A6 11 WR Two Phase Fauna Survey (Biota 2011) Part 2.Pdf
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Western Range Two-Phase Fauna Survey 5.7 Short Range Endemic Invertebrates Based on morphological identifications, six potential SRE invertebrate species were recorded from the study area during the survey. These included one mygalomorph spider species, one selenopid spider species, two pseudoscorpion species, one millipede species and one pulmonate snail species (Figure 5.1). 5.7.1 Mygalomorph Spiders Mygalomorph spiders are regularly collected in the Pilbara bioregion (source: Biota Internal Database). However, much of the taxonomy has only been resolved to the level of genus. This group is known to support a number of taxa with very limited distributions, and several species are included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2010 (although none of these occur in the Pilbara bioregion). A single morphospecies of mygalomorph spider was recorded on eight occasions during the survey: Aname sp. (family Nemesiidae; Plate 5.18). All specimens were collected during dedicated SRE searches via the excavation of burrows. Although not necessarily indicative of distribution, the Aname sp. was recorded on clay or loamy clay habitat within the Newman, Boolgeeda and Marandoo Land Systems, which are widespread throughout the Pilbara Bioregion (Figure 5.1). Table 5.7: Mygalomorph spiders recorded within the Western Range study area. Taxa Site Easting Northing Number Aname sp. Opportunistic 554534 7432219 1 Aname sp. Opportunistic 550073 7437362 1 Aname sp. Opportunistic 550088 7437330 1 Aname sp. Opportunistic 550092 7437344 1 Aname sp. Opportunistic 550154 7437346 1 Aname sp. Opportunistic 547137 7435299 1 Aname sp. WSR07 548294 7437818 1 Aname sp. WSR07 548294 7437818 1 Plate 5.18: Aname sp. Cube:Current:527 (Western Range):Documents:Fauna:Western Range Fauna 2Phase V4_5.docx 47 Western Range Two-Phase Fauna Survey Figure 5.1: Location of potential SRE invertebrates in the study area. 48 Cube:Current:527 (Western Range):Documents:Fauna:Western Range Fauna 2Phase V4_5.docx Western Range Two-Phase Fauna Survey 5.7.2 Selenopid Spiders A single selenopid species (Plate 5.19) was recorded from rocky habitat within the Western Range study area (Table 5.8). This taxon is in the process of being described and is currently known as ‘N. gen. 1 n. sp. 14’ (S. Crews, pers. comm. 2010), a single widespread species known to occur throughout the Pilbara and not considered to be a SRE (Crews and Harvey 2009). Table 5.8: Selenopid spiders recorded within the Western Range study area. Taxa Site Easting Northing Number N. gen. 1 n. sp. 14 Opportunistic 546881 7435983 1 N. gen. 1 n. sp. 14 Opportunistic 552899 7433779 7 Plate 5.19: Selenopidae sp. 5.7.3 Pseudoscorpions Two pseudoscorpion species were recorded from within the Western Range study area: Oratemnus sp. (family Atemnidae; Plate 5.20) and Euryolpium sp. (family Olpiidae; Plate 5.21). Oratemnus sp. was collected from underneath bark of Eucalyptus sp. located in an ephemeral watercourse, while Euryolpium sp. was collected from underneath bark of Acacia xiphophylla (snakewood). Pseudoscorpions living under bark often exhibit a phoretic (animal assisted) dispersal mode, thereby resulting in wide species distributions (Poinar et al 1998). As a result such pseudoscorpions usually do not represent SRE taxa (Dr Mark Harvey, WA Museum, pers. com. 2009). Table 5.9: Pseudoscorpions recorded within the Western Range study area. Taxa Site Easting Northing Number Euryolpium sp. Opportunistic 545746 7435389 1 Euryolpium sp. WSR03 552761 7432995 1 Oratemnus sp. WSRbat03 555014 7433480 5 Oratemnus sp. WSRbat03 555014 7433480 1 Oratemnus sp. Opportunistic 554959 7433433 2 Cube:Current:527 (Western Range):Documents:Fauna:Western Range Fauna 2Phase V4_5.docx 49 Western Range Two-Phase Fauna Survey Plate 5.20: Oratemnus sp. Plate 5.21: Euryolpium sp. 5.7.4 Millipedes A single Spirobolid millipede was recorded from a pit-trap at site WSR05 (544696 mE, 7437615 mN; Plate 5.22). This species was identified as Austrostrophus stictopygus (family Pachybolidae). Austrostrophus stictopygus was first recorded from the Burrup Peninsula (Hoffman 2003), but since then it has been recorded elsewhere in the Pilbara and has been found to have a wide distribution and therefore not considered an SRE (Dr Mark Harvey, WA Museum, pers. comm.) Recently this species was recorded near Tom Price by Biota (2009a). Plate 5.22: Austrostrophus stictopygus. 