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Recovery Plan for the Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallaby (Petrogale Penicillata)

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Recovery Plan for the Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallaby (Petrogale Penicillata) Approved Recovery Plan Recovery plan for the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) March 2008 Acknowledgments A large number of people have contributed to the survey, research and management of the brush- tailed rock-wallaby (BTRW) over a number of years. Much of the background and preliminary infor- mation in this recovery plan draws from, or has been adapted from, existing population management plans for the Warrumbungles and Shoalhaven BTRW populations and other unpublished documents prepared for the Northern NSW populations. Particular thanks in this regard are due to Vera Wong, Ian Jackett and Paul Bayne for allowing use of their material in this plan. The Department of Environment and Climate Change would like to acknowledge World Wide Fund for Nature, Taronga Zoo, the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, Waterfall Springs Conser- vation Association, and the Kangaroo Valley Friends of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby for their efforts and ongoing support in conserving this species. Cover photo: S. Ruming © Copyright State of NSW and Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW. The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW and State of NSW are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged.Specifi c permission is required for the reproduction of photographs. Published by: Department of Environment and Climate Change 59–61 Goulburn Street PO Box A290 Sydney South 1232 Ph: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard) Ph: 131 555 (environment information and publications requests) Ph: 1300 361 967 (national parks information and publications requests) Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723 Email: [email protected] Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au ISBN: 978 1 74122 773 4 DECC: 2008/138 May 2008 Printed on recycled paper Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 2 Legislative context ................................................................................................................. 2 2.1 Legal status.................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Recovery plan preparation............................................................................................. 2 2.3 Recovery plan implementation...................................................................................... 2 2.4 Relationship to other legislation.................................................................................... 3 2.5 Environmental assessment ............................................................................................ 3 2.6 Critical habitat ............................................................................................................... 3 3 Conservation status ............................................................................................................... 5 4 Description ........................................................................................................................... 12 5 Distribution .......................................................................................................................... 13 5.1 Range........................................................................................................................... 13 5.2 Abundance................................................................................................................... 14 6 Ecology.................................................................................................................................. 16 6.1 Lifecycle...................................................................................................................... 16 6.1.1 Reproductive biology ........................................................................................ 16 6.1.2 Reproductive specificity.................................................................................... 17 6.1.3 Genetic distinctiveness...................................................................................... 17 6.1.4 Recruitment rate ................................................................................................ 18 6.2 Diet .............................................................................................................................. 19 6.3 Predators...................................................................................................................... 19 6.4 Competitors ................................................................................................................. 20 6.5 Behaviour .................................................................................................................... 21 6.6 Population structure..................................................................................................... 22 6.6.1 Total population number ................................................................................... 22 6.6.2 Natural and human-induced fluctuations .......................................................... 22 7 Disturbance .......................................................................................................................... 23 7.1 Fire............................................................................................................................... 23 7.2 Floods .......................................................................................................................... 23 7.3 Weeds .......................................................................................................................... 23 7.4 Human disturbances .................................................................................................... 23 7.5 Drought........................................................................................................................ 24 7.6 Other disturbances....................................................................................................... 24 8 Habitat.................................................................................................................................. 25 8.1 Refuge sites ................................................................................................................. 25 8.2 Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 26 9 Management issues.............................................................................................................. 27 9.1 Threats and reasons for decline................................................................................... 27 9.1.1 Habitat degradation ........................................................................................... 27 9.1.2 Predation............................................................................................................ 27 9.1.3 Disease............................................................................................................... 29 9.1.4 Competition with introduced and native herbivores ......................................... 30 9.1.5 Weed invasion ................................................................................................... 31 9.1.6 Fire..................................................................................................................... 31 9.1.7 Bioclimactic factors........................................................................................... 32 9.1.8 Management actions.......................................................................................... 33 9.2 Site effects ................................................................................................................... 33 9.3 Social and economic issues......................................................................................... 35 9.3.1 Social issues ...................................................................................................... 35 9.3.2 Economic issues................................................................................................ 35 9.4 Scientific and taxonomic value ................................................................................... 36 9.5 Role and interests of indigenous people ..................................................................... 37 9.6 Biodiversity benefits ................................................................................................... 37 9.7 Overview of Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs).................................................. 37 9.7.1 Northern ESU.................................................................................................... 38 9.7.2 Central ESU ...................................................................................................... 39 9.7.3 Southern ESU (Victoria)................................................................................... 40 10 Previous actions undertaken ............................................................................................ 41 10.1 Surveys...................................................................................................................... 41 10.2 Captive populations................................................................................................... 41 10.3 Predator
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