Rose Mallee (Eucalyptus Rhodantha) Recovery Plan
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WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM NO. 14 ROSE MALLEE RECOVERY PLAN by A.E. Kelly and D.J. Coates for the Rose Mallee Recovery Team Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australian Herbarium P.O. Box 104, Como, W.A. 6152 1995 Department of Conservation and Land Management P.O. Box 104 COMO, W.A. 6152 ISSN 0816-9713 Cover illustration: Eucalyptus rhodantha by Sue Patrick The Department of Conservation and Land Management’s Recovery Plans are edited by the Western Australian Threatened Species & Communities Unit PO Box 51 Wanneroo, Western Australia 6065 Telephone: (09) 4055 128 Fax: (09) 306 1066 Preparation by: Jill Pryde 1995 ii FOREWORD The Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) publishes Wildlife Management Programs to provide detailed information and management actions for the protection of certain exploited or threatened species of flora and fauna. A Wildlife Management Program has been published for Eucalyptus rhodantha (Sampson et al. 1990) and much of the information and recovery actions in this Plan are taken from that document. Recovery Plans delineate, justify and schedule management actions necessary to support the recovery of an endangered or vulnerable species or ecological community. The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds is subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities. Recovery Plans do not necessarily represent the views nor the official positions of any individuals or agencies represented on the Recovery Team. This Recovery Plan has been approved by the Executive Director, Department of Conservation and Land Management, the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority and the Minister for the Environment. Approved Recovery Plans are subject to modification as directed by new findings, changes in species' status and completion of recovery actions. Information in the Plan is accurate at December 1992, although where it seemed important modifications have been made to provide updated information up to the end of 1993. iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS page FOREWORD.................................................................................................................................... iii SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... vii 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Description and taxonomy...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Distribution............................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Habitat and associated species................................................................................................ 3 1.4 Life history and ecology......................................................................................................... 3 1.4.1 Flowering phenology .................................................................................................... 3 1.4.2 Pollination biology......................................................................................................... 3 1.4.3 Breeding system............................................................................................................. 4 1.4.4 Genetic diversity ............................................................................................................ 4 1.4.5 Inbreeding in small stands.............................................................................................. 4 1.4.6 Recruitment and vegetative regeneration after fire ........................................................ 5 1.5 Threats and impacts................................................................................................................ 6 1.6 Existing conservation measures ............................................................................................. 6 1.7 Strategy for recovery.............................................................................................................. 6 2. RECOVERY................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Objective and criteria ............................................................................................................. 7 2.2 Recovery actions .................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Appointing the Recovery Team ..................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Acquisition of conservation reserve............................................................................... 7 v 2.2.3 Protection of habitat ....................................................................................................... 8 2.2.3.1 Fencing................................................................................................................. 8 2.2.3.2 Rabbit control....................................................................................................... 8 2.2.3.3 Protection from fire.............................................................................................. 8 2.2.3.4 Roadside markers................................................................................................. 8 2.2.3.5 Protection from dieback disease (Phytophthora spp) .......................................... 8 2.2.4 Population enhancement ................................................................................................ 9 2.2.4.1 Seed collection and propagation .......................................................................... 9 2.2.4.2 Re-introduction and monitoring........................................................................... 9 2.2.5 Habitat enhancement...................................................................................................... 9 2.2.5.1 Weed control........................................................................................................ 9 2.2.5.2 Associated species............................................................................................... 10 2.2.5.3 Site rehabilitation ................................................................................................ 10 2.2 5.4 Reserve buffers ................................................................................................... 10 2.2.6 Research ........................................................................................................................ 10 2.2.7 Ex situ conservation ...................................................................................................... 11 2.2.7.1 Seed collection and long-term storage ................................................................ 11 2.2.7.2 Maintenance in cultivation.................................................................................. 11 2.2.8 Liaison and public education ........................................................................................ 11 2.2.9 Population monitoring and reporting ............................................................................ 12 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE................................................................................................. 13 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................................ 15 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................. 16 APPENDIX 1 ................................................................................................................................... 17 Figure 1 Distribution of Eucalyptus rhodantha................................................................................. 2 Figure 2 Dendrogram based on UPGMA cluster analysis of genetic distance (Nei’s D) showing the relationships between remnant stands of E. rhodantha. After Sampson (1988)........... 5 vi SUMMARY CURRENT SPECIES STATUS: Gazetted as Declared Rare Flora under Section 23F of the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act (1950). Eucalyptus rhodantha occurs in a few remnant populations in established farmland of the northern wheatbelt. Less than 500 plants are recorded, most of these occurring on uncleared private land. The remaining plants occur as scattered individuals in cleared or cropped paddocks and narrow degraded road verges. No natural seedling recruitment has been observed at any sites and inbreeding has increased significantly in the small isolated stands. Careful management of the populations is essential to ensure the species' continued survival in the wild. HABITAT REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITING FACTORS: Most of the range of E. rhodantha has been cleared so additional populations are unlikely. Its habitat is in poor condition due to grazing and heavy weed and rabbit infestation. Some of the existing stands can be rehabilitated by introduction of seedlings, revegetation and elimination of threats (weeds, rabbits, stock). RECOVERY OBJECTIVE: Ensure the species' survival in the wild by protecting existing populations in conservation reserves and promoting rehabilitation through population and habitat enhancement. RECOVERY