Eucalyptus Macrorhyncha Subsp. Cannonii (Cannons Stringybark)
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The Minister deleted this species from the vulnerable category, effective from 14 December 2013 Advice to the Minister for the Environment from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) on Amendment to the list of Threatened Species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) 1. Reason for Conservation Assessment by the Committee This advice follows assessment of new information on: Eucalyptus macrorhyncha subsp. cannonii (Cannons stringybark) 2. Summary of Species Details Taxonomy Eucalyptus cannonii R.T.Baker is now accepted as a synonym of Eucalyptus macrorhyncha subsp. cannonii (R.T.Baker) L.A.S.Johnson & Blaxell State Listing Status Listed as vulnerable under the New South Wales Threatened Species and Conservation Act 1995 as Eucalyptus cannonii. Description A tree growing to 12–25 m, depending on the site (Hall and Brooker, 1973; Chippendale, 1988). This species is a stringybark, with its bark persisting to the small branches. The bark is coarsely fibrous, with deep longitudinal furrows and greyish-brown in colour (Hall and Brooker, 1973). The flowers are white to cream (Benson and McDougall, 1998). Distribution Occurs in the Ilford-Rylstone-Capertee region of the New South Wales Central Tablelands (Brooker and Kleinig, 1999). Populations are known to extend from east of Mudgee to east of Bathurst (Hunter and White, 1999). The species is reserved within the Wollemi and Gardens of Stone National Parks and Winburndale Nature Reserve. Relevant Commonly occurs on steep, rocky slopes and ridge tops, but it Biology/Ecology is also found in valleys and on gentle slopes. The soils vary from skeletal with very free drainage to deeper sandy podsols on a range of parent rock that includes sandstone, shale, basalt, trachyte, claystone and coarse conglomerate (Hall and Brooker, 1973; Hunter and White, 1999). Grows in dry sclerophyll forest. The distribution of this species is known to overlap with the ‘White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland’ EPBC Act-listed threatened ecological community. Threats Known There are no current known threats. Potential Potential threats include too-frequent fire, which may reduce the vigour of mature trees, and kill seedlings and young regenerating trees. Roadside populations may be threatened by road-works and tree lopping. Grazing may prevent regeneration of the species in paddocks and logging/preferential exploitation for firewood collection may occur at some locations (DECC, 2005). Eucalyptus macrorhyncha subsp. cannonii (Cannons stringybark) Listing Advice Page 1 of 4 3. Public Consultation Notice of the proposed amendment was made available for public comment for 30 business days. No comments were received. 4. How judged by the Committee in relation to the EPBC Act criteria and Regulations Criterion 1: It has undergone, is suspected to have undergone or is likely to undergo in the immediate future a very severe, severe or substantial reduction in numbers Not eligible Criterion element Evidence Reduction in numbers Not substantial – Surveys undertaken in 1999–2001 estimated a total population size of at least 10 000 individuals (Hunter and White, 1999). Between 2000–3000 individuals were recorded within the Wollemi and Gardens of Stone National Parks and at least 6000 individuals were recorded within Winburndale Reserve (Hunter and White, 1999; Washington, 2001). Given there are no current known threats and a large portion of the population is found within national parks and reserves, it is not likely this species will undergo a substantial reduction in numbers. Criterion 2: Its geographic distribution is precarious for the survival of the species and is very restricted, restricted or limited Not eligible Criterion element Evidence Geographic distribution Very restricted – The species’ extent of occurrence is 5500 km2 and its area of occupancy is greater than 1.5 km2 (NSW SC, AND 2001). Geographic distribution No – Occurs in 67 locations (DECC, 2005) and at least 30 precarious populations (Hunter and White, 1999) and does not undergo extreme fluctuations. An estimated 6000 individuals were recorded in Winburndale Nature Reserve (Hunter and White, 1999) and populations exist in Wollemi and Gardens of Stone National Parks. Most other localities are on rocky hillsides unlikely to be cleared