This Conservation Advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on: 3/07/2008. Approved Conservation Advice (s266B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). Approved Conservation Advice for masonii (Mason’s Darwinia)

This Conservation Advice has been developed based on the best available information at the time this conservation advice was approved. Description Darwinia masonii, Family , also known as Mason’s Darwinia, is an erect shrub growing 1.5–2.5 m tall. Its leaves are narrow, almost triangular in cross-section, about 1 cm long and densely crowded towards the ends of the branchlets. The tubular flowers are about 5 mm long, with minute calyx lobes (sepals). The flower heads are about 3 cm across, smaller than those of D. lejostyla, and surrounded by numerous spreading reddish , which droop from the ends of short branchlets. The bracts are broad at the base but narrow to a pointed apex and have a distinct midrib. They are about 2 cm long, 5 mm wide, and green with purplish-red margins. The styles are hairy below the and about 1.5 cm long. Flowering occurs from April to November (Brown et al., 1998). Conservation Status Mason’s Darwinia is listed as vulnerable. This species is eligible for listing as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act) 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). Mason’s Darwinia is also listed as Declared Rare Flora under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 () and currently ranked as vulnerable according to IUCN Criterion D2. Distribution and Habitat Mason’s Darwinia is currently known from five populations on pastoral/mining leases on the summits of a ridge of banded ironstone hills south-west of Paynes Find, Western Australia. This species occurs within the Rangelands (Western Australia) Natural Resource Management Region. It grows in yellow-brown clay loams, and is most common on the south-western sides of the ridges. Mason’s Darwinia is thought to regenerate from root stock and seed after fire or disturbance (Brown et al., 1998). The distribution of this species is not known to overlap with any EPBC Act-listed threatened ecological communities. Threats The main identified threats to Mason’s Darwinia are mining and pastoral activities (Brown et al., 1998). Research Priorities Research priorities that would inform future regional and local priority actions include: • Design and implement a monitoring program. • Undertake survey work in suitable habitat and potential habitat to locate any additional populations/occurrences. • Further research into the species’ regeneration. Regional and Local Priority Actions The following regional and local priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of Mason’s Darwinia. Darwinia masonii Conservation Advice - Page 1 of 3 This Conservation Advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on: 3/07/2008. Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification • Identify populations of high conservation priority. • Manage threats to areas of vegetation that contain populations/occurrences of Mason’s Darwinia. • Ensure mining, pastoral and associated maintenance activities (or other infrastructure or development activities, as appropriate) in areas where Mason’s Darwinia occurs do not adversely impact on known populations. • Monitor known populations to identify key threats. • Monitor the progress of recovery, including the effectiveness of management actions and the need to adapt them if necessary. • Minimise adverse impacts from land use at known sites. • Investigate formal conservation arrangements such as the use of covenants, conservation agreements or inclusion in reserve tenure. Trampling, Browsing or Grazing • Prevent grazing pressure at known sites through exclusion fencing or other barriers. Fire • Develop and implement a suitable fire management strategy for Mason’s Darwinia. • Identify appropriate intensity and interval of fire to promote regeneration and seed germination. • Provide maps of known occurrences to local and state rural fire services and seek inclusion of mitigative measures in bush fire risk management plans, risk register and/or operation maps. Conservation Information • Raise awareness of Mason’s Darwinia within the local community. • Maintain liaison with pastoralists and mining operators (Brown et al., 1998). Enable Recovery of Additional Sites and/or Populations • Undertake appropriate seed collection and storage. • Investigate options for linking, enhancing or establishing additional populations. • Implement national translocation protocols (Vallee et al., 2004) if establishing additional populations is considered necessary and feasible. • Undertake seed germination and/or vegetative propagation trials to determine the requirements for successful establishment. This list does not necessarily encompass all actions that may be of benefit to Mason’s Darwinia, but highlights those that are considered to be of highest priority at the time of preparing the conservation advice. Existing Plans/Management Prescriptions that are Relevant to the Species • Western Australia Wildlife Program No. 26: Declared Rare and Poorly Known Flora in the Geraldton District (Patrick, S. 2001). This prescription was current at the time of publishing; please refer to the relevant agency’s website for any updated versions.

Information sources: Brown, A, Thomson-Dans, C & Marchant, N (Eds) 1998, Western Australia's Threatened Flora, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia, pp. 79. Patrick, S 2001, Declared Rare & Poorly Known Flora in the Geraldton District. Perth: WA Wildlife Management Program.

Darwinia masonii Conservation Advice - Page 2 of 3 This Conservation Advice was approved by the Minister / Delegate of the Minister on: 3/07/2008. Vallee, L, Hogbin, T, Monks, L, Makinson, B, Matthes, M & Rossetto, M 2004, Guidelines for the Translocation of Threatened in Australia - Second Edition, Australian Network for Conservation, Canberra.

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