Euploea Alcathoe Enastri

Threatened Species of the Northern Territory GOVE CROW Euploea alcathoe enastri Conservation status Australia: Endangered Northern Territory: Near Threatened Photo: M Braby Description The Gove crow is a large, black-brown butterfly with variable white spots near the margins of the wings. The wingspan is about 70 mm. The male is velvet-black above and dark black-brown beneath. The female is paler chocolate-brown. Distribution The Gove Crow is a Northern Territory (NT) endemic, restricted to North-Eastern Arnhem Land. It was first discovered at Rocky Bay near Yirrkala in 1988 by G. Martin, and was subsequently recorded at three other locations, including Mosquito Creek Port Bradshaw, near Known locations of the Gove crow Mount Bonner, and the upper Goromuru River (Fenner 1991, 1992). Surveys carried out during Ecology 2006–2008 by Braby (2010) confirm that the Larval stages of E. a. enastri are found subspecies has a limited geographical range associated with several species of vines in the (extent of occurrence approximately 6,700 km2) Family Apocynaceae, and the preferred larval within which it is recorded from 21 sites food plant appears to be Parsonsia clustered within eleven locations or alboflavescens (Braby2009). This species subpopulations. Most sites comprise discrete occurs in patches of mixed paperbark tall open habitat patches that are small in area (<10 ha) forest with rainforest elements in the within which adults are localised and occur in understorey and rainforest edge (i.e. the relatively low abundance. ecotone between evergreen monsoon vine- forest and eucalypt/paperbark woodland). These Conservation reserves where reported: wet monsoon forest patches are always Nanydjaka Indigenous Protected Area. associated with permanent creeks or perennial groundwater seepages or springs that form For more information visit nt.gov.au/environment/animals/threatened-animals 2 swamplands, usually along drainage lines or the landscape scale, potential threats identified flood plains in coastal or near coastal lowland are: (3) habitat loss through invasive species areas. (grassy weeds, yellow crazy ants); and (4) global climate change. Males are usually observed within small glades inside the forest or near its boundary with the Changes in the frequency, intensity and surrounding savanna woodland. Females are patchiness of fire in the landscape on the Gove more commonly observed in tall paperbark Peninsula may ultimately lead to the demise of swampland at the edge of the rainforest (Fenner the monsoon rainforest patches, the critical 1991; L. Wilson pers. comm.). habitat of the Gove Crow. Such changes may be exacerbated by the fuel loads supported by The subspecies’ critical breeding habitats are exotic invasive grasses such as Mission Grass, subject to natural disturbance by both fire and which has become established in the town of flood, and occasionally cyclonic events. As a Nhulunbuy. This grass increases the fuel load consequence, an optimal balance in disturbance normally found in native savannas by 3-5 fold regime is probably required to sustain breeding and, as a perennial, pushes the burning season populations. later into the drier, windier time of the year (Panton 1993). Mission Grass carries Conservation assessment destructive hot fires into the edges of monsoon Surveys carried out during 2006–2008 by Braby rainforest patches, leading to their shrinkage (2010) indicate that the subspecies has a limited and eventual disappearance. If the rapid spread geographical range (extent of occurrence around Darwin (Kean and Price 2003) is approximately 6,700 km2) within which it is repeated around Nhulunbuy, the resultant recorded from eleven locations or increase in intensity of fires on the Gove subpopulations embracing a total of 21 sites. Peninsula may cause the disappearance of Most sites comprise discrete habitat patches many wet rainforest patches, including those on that are small in area (<10 ha) within which which the Gove Crow depends. adults are localised and occur in relatively low abundance. There is widespread concern that traditional knowledge and land management practices Although the butterfly has a limited spatial amongst the Yolngu Aboriginal community in distribution and is ecologically specialised, there North-Eastern Arnhem Land are not being is no evidence of decline, either observed or passed on from elders to the next generation. inferred. Thus, the conservation status of this This knowledge and management includes an species approaches Vulnerable (under criteria understanding of traditional burning practices – B1+B2) based on: the frequency and seasonal timing of patch • Extent of occurrence <20,000 km2; and burns. It is important that traditional land • Area of occupancy <2000 km2. management practices are maintained on Gove Peninsula: incorrect (excessive) burning will However the species