Grevillea Infecunda

THREATENED SPECIES SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The Minister’s delegate approved this Conservation Advice on 01/04/2016. Conservation Advice Grevillea infecunda Anglesea grevillea Conservation Status Grevillea infecunda (Anglesea grevillea) is listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act). The species is eligible for listing as prior to the commencement of the EPBC Act, it was listed as Vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth). The main factors that are the cause of the species being eligible for listing in the Vulnerable category are its limited number of mature individuals in each subpopulation, inferred decline and its limited geographic distribution is precarious due to the limited number of mature individuals in each subpopulation. Grevillea infecunda is listed as Threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and listed as Vulnerable on the non-statutory Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria. Description The Anglesea grevillea is a root-suckering shrub, growing 0.3–1.2 m high with an open habit. Leaves are 3–7 cm long and variable in shape, being coarsely toothed, ovate (egg-shaped), rhombic (all sides equal in size) or oblong. Leaves have an upper dark green and hairless surface, and lower pale green and sparsely hairy surface. Flowers are yellow-green and brown with curved tubes about 8 mm long, hairy outside, hairless inside, and splitting into four petals to release a pale yellow-green red style to 25 mm long. The fruit is a leathery, hairy capsule that splits to release winged seeds (Makinson 1996; Vic. DSE 2008). Distribution The Anglesea grevillea is endemic to Victoria, where it occurs in hilly country near Anglesea and Aireys Inlet (Walsh & Entwisle 1996; Kimpton 2002), in the South East Coastal Plain IBRA Bioregion (DEH 2000). At least 11 populations occur across a total distance of about 10 km, at elevations ranging from 110 m to 260 m asl (Angair & Kimpton 2002). In 2002 the total population was estimated to contain 1600 plants, however due to its root-suckering habit, it is difficult to be certain that these are all separate individuals (Vic DSE 2008). In 2002, six populations occurred within the Angahook–Lorne State Park (Bald Hills Road, Salt Creek Track, Bambra Road, Grevillea Track, Link Track and Breakfast Creek Road), four populations occurred in Anglesea Heath (Haggarts/Allardyce Tracks, Gum Flat Road, Tanners Road and Tanners Road/Dangers Lane), and one population occurred in Otway State Forest (Hammonds Road). Two additional unconfirmed sites occur, one along the Colac-Forest Road, and another west of the Alcoa lease site on private land (Vic DSE 2008). There is a valid mid-nineteenth century record from near Brighton, south-east of Melbourne and 100 km east of Anglesea, which suggests a formerly more widespread, perhaps disjunct distribution (Carter 2006). Relevant Biology/Ecology Anglesea grevillea occurs in dry sclerophyll forest or woodland, usually in sandy or gravelly soils. It is absent from areas where gravel has been extracted, and does not occur in vegetation Grevillea infecunda (Anglesea grevillea) Conservation Advice Page 1 of 6 with a dense upper stratum (Angair & Kimpton 2002). Other species commonly found amongst populations of Anglesea grevillea include Eucalyptus willisii, E. radiata, E. baxteri, Gahnia radula, Platylobium obtusangulum, Pultenaea gunnii and Xanthorrhoea australis. Allocasuarina littoralis often occurs in vegetation near to Anglesea grevillea, but the two species do not appear to occur together (O. Carter pers. obs. 2002). Where Anglesea grevillea occurs below eucalypts, tree crowns tend to be widely spaced (Vic DSE 2006). The circumstances in which the Anglesea grevillea produces viable seed is unknown and no viable seed appears to have been produced (Kimpton et al. 2002). As a result, all existing populations are geographically restricted; root-suckering is the only known means of reproduction. Root-suckering may be stimulated by fire (Marriott 1986) or slashing (O. Carter pers. obs.), but appropriate burning and/or slashing regimes for this species have not been identified. Dieback disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi has been observed within at least five sites where Anglesea grevillea is also present. Anglesea grevillea does not appear to have any observable susceptibility to this disease dead Xanthorrhoea australis (Austral grass- tree), which is usually one of the first species to show the physical effects of infection. Occur next to apparently healthy Anglesea grevillea plants (Vic DSE 2008). Threats Table 1 – Threats Threat factor Threat Threat Evidence base type status Habitat loss, disturbance and modification Damage