Impacts of fire on the distribution of a predatory stonefly (Eustheniidae: Thaumatoperla alpina) in the Bogong alpine region S. McKay, C. Bryce and P. Papas 2005 Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 155 Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 155 Impacts of fire on the distribution of a predatory stonefly (Eustheniidae: Thaumatoperla alpina) in the Bogong alpine region Shanaugh McKay, Cassandra Bryce and Phil Papas June 2005 Impacts of fire on the distribution of Thaumatoperla alpina in the Bogong alpine region Published by: Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Sustainability and Environment PO Box 137 Heidelberg, Victoria 3094 Australia Telephone: (03) 9450 8600 www.dse.vic.gov.au/ari This publication may be cited as: McKay, S., Bryce, C. and Papas, P. (2005) Impacts of fire on the distribution of a predatory stonefly (Eustheniidae: Thaumatoperla alpina) in the Bogong alpine region. Freshwater Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Technical Report Series No.155, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne; La Trobe University, Wodonga, Victoria. © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2005 This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for private study, research, criticism or review allowed under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any forms or by any means, electronic, photocopying or other, without the prior permission of the copyright holder. ISBN 1 74152 158 0 ISSN 1326 6446 Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Front cover photos (left to right): Thaumatoperla alpina. Photo: C. Bryce; McKay Creek. Photo: S. McKay. Impacts of fire on the distribution of Thaumatoperla alpina in the Bogong alpine region Contents Contents ............................................................................................................................I Figures , Tables and Plates.............................................................................................. II Executive Summary....................................................................................................... III 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background.............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project rationale and objectives.............................................................. 1 1.3 Biology and ecology of Thaumatoperla alpina and Eusthenia venosa .... 2 1.4 Conservation status of Thaumatoperla ................................................... 3 1.5 Threats to Eustheniidae in the alpine region .......................................... 4 2 Methods................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Sample sites ............................................................................................ 5 2.2 Sampling procedure ................................................................................ 7 2.3 Habitat Parameters ................................................................................. 7 3 Results..................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Plecoptera findings.................................................................................. 8 3.2 Thaumatoperla alpina records................................................................. 8 3.3 Survey site descriptions ........................................................................ 15 3.3.1 Thaumatoperla alpina sites ................................................................... 15 3.3.2 Thaumatoperla alpina and Eusthenia venosa sites ............................... 16 3.3.3 Eusthenia venosa sites .......................................................................... 17 3.4 Water properties and stream habitat.................................................... 20 4 Discussion.............................................................................................................. 21 5 Conclusions and Recommendations...................................................................... 22 6 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................. 24 7 References............................................................................................................. 25 Appendix A......................................................................................................................28 I Figures , Tables and Plates Figures Figure 1. Distribution of Eustheniidae in the Bogong alpine area during February 2005 with the Alpine National Park boundary shown. Figure 2. Distribution of Eustheniidae in the Bogong alpine area during February 2005 with the extent of the 2003 bushfires shown. Figure 3. Distribution of Eustheniidae in the Bogong alpine area during various surveys up to 2001 with Alpine National Park boundary shown. Figure 4. Distribution of Eustheniidae in the Bogong alpine area during various surveys up to 2001 with the extent of the 2003 bushfires shown. Tables Table 1. Location of sites sampled for stonefly species in December 2004 and February 2005. Table 2. Sites where stonefly species were recorded during December 2004 and February 2005. Table 3. Geographic information for sites with current (including this study) T. alpina records. Table 4. Water property measures at sites with records of T. alpina during February 2005. Plates Plate 1. T. alpina sites sampled in February 2005 Plate 2. T. alpina and E. venosa sites sampled in February 2005. II Impacts of fire on the distribution of Thaumatoperla alpina in the Bogong alpine region Executive Summary A survey of high altitude streams in the Bogong Alpine area was conducted during February 2005 to investigate the status of predatory stonefly (Plecoptera: Eustheniidae) populations in the alpine region of north-east Victoria following the bushfires of 2003. A total of 17 sites were sampled with altitudes ranging from 760-1720m. Of particular interest was Thaumatoperla alpina, a species of Eustheniidae is classified as ‘vulnerable’ and is listed under Schedule 2 of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. T. alpina is known to occur at eight sites throughout the Bogong High Plains; two of these sites are situated within the Alpine National Park. Another species in the stonefly family Eustheniidae, Eusthenia venosa, which is similar in its ecology and habit to T. alpina, was also investigated to ascertain any effects that the 2003 bushfires may have had on that species. T. alpina was found in two new locations - a tributary of McKay Creek and an unnamed creek, which flows into Lake Guy at Bogong Village. E. venosa was found at five locations, including three new locations – two streams on the Bogong High Plains (Clearwater Creek and a tributary of Bundara River) and a tributary of Big River near Glen Valley. Previous studies of T. alpina and E. venosa have found that the main threats to these species were those associated with an increase in water temperature arising from activities such as the removal of vegetation (ski resort development, forestry and grazing) (Brittain 1997; Doeg 1999). Climate change also poses a potential threat to the distribution of Eustheniidae in the alpine region (Commonwealth of Australia 2002). It is likely that there were impacts on water temperature as a result of the 2003 bushfires through removal of vegetation. Additionally, the risk of predation may have increased due to decreased plant cover. While in this study, T. alpina was found to occur at sites affected by the bushfires, the longer term impacts on the species’distribution, in the fire-affected area are unknown and there remains the possibility that numbers may decline. Annual T. alpina surveys should therefore be undertaken to assess future population and distribution trends. III Impacts of fire on the distribution of Thaumatoperla alpina in the Bogong alpine region 1Introduction 1.1 Background The alpine fires of early 2003 burnt over 1.12 million hectares of land in the State of Victoria alone (Wareing and Flinn 2003). The fires were started by lightning strikes on the 7th of January, and continued for 59 days to become the largest fires that have occurred in Victoria since the devastating fires of 1939. The area burnt equated to 5% of Victoria, and 15% of the State’s total area of public land (Wareing and Flinn 2003). The fires affected six major catchments in Victoria, namely the Upper Murray, Kiewa, Ovens, Snowy, Tambo and Mitchell River catchments (DSE unpublished a). There have been limited studies globally on the impact of fire on aquatic macroinvertebrates. Most studies involving fire effects have concentrated on water quality impacts (e.g. Chessman 1986; Condina 1984; Leitch and Flinn 1984; Sheridan et al. unpublished). Common post-fire effects on lotic systems are increases in turbidity, suspended solids and nutrients (Chessman