South East JULY 2010 Volume 4 Number 3 Newsletter of the Land for Wildlife Program South East Queensland ISSN 1835-3851

Contents

2 Editorial & Contacts

Fauna 1 An extended season for grass yellow 3 Fauna Vignettes The value of dead trees 15 The frog that never said die

Flora The Common Grass-yellow has been 8-9 Figs of SEQ seen widely across SEQ over the past 14 Identification: few months. These photos show male getting to know the red book An extended season for butterflies in the wet season (above) and dry season form (left). grass yellow butterflies Photographs by Russel Denton. Practicalities 4-5 Turning your pool into a pond his is the second year that we have had successfully on various ferny-leaved 10 Figgin’ Camphors: How to use Ta good wet season following many years wattles, sennas, Indigophora spp. and other strangling figs to replace of drought. This year, the wet season has native and exotic . Adult butterflies weed trees been prolonged in SEQ with rain extending love to feed on nectar from of some well into May. This has had a positive effect herbaceous weeds such as Cobbler’s Pegs on both and invertebrates. and Billy Goat Weed. Weeds 12 Mistflower Usually one would only see a few Common Grass-yellows are active, but not such as Common Crow and Evening Brown strong fliers, so they are often found flying butterflies at this time of the year when the close to the ground looking for larval host Ecosystem Profile days are getting shorter and drier. However plants and nectar flowers. 6-7 Native and Revegetation over the past few months, we have had continuing wet weather which has created There are other species of grass yellow a good provision of fresh plant material for butterflies in SEQ such as the Small Grass- Property Profile larvae to feed on. yellow ( ) and the Scalloped 11 My Little Corner Grass-yellow (E. alitha) both of which have Land for Wildlife living As a result of this rain, there are similar habits and ecological needs to the several more species that have been Common Grass-yellow, but differing host What’s blocking our predominating over this time, well beyond plants. rainwater tank? their usual flight period. One of these is Providing a diversity of understorey the Common Grass-yellow, also called the 13 Book Reviews Large Grass-yellow (Eurema hecabe). This species on your property will help attract butterfly has been noticeably abundant butterflies such as these grass yellows. 16 2010 Queensland Landcare across SEQ over the past few months. More details about butterfly host plants can Conference be found in Butterfly Host Plants of south- The Common Grass-yellow has a broad east Queensland and northern New South Living with Flying Foxes of larval host plants, the main Wales (see book review on page 13). one being the shrub Breynia (Breynia oblongifolia). They will also lay their eggs Article by John Moss Published with the assistance of Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club the Australian Government. editorial

ack in 2002 world leaders met members the chance to have biodiversity Land for Wildlife Band agreed to reduce the rate of monitoring conducted on their properties. Extension Officers biodiversity loss by 2010. So this year, a I hope you enjoy this edition. Please South East Queensland report called the Global Biodiversity Outlook be patient when reading Alan Wynn’s assessed our progress and concluded that excellent article on fig ecology. The life- City Council biodiversity loss is continuing, and in many All enquiries, 3403 6777 cycle of figs is one of nature’s miracles. cases, intensifying. It is estimated that Fflur Collier about 130 species are becoming extinct Just before Stuart Mutzig left his role as Greg Siepen globally every day. There is more gloomy Land for Wildlife Officer for the Moreton Peter Hayes news on the Convention on Biological Bay area (and he is sorely missed), he Scott Sumner Diversity website if you’re feeling up to it. researched the experiences of landholders Susan Nolan who had converted their pools to healthy To combat extinction-statistic blues, I find ponds. It is an interesting read and helped Gold Coast City Council it helpful to know that new species are also debunk my cynicism. Darryl Larsen, 5582 8896 being found regularly. The International Lexie Webster, 5582 8344 Institute for Species Exploration website Stephanie Reif, who is now on maternity has a Top 10 list showing weird and leave and I wish her all the best, wrote Ipswich City Council fascinating new-to-science creatures. a great article on the importance of Peter Copping, 3810 6608 Closer to home, you may have already incorporating vines into revegetation. Mark Bell, 3810 6666 heard about the re-discovery of the Yellow- Andrew Bailey, 3810 6666 Unfortunately Martin Bennett is leaving spotted Bell Frog in NSW. This frog was re- his role as Land for Wildlife Officer for the Lockyer Valley Regional Council discovered on a private property and the Lockyer Valley. He is a remarkable field Position vacant, 5462 0376 owners are very keen on protecting it. The ecologist and I wish him all the best with article on page 15 gives more detail and his new role. Logan City Council reminds us all how important landholders Nicole Walters, 3412 4859 are in the battle against biodiversity loss. Thank you to all contributors, including Lyndall Rosevear, 3412 4860 the photographers whose images lift the Rebecca Condon, 3412 5321 Since the last edition of the newsletter, whole newsletter. As always, I welcome any Councils and SEQ Catchments have stories or photographs that you wish to Moreton Bay Regional Council undertaken strategic planning about share with the Land for Wildlife network. Amanda Sargeant, 3283 0291 the Land for Wildlife program. We hope Ed Surman, 3283 0289 to roll out some new initiatives over the next few years including a new database Deborah Metters Redland City Council and webpage, another open property Land for Wildlife Melanie Harrison, 3820 1106 scheme and the finalisation of a set of Regional Coordinator Gavin Hammermeister, 3820 1102 new technical notes. We also hope to offer SEQ Catchments Scenic Rim Regional Council Keith McCosh, 5540 5436

Somerset Region Landholder Registrations, Land for Wildlife SEQ - 01/05/2010 Michelle Ledwith, 5422 0516

Registered Working Towards Total Area under Sunshine Coast Regional Council Total Area Retained Properties Registration Restoration Dave Burrows, 5485 1318 Josh Birse, 5475 7345 2678 589 47,818 ha 2,899 ha Nick Clancy, 5439 6433 Alan Wynn, 5439 6477

Land for Wildlife South East Queensland is Toowoomba Regional Council Forward all Letters to the Editor, All enquiries, 4688 6611 Fauna Vignettes and My Little Corner a quarterly publication distributed free of charge to members of the Land for Wildlife contributions to: program in South East Queensland. The Editor Print run - 4500 Burnett Mary Region Land for Wildlife Newsletter Back copies from 2007 - 2010 Gympie, Fraser Coast, SEQ Catchments available for download from North & South Burnett, PO Box 13204 www.seqcatchments.com.au/LFW.html Bundaberg and Baffle Creek Regions George Street QLD 4003 Back copies from 1998 - 2006 07 3211 4404 available upon request to the Editor. For all regions contact the Burnett Mary Regional Group, 4181 2999 [email protected] ISSN 1835-3851 Land for Wildlife is a voluntary program that encourages and assists landholders to provide habitat for wildlife on their properties.

www.seqcatchments.com.au/LFW.html

2 Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 \

Fauna Vignettes is a feature designed for you - Land for Wildlife members - to send in images of wildlife and fauna their habitats from your property. fauna vignettes In 2010, all contributors to Fauna Vignettes will receive a free vignettes Suburban and Environmental Weeds of South-East Queensland DVD The Value of Dead Trees valued at $64.90. Send good quality images and a (even those scrappy ones!) short story to the Editor (see pg 2).

e have a number of dead Sally WWattles (Acacia melanoxylon) on our hillside Tallebudgera property. On one of her visits, Lexie, from Land for Wildlife, suggested we leave the trees standing as they are important to wildlife. Recently we discovered just how true this is.

