morrisbyi

Image removed, due to copyright morrisbys gum

T A S M A N I A N T H R E A T E N E D S P E C I E S L I S T I N G S T A T E M E N T

Scientific name: Brett, Pap. & Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasmania 129: pl. 14–15 (1939) Common name: morrisbys gum Group: vascular , dicotyledon, family

Status: Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: endangered Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Endangered

Distribution Biogeographic origin: endemic to Tasmania Tasmanian Natural Resource Management Region: South Tasmanian IBRA bioregions (V6): South East

Images removed due to copyright

Figure 1. Distribution of Eucalyptus morrisbyi, showing Plate 1. Eucalyptus morrisbyi: buds, capsules, adult & IBRA bioregions juvenile leaves (scale bar=2cm)

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)

SUMMARY: Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum) seed. The Calverts Hill stand in particular has a is a small tree endemic to Tasmania’s southeast. large number of seedlings that have been It is only known from two locations 21 km repressed by continuous browsing to ground apart; in the Government Hills near Risdon, level and potentially may be many years old. and the fragmented Cremorne subpopulation in the Risdon stand have resprouted which now consists of a main stand at Calverts from lignotubers following a major dieback Hill and several small remnant stands following event and genetic testing of stems has past clearing for residential and agricultural demonstrated considerable clonality in the purposes. The Risdon and the main Calverts stand (Jones et al. 2005). Hill stands have suffered rapid dramatic declines in recent decades with the loss of all Eucalyptus morrisbyi is susceptible to drought, but a few mature trees which are all located at being the first of the local eucalypts to show Calverts Hill. The Risdon stand is now signs of stress following drought events, with considered to be functionally extinct as it no stress symptoms particularly evident in trees longer produces seed. This leaves the species growing on drier sites. Stressed plants including with fewer than 30 mature trees in the wild that any regrowth are more susceptible to vertebrate produce seed. The species appears to have been and browsing, often rapidly resulting in contracting to wetter gullies over time, death or dieback. exacerbated by the recent warmer and drier conditions associated with climate change. The There are considerable genetic differences species is highly palatable and once stressed, between the Calverts Hill and Risdon stands. recovery is hampered by vertebrate and insect Plants from the Risdon stand are less palatable browsing that if left unchecked leads to the to vertebrate browsing as demonstrated in death of trees within years. The smaller mixed plantings (Mann et al. 2012). However, roadside stands in the Cremorne area are plants from the Risdon stand have been shown additionally at risk from clearing to improve to be more susceptible to myrtle rust road safety and the small Lumeah Point stand (Austropuccinia psidii) (newly introduced to cannot expand due to existing urban Tasmania) than those from Calverts Hill (Potts development. While at imminent risk of et al. 2016). Plants from the two stands can be extinction in the wild, the species is not likely to distinguished using molecular techniques (Jones face extinction in the short to medium term due et al. 2005). Some molecular differences are also to ornamental and ex situ plantings. The most evident between plants from the Calverts Hill immediate needs are to protect wild and stand and its associated remnant stands in the planted seedlings at Calverts Hill to allow them Cremorne area. Despite the small size of the to reach maturity and to ensure that the genetic Risdon subpopulation, variation remains high variability of the species is maintained by and it is not showing signs of inbreeding. This supplementing and managing seed collections may be a consequence of inbreeding being that can be used for future conservation limited by the high levels of self-incompatibility actions. shown by the species (Potts & Savva 1988) and the longevity of the existing genotypes. Although Eucalyptus morrisbyi hybridises with IDENTIFICATION AND ECOLOGY Eucalyptus viminalis in the wild, studies have not Eucalyptus morrisbyi is a small tree, growing to a revealed significant contamination of its gene height of approximately 6 to 12 m. Seedlings pool. take about ten years to produce flowers, a relatively long time for eucalypts. Peak Description flowering occurs from February to May While Eucalyptus morrisbyi is generally rough (Williams and Potts 1996). The species is more barked at the base of the trunk, the old bark is or less well adapted to fire, which stimulates shed further up leaving the upper part of the release of seed from capsules for regeneration. trunk and the branches smooth and brown, If flowering is compromised, the canopy held white-grey or pink-grey in colour. The bluish- seedbank is only viable for about two years as green juvenile leaves are glaucous, unstalked capsules become too woody to release their

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 2

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum) and rounded, 2 to 3 cm long and 2 to 4 cm prone, low rainfall area. It is associated with wide. They are arranged in opposite pairs. The poor soils, with the Calverts Hill and associated adult leaves are stalked, less glaucous and remnant stands occurring on recent sands arranged alternately. They are about 5 to 10 cm overlying dolerite and the Risdon stand on long and 1.5 to 4 cm wide. The flower buds Permian mudstone. The species tends to occur have a pointed cap and are glaucous and shortly in relatively pure stands with a number of other stalked. They arise in clusters of three from the eucalypt species occurring nearby. leaf axils. The flowers are cream and develop into cylindrical, glaucous, woody capsules, RESERVATION STATUS 9 to 11 mm long and 6 mm wide (Plate 1). Eucalyptus morrisbyi is formally protected in the [description based on Curtis & Morris 1975] Calverts Hill Nature Reserve and the East Risdon State Reserve. The Lumeah Point stand Survey techniques is on a coastal reserve that has been leased to This small tree can be identified at any time of the Clarence City Council for recreational use. the year, though mature trees (with capsules) are required to confirm the identity of this POPULATION PARAMETERS species. Number of subpopulations = 2 (1 reproductive) Number of locations = 2 (1 reproductive) Confusing Species Extent of occurrence ~45 km2 Eucalyptus morrisbyi can be confused with the Area of occupancy ~ 12.5 ha closely related Eucalyptus gunnii (cider gum), and (0.5 ha for mature individuals) Eucalyptus cordata (heart leaved silver gum). It Area of occupancy (as per IUCN criteria) = 8 km2 can be distinguished from Eucalyptus gunnii by (or 4 km2 as reproductive in only 1 location) its coastal lowland habitat and presence of No. of mature individuals < 30 warty protuberances on buds and capsules. It Eucalyptus morrisbyi is known only from two can be distinguished from Eucalyptus cordata by subpopulations in the wild (Table 1). In the its smaller capsules that occur in the axils of Cremorne area, the subpopulation has been adult leaves only. Refer also to Wiltshire and fragmented into the Calverts Hill stand, and Potts (2007). Eucalyptus morrisbyi can hybridise several small remnant stands approximately with Eucalyptus viminalis and some stands and 2 km away. The species is no longer present at older plantings contain a significant proportion some sites where it was collected in the past in of hybrid trees. The hybrids are readily the Cremorne area. Numbers in the smaller distinguished by their narrower and less remnant stands have been supplemented by glaucous juvenile leaves. plantings and other plantings in the area have been made. A census of trees in the Risdon DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT subpopulation in 1996 showed 69 trees with Eucalyptus morrisbyi is endemic to Tasmania with adult foliage though less than 20 of these were wild occurrences known only from the carrying seed. This stand is now functionally Cremorne area, with a main stand at Calverts extinct with only weak, spindly, non- Hill and several small nearby remnant stands, as reproductive lignotuber regrowth remaining. well as from a small subpopulation 21 km away The Calverts Hill stand is close to being in the Government Hills near Risdon (Figure 1, functionally extinct. There were 1915 mature Table 1). A number of conservation plