Muehlenbeckia Tuggeranong) a Recovery Plan Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth), Based on an Action Plan (Action Plan No
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
RECOVERY PLAN for Tuggeranong Lignum (Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong) A Recovery Plan under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth), based on an Action Plan (Action Plan No. 24) prepared for the species under the Nature Conservation Act 1980 (ACT). In accordance with section 21 of the Nature Conservation Act 1980 (ACT), the Tuggeranong Lignum (Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong) was declared an endangered species on 7 August 1998. Section 23 of the Act requires the Conservator of Flora and Fauna to prepare an Action Plan in response to each declaration (ACT Government 1999). Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong is a declared endangered species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (Part 13, Division 1, Subdivision A). The Act requires the preparation of a Recovery Plan for a listed threatened species (Part 13, Division 5, Subdivision A). approximately 1 m high and 1–2 m across. Preamble Stems are wiry, brownish, and weakly and irregularly longitudinally striate. Leaves are The Nature Conservation Act 1980 (ACT) alternate, persistent, green, not glaucous, establishes the ACT Flora and Fauna simple, petiolate, solitary and well spaced Committee with responsibilities for assessing along the stems. Petioles are 0.5 to 3 mm long the conservation status of ACT flora and fauna and leaf blades 5–13 mm long by 2–4 mm and the ecological significance of potentially wide, showing considerable variation in form. threatening processes. Flora and Fauna Inflorescences are terminal (sometimes on Committee assessments are made on nature short lateral branches) or very rarely axillary, conservation grounds only and are guided by simple or 2-branched; range from 12–20 mm specified criteria as set out in its publication from the subtending leaf to the apex; and bear Threatened Species and Communities in the 3–9 flowers in a lax spike. Flowers are ACT, July 1995. unisexual or rarely hermaphrodite, and cream- green in colour. Plants are also mostly In making its assessment of Muehlenbeckia unisexual (Makinson and Mallinson 1997). tuggeranong the Committee concluded that it satisfied the following criteria: DISTRIBUTION and ABUNDANCE M. tuggeranong was described from a single female plant and six male plants discovered in Criteria Satisfied the Murrumbidgee River Corridor (MRC) near Tuggeranong in 1997. In May 1999, an 1.2 The species is observed, estimated, additional male plant was discovered in the inferred or suspected to be at risk of MRC a short distance from the other seven premature extinction in the ACT region plants. Although extensive searches have in the medium-term future, as been undertaken (R. Makinson pers. comm.), demonstrated by: this population appears to be the only one in 1.2.6 Extremely small population. existence. M. tuggeranong is similar in many respects to Species Description and Ecology M. axillaris that occurs at higher altitudes (680 – 1200 m a.s.l.) in the ACT, NSW Southern DESCRIPTION Highlands, Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand (Makinson and Mallinson 1997). The The Tuggeranong Lignum Muehlenbeckia nearest known occurrences of M. axillaris to the tuggeranong Mallinson (Figure 1) is a M. tuggeranong site are about 25 km east- sprawling or procumbent shrub, eventually south-east in the Googong Reservoir area becoming a mounded loosely tangled mass to (altitude c. 680 m), and 35 km to the west-north- west in the upper Cotter River valley (altitude John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum; Umbrella c. 1010 m) (Makinson and Mallinson 1997). Sedge Cyperus eragrostis; Toowoomba Canary Grass Phalaris aquatica; African Lovegrass Eragrostis curvula and Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus (D. Mallinson pers. comm.). Figure 1: Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong. Top left - flowers and leaves; top right - stems Figure 2: Map showing location (■) of and leaves; bottom left - detail of female M. tuggeranong. Hatched area represents the flower; bottom right - detail of male flower. Murrumbidgee and Molonglo River corridors. HABITAT Conservation Status The known habitat of the species is restricted to flood terraces, altitude c. 550 m, on the Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong is recognised as eastern bank of the Murrumbidgee River near a threatened species in the following Tuggeranong in the ACT, in areas of rocky jurisdictions: outcrops with pockets of silty sandy soil (Makinson and Mallinson 1997). Commonwealth M. tuggeranong is found in a highly disturbed Endangered: Environment Protection and riparian shrubby woodland association, heavily Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Part 13, invaded by exotic weeds. The tree layer is Division 1, Subdivision A). largely remnant. The species is found on almost bare rock, or tangled amongst other Australian Capital Territory vegetation (D. Mallinson pers. comm.). Endangered: Section 21 of the Nature Associated native species include River Oak Conservation Act 1980, Determination No. 192 Casuarina cunninghamiana; Burgan Kunzea of 1998. ericoides; Silver Wattle Acacia dealbata; Grevillea juniperina; Purple Loosestrife Special Protection Status Species: Schedule 6 Lythrum salicaria; Narrow-leaved Cumbungi of the Nature Conservation Act 1980, Typha domingensis; a sedge Isolepis sp.; Determination No. 197 of 1998. Tussock Grass Poa labillardieri and Common Reed Phragmites australis. There is also a Threats range of introduced species including White Willow Salix alba; Sweetbriar Rosa rubiginosa; The main threat to survival of this population Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus; Oenothera and therefore the species is likely to be sp.; Viper’s Bugloss Echium vulgare; Fennel deliberate or unintended actions associated Foeniculum vulgare; Lamb’s Tongue Plantago with visitor and/or land management activities lanceolata; Curled Dock Rumex crispus; St page 2 in the local area. It is not clear whether grazing its immediate location are not economically animals such as kangaroos may also pose a justified. However, awareness of the threat to survival of remaining plants, or species by field workers and others is whether such grazing may benefit the species important for potentially locating other by keeping competing grass tussocks and sites. Environment ACT (Wildlife Research other plant growth short and open. and Monitoring) will monitor the existing population annually. Conservation Objectives 2. Environment ACT (Wildlife Research and Monitoring) will advise field workers, The objectives of the Recovery Plan are to: interested naturalists and conservation 1. Preserve the existing ACT population of groups of the presence of the species to Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong as it is the increase the potential that any other only known population of the species. existing populations are identified. 2. Conserve and manage the habitat of 3. Environment ACT (Wildlife Research and Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong so that Monitoring) will liaise with the NSW natural ecological processes continue to National Parks and Wildlife Service to operate. encourage surveys of potential habitat outside the ACT. Issues and options for the genetic conservation of M. tuggeranong have been SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT ACTIONS examined by Young (2001). Given the small Due to the nature and small size of the site population and skewed sex ratio, the main containing the species, management actions genetic conservation issue for the species is will be directed towards maintaining the the generation of new genetic variation. Young existing conditions and ensuring that adjacent (p. 29) considers that ‘this will be best activities do not adversely affect the site. The achieved through controlled pollination among management actions being undertaken are all possible combinations of male and female unlikely to have any adverse impact on other plants. Such a strategy will maximise the native species or ecological communities. effective population size of the next 1. Research into the species will be generation. Seed produced can then be used encouraged. (Ongoing) to increase the size of the current population and equilibrate its sex ratios. They can also be 2. Facilities, such as walking tracks, will not used as a basis for an ex-situ breeding be developed near the sites, with the aim population as well as being outplanted to make of discouraging visitor access to the area. new wild populations so as to spread the risk (Ongoing) of extinction through habitat loss’. 3. A 'low profile' will be maintained for the sites where the species is located, with no The small number of plants known to exist signs or fencing being erected. (Ongoing) does not support seed production. Only one 4. Statements of conservation objectives and female plant has been found, and this has not intended management actions for the developed mature ovaries (D. Mallinson pers. species will be placed in relevant comm.). Propagation work undertaken at the management plans and strategies. Australian National Botanic Gardens has (Ongoing) shown that the species strikes extremely well 5. Once plants have fully recovered from the from cuttings, with a success rate around 80%. January 2003 bushfires, Environment ACT This could form the basis for ex-situ will undertake controlled pollination among conservation of the species. Using this clonal all possible combinations of male and material for reintroductions is of little value to female plants as a first step to increasing genetic conservation given the limited genetic population size. Cuttings will also be taken sample, however, ex-situ clone collections can for regeneration purposes. (Year three) be used to spread the risk