There’s a long-dead Sally Wattle a short distance from our house, with a termite mound halfway up the trunk. Matt had been pulling out weeds nearby and was puzzled by the occasional cracking sound. A Lace Monitor - or commonly called tree goanna - was perched on the mound, working away at it with its large, powerful claws, breaking off chunks of the hard Lace Monitors depend on the temperature-controlled micro-environment of arboreal material and flinging them aside. termite mounds to incubate their eggs. It is remarkable how the mother monitor knows when to return to release her newly hatched babies from inside the sealed mound. We watched the monitor over two days dig a hole about twelve centimetres wide at the opening. On the third day we observed her Termites are great recyclers of sitting in the hole, panting with exertion as dead and help return she laid her eggs inside the termite mound. essential nutrients to the soil. That afternoon she’d disappeared. Monitors will only use active termite mounds to lay their The termites will now work to repair the eggs as they need the termites hole, sealing the eggs inside and giving to seal their nest around them protection from predators. If all goes the monitor eggs providing well, in eight or nine months time she’ll a predator-free incubation return, the sounds of the hatched lizards chamber. acting as a signal for her to dig another hole and free her young before predators get to them. With any luck, we’ll have a camera ready for the occasion.

Matt Mawson and Sandra Watkins Land for Wildlife members Tallebudgera, Gold Coast

Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 3 practicalities Turning your pool into a pond

Article by Stuart Mutzig (former) Land for Wildlife Extension Officer Moreton Bay Regional Council

Photo by Luisa Johnson.

o it’s winter, and you’re probably not How can you do it? such as Salvinia, Cabomba, Elodea and Susing your pool very much. How There are several steps required to convert Water Lettuce. Duckweed, despite its name, much did you use it over summer? How your pool into a healthy pond ecosystem. is a good, native, surface covering aquatic much time and effort did you put in to Firstly, turn off the filter. If you have a plant. maintaining it? How much is it costing chlorine pool, stop adding chlorine to the you in water and energy bills? Have you system and within a week, most of the What wildlife would you like to add to the considered making your occasionally-used chlorine will have disappeared. After doing pond? Some aquarium stores stock native recreational resource into an eco-friendly this, your pool will eventually turn green. fish including rainbowfish, catfish and the resource for local wildlife including frogs, This is due to an initial algal build-up in the Firetail Gudgeon. Eels and yabbies might fish, , microbats, yabbies, turtles, water nitrogen cycle, but the algae will disappear be an interesting alternative. Avoid buying dragons, dragonflies and a whole host of within the first 12 months. Saltwater pools mosquitofish, goldfish and koi – these are other ? It’s not as difficult as you may are more complex and will need to be all and more suitable think, and the process is even reversible if drained first. Consult your local council native alternatives are available. You will you decide to change your mind later. about this. know when your pool is ready to have fish added to it when you find the first Why turn your swimming pool into a Next, the structure of the pool will need to mosquito larvae (wrigglers) in the water. If wildlife refuge? be changed to make it suitable for aquatic the water can support the wrigglers, native When you consider all the resources plants, with platforms and ledges for plants fish should be able to cope with the current required to efficiently keep your pool clean to grow on within a short distance of the conditions and will have a natural food and running, it’s quite confronting. An surface. Logs, rocks and Besser blocks can source ready and waiting for them. average pool filter requires 6kWh of energy be useful for this process, but any other similar resource you have at hand will be The aim is to create a complete ecosystem per day. That’s about 2200kWh per year, or where the plants feed off the nutrients in excess of $300 per year in energy bills. fine. A range of depths will make the pool suitable for a wide range of plants, and exit supplied by fish and droppings, the The typical backyard swimming pool holds and entry points between the water and fish feed off the plants and larvae 50,000 to 80,000 litres of water. Evaporation land are essential for some of the wildlife (like mosquitoes and dragonflies), and usually accounts for the loss of one to two you are trying to attract. Aquatic plants act the algae regulates the carbon dioxide metres of water per year in an uncovered as natural filters and can keep your water and oxygen levels. Zooplankton and pool, plus about 25% loss from general clean of algae and undesirable nutrient mollusks, such as snails, feed on the use. So within a year you might be almost build up. algae. Crustaceans such as shrimps or completely refilling your pool, but for rain. yabbies feed on the zooplankton, and Have a chat to your Land for Wildlife other fish might feed on the mollusks and Add to this the time spent cleaning and Officer about what plants may be most crustaceans. maintaining the pool in today’s time-poor appropriate for your pool to pond climate and you might like to reconsider conversion. Some examples might include The nitrogen cycle its purpose. Filling in your pool might be the Swamp Club Rush (Isolepis inundata), Nitrogen is a crucial element for life. The another cheaper option you’ve considered, Native Water Primrose (Ludwigia peploides) nitrogen in your pond will help to sustain but the pool would be lost as a selling and Frogsmouth (Philydrum lanuginosum). the relationships between plants, organic point if you were to sell your property. Plants to use in the surrounding pond area matter, bacteria and . When these Converting your pool into a pond could be might include Lomandra, Melaleuca and interactions are functioning effectively, a great alternative. Casuarina spp. Avoid common water weeds your pond water will be clear.

4 Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 case studies uisa and her daughter Jaz, from was now well on its way to becoming a fully crayfish, several terracotta pots have been LCaboolture, are in the process of functioning pond. placed on the steps and base of the pool, turning their disused backyard pool into providing more aquatic habitat. a successful aquatic ecosystem. The pool Luisa and Jaz encountered an issue with (photo left) was left without chemicals for toads using the pond area to breed. In Jaz and Luisa have reached a point where about a year, with the pool cover left in hindsight, they wish they had toad-proofed their backyard pool to pond conversion is place. Even though the water was clear, the the area around the pond with vegetation now low maintenance. Most of the time edges were green with algae. By this stage, and barriers first. They manually removed spent around the pond is now devoted to some aquatic insects had moved in, so the toad eggs and toadpoles, and have now sipping tea, eating lunch, watching the fish Luisa and Jaz decided to place some small controlled the toad population. They also (photo below) and enjoying nature. The native fish in the pool to keep the mosquito added reeds and local native water plants family has thoroughly enjoyed this project larvae down once they removed the cover. rescued from a dam on a neighbouring and are now reaping the rewards. The five fish they added multiplied quickly property marked for development. Along and thrived throughout the pool, which with the addition of some Silver Perch and

argaret is a Land for Wildlife The bottom of the pool often collected Mlandholder in Logan who turned litter, and on the sides grew a layer her backyard pool into an eco-pool every of green algae. Margaret noted that the winter, in the days before water restrictions. water took on a shade of brown due to the By switching off the pool filter and no decomposing leaf litter, but the water stayed longer adding chemicals, Margaret noticed relatively clear. When Margaret wanted to a gradual increase in the aquatic insect use her pool again in summer, the family Photo by Luisa Johnson. life. Water boatmen, backswimmers and siphoned the water out onto the garden whirligig beetles were the first to arrive and scooped the leaf litter out for mulch. to the system. These invertebrates then Once the pool was refilled, filtered and attracted frogs and predatory insects chlorinated, the algal levels were controlled like dragonflies. Dragonfly larvae kept and the pool could be used again. mosquito larvae under control.

When you first start the conversion process, it as a breeding spot, so keep an eye out Photo by Bernadette May. bacteria is virtually non-existent in the for toad eggs and tadpoles, which can be water. The water will initially turn green fairly easily distinguished from native frogs until the bacteria levels are right. Bacteria and tadpoles. Ask your Land for Wildlife References and useful resources can be added to the water to accelerate this Officer for more information on this. By Pool to Pond - Turning your swimming process – consult your local aquarium shop planting dense vegetation around the pool into a thriving pond. Ku-ring-gai for more information. pond boundary, you may be able to deter Council. http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/www/ toads from using the water source in the html/1190-wildthings.asp As the nutrient and organic matter first place. levels in the water rise, algae will grow, Turn your swimming pool into a swimming providing a food source for microscopic Algal blooms can be controlled by adjusting pond. Renew Magazine, Issue 91, April-June creatures, which form the basis of your nutrient and sunlight availability to the 2005, pp 17-20. new ecosystem. Bacteria and zooplankton system. Overstocking your pond with fish live off the algae, which then provide a will cause a nutrient spike and subsequent The Permaculture Research Institute food source for higher life forms such as algal bloom. A lack of oxygen can be of . http://permaculture.org. crustaceans and fish. overcome by installing a simple filtering au/2009/7/21/convert-your-eco-unfriendly- system which also aerates the water. swimming-pool-into-a-biologically-active- Aquatic plants are very effective filters and-attractive-fish-farm/ and provide the final step in the nitrogen cycle. Nutrients are absorbed by the plants and oxygen is delivered into the water, providing the basis for a healthy pond ecosystem.

What issues might be encountered? Some pool owners may be reluctant to change their family asset into a wildlife haven. The process described above is completely reversible and your pool can be returned its former state if you change your mind in the future. Pool fencing will still be required under Council laws and must also be maintained. Any issues with mosquitoes can be overcome by stocking your new pond with fish (see above). Your How not to do it. Since maintenance has stopped on this pool, pond may be prone to Cane Toads using it has lost its aesthetic appeal and is a breeding ground for Cane Toads and mosquitoes. Photo by Stuart Mutzig.

Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 5 ecosystem profile Native Vines and Revegetation

Article by Stephanie Reif Land for Wildlife Extension Officer Sunshine Coast Regional Council

ative vines are an important resource • Adventitious climbers. They use clematidea), Water ( antarctica), Nto native wildlife. Their are eaten specialised that come out the vine Long-leaved Water Vine (Cissus sterculiifolia) by birds and their are eaten by stem enabling the vine to climb up tree and Five-leaved Water Vine (Cissus caterpillars and other insects. Vines are an trunks. For example Native Pepper Vine hypoglauca). interesting group of plants, however the (Piper hederaceum var. hederaceum) and growth habits of our more vigorous native climbing pandans (Freycinetia scandens How vigorous a vine is in its growth form, vines can sometimes cause problems when and F. excelsa). and to some extent its climbing method, trying to re-establish rainforest. This article will dictate how much of an impact it will gives a background to vines and explores Some vines use a combination of strategies have on its host. This is especially important some issues and options for landholders. to climb, for example Barb Wire Vine (Smilax to keep in mind with revegetation. For australis) uses both tendrils and thorns. example the Small-leaved Water Vine Why climb? Monkey Rope Vine (Parsonsia straminea) ( opaca) is a smaller vine that Climbing has evolved as a growth habit uses adventitious roots to get into the can be incorporated into revegetation as it in multiple plant families indicating that then twining to spread through the is a much weaker climber than other native there must be evolutionary advantages to canopy of a tree. grapes, but is still an important resource for climbing. Studies have found that climbers native wildlife. have proportionally more biomass in their Native vines and wildlife leaves than trees, as trees have large trunks “An alternative to totally and branches to support themselves. By Vines are very important to wildlife. The removing native vines from best known example of a native vine and using trees to get up into the canopy, revegetation areas is to cut climbers don’t have to put a lot of resources its importance to wildlife is the Richmond them back to soil level and Birdwing Butterfly and its host vine into woody support structures and can let them re-sprout.” concentrate resources into leaves, flowers Pararistolochia praevenosa. However there and fruits. are many other examples of native vines that are larval hosts to insects, in particular Climbing gives vines an advantage, but it Growth forms butterflies and moths. also puts them at the peril of their host. If Native vines come in a variety of growth a vine is climbing a small sapling or shrub forms. Some like Wombat (Eustrephus Fruits of vines are eaten by many rainforest that will never reach the canopy or is not latifolius) and Scrambling Lily are small birds. For example the Soft Water Vine able to support a mature vine, the vine may twiners of the understorey. Others like ( eurynema) has eaten by the be wasting resources on growth that may Molucca Bramble (Rubus moluccanus) Wompoo Fruit-dove, Rose-crowned Fruit- not benefit them in the long-term. will often form a tangled thicket on the dove, and Brown Cuckoo edge of rainforest much like lantana does. Dove. Its leaves are also eaten by Jospeh’s How to climb Unfortunately it often grows in amongst Coat Moth larvae. Vines use a variety of strategies for lantana as well which creates a nasty prickly climbing. The most common types are: combination when hand weeding! Nectar from flowering vines is also used by butterflies, for example Blue Tigers feed on • Twiners. They use lead shoots to wind Hook and thorn climbers tend to be Monkey Rope nectar. around a support and pull themselves messier than other types of vines, forming up. For example Native Wisteria (Callerya a tangled thicket before the vine is able megasperma) and Scrambling Lily to pull itself upwards. This is often seen in Joseph’s Coat Moth (Geitonoplesium cymosum). areas of regrowth where Cockspur Vine larvae defoliating a Slender Grape plant • Tendril climbers. Their tendrils are will form a tangled thicket amongst the in autumn. modified parts of the vine that are used regenerating trees. Or it is seen in areas Photo by to reach out and coil around a support, of intact rainforest where Lawyer Vine will Stephanie Reif. pulling the plant upwards. For example form a dense thicket before a cane will get passionfruits (Passiflora spp.) and native itself up into the canopy. grapes (Cissus and Cayratia spp.). Other vines are vigorous climbers that • Hook and thorn climbers. They use hooks quickly colonise a rainforest gap or edge. or thorns to catch onto surrounding Members of the grape family vegetation to pull the plant upwards. For often display these characteristics. These example native raspberries (Rubus spp.), native grapes include Three-leaved Water Cockspur Vine (Maclura cochinchinensis) Vine ( nitens), Hairy Water Vine and Lawyer Vine ( muelleri). (Cayratia acris), Slender Grape (Cayratia

6 Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 Vines and revegetation The more vigorous native vines can cause  Keep in mind your location. If your site is  Smaller less vigorous vines such as issues when doing rainforest revegetation. far away from established rainforest, any Scrambling Lily, Wombat Berry or There needs to be a balance between vines that do come up naturally may be Small-leaved Water Vine should be achieving a closed canopy quickly, whilst very important to local wildlife. encouraged in revegetation and natural providing the range of resources for wildlife regeneration areas. An alternative to totally removing native that our native vines offer.  vines from revegetation areas is to cut  The Richmond Birdwing Vine is another Here are a range of ideas you may wish to them back to soil level and let them vine that can be incorporated into adapt to your particular situation: re-sprout. Regrowth will need to be revegetation. It likes some protection managed until the revegetation is able but not dense shade. It is often slow to  Think in the long-term and have a plan. to handle the vines. get started and can take a long time  Monitor the growth of a vine over a year to take off and get up into the canopy.  Remove problem native vines from However this growth habit can be to see what impact it is having. Vigorous your revegetation area but leave others growth of a vine in spring and early advantageous in revegetation areas where they don’t pose a problem. where the Richmond Birdwing Vine summer may be halted by herbivory in For example, vigorous vines could be late summer and autumn. I have seen can “grow up” with a host tree once allowed to grow over fence lines where seedlings are a couple of metres tall. a Slender Grape with large amounts they will not impact on seedlings. of new growth in spring and summer  If there is little natural regeneration of totally defoliated in autumn by Joseph’s  Allow natural regeneration of vines to native vines in a mature revegetation Coat Moth and hawk moth caterpillars. increase plant and structural diversity area, consider planting some to increase especially when seedlings are at a plant diversity and provide wildlife suitable height to handle vines. habitat.