for agricultural purposes (Hunter and White, 1999). There are no known current threats to this species. Eucalyptus macrorhyncha subsp. cannonii (Cannons stringybark) Listing Advice Page 2 of 4 Criterion 3: The estimated total number of mature individuals is very low, low or limited; and either (a) evidence suggests that the number will continue to decline at a very high, high or substantial rate; or (b) the number is likely to continue to decline and its geographic distribution is precarious for its survival Not eligible Criterion element Evidence Total no. of mature Limited – 2800 mature individuals were recorded in individuals Winburndale Nature Reserve (Hunter and White, 1999). It is likely that the number would be greater if mature individuals AND had been recorded in other populations. However, as the total population estimate is 10 000 it is likely the number of mature individuals would be limited. Continued rate of decline Not substantial – See Criterion 1 OR Total no. of mature Limited – 2800 mature individuals were recorded within individuals Winburndale Nature Reserve (Hunter and White, 1999). It is likely that the number of mature individuals would be greater if AND mature individuals had been recorded in other populations. However, as the total population estimate is 10 000 it is likely the number of mature individuals would be limited. Continued decline likely No – See Criterion 2 AND Geographic distribution No – See Criterion 2 precarious Criterion 4: The estimated total number of mature individuals is extremely low, very low or low Not eligible Criterion element Evidence Total no. of mature Not low – 2800 mature individuals were recorded within individuals Wimburndale Nature Reserve alone (Hunter and White, 1999). Criterion 5: Probability of extinction in the wild that is at least (a) 50% in the immediate future; or (b) 20% in the near future; or (c) 10% in the medium-term future Not eligible Criterion element Evidence Probability of extinction in No data the wild Eucalyptus macrorhyncha subsp. cannonii (Cannons stringybark) Listing Advice Page 3 of 4 5. Recommendations Based on available information on this species’ population size and geographic distribution, including no evidence of decline, the Committee notes that this species does not meet any of the required criteria for listing in any category. (i) The Committee recommends that the list referred to in section 178 of the EPBC Act be amended by deleting from the list in the vulnerable category: Eucalyptus macrorhyncha subsp. cannonii Threatened Species Scientific Committee 2 December 2010 References cited in the advice Baker RT (1919). The hardwoods of Australia and their economics: 200, Government Printer. Sydney. Benson D and McDougall L (1998). Ecology of Sydney plant species: Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae. Cunninghamia. 5: 809–987. NSW Royal Botanic Gardens. Sydney, Australia. Brooker MIH and Kleinig DA (1999). Field Guide to Eucalypts. Volume 1, South-eastern Australia. Bloomings Books. Hawthorn, Victoria. Chippendale GM (1988). Myrtaceae – Eucalyptus, Angophora. Flora of Australia. 19: 1–540. AGPS. Canberra, Australia. Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) (2005). Threatened species information: Capertee Stringybark – profile. Available on the Internet at: http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=1028 9 Hall N and Brooker I (1973). Cannons Stringybark (Eucalyptus cannonii). Forest Tree Series. 124. Australian Government Publishing Service. Canberra, Australia. Hunter JT and White M (1999). Notes on the distribution and conservation status of Eucalyptus cannonii R.T. Baker. Cunninghamia. 6: 389–394. National Herbarium of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens. Sydney, Australia. Johnson LAS and Blaxell DF (1973). New taxa and combinations in Eucalyptus - II. Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium 4(6): 379. New South Wales Scientific Committee (NSW SC) (2001). IUCN & Modified IUCN assessment of Eucalyptus cannonii. Department of Environment, Conservation, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales. Washington H (2001). A study of E. cannonii and intergrades with E. macrorhyncha within the Gardens of Stone National Park. Report for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Blue Mountains Region. Eucalyptus macrorhyncha subsp. cannonii (Cannons stringybark) Listing Advice Page 4 of 4 .