5.7.5 Pulmonate snails Despite dedicated searching (Section 3.2.3.5), no land snails were recorded within the Western Range study area. However, one species of aquatic snail (family Succineidae; Lymnaea sp.) was recorded in a fresh water pool adjacent to site WSRbat03 (555014mE, 7433480mN; Plate 5.23). Lymnaea sp. was recorded from an ephemeral river that occurs both upstream and downstream of the study area and therefore, this snail taxon is likely to occur throughout the length of the river during the wet season and is unlikely to be restricted solely to the Western Range study area. Moreover, other Lymnaea sp. specimens have also been recorded in the Robe River Valley approximately 200 km north-west of the Western Range study area (Biota 2006a and 2007). Until a molecular investigation is conducted, it cannot be fully determined if the Lymnaea sp. recorded within the Western Range study area is an SRE. 50 Cube:Current:527 (Western Range):Documents:Fauna:Western Range Fauna 2Phase V4_5.docx Western Range Two-Phase Fauna Survey Plate 5.23: Lymnaea sp. Cube:Current:527 (Western Range):Documents:Fauna:Western Range Fauna 2Phase V4_5.docx 51 Western Range Two-Phase Fauna Survey This page intentionally blank 52 Cube:Current:527 (Western Range):Documents:Fauna:Western Range Fauna 2Phase V4_5.docx Western Range Two-Phase Fauna Survey 6.0 Conservation Significance 6.1 Threatened Fauna Statutory Framework Native fauna species that are rare, threatened with extinction, or have high conservation value, are specially protected by law under the WA Wildlife Conservation Act 1950-1979. In addition, many of these species are listed under the Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999. 6.1.1 Commonwealth EPBC Act 1999 Fauna species of national conservation significance are listed under the EPBC Act 1999, and have been classified as ‘critically endangered’, ‘endangered’, ‘vulnerable’ or ‘conservation dependent’. Migratory species are also protected under the EPBC Act 1999. The national List of Migratory Species consists of those species listed under the following International Conventions: • Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA); • China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA); • Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (ROKAMBA); and • Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention). 6.1.2 Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950-1979 Under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950–1979 classification of rare and endangered fauna are defined by the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2010, which recognises four distinct schedules of taxa (Threatened fauna): Schedule 1 - taxa that are rare or likely to become extinct and are declared to be fauna in need of special protection; Schedule 2 - taxa that are presumed to be extinct and are declared to be fauna in need of special protection; Schedule 3 – birds that are subject to an agreement between the governments of Australia and Japan relating to the protection of migratory birds and birds in danger of extinction, which are declared to be fauna in need of special protection; and Schedule 4 - taxa that are in need of special protection, otherwise than for the reasons mentioned in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3). In addition, fauna are also classified under five different Priority codes, relevant for species that are not considered Threatened under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950–1979, but for which the DEC considers there is a cause for further monitoring: Priority One Taxa with few, poorly known populations on threatened lands. Taxa that are known from a few specimens or sight records from one or a few localities on lands not managed for conservation. The taxon needs urgent survey and evaluation of conservation status before consideration can be given to declaration as threatened fauna. Priority Two Taxa with few, poorly known populations on conservation lands, or taxa with several, poorly known populations not on conservation lands. Taxa that are known from few specimens or sight records from one or a few localities on lands not under immediate threat of habitat destruction or Cube:Current:527 (Western Range):Documents:Fauna:Western Range Fauna 2Phase V4_5.docx 53 Western Range Two-Phase Fauna Survey degradation. The taxon needs urgent survey and evaluation of conservation status before consideration can be given to declaration as threatened fauna. Priority Three Taxa with several, poorly known populations, some on conservation lands. Taxa that are known from few specimens or sight records from several localities, some of which are on lands not under immediate threat of habitat destruction or degradation. The taxon needs urgent survey and evaluation of conservation status before consideration can be given to declaration as threatened fauna. Priority Four Taxa in need of monitoring. Taxa that are considered to have been adequately surveyed or for which sufficient knowledge is available and which are considered not currently threatened or in need of special protection, but could be if present circumstances change. These taxa are usually represented on conservation lands. Taxa that are declining significantly but are not yet threatened. Priority Five Taxa in need of monitoring. Taxa that are not considered threatened but are subject to a specific conservation program, the cessation of which would result in the species becoming threatened within five years. 6.2 Schedule and Priority Fauna Seven species of conservation significance were recorded within the Western Range study area: • Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantius) (Federal: Vulnerable, State: Schedule 1). Echolocation calls were recorded at sites WSRbat02, WSRbat03, and WSRbat04. • Pilbara Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus barroni) (Federal: Vulnerable, State: Schedule 1).