Birds may use vine thickets for nesting. and food resources for small birds and I’ve seen Eastern Yellow Robins nesting on other wildlife. This may mean that whilst a Lawyer Vine stem – a very prickly place controlling lantana, you cut back native for snakes and other predators to brave to vines but don’t poison them. get an egg or chick. Many mid-storey vine thickets, especially ones with prickly vines, Adventitious root climbers can look very are used by birds for foraging. Similarly, a dense, but due to their growth habit most well-developed understory with vines is of the weight of the vine is concentrated on used by many ground foraging birds such the stem, which should not affect healthy as whipbirds and scrubwrens. host trees.

Using native vines to your advantage Vines and regenerating rainforest (and our wildlife’s) The same principles of incorporating vines into revegetation areas apply for areas Vines that have “sealed-off” a rainforest of natural regeneration. In these areas, edge, often in a dense curtain of growth, vines can be quite overwhelming as they are shading the inside of the forest. This often have perfect conditions for growing. shade and protection from wind helps For example, you often see Cockspur stabilise the microclimate of the rainforest Vine tangled up in regenerating trees. In and can also minimise the amount of weed regenerating rainforest don’t rush in and growth within a remnant. Don’t remove remove all vines at once, even though these vines as they are doing a useful job. it is tempting to think you are liberating Consider the growth habit of a vine. If the trees. The high light conditions may Broad-leaf Climbing Pandan (Freycinetia you’ve cleared lantana from a bushland result in an increase in weeds. Instead, scandens) showing profuse growth up a edge make sure you leave the native have a plan and if you think vines need rainforest tree. It grows by adventitious raspberries as they provide similar habitat to be controlled, do so slowly in stages roots so most of the weight of biomass is and monitor the results, taking into concentrated on the trunk. consideration the principles mentioned in Photo by Stephanie Reif. the above text box.

Finally check your vegetation clearing laws References both with your local Council and the State Harden G, McDonald B and Williams J Government. In some areas of mapped (2007) Rainforest Climbing Plants: a guide vegetation your small regenerating patch to their identification. Gwen Harden may be mapped as remnant. Depending on Publishing. the laws governing damage to vegetation you may need to apply for a permit before Jordan F and Schwencke H (2005) Create you damage any native vegetation. Some More Butterflies. Earthling Enterprises. vines are listed as threatened under the McDonald G (1998) Growing a Butterfly Nature Conservation Act 1992 and cannot Garden in South-east Queensland. Self be damaged without a permit. If you need published, Mudgeeraba. further advice on native vines and your Barnes DJ and Moran A (2001) Fauna revegetation or regeneration areas contact Friendly Plants of South East Queensland. Joseph’s Coat Moth. your local Land for Wildlife Extension Self published, Bracken Ridge. Photo by Deborah Metters. Officer.

Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 7 flora profile Figs of SEQ

Article by Alan Wynn Land for Wildlife Extension Officer Sunshine Coast Regional Council

s Colin Tudge writes in his wonderful Abook The Secret Life of Trees, of all the trees there is nothing, absolutely nothing, quite like a fig tree.

There is a lone fig tree growing behind the This Rusty Fig ( rubiginosa) has abundant recruitment of plants (native and office where I work. It is a Rusty Fig (Ficus introduced) underneath it as a result of many different animals visiting the tree, rubiginosa) sometimes known as the Port to eat figs and deposit of other plants at the same time. Jackson or Rock Fig. Underneath it is a wonderful microcosm of bird dispersed rainforest plants (and garden escapees) that figs are considered to be a ‘keystone’ All the local species of figs have a few that provide momentary distractions from species in our local vine forests, inextricably features in common; the developing leaves the demands of the office when I wander linked to the lifecycles of many different are covered by pointed, rolled stipules out for a spot of weeding. When it fruits, it species of plant and . and they have milky sap, except for the attracts mobs of figbirds, lorikeets and even sandpaper figs which have sparse, watery the occasional Wompoo Fruit-dove, even A brief guide to ID or slightly milky sap. The fig tree ‘fruit’, though the nearest rainforest remnant is Of the more than 750 species of fig tree called a , is basically an inside- over a kilometre away. worldwide there are nine species endemic out formed by the enlarged base of Going by the evidence left on the picnic to the SEQ region and another two have the (peduncle) encasing the table underneath it, the night time visitors distributions occurring as far south as florets. Gympie. They range from the magnificent, are just as varied and probably even more There are three kinds of floret inside the fig; numerous, with flying foxes and possums towering Moreton Bay Fig to the shrubby Creek Sandpaper Fig. male, female (short style or forming) being the most obvious. It is for this reason and female (long style or forming).

Common Name Fig Features Strangling figs Moreton Bay Fig Paired, spherical to 25 mm. Orange, turning purple Leaves with brownish undersurface. when ripe Paired, ovoid to 35 mm. Green, turning purplish Nipple at apex of fruit. black when ripe. Small-leaved Fig Paired, spherical to 10 mm. Orange with dark spots Smallest figs and leaves of the strangling figs. Deciduous Fig Ficus superba var. Solitary, spherical to 20 mm. Yellowish turning red/ Deciduous. henneana purple with pale spots. White Fig var. Paired, spherical to 20 mm. White or pinkish-brown. Deciduous. Leaves with pale veins. sublanceolata Sandpaper figs Creek Sandpaper Fig Ficus coronata Solitary 15-25 mm. Hairy purplish black fruits, often Branchlets and undersurface of borne on trunks and branches. leaves hairy. Sandpaper Fig Ficus fraseri Paired roundish to 20 mm. Rough, yellow turning Sometimes deciduous. red/black when ripe. Sandpaper Fig Ficus opposita var. Paired roundish to 15 mm. Rough, pink, red, purple Leaves mostly opposite. opposita or black. Others Rusty Fig, Rock Fig Paired roundish to ovoid to 20 mm. Yellow turning Fig usually prominently warty red when ripe. Small-fruited Fig Ficus microcarpa Paired spherical 6-10 mm. Red with small white Gympie southern limit of distribution. dots. Cluster Fig Ficus racemosa Clusters. Spherical to 20 mm. Borne on trunk and Often deciduous. Imbil southern limit branches (cauliflory). Red when ripe. of distribution.

8 Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 Stranglers Anybody who has been for a walk in the tropical, subtropical or warm temperate on the east coast of Australia will be familiar with the sight of giant emergent fig trees with a lacework ‘trunk’ formed by a mass of coalesced roots. The very oldest of these will be hollow as the original tree that supported the fig has died and rotted away.

