Consultation Document on Listing Eligibility and Conservation Actions

Acacia leptoneura (a shrub)

You are invited to provide your views about:

1) the eligibility of Acacia leptoneura (a shrub) for inclusion on the EPBC Act threatened species list; and

2) the necessary conservation actions for the above species.

The views of experts, stakeholders and the general public are welcome. Responses can be provided by any interested person.

Anyone may nominate a native species, ecological community or threatening process for listing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) or for a transfer of an item already on the list to a new listing category. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) undertakes the assessment of species to determine eligibility for inclusion in the list of threatened species and provides its recommendation to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment.

Draft information for your consideration of the eligibility of this species for listing as critically endangered starts at page 3 and information associated with potential conservation actions for this species starts at page 7. To assist with the Committee’s assessment, the Committee has identified a series of specific questions on which it seeks your guidance at page 8.

Responses are to be provided in writing either by email to: [email protected] or by mail to:

The Director Marine and Freshwater Species Conservation Section Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division Department of the Environment PO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601

Responses are required to be submitted by 23 January 2015.

Contents of this information package Page Information about this consultation process 1 General background information about listing threatened species 2 Draft information about Acacia leptoneura and its eligibility for listing 3 Conservation actions for the species 7 Collective list of questions – your views 8 References cited 9

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General background information about listing threatened species

The Australian Government helps protect species at risk of extinction by listing them as threatened under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Once listed under the EPBC Act, the species becomes a Matter of National Environmental Significance (MNES) and must be protected from significant impacts through the assessment and approval provisions of the EPBC Act. More information about threatened species is available on the department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html.

Public nominations to list threatened species under the EPBC Act are received annually by the department. In order to determine if a species is eligible for listing as threatened under the EPBC Act, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) undertakes a rigorous scientific assessment of its status to determine if the species is eligible for listing against a set of criteria. These criteria are available on the Department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/pubs/guidelines-species.pdf.

As part of the assessment process, the Committee consults with the public and stakeholders to obtain specific details about the species, as well as advice on what conservation actions might be appropriate. Information provided through the consultation process is considered by the Committee in its assessment. The Committee provides its advice on the assessment (together with comments received) to the Minister regarding the eligibility of the species for listing under a particular category and what conservation actions might be appropriate. The Minister decides to add, or not to add, the species to the list of threatened species under the EPBC Act. More detailed information about the listing process is at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/nominations.html.

To promote the recovery of listed threatened species and ecological communities, conservation advices and where required, recovery plans are made or adopted in accordance with Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Conservation advices provide guidance at the time of listing on known threats and priority recovery actions that can be undertaken at a local and regional level. Recovery plans describe key threats and identify specific recovery actions that can be undertaken to enable recovery activities to occur within a planned and logical national framework. Information about recovery plans is available on the department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery.html.

Information about this consultation process

Responses to this consultation can be provided electronically or in hard copy to the contact addresses provided on Page 1. All responses received will be provided in full to the Committee and then to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment.

In providing comments, please provide references to published data where possible. Should the Committee use the information you provide in formulating its advice, the information will be attributed to you and referenced as a ‘personal communication’ unless you provide references or otherwise attribute this information (please specify if your organisation requires that this information is attributed to your organisation instead of yourself). The final advice by the Committee will be published on the department’s website following the listing decision by the Minister.

Information provided through consultation may be subject to freedom of information legislation and court processes. It is also important to note that under the EPBC Act, the deliberations and recommendations of the Committee are confidential until the Minister has made a final decision on the nomination, unless otherwise determined by the Minister.

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Acacia leptoneura (a shrub)

Taxonomy Conventionally accepted as Acacia leptoneura (Benth., 1842).

Description Acacia leptoneura is a shrub standing approximately 0.6m high and 2.2m wide. It flowers in August and sets fruit in November and December and is predicted to be short to medium lived (10-15 years). A. leptoneura is very similar to A. subflexuosa, which differs most obviously in having 8-nerved phyllodes, whereas A. leptoneura has 16-nerved phyllodes (Cowan and Maslin, 1999).

Phyllodes shallowly to strongly incurved or sigmoid, terete to subterete, 3–7.5 cm long. Inflorescences simple, 1 or 2 per axil; peduncles 4–6 mm long, sparingly appressed-puberulous; heads globular, c. 5 mm diam., 20–30-flowered; bracteoles linear to fusiform. Flowers 5-merous; sepals free, linear-spathulate. Pods raised over seeds, curved, to 3 cm long, 2 mm wide. Seeds 2 mm long, dull, brown (Orchard and Wilson, 2001).

Distribution A. leptoneura occurs in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia and is known from only two localities, located approximately 1 km apart and with only a single plant at each locality. Both populations are situated high in the landscape at 335 m elevation, on the high point of a broad valley.

A. leptoneura was first collected by James Drummond from an unknown locality in south- western Western Australia and was described by G. Bentham in 1842 (Orchard and Wilson, 2001). The species was previously thought to be extinct as it remained undetected in the landscape for a period of 160 years. A. leptoneura was rediscovered in 2008 from a single roadside plant north of Dowerin. Further surveys in 2010 located one additional plant on an adjoining private property.

Six targeted flora surveys were undertaken during 2009 and 2010 by the Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation within road reserves and patches of remnant vegetation located in the region where the two known plants occur. These included road reserves associated with the locality of Dowerin, Amery and Bolgart. No additional populations of A. leptoneura were recorded.

Further, previous flora surveys within nature reserves in the Dowerin area did not record A. leptoneura. The reserves surveyed included: Namelcatchem Nature Reserve, Minnivale Nature Reserve, Amery Nature Reserve, Hindmarsh Nature Reserve, Moonijin Nature Reserve, Manmanning Dam Nature Reserve, Manmanning Nature Reserve and private property in the Wattenguttin area.

Relevant Biology/Ecology The first of the two known plants is situated on a road reserve on the southerly aspect of a low rise. The soil type is a grey/white sandy loam over laterite. The habitat is degraded shrubland that has mostly been cleared. Associated species include Hakea scoparia and Santalum acuminatum. This road reserve was extensively cleared 10-15 years ago for road works and landholder fencing.

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The second plant is situated on private farmland with a southerly aspect of a low lateritic ridge. The soil type is brown sandy loam over laterite. Calcareous white rock is present on the soil surface 50m further south of the population. The habitat is open Eucalyptus leptopoda mallee over open Allocasuarina acutivalvis, Allocasuarina campestris and Melaleuca coronicarpa shrubland. Other associated species include Hypocalymma angustifolium and Melaleuca sclerophylla. The small remnant is approximately 1 ha in size and has been fenced from livestock for a long period of time, however some disturbance has been recorded.

Both populations consist of a single adult plant. There are no seedlings present at either population.

A. leptoneura is most likely a short to medium lived disturbance opportunist. Adult plants would most likely be killed by fire with recruitment of seedlings from soil-stored seed. It is unknown if the species would resprout after fire. Mature seed has been collected from the first plant and sent to the Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife’s Threatened Flora Seed Centre. It is most likely that the species requires a disturbance event (historically fire) to trigger regeneration from soil stored seed.

Threats Past threats: Extensive clearing, habitat destruction/degradation and fragmentation, grazing pressures from herbivores and a lack of appropriate fire regimes.

Current threats: Roadside grading/accidental destruction, herbivore grazing, lack of suitable recruitment, very low adult plant numbers/genetic diversity and weeds (all known through observation).

Future threats: Climate change resulting in reduced optimal conditions for seedling survival when recruitment events occur.

Assessment of available information in relation to the EPBC Act Criteria and Regulations

Criterion 1: Reduction in numbers (based on any of A1 – A4) A1. An observed, estimated, inferred or suspected population very severe 90%, severe 70% substantial 50% size reduction over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, where the causes of the reduction are clearly reversible AND understood AND ceased, based on (and specifying) any of the following: (a) direct observation (b) an index of abundance appropriate to the taxon (c) a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat (d) actual or potential levels of exploitation (e) the effects of introduced taxa, hybridization, pathogens, pollutants, competitors or parasites. A2. An observed, estimated, inferred or suspected population very severe 80%, severe 50% substantial 30%size reduction over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased OR may not be understood OR may not be reversible, based on (and specifying) any of (a) to (e) under A1. A3. A population size reduction very severe 80%, severe 50% substantial 30%, projected or suspected to be met within the next 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer (up to a maximum of 100 years), based on (and specifying) any of (b) to (e) under A1.

