Galaxiella Nigrostriata
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THREATENED SPECIES SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The Minister approved this conservation advice and included this species in the Endangered category, effective from 11/05/2018 Conservation Advice Galaxiella nigrostriata black-stripe minnow Summary of assessment Conservation status Galaxiella nigrostriata has been found to be eligible for listing in the Endangered category, as outlined in the attached assessment. Reason for conservation assessment by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee This advice follows assessment of information provided by Western Australia as part of the Common Assessment Method process, to systematically review species that are inconsistently listed under the EPBC Act and relevant state/territory legislation or lists. More information on the Common Assessment Method is available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/cam The information in this assessment has been compiled by the relevant state/territory government. In adopting this assessment under the EPBC Act, this document forms the Approved Conservation Advice for this species as required under s266B of the EPBC Act. Public consultation Notice of the proposed amendment and a consultation document was made available for public comment for 33 business days between 3 October 2017 and 16 November 2017. Any comments received that were relevant to the survival of the species were considered by the Committee as part of the assessment process. Recovery plan A recovery plan for this species under the EPBC Act is not recommended, because the Approved Conservation Advice provides sufficient direction to implement priority actions and mitigate against key threats. The relevant state/territory may decide to develop a plan under its equivalent legislation. Recommendations (i) The Committee recommends that the list referred to in section 178 of the EPBC Act be amended by including in the list in the Endangered category: Galaxiella nigrostriata (ii) The Committee recommends that there not be a recovery plan for this species. Threatened Species Scientific Committee 28 February 2018 Galaxiella nigrostriata (black-stripe minnow) Conservation Advice Nomination summary (to be completed by nominator) Current conservation status Scientific name: Galaxiella nigrostriata Common name: black-stripe minnow, black-striped dwarf galaxias Family name: Galaxiidae Fauna Flora Nomination for: Listing Change of status Delisting 1. Is the species currently on any conservation list, either in a State or Territory, Australia or Internationally? Provide details of the occurrence and listing status for each jurisdiction in the following table 2. Is it present in an Australian jurisdiction, but not listed? State / Territory in Date listed or Listing category i.e. Listing criteria i.e. Jurisdiction which the species assessed (or critically endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) occurs N/A) or ‘none’ International (IUCN Red List) National (EPBC Act) State / Territory 1. WA (WC Act 1950) 6/1/2017 Endangered A2bc 2. 3. Consistent with Schedule 1, item 2.7 (h) and 2.8 of the Common Assessment Method Memorandum of Understanding, it is confirmed that: this assessment meets the standard of evidence required by the Common Yes No Assessment Method to document the eligibility of the species under the IUCN criteria; Comments: surveys of the species were adequate to inform the assessment; Yes No Comments: Historical (pre-2000) records include WA Museum collections and studies conducted by Christensen (1982), Pusey & Edward (1990) and Morgan et. al. (1998). A targeted study was undertaken by Galeotti in 2013. In 2014 and 2015, Ogston et. al. (2016) surveyed 53 sites for presence or absence of G. nigrostriata. The sites included a re-examination of all historical records and additional sites that have not previously been surveyed. The survey caught the species at 26 of the 53 sites sampled between Augusta and Albany. There is also reliable evidence of three occurrences on the Swan Coastal Plain. the conclusion of the assessment remains current and that any further information Yes No that may have become available since the assessment was completed supports or is consistent with the conclusion of the assessment. Page 2 of 9 Comments: The species was assessed by Ogston et. al. (2016) and nominated for listing in Western Australia at the 2016 WA TSSC meeting. Freshwater fish surveys since 2015 have not found G. nigrostriata at any additional sites and therefore the conclusion of the assessment remains current. Nominated national conservation status: category and criteria Presumed extinct (EX) Critically endangered (CR) Endangered (EN) Vulnerable (VU) None (least concern) Data Deficient Conservation Dependent What are the IUCN Red List criteria that support the recommended A2bc conservation status category? Eligibility against the IUCN Red List criteria (A, B, C, D and E) Provide justification for the nominated conservation status; is the species eligible or ineligible for listing against the five criteria. For