In the rainforest, light is often a limiting factor, so by beginning life up in the canopy the seedling fig tree has an advantage, but this long-term strategy has difficulties. The All figs such as this Strangler Fig (Ficus young fig tree has to live a very frugal life watkinsiana) have pointed rolled stipules as an until it grows its root system - the whitish rolled-up “leaf” at the end of from the humus filled hollow where it the stem. germinated down the trunk of the host tree to the ground below. This process can take decades and many seedlings will die during “Figs are considered to periods of drought or will fail to establish a be ‘keystone’ species... strong enough root system before the host inextricably linked to the tree dies and falls over. lifecycles of many species of Strangler fig – trunk or aerial root system? plant and animal.” Reproduction Figs have a complicated sex life that relies on tiny chalcid (Family ) for of their flowers. In turn, the fig wasps can only reproduce within the fig. This relationship is probably one of the most elegant examples of obligate mutualism that I can think of. Obligate mutualism is where two species totally depend on each other for survival. Most species of fig have a single specific but this is not always the case. Only the female wasps have wings. The wingless males’ only role is to mate, then chew an exit hole in the fig for the female to exit, after which he dies. Male wasps emerge first and mate with females before they even emerge. Once the females emerge, they collect pollen from the male florets (flowers) in the fig cavity, Transverse of Ficus watkinsiana lifecycle. Diagram courtesy of either actively or passively. Female wasps syconium. Simon van Noort, Iziko Museums of Cape then exit the fig through the hole made by Town. www.figweb.org male wasps. A female wasp then needs to find another The wasp larvae feed on endosperm of these species have larvae that parasitise fig tree with receptive fruit, which is quite (nutritive) tissue formed in the galled , (eat) the larvae of other wasps in the fig. a feat given that she is only a couple of pupate and then emerge as mature wasps millimetres long. DNA studies of figs have to complete the cycle. Each fig tree is an amazing ecosystem in suggested that despite her dimunitive size itself. If you don’t have a fig tree in your she is capable of flying great distances. The time taken for the larvae to mature patch, go and plant one today. into adults is closely correlated to the Each of fig tree has specific chemical time it takes for the fig to ripen. Believe References & more information signals released by the fig when it is it or not this is the simple version of fig www.figweb.org receptive. A female wasp accesses the reproduction. florets, located inside the fig cavity, through Harden G, McDonald B and Williams J a narrow -lined opening called an To allow this complicated lifecycle (2006) Rainforest Trees and Shrubs: a field ostiole. This passage is so restricted that her to continue, fig trees need to have guide to their identification. asynchronous fig production. In other wings and often antennae, break off. Leiper, Glazebrook, Cox & Rathie (2008) words, individual trees of the same species Mangroves to Mountains. Revised edition. There are two types of female florets within do not all produce fruit at the same time. the fig, some have short styles and some Alternatively, individuals of some fig species Tudge C (2006) The Secret Life of Trees: How long (filiform). Female wasps can only lay will produce fruit at different stages of they live and why they matter. eggs into the ovaries of the florets with the maturity (unripe to ripe) at the same time. short styles. The florets with the long styles will be pollinated and eventually produce There is also a suite of non-pollinating viable fig seed. wasps that lay their eggs into figs. Some

Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 9 practicalities Figgin’ Camphors - How to use strangling figs to replace weed trees

his article discusses how to attach a micro-irrigation systems to help speed up Tstrangling fig plant to a large woody the process. weed (such as Camphor Laurel, Chinese Elm or Broad-leaved Privet) so that the fig takes Lastly, you will need to be patient as figs over the weed tree and eventually kills it. grow very slowly. Remember that figs have very enthusiastic root systems. Keep them This technique is only suitable for very well away from any buildings, driveways, large weed trees in situations where fencelines and other structures. control options like physical removal or poisoning ‘in-situ’ are not viable or in some Please note that this process involves work cases undesirable. It seems to work best at heights. Before undertaking any work, on species with fissured or rough bark like a risk assessment should be undertaken Camphor Laurels or Slash Pine. with risk control strategies and personal fall protection systems (eg. harnesses, There are other methods that work just lanyards or static lines) in place. For more as well. I have seen planter boxes built information on working safely at heights, into the forks of weed trees made from contact Workplace Health and Safety scrap pine (non-treated) wood. Some Queensland. landholders have even added dedicated Soaking a Strangler Fig in water.

Select a healthy, container grown fig tree from any of the strangling Step species. Remembering that you will have to get it up into the weed tree so 1 make sure it is not too large. If it has a stem thicker than your thumb this is advantageous.

Carefully prune back the foliage to leave only a small amount of leaf, this will reduce water loss from the foliage and transplant shock. Give the root ball a good soak in a bucket of water. You can add a bit of fish and seaweed emulsion to the water if you like to provide the fig with some nutrients.

Remove the bag or pot from the root ball (not essential but it is easier to Step do this while on the ground). Select a generous sized fork in the host tree. 2 Undertake a risk assessment and put in place risk control strategies and personal fall protection systems relevant to the selected fork.

Using a short, sharp nail carefully nail the fig tree, through the base of the stem, in position. This will not harm the fig tree and will help secure it against any movement (important for Strangler Fig nailed in position. root development). You could also use a thick natural garden twine (like sisal) to tie the fig tree in position but it must be tight and secure enough to prevent movement.

Wrap the root ball securely with plastic sheeting that has been stuffed with pre-soaked cocopeat (or you could use well rotted compost or a Step quality potting mix). Secure with duct tape or similar. The plastic wrap 3 and tape can be removed once the fig has established its root system adequately (this might take a few years).

The fig shouldn’t need watering as rainwater running down the trunk will be enough. However, you may like to water through a hole in the plastic wrapping during dry periods or to speed up the growth of the fig. Adding fertiliser is also not necessary, but a foliar application of any kind of water soluble fertiliser, such as fish or seaweed emulsion, will help speed up the growing process.

Article and photographs by Alan Wynn Land for Wildlife Extension Officer Fig root ball wrapped in plastic sheeting. Sunshine Coast Regional Council

10 Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 my little corner Land for Wildlife living