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A4. An observed, estimated, inferred, projected or suspected population size reduction very severe 80%, severe 50% substantial 30%over any 10 year or three generation period, whichever is longer (up to a maximum of 100 years in the future), where the time period must include both the past and the future, and where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased OR may not be understood OR may not be reversible, based on (and specifying) any of (a) to (e) under A1. Evidence Just two individual A. leptoneura shrubs have been recorded. Both plants are mature and no seedlings have been recorded. It is likely that there has been a very severe reduction in the size and number of populations in the landscape through the processes of extensive land clearing and grazing pressures in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. However, A. leptoneura is very rare and has been absent from the herbarium records for a period up to 160 years and therefore, no abundance data are available that would provide quantitative evidence of a decline over time.

A. leptoneura is predicted to be a short to medium lived (10-15 years) species. Given that both recorded individuals are mature and no seedlings are present, it can be projected that both plants will die within the next three generations. With no known occurrence of natural recruitment, this would result in a very severe reduction in abundance.

The data presented above appear to demonstrate that the species is eligible for listing as Critically Endangered under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the species status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.

Criterion 2: Geographic distribution (based on either of B1 or B2) B1. Extent of occurrence estimated to be very restricted <100 km2, restricted <5000 km2 or limited < 20 000 km2 B2. Area of occupancy estimated to be very restricted <10 km2, restricted <500 km2 or limited <2000 km2 AND Geographic distribution is precarious for the survival of the species, (based on at least two of a–c) a. Severely fragmented or known to exist at a limited location. b. Continuing decline, observed, inferred or projected, in any of the following: (i) extent of occurrence (ii) area of occupancy (iii) area, extent and/or quality of habitat (iv) number of locations or subpopulations (v) number of mature individuals. c. Extreme fluctuations in any of the following: (i) extent of occurrence (ii) area of occupancy (iii) number of locations or subpopulations (iv) number of mature individuals

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Evidence The extent of occurrence of A. leptoneura is 1.2 km² (calculated by using ArcGIS from Western Australian Herbarium dataset). Therefore, the geographic distribution in terms of both extent of occurrence (<100 km2) and area of occupancy (<10 km2) is estimated to be very restricted.

The geographic distribution of A. leptoneura is precarious for the survival of the species, due to the following: A. leptoneura is known from a limited location, with just two known individuals occurring approximately 1 km apart; and A. leptoneura is projected to decline in both extent of occurrence and area of occupancy.

A. leptoneura is a short to medium lived (10-15 years) species and both recorded individuals are mature with no seedlings are present. It can therefore be projected that both plants will die within the next three generations with no natural recruitment.

Criterion 3: The estimated total number of mature individuals is very low <250, low <2500 or limited<10 000; and either of (A) or (B) is true (A) evidence suggests that the number will continue to decline at a very high (25% in 3 years or 1 generation (up to 100 years), whichever is longer), high (20% in 5 years or 2 generations (up to 100 years), whichever is longer) or substantial (10% in 10 years or 3 generations years), whichever is longer (up to 100) rate; or (B) the number is likely to continue to decline and its geographic distribution is precarious for its survival (based on at least two of a – c): a. Severely fragmented or known to exist at a limited location. b. Continuing decline, observed, inferred or projected, in any of the following: (i) extent of occurrence (ii) area of occupancy (iii) area, extent and/or quality of habitat (iv) number of locations or subpopulations (v) number of mature individuals. c. Extreme fluctuations in any of the following: (i) extent of occurrence (ii) area of occupancy (iii) number of locations or subpopulations (iv) number of mature individuals

Evidence The total number of mature individuals of A. leptoneura is very low; just two mature individuals are known to occur.

The number of A. leptoneura shrubs is likely to continue to decline and its geographic distribution is precarious for its survival due to a projected decline in both extent of occurrence and area of occupancy. A. leptoneura is known to exist at only two locations within a very restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy and is predicted to be a short to medium lived (10-15 years) species. Given that both recorded individuals are mature and no seedlings are present, it can be projected that both plants will die with no natural recruitment. In addition, neither plant is located within a nature reserve and both could be subject to ongoing threats including weed invasion, herbivore grazing and inadvertent clearing.

document is to elicit additional information to better understand the species status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.