from known current Illegal campsite construction and firewood human collection threatened the Otway State Forest activities population (DNRE 2000). Other populations are threatened by both recreational damage and timber harvesting (DNRE 2000). Activities such as off-road vehicles (4WDs and trail bikes), horse-riding, off-track walking and camping threaten most populations of Anglesea grevillea through physical disturbance (Vic. DSE 2008). Road and known current Road and track works including maintenance, track widening, slashing and clearing of roadside maintenance vegetation damages populations on roadsides. Heavy vehicles have also driven over and crushed some plants. One population declined from 54 to 33 plants following track work (Vic. DSE 2008). Disease Disease potential future Habitat within five known populations of Anglesea grevillea has been infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi, with highly susceptible species such as the Austral grass-tree (Xanthorrhoea australis) noted as dead amongst healthy Anglesea grevillea plants. Loss of vegetation at sites may impact on the survival of the Anglesea grevillea. Leaf browning has been observed, but this may be the result of weather conditions rather than cinnamon fungus (Vic. DSE 2008). Grevillea infecunda (Anglesea grevillea) Conservation Advice Page 2 of 6 Invasive species Weeds potential future Weeds are a minor threat, although the naturalised native species giant paperbark (Melaleuca armillaris) is a threat to the habitat at the Bald Hills Road population (Vic. DSE 2008). The Breakfast Creek Road population is threatened with weed invasion and soil erosion, most likely caused by off-road vehicles (DNRE 2000). Fire Fire potential future Whilst the species is known to resprout after fire, frequency an appropriate fire regime for the species is not known. The last fire at most sites was in 1983 (Vic. DSE 2008). Population viability Lack of viable potential future A possible threat to the species is that it is not seed known to reproduce sexually. Prolonged clonal production growth and lack of sexual recruitment may affect within, and between, population genetic diversity, potentially limiting a species’ capacity to adapt to environmental changes (Kimpton et al. 2002). Conservation Actions Conservation and Management priorities Habitat loss, disturbance and modification o Prevent habitat disturbance and protect sites on public land. o Control access routes by installing fencing and gates to suitably constrain vehicle and public access to known sites on public land to prevent damage by 4WD vehicles and trail bikes, horse-riding, off-track walking and camping, illegal campsite construction and firewood collection, and the spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi. o Control threats such as high visitor numbers and recreational vehicles, using methods such as preventing access, re-routing or ripping tracks, brush-matting, tree-planting, fencing and signage at sites. o Fence to exclude recreational access (including vehicles and horse riders) from Gum Flats Rd, and Breakfast Creek Rd sites. o Develop and/or implement roadside management plans for the Surf Coast Shire and include the Hammonds Rd site as high priority for conservation. o Re-assess permits to horse-riders who are currently allowed to ride close to the Gum Flats Rd site, and from Gum Flats Rd to Breakfast Creek Rd. o Prepare and/or implement management for slashing at Bald Hills Rd, Salt Creek Track, Breakfast Creek Rd, Gum Flat Rd, Tanners Rd and Tanners Rd/Dangers Lane to stimulate root suckering. Grevillea infecunda (Anglesea grevillea) Conservation Advice Page 3 of 6 Disease o Minimise access to the area where the species occurs, close non-essential paths and tracks. Implement suitable hygiene protocols to protect known populations from accidental outbreaks of Phytophthora cinnamomi. o Apply appropriate chemical controls against Phytophthora cinnamomi. Invasive species o Undertake weed control in the local area that could become a threat to the Anglesea grevillea and its habitat. Consider targeted herbicide application, hand removal and other methods to minimise disturbance/overspray threats associated with the control method. Fire o Implement an appropriate fire management regime for protecting key habitat that includes ensuring buffers to prevent wildfire or managed fire from impacting the habitat unless prescribed fire is being used following sound scientific evidence of the critical need for such a prescribed fire. o Any use of prescribed or experimental fires must be justified in an adaptive management framework involving objectives of both learning and management. Prescribed fire operations should be integrated

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