delisting, provide details for why the species no longer meets the requirements of the current conservation status. A. Population size (A2) Eligible for listing as Endangered meeting the sub-criteria A2bc: A reduction population reduction ≥ 50 % over 10 years is inferred based on calculated 2 (evidence of decline) declines in EOO and AOO. Historical EOO is calculated as 47,578 km and current EOO as 20,276 km2, which is an approximate reduction of 57%. Historical AOO is calculated as 55 km2 (244 km2 using 2kmx2km grid) and a current AOO as 23 km2 (80 km2 using 2kmx2km gird), which is an approximate reduction of 58%. The reduction occurred in the past and may not have ceased or be reversible. The EOO and AOO calculated reductions are considered to be (b) ‘an index of abundance appropriate to the taxon’. (A4) Not eligible for listing against sub-criterion A4c: The issue of climate change was loosely inferred in the supporting paper and was not clearly stated how it would impact the species. There was insufficient information to demonstrate the scale of the inferred future decline in population size due to climate change for meeting eligibility under A4 as being ≥ 30% for vulnerable or ≥ 50% for endangered. However, it was accepted that climate change was an issue for the species. B. Geographic range (B2) Not eligible: The EOO is larger than 20,000 km2 (calculated as 20,276 km2 using MCP), therefore not eligible under B1. The AOO is calculated as less than (EOO and AOO, 2 2 2 number of locations 500 km (calculated as 23 km using 2kmx1km grid or 80km using 2kmx2km and evidence of grid), meeting sub-criterion B2 for Endangered. decline) There is calculated (b) continuing decline in (i) EOO and (ii) AOO and observed decline (iii) area, extent and quality of habitat. However, (a) the number of locations is greater than 10, it is not considered to be severely fragmented, and there are no (c) extreme fluctuations. Therefore the species does not meet two of the three sub-criteria as required. C. Small population Not eligible: The number of mature individuals is unknown. size and decline (population size, distribution and evidence of decline) Page 3 of 9 D. Very small or Not eligible: (D1) the number of mature individuals is unknown, and (D2) the restricted AOO is > 20 km2 and number of locations is > 5. population (population size) E. Quantitative analysis Not eligible: insufficient data available (statistical probability of extinction) Summary of assessment information EOO 20,276 km2 (Minimum Convex Polygon) AOO 80 km2 (2kmx2km grid) Generation 1 year length 23 km2 (1km x1km grid) No. locations 11 based on occurrences in Severely fragmented Yes No Unknown separate river tributaries and swamp/lakes outside those tributaries. No. 3 on Swan Coastal Plain and No. mature individuals Unknown subpopulations >8 between Augusta and Albany Percentage global population within Australia 100 % Percentage population decline over 10 years or 3 generations Inferred population reduction of ≥ 50 % over 10 years based on a calculated decline in EOO and AOO Threats (detail how the species is being impacted) Threat Extent Impact (describe the threat and how it impacts on the (give details of impact on (what is the level of threat to species. Specify if the threat is past, current or whole species or specific the conservation of the potential) subpopulations) species) Climate change leading to increased air and water The entire south-western High: Drying to occur even temperatures, decreased rainfall, increased region has undergone drying under low emissions evaporation and lowering groundwater table: Past, and warming, and scenarios) present and future furthermore is projected to continue to be impacted In the south-west of WA, climate change is into the future. expected to cause a reduction in rainfall of >40% by 2070 with increased rates of evapotranspiration. This will lead to unseasonal or extended dry periods Introduced invasive fish: Past, present and future Permanent pools Low (on a species scale): G. throughout the species holbrooki is unable to survive The introduction of exotic fish, including the distribution. dry periods in the ephemeral mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki, could impact on wetlands and therefore will G. nigrostirata through food competition, only be a major threat in aggressive or predatory behaviour (i.e. fin-nipping) areas where G. nigrostriata leading to displacement, injury and/or death, and survives in permanent pools. introduction of diseases. Page 4 of 9 Habitat modification leading to degradation and Historically in areas now Historically, High: land use loss of habitat: Past, present and future primarily used for practices directly or indirectly agricultural and urban caused the loss of up to 80% Filling and draining of wetlands and waterways for purposes (i.e. Swan Coastal of wetlands on the Swan various land-use practices, including agriculture, Plain) Coastal Plain urbanisation, road construction and maintenance, forestry, dams and other related infrastructure, Currently, isolated pools or Low (on a species scale), High and mineral and quartzite sand mining.