Criterion 4: Estimated total number of mature individuals: (a) Extremely low < 50 (b) Very low < 250 (c) Low < 1000

Evidence In 2011, the known total number of mature individuals of A. leptoneura was extremely low; just two mature individuals were known to occur. In addition, no seedlings have been observed at either population.

The data presented above appear to demonstrate that the species is eligible for listing as Critically Endangered under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation draft advice is to elicit additional information to better understand the species status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.

Criterion 5: Probability of extinction in the wild based on quantitative analysis is at least: (a) 50% in the immediate future, 10 years or three generations (whichever is longer); or (b) 20% in the near future, 20 year or five generations (whichever is longer); or (c) 10% in the medium-term future, within 100 years.

Evidence It can be inferred that there is a high probability of extinction of A. leptoneura in the wild given that just two individual plants have been recorded and they are located in close proximity to each other. This is exacerbated by the fact that no seedlings have been observed. These factors mean that A. leptoneura is highly susceptible to extinction from a single catastrophic event such as fire. However, there is a lack of quantitative evidence to assess against this criteria.

Recovery Plan A decision about whether there should be a recovery plan for this species has not yet been determined. The purpose of this consultation draft is to elicit additional information to help inform this decision.

Recovery and Impact avoidance guidance

Primary Conservation Objectives

1. Increase the number and size of wild populations, including the establishment of populations within conservation areas.

2. Maintain and enhance habitat.

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Important populations Both known populations are important populations.

Important habitat for the survival of the species Includes both the extent of occurrence and all remaining suitable habitat within the region.

Information required, research and monitoring priorities 1. Undertake seed germination trials to determine the requirements for successful establishment.

2. Identify optimal fire regimes for regeneration (seed germination) and response to other prevailing fire regimes.

3. More precisely assess the species ecological requirements and the relative impacts of threatening processes.

4. Undertake further survey work in suitable habitat and potential habitat to locate any additional populations/occurrences/remnants.

Management actions required 1. Assess the requirement for fencing of known populations, including the need for rabbit proof fencing and construct where appropriate.

2. Manage sites to identify, control and reduce the spread of invasive species and regenerate using native species to provide buffers from disturbance.

3. Conduct shire/community liaison and education, in particular to ensure that populations on road verges are protected for clearing.

4. Monitor the progress of recovery, including the effectiveness of management actions and the need to adapt them if necessary

Collective list of questions – your views

Biological information 1. Can you provide any additional or alternative references, information or estimates on the species biology or past declines in population?

2. Can you provide any additional information on the generation length for Acacia leptoneura?

Population size 3. Can you provide any additional records of A. leptoneura or survey effort other than that noted in this document?

4. Has the survey effort for this species been adequate to determine its population size and extent and if not, where should further surveys be undertaken?

General 5. What are your views on whether the species is eligible for inclusion in the critically endangered category of the threatened species list?

6. Can you provide additional data or information relevant to this assessment?

7. Have you been involved in developing this nomination?

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Threats 8. Do you agree that the threats listed are correct and that their effect on the species is significant?

9. Can you provide additional or alternative information on threats, past, current or potential that may adversely affect this species?

Management 10. What planning, management and recovery actions are currently in place supporting protection and recovery of the species? To what extent have they been effective?

11. Can you recommend any additional or alternative specific threat abatement or conservation actions that would aid the protection and recovery of the species?

12. What individuals or organisations are currently, or potentially could be, involved in management and recovery of the species?

13. For every newly listed species, the minister is required to make a decision whether or not to have a recovery plan. Do you have information to offer that may help the minister in making this decision? Note that if the minister decides to have a recovery plan for this species, further consultation will be undertaken on the contents of the plan.

References cited in the advice Cowan, R.S., & Maslin, B.R. (1999). Nuytsia 12, 425-426

Orchard, A.E., & Wilson AJG (eds) (2001). Flora of Australia. Volume 11B, Mimosaceae, Acacia Part 2. ABRS/ CSIRO Publishing.

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