t was with excitement and an overriding itself to point skyward again. How many Rain came again and I gathered my Isense of challenge that she faced the young native seedlings I joyously found resources, went back to the catchment swathe of lantana two years ago - about growing under the lantana, cleared then nursery, another 400 plants please, lets an acre of it, like a blanket, in the gully. freed ready to grow rather than to fade get this thing moving! I found a young “A breeze”, she thought! “No sweat!” she away and die from smothering. I struggled Hoop Pine growing under the lantana and mused “It’ll keep me fit and healthy after a on, metre by metre. it has become the symbol of the recovery. day leaning over the keyboard” she justified I’ve found several fig trees, even a local to her husband, who looked on cynically. It rained, and it rained. The lantana was Macrozamia. The trees I released are double The vision of native bush full of creatures getting the better of me! It grew more the height they were last year. This year the lured her on, drawing her towards a picture than I could clear it. It extended back over gully will be filled with grasses and small from a childhood book of a child sitting on the beautiful young trees I had freed. My shrubs. The King have started to a log, surrounded by animals and birds (or vision fuzzed and I lost focus, the economy regularly visit and two pairs of Pale-headed was it St Francis?). After all, next door’s plot downturn hit and I worked longer hours to Rosellas. I have released from care many looks so healthy and she can hear the birds re-focus the company. It’s too much for me I ringtails and brushies, and this week five tweeting. The neighbours had mumbled pathetically moaned. Squirrel Gliders will join the mayhem of my something about 123 species of birds A bright idea - advertise at the local Australian garden. counted in the area. shopping centre for some help! A young The ups and downs of any project, Later, staggering out of the gully then couple answered, perfect! They personified constrained by the parameters of the lying fully clothed in the pool to recover the energy I believed I still possessed. The uncontrollable, and I love it with a passion. my colour and my dignity, reality began to young man hoed into the garden, clearing My garden will be native, it will be full of kick in. Lantana scratches! Ticks live in it, more in a day than I had achieved in a year, animals and I will one day put a caveat on it so do carpet snakes of an enormous size. arms flailing – the lantana was felled. I for the future, as I hope all the others in our Boy! This could be too much for a ‘mentally began to cheer up. It stopped raining and Land for Wildlife patches will do. 18 yrs, physically 55 yrs old woman’. Where dried out, rain was longed for now. The lantana died off quickly and so did many of was the vision, now? Yet, what a sense of Catherine Prentice the young plants I had so carefully planted accomplishment achieved when another Land for Wildlife member the year before. Australia can be so cruel – lithe gum tree freed its branches from a Brookfield, Brisbane load of lantana creepers and unwound it’s our nature.

Have your reflections on your Land for Wildlife property printed in My Little Corner in 2010 and receive a free Suburban and Environmental Weeds of South-East Queensland DVD valued at $64.90. Send a max. of 200 words and a min. of 3 good quality images to the Editor (details on pg 2). View from above the lantana where the The lantana war. house is situated.

What’s blocking our rainwater tank?

e were wondering why our rain water wasn’t going Wfrom the roof to the tank. We disconnected the elbow in the pipe to investigate the problem, thinking it might be a build up of leaves. What a surprise we had on disconnecting the joint to find a two metre python caught inside. We were able to release it and all concerned were happy.

David and Jan Bodman Land for Wildlife members Brookfield, Brisbane

Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 11 weed profile Getting smutty with Mistflower

Article by Peter Hayes Land for Wildlife Extension Officer Brisbane City Council

e were deep in Lamington National WPark in the Gold Coast hinterland. The babbling rainforest creek tumbled down a small waterfall into yet another secluded, crystal pool. The sun was shining, we were hot and sweaty and the water was cool. Mistflower growing along a secluded Our thoughts simultaneously turned to one waterfall. Photo by Peter Hayes. thing…. Weeds!

Well, just one weed in fact. Mistflower (Ageratina riparia). It bordered the edges of our rainforest pool and clambered up “Unlike many other invasive the steep rocks at the side of the waterfall. plants, it is able to spread Literally miles from civilization, this upstream along riparian introduced plant was busily replacing the corridors into undisturbed diverse native vegetation that should be bushland areas...” Mistflower. Photo by Robert Whyte. naturally lining the edges of this waterway. Not what we had expected at all.

Mistflower is a low-growing sprawling Originating in Central and South America, heavily attacked by native parasites and has perennial herb usually 40 to 60 cm high. It Mistflower has become a serious weed in had little impact on Mistflower in Australia. has numerous stems which readily produce many tropical and sub-tropical parts of the A much more promising bio-control roots where they contact they ground. The world. Introduced to Australia in 1875 as an option is the White Smut Fungus (Entyloma leaves are arranged opposite one another , Mistflower is currently ageratina). This fungal pathogen was along the stem and taper to a point at both found in coastal and hinterland areas from imported to in the 1970’s and was ends. They are usually around 7.5 cm long Gympie in Queensland south to Ulladulla highly successful in controlling Mistflower. and 2.5 cm wide and toothed along the in , including several In 1998 the same fungus was introduced edges. Mistflower produces small dense World-heritage listed National Parks. There to with similar success. clusters of white flowers at the ends of the are also outlying records from North and International testing indicates the fungus branches in winter. After flowering, the Central Queensland and Carnarvon Gorge. is highly host specific. The closely related top of the plant appears to die off, but re- Mistflower is common on moist rocky weed species, Crofton Weed (Ageratina shoots from the base. hillsides, damp creek banks and other moist sheltered sites. adenophora), may also be affected. A prolific seeder, a mature Mistflower plant A proposal has been made to undertake can produce 10,000 to 100,000 seeds per Like all weeds, prevention or the early local testing of White Smut Fungus for year. Seeds are 2 mm long with a tuft of removal of small infestations is the best Mistflower control. The CSIRO believes the fine white hairs. These hairs aid dispersal method of control. In bushland areas fungus could be tested for host specificity by wind, allowing it colonise upstream and management options for Mistflower in Australia and ready for mass release in upslope from the parent plant. Seeds are are restricted to hand-pulling and around two years. However, Mistflower also spread by water or carried by animals. using herbicides. Several herbicides are is not considered a ‘Weed of National Broken pieces of Mistflower stem can also registered for use on Mistflower. Both Significance’, limiting the availability of take root. mechanical and chemical control methods can create disturbed areas allowing weed Federal funds for this research. Other Mistflower is an aggressive weed which seeds to germinate, so control should be funding sources are currently being sought, can quickly invade frost-free slopes and followed up by planting native species or with the Lake Baroon Catchment Care pastures. Unlike many other invasive plants, encouraging natural regeneration. Access Group on the Sunshine Coast helping to it is able to spread upstream along riparian to infestations in upstream riparian areas administer the funds currently collected. corridors into undisturbed bushland areas and cliff faces can be very difficult, making In the meantime, we’ll just have to keep where it can exclude native species and conventional controls largely impractical. using conventional methods and wait until impact the native fauna reliant on them. we can ‘get smutty’ with Mistflower! Mistflower can restrict the establishment Mistflower’s widespread distribution and its or growth of nearby plants and several seriousness as a threat to biodiversity has Further reading threatened native plant species are prompted several attempts at biological DPI Mistflower fact sheet provides negatively impacted by its presence. control. A stem gall-fly was introduced to Australia from Hawaii in 1987. However it is information on herbicide use and application rates www.dpi.qld.gov.au

12 Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 book reviews

Butterfly Host Plants of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales by John T. Moss

henever I chat to the author of this This booklet has steered away from using Wbooklet, I always learn something photographs as there are excellent colour new, whether it be about a butterfly, field guides of native plants and butterflies orchid or grammar. John is a passionate available. Cross-references to readily- field ecologist and this booklet reflects his available plant books are provided so that dedication to invertebrate ecology and his readers can easily find images and more attention to detail. information about the host plants.

