Hiltaba Nature Reserve Gawler Ranges National Park SA 12–23 November 2012 What Is Contents Bush Blitz?
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BUSH BLITZ SPECIES DISCOVERY PROGRAM Hiltaba Nature Reserve Gawler Ranges National Park SA 12–23 November 2012 What is Contents Bush Blitz? Summary 3 Bush Blitz is a multi-million Abbreviations 3 dollar partnership between Introduction 5 the Australian Government, Reserve Overview 6 BHP Billiton and Earthwatch Australia to document plants Methods 8 and animals in selected Results 11 properties across Australia’s Discussion 14 National Reserve System. Appendix A: Species Lists 33 Fauna 34 Vertebrates 34 This innovative partnership Invertebrates 40 harnesses the expertise of many Flora 52 of Australia’s top scientists from Appendix B: Threatened Species 75 museums, herbaria, universities, Fauna 76 and other institutions and Vertebrates 76 organisations across the country. Flora 77 Appendix C: Exotic and Pest Species 79 Fauna 80 Vertebrates 80 Invertebrates 81 Flora 82 Glossary 85 2 Bush Blitz survey report Summary In November 2012, a Bush Blitz survey was conducted in the Gawler Ranges of South Australia. Previously only limited surveys Abbreviations had been undertaken of the region, and this survey represented a significant opportunity to add to our knowledge of the region’s biodiversity. DEWNR Department of Environment, Water and Natural The area includes a wide variety of habitats, ranging Resources (South Australia) from rocky hills to sandy plains, and from mallee EPBC Act forest and Acacia and Casuarina shrublands to Environment Protection and Biodiversity tussock grasslands. This diversity of habitats in turn Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) supports a wide variety of fauna and flora species. GRNP Gawler Ranges National Park In the Hiltaba Nature Reserve, 801 species were identified, 581 of which had not been recorded NPW Act previously in the reserve. In the Gawler Ranges National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 National Park, 365 species were identified, 165 of (South Australia) which had not been recorded previously in the NRS park. It should be noted that the survey took place National Reserve System after an extended dry period, and discovery of WoNS additional species might be expected after rains. Weeds of National Significance In the vertebrate collection, the survey of Hiltaba Nature Reserve found 16 native mammal species and 36 reptile species; seven of the mammal Eighty invertebrate species new to science were species and 12 of the reptile species were recorded identified during this survey. The largest number for the first time. Some of these new records were were jumping plantlice (28 species), followed by of species already known in nearby parts of the spiders (21 species), true bugs (16 species) and native Gawler Ranges, but others represent significant bees (14 species). Although only three wasp species additions to our knowledge of their distribution. were found, one of these was a parasitic species new The mix of species highlights Hiltaba’s situation to science. Further targeted investigation of other on an intersection between several major South invertebrate taxa would likely result in the discovery Australian ecological regions, resulting in unusually of many more new species. diverse reptile fauna. Native bees were particularly well represented Although dry conditions may have limited the in the invertebrate collection, with 116 species number of invertebrates found, many species new collected. There was also a diverse range of to the reserves were identified, as well as many true bugs (99 species), ants (61 species), moths species new to science. (54 species), jumping plantlice (47 species), and spiders (42 species). Hiltaba Nature Reserve and Gawler Ranges National Park SA 2012 3 A range of flora species were collected during the concern, and despite periodic control of their survey; however, the dry conditions substantially numbers, they continue to proliferate in the reduced the number of species available, with a reserves. Goats have a major impact on many general lack of annual plants and perennials in flora species, and some species may already have flower. In total, 374 flora species were collected: declined as a result of browsing pressure. Lichen 308 flowering plants, 4 ferns, 3 liverworts, species also decline in goat-affected areas due to 24 mosses, 27 lichens and 8 macrofungi. the impact of goat hooves. A number of introduced and pest species were The number of weed species identified was identified, though mostly in low numbers, and low, probably due in part to the dry seasonal usually in areas of human disturbance. The conditions, and in part to the general resilience of presence of Goats (Capra hircus) is of greatest rocky hill habitat. Some of the Bush Blitz team at Hiltaba