western New South Wales. Cunninghamia 2(4): 533–539.

Makinson, R.O. (2000). Proteaceae 2 – Grevillea. In: Flora of Australia 17A: 1–524. ABRS/CSIRO, Melbourne.

McGillivray, D.J. & Makinson, R.O. (1993). Grevillea Proteaceae. University Press, Melbourne.

Olde, P.M. & Marriott, N.R. (1995). The grevillea book volume 2. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, NSW.

Silcock, J.L. (2014). Degraded or just dusty? 150 years of ecological change in inland eastern Australia. Ph.D. Thesis. The University of Queensland.

Other sources cited in the advice

Enke, R. & Mills, E. (1997). Grevillea kennedyana (flame spider-flower) – distribution and abundance survey. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service cited in NSW NPWS (2000).

Fensom, G. Personal communication cited in NSW NPWS (2000).

Makinson, B. Personal communication cited in NSW NPWS (2000).

NSW Herbarium (undated). New South Wales National Herbarium specimens.

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NSW NPWS (New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife Service) (2000). Flame spider-flower (Grevillea kennedyana) Recovery Plan 2001–2005. NSW NPWS, Hurstville. Viewed on: 23 November 2015. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/g- kennedyana/index.html

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