This booklet is a must have for those The booklet is divided into two sections. who are planning revegetation projects, The first section lists 407 plant species regardless of the size, and want to ensure based on the form of the plant followed by that butterflies will have plants on which to the butterflies (and some moths) that use breed. The list of host plants is divided into these plants for successful rearing of their sections based on the size of the plant, from larvae. The second section lists 203 species large trees to shrubs, grasses and vines. This of butterfly and moth followed by their host is a helpful filter for small revegetation sites plants. Given that continental Australia has or suburban backyard plantings. about 400 butterfly species, this booklet demonstrates how rich the SEQ region is for Published by BOIC The lists of host plants includes local invertebrate biodiversity, and that there is Second (revised) Edition, 2008 knowledge gathered from members of still a lot more to discover. Black and white, 56 pages the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club ISBN: 0 9752335 0 5 (BOIC) and other serious butterfly observers This booklet is a credit to the author, other Price: $10 (includes postage) which has not been published elsewhere. contributors and BOIC. To have a copy delivered by post, write to This booklet is therefore essential reading BOIC at PO Box 2113 Runcorn Q 4113 and for those with a keen interest in butterfly Review by Deborah Metters include $10 cash, cheque or money order. ecology in SEQ. Land for Wildlife Regional Coordinator SEQ Catchments

Birds of Brisbane A Queensland Museum Wild Guide by Greg Czechura

his little pocket guide is a handy introducing Brisbane residents and visitors Tintroduction to the most likely birds to the wonderful world of birdwatching to be seen by the average citizen in the beyond crows and ibis. Brisbane City area. It is another in the series of pocket wild guides published by This wild guide features good photographs the Queensland Museum focused on the of selected birds (both native and wildlife of the South-east Queensland area. introduced species) and their look-a-likes, The other pocket wild guides cover the although a few of the photographs are topics of snakes, raptors, frogs, fishes, ants a bit obscure and would have benefited and backyard insects. from a size indicator. Each selected bird has detailed descriptions of essential features. Birds of Brisbane is a handy companion for the casual observer or visitor and a good Even though the limited geographic scope introduction into the fascinating world of of this guide precludes many species from birds. It is quite amazing to realize how the greater Brisbane area, such as birds much native avian diversity still survives in found in Moreton Bay and rainforests, inner Brisbane. it is still a handy reference for beginner Published by Queensland Museum, 2010 birdwatchers and those who work or live in Full colour, 76 pages The bird that adorns the front cover, the the city. ISBN: 978 0 9775943 7 5 Golden-headed Cisticola, is an example of a Price: $9.95 relative common grassland bird in Brisbane, Review by Keith McCosh Available from the Queensland Museum but a species that not many people, apart Land for Wildlife Officer and other specialist bookshops. from birdwatchers, would know about. Scenic Rim Regional Council Hopefully this wild guide plays a role in (and self-confessed amateur bird )

Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 13 land for wildife workshops Rainforest Plant Identification - getting to know the red book

Article by Deborah Metters Land for Wildlife Regional Coordinator SEQ Catchments

ack in March, I attended a workshop Brun by Marc Russell for Land for Wildlife members of the Sunshine Coast. Marc is Inside the a former Land for Wildlife Officer in the red book. Gympie region and is well-respected for his knowledge of rainforest plants.

I will admit that I am not very good with plant identification. You can show me a bird and I will remember it ten years later, but show me a plant and I will forget it in about ten minutes. That is why I depend on reference books so that I can keep looking up the same plant several times over, until it finally sticks.

The best book for learning rainforest plants in SEQ is the colloquially-known “red book” or Rainforest Trees and Shrubs: A field guide to their identification by Gwen Harden, Bill McDonald and John Williams. The red book contains 99% of all rainforest species found in SEQ so you should find what you are looking for. The workshop I attended “The red book is the bible of rainforest Alan Wynn (left) works with Karen and Barry guided participants through the steps plant identification” Marc Russell (above). Sinclair to key out specimens. of using the red book so that the same techniques could be applied when we are all back home. Wildlife Officers from the Sunshine Coast sometimes crucial for correct identification. Regional Council (Josh Birse, Alan Wynn As Marc pointed out, there are other and Dave Burrows) were also there to help. I enjoyed the challenge of learning new excellent plant identification books also on This workshop was intensive and required terminology and studying features such the market such as Noosa’s Native Plants participants to nut out plant specimens on as domatia using a hand lens, and even by Stephanie Haslam and Mangroves to their own. Keeping workshop numbers to looking at tiny red mites that live in Mountains by Glenn Leiper, Jan Glazebrook, only 25 people made sure that everyone domatia. Denis Cox and Kerry Rathie. got the help they needed. The red book is a fantastic resource for Where the red book differs from these The 17 groups of plants are based on basic all landholders who have rainforest on above publications is that it has no botany such as determining if the plant is their property and who have the desire to photographs, but relies entirely on a step- a pine, treefern, fig, palm or other tree, and learn about basic botany and the patience by-step key based on the leaves of the basic leaf structure. As soon as you enter to work through a key. If you have a go plant. Considering that it is difficult to find into the world of rainforest leaf structure, at identifying the rainforest species on fruits or flowers of many rainforest plants, it you have to work out the difference your property using the red book, but makes sense that a key needs to be based between compound and simple leaves and still have unknown plants, you can always on leaves. The red book requires patience determining if the leaf structure is opposite ask for help from your local Land for and logic to use. It is recommended to use or adjacent. Wildlife Officer or send in specimens to the both the red book and one of the above- Queensland Herbarium for identification. mentioned colourful publications together Once you have determined one of the 17 to cross-reference your ID. groups that your plant fits in, the key then Marc was a fantastic presenter who is full of takes you to another menu containing passion for the ecology and conservation The red book is divided into 17 groups more detailed botanical terminology. The of our rainforest ecosystems. If you have of plants. Marc spoke about each group simple drawings, glossary and workshops the opportunity to attend a workshop with and then all workshop participants set like this one can help clarify where, or how, Marc Russell or another presenter on how about keying out the numerous specimens to find plant features such as the leaf rachis, to use the red book, I would encourage you that were made available. Three Land for rachis tip, oil dots and domatia, which are to attend.

14 Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 good news

The frog that never said die...

Article by Nick Clancy Land for Wildlife Extension Officer Sunshine Coast Regional Council

xtinction is forever or so the saying The Yellow-spotted Bell Frog wasn’t Egoes. By definition extinction means rediscovered in some remote that there is no reasonable doubt that inaccessible corner of World Heritage- the last member of a species is dead. Or listed National Park, it was found as another well known phrase goes… on private property. So much of the …’it’s as dead as a Dodo’. precious little known about our native flora and fauna is information that has In a world of declining biodiversity, been gleaned from public land, such as good news stories are about as rare National Parks and State forests. as many of the critters that appear on threatened species lists. However one The majority of the remaining story that recently bucked this trend bushland in Queensland is in the was the remarkable rediscovery of hands of private ownership and/or the Yellow-spotted Bell Frog (Litoria management. I think it is safe to say castanea) in the New South Wales that much of this land has never had Southern Tablelands. I say remarkable, an ecologist or biologist stomp over it because it was found more than 30 in search of rare or threatened species. years after it was thought to have Reg Miles and Paul Prociv (top photo) and Marlene Davie and Marilyn Shrapnel (lower “The Yellow-spotted Bell Frog photo) enjoying the workshop. wasn’t rediscovered in some remote...National Park, it was found on private property.” Some tips from Marc...