Nature Reserve © Copyright, Australian Government Department of the Environment 4 Bush Blitz survey report Introduction This is a report for the Bush Blitz program, which survey, meant that the survey period was not aims to survey recent additions to the National well suited for sampling some taxa. For example, Reserve System (NRS).1 Bush Blitz is an initiative of annual plants were under‑represented in the the Australian Government, through the Australian collection, and the condition of many perennial Biological Resources Study, in partnership with plants indicated that sustained dry conditions had BHP Billiton and Earthwatch Australia. The Bush prevailed for longer than a single season. The dry Blitz objectives are: conditions were also likely to have reduced the + to promote, publicise and demonstrate the numbers of both flower‑visiting and leaf‑eating importance of taxonomy through species invertebrate species, particularly the latter, which discovery; prefer young foliage. + to undertake a national species discovery The Bush Blitz survey involved more than program targeted at recently acquired 40 people, 20 of whom are leading Australian properties of the National Reserve System of scientists. The Australian Biological Resources Australia; Study provided the logistical coordination and + to support the science of taxonomy in Australia overall leadership of the survey. Experts from the through training students and early career following organisations conducted the field and researchers, the provision of grants for species laboratory work: description and resolution of taxonomically + South Australian Department of Environment, problematic, nationally important groups; Water and Natural Resources + to promote partnerships between scientific + South Australian Museum institutions, government, industry and non‑government organisations; and + State Herbarium of South Australia + to inform the National Reserve System, Reserve + University of Adelaide Managers and other stakeholders of the results + University of New South Wales of the Bush Blitz Project. + Queensland Museum + Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd. This Bush Blitz survey, undertaken in November 2012, targeted the Gawler Ranges, investigating We wish to thank Michael Starkey from South Hiltaba Nature Reserve and the Gawler Ranges Australian Native Title Services for liaising with National Park (GRNP). The timing, together with traditional owners and facilitating the involvement the drier than usual conditions leading up to the of Australian Government funded Working on Country Indigenous rangers, who assisted 1 The NRS is Australia’s network of protected areas, scientists with the fieldwork. We also thank Nature covering 17.88% of the country—over 137 million hectares. It is made up of Commonwealth, state and Foundation SA, particularly the property manager territory reserves, Indigenous lands and protected areas Greg Johnston, and National Parks South Australia, run by non‑profit conservation organisations, through to ecosystems protected by farmers on their private working particularly ranger in charge Michael Freak, for properties <http://www.environment.gov.au/land/nrs>, facilitating access to the reserves and providing accessed 18 May 2015. helpful advice on survey locations. Hiltaba Nature Reserve and Gawler Ranges National Park SA 2012 5 South Australia 2 Reserve Overview Hiltaba Adelaide Hiltaba Nature Reserve and Description Gawler Ranges National Park The survey took place in the Gawler Ranges, in Hiltaba Nature Reserve and Gawler Ranges National Park, around 350 km Hiltaba Nature Reserve: north-west of Adelaide, South Australia. Nature Foundation SA Gawler Ranges National Park: Hiltaba was a sheep station before it was purchased by the Nature Government of South Australia Foundation SA. The station was grazed by sheep for more than 100 years, which affected the vegetation of the valleys and plains Date of purchase but not of the rugged granite hills. However, the vegetation Hiltaba Nature Reserve: 2012 communities in the hills and ranges have been adversely affected by large numbers of feral goats, which are an unwanted feature of Gawler Ranges National Park: 2000 the Gawler Ranges. Area When the station was purchased by the Nature Foundation SA, Hiltaba Nature Reserve: 77,000 ha the stock and about 6,500 feral goats were removed to allow the Foundation to conserve important native habitats, plants and Gawler Ranges National Park: 166,000 ha animals in the area. The hills of Hiltaba form part of the sprawling Gawler Ranges, which fall within the Gawler bioregion. Climatically, the Gawler bioregion forms a transition zone between the temperate areas to the south and the arid areas to the north. The vegetation of Hiltaba Nature Reserve consists of a mosaic of Acacia and Casuarina shrublands, mallee forest, chenopod plains