is known from more than ultimately reduce the extent of the monsoon ten locations, is not severely fragmented and rainforest patches. does not experience extreme fluctuations in numbers or distribution. As a consequence, the In addition, overland access to Nhulunbuy has species is listed in the NT as Near Threatened. been recently upgraded, as has the local network of roads across the Peninsula. The Threatening processes more intensive land use and greater ease of Braby (2010) identified four threats to the habitat access within this region has led to an increase of this subspecies. Two major threats operating in the frequency and extent of fires. An increase at a site level are: (1) habitat modification in fire associated with the road in Central through altered fire regimes; and (2) habitat Arnhem Land has already been implicated in the disturbance by feral animals (buffalo, pig). At disappearance of patches of monsoon rainforest For more information visit nt.gov.au/environment/animals/threatened-animals/birds 3 similar to that used by the Gove Crow iii. develop and maintain a survey, (W. Panton pers. comm.). monitoring and eradication program for the Yellow Crazy Ant; and Feral animals, particularly Water Buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, and to a lesser extent Feral iv. develop a feral animal survey and control Pig, Sus scrofa, occur on the Gove Peninsula. strategy for buffalo and pigs. These animals are known to damage or degrade The entire distribution of the subspecies is on monsoon rainforest patches through their effects Indigenous-owned lands. Any long-term on understorey plants, and are thus a potential conservation management plan of the butterfly threat to the integrity of the habitat of the Gove and its habitat will largely depend on the Crow, especially the swamplands adjacent to cooperation of traditional landowners and the monsoon rainforest. The population size and involvement of local indigenous ranger groups. density of buffalo and pigs currently appears to Consequently, any management plan must be relatively low, but if increased this could have incorporate development and involvement of a negative impact in the long-term. those local indigenous rangers, education and Conservation objectives and community awareness, as well as the research management and management priorities listed above (Braby 2010). There is a national recovery plan for this butterfly (Braby 2006). Many of the actions in Compiled by this plan have been undertaken collaboratively Michael Braby between scientists of the Department of Land Colin Wilson Resource Management and Indigenous Rangers Simon Ward from Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal [updated December 2012] Corporation. References Research priorities are to: Braby, M.F. (2006). National Recovery plan for the Gove i. investigate the basic biology and ecology crow butterfly Euploea alcathoe enastri. (NT Department of Natural Resources Environment, of the species to determine population Darwin.) attributes such as longevity, movement Braby, M.F. (2009). The life history and biology of Euploea patterns and dry-season behaviour; alcathoe enastri Fenner, 1991 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from northeastern Arnhem Land, breeding and aggregation sites can then Northern Territory, Australia. The Australian be identified and protected; and Entomologist 36, 51-62. Braby, M.F. (2010). Conservation status and management ii. maintain a long-term monitoring program of the Gove Crow, Euploea alcathoe enastri Fenner, at key sites to detect possible changes in 1991 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), a threatened tropical butterfly from the indigenous Aboriginal lands breeding range or abundance, and to of north-eastern Arnhem Land, Australia. Journal of measure the impacts of threatening Insect Conservation 14, 535-554. processes. Fenner, T.L. (1991). A new subspecies of Euploea alcathoe (Godart) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from the Management priorities are to: Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Entomological Magazine 18, 149-156. i. control and eradicate Mission Grass, and Fenner, T.L. (1992). Correction and addendum. Australian maintain vigilance against other grassy Entomological Magazine 19, 93. weeds that have the potential to become Kean, L., and Price, O. (2003). The extent of Mission grasses and Gamba grass in the Darwin region of serious threats on the Gove Peninsula; Australia’s Northern Territory. Pacific Conservation Biology 8, 281-290. ii. maintain appropriate fire management Panton, W.J. (1993). Changes in post World War II practices; distribution and status of monsoon rainforests in the Darwin area. Australian Geographer 24, 50-59. For more information visit nt.gov.au/environment/animals/threatened-animals/birds .

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