The Weeping Cabbage Palm (Livistonia become extinct! While the species is For this reason there is still hope that decora) can be distinguished from the still considered to be endangered, there are more hidden gems like that of Cabbage Tree Palm (Livistonia australis) by steps are now being taken to ensure the Yellow-spotted Bell Frog population drooping leaves due to the deep splits in that the species doesn’t again slip that are still out there on private land; the leaf giving it the weeping look. They are backwards into the realm of extinction. hopefully safe from harms way. called cabbage palms because the top of the Interestingly the Yellow-spotted Bell If you consider that less than 5% of young trees used to be eaten like a cabbage. Frog ‘disappeared’ roughly around Queensland is in National Parks, and Group 9 in the red book identifies stinging the same time that there was a global the great majority of the landscape plants such as the Giant Stinging Tree and phenomenon of frog declines of mainly is under private ownership and the rare Gympie Stinger (Dendrocnide high altitude species, a decline in management, it highlights just moroides) that was heavily cleared because which the contagious chytrid fungal how important the role of private people disliked them so much. Stinging disease probably played a significant landholders is in the conservation of trees inject tiny silicone stings into the skin role. Included in this decline were no not just threatened species, but all our that can still sting for up to six months and less than a dozen Queensland frog wildlife. can make some people quite sick. species. References Two frog species in our own backyard, Use smell to help identify plants by crushing NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service the Southern Gastric Brooding Frog up leaves. Some plants, such as lillipillies (2001) Yellow-spotted Bell Frog (Rheobatrachus silus) and the Southern ( spp.) are hard to distinguish (Litoria castanea) and Peppered Tree Day Frog (Taudactylus diurnus), are now without using smell. The Aniseed Tree Frog (Litoria piperata) Recovery Plan. listed as extinct under Commonwealth (Syzygium anisatum) is aptly named and easy NPWS, . legislation. Unfortunately regular to identify due to its smell. monitoring of their former haunts Queensland Museum (2007) Wildlife of Greater Brisbane. Queensland The Creek Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata) has continues to end in disappointment. Museum. very sandpapery leaves, is bushy and grows While it might be overly optimistic to like an umbrella in shape. Whereas the very expect the reappearance of these two Robinson M (1993) A Field Guide to the Frogs of Australia. Reed Books. similar Sandpaper Fig (Ficus fraseri) grows frogs, the story of the Yellow-spotted straight up, is often deciduous and has Bell Frog does show that there can be lobed juvenile leaves. exceptions to the extinction rule, and private landholders can play a leading role.

Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010 15 Land for Wildlife Regional Coordination is proudly managed by SEQ Catchments with support from the Australian Government.

Queensland Landcare These strategies are currently of particular Living with Flying Foxes relevance and importance to landholders 2010 Conference because the practices involved stand at the forefront of the implementation of lying foxes play a crucial role in the greenhouse gas reduction and carbon Fupkeep of our forests. Through their Landcare - a sequestration policies being considered diet of eating fruit, nectar and blossom, Balancing Act by the Australian Government. Thus, they help disperse seeds and pollinate landholders who know about these many native plants. Unfortunately, their 14 - 17 September strategies will be poised to take ecological roles are often overshadowed 2010, Caloundra advantage of some excellent business by their noisy, smelly and social habits. opportunities. The nature of these opportunities will be discussed in This new brochure is designed for people his September offers Land for Wildlife income diversification forums during the who live near flying fox colonies. It members a great opportunity to meet T conference. provides information on the flying foxes like-minded people and be inspired at the found in Queensland and explains why Qld Landcare Conference. It is being held There will also be a forum for landholders they are noisy, smelly and live in colonies. in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. to discuss weed management strategies It addresses concerns within a nature conservation context. regarding flying foxes Health and����� Conservation������������ issues for peop The central theme of the conference If you live near flying foxes, you may be concerned le living� near������ flying fox communities Panel members will include Land for and the health of about risks to your health and curious to know more about them. is the planning and implementation Flying foxes are not a health risk to you unless you are Wildlife Officers and others with expertise humans and horses. bitten or scratched, so please do not handle them. As forest-makers, flying foxes do a lot of good deeds of integrated, sustainable, whole-of- in our environment. But they are threatened and in decline. To conserve flying foxes we need to share our in environmental weed control. neighbourhoods and protect their habitat. property land management. If you live near a Introducing your batty neighbours They seem to squabble a lot, they eat your fruit and you hear they’re Artwork: “Hanging around in Suburbia” by Carmen Beesley Drake, Rockhampton dangerous. It’s no wonder flying foxes aren’t the most welcome of neighbours! Bat chatter The conference program is still being Like humans, flying foxes— are what very socialhave animals they and got have to atalk lot to about? flying fox colony, or But like most neighbours, flying foxes, the biggest of the bats, are say to each other. With more than 30 different calls they can say really not so bad when you get to know them. A local colony can quite a bit and may be the next most vocal group of mammals after be something to celebrate. The conference will offer all those primates. Flying foxes contribute greatly to the local environment and Flying foxes tend to be most vocal during mating season, disputing finalised, but looks to include tours of economy. When they join the commuter rush at dusk, flying foxes exactly who is owner of prime branch territory. Most battles are just want to learn are off to their job as forest-makers. won by bluster and bluff. Incurable sweet-tooths, flying foxes eat fruit, nectar and blossom. In Some calls are special to mothers and young. Mothers carry very attending the opportunity to actively the process, they pollinate flowers and disperse seeds of important young babies out with them while feeding. But the load becomes native trees. Winging their way around the landscape, up to 100 too much after about 6 weeks and they leave their protesting local Land for Wildlife properties and km in a night, flying foxes are responsible for the upkeep of many more about these youngsters behind. On their return to the camp they pick out their forest species. young one from the crèche by voice recognition and individual participate, discuss and evaluate ideas Back from nightly labours, flying foxes hang out together in camps, scent. some of which have been occupied for centuries.There’s a lot going Camps tend to swell and shrink depending upon the season and on in these camps — courting, parenting, socialising, establishing also presentations by Land for Wildlife how much food is around. Sometimes, large numbers of nomadic animals, you can the social hierarchy and of course snoozing. little red flying foxes come to town — and that can make a camp a and experiences of landowners, scientific much noisier place. But they only stay a while — maybe a couple of months until the blossom runs out. members talking about their experiences Photographs by Halley Design Not surprisingly, when flying foxes are stressed or frightened, they obtain a copy make a lot more noise. people and least noisy whenColonies left alone. tend to be noisiest when disturbed by experts, conservationists and others Bat perfume with revegetation and ecological Flying foxes smell different— from perhaps humans. not It’s not your dirtiness brand? — of this brochure flying foxes spend hours grooming, so their personal hygiene is exemplary. Black involved in land management. flying fox Grey-headed Their smell helps flying foxes identify each other and communicate flying fox Little Red things like ‘keep your distance’. One dominant odour is a musk-like restoration. flying fox ‘perfume’ that males use to mark their breeding territories. What from your local Both flying foxes and people like to camp near water, so when their homes overlap, as they increasingly do, there are various you find smelly, they may find seductive. inconveniences for all. For the humans, flying foxes can create Flying foxes only take 15-20 minutes to digest food and mostly noise and smell. For the flying foxes — well, humans too have defecate away from camps. Mind you, it’s best to bring in your rather annoying habits, with far more serious consequences. washing before dusk and park your car under shelter to prevent Four land management strategies (natural Land for Wildlife staining by the odd dropping, which, by the way, can be easily lifted by leaving a damp rag on top. For information on food trees For more information, visit www. and bats, refer to www.abs.ausbats.org.au. sequence farming, carbon farming, Officer, or landcare2010.com or call the conference permaculture and organic farming) will download it from organisers, NaRLA (Nature Refuge form the framework around which the www.derm.qld.gov.au or Landholders’ Association), on core of the conference is built. www.rspcaqld.org.au/wildlife/ 3844 0417.

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16 Land for Wildlife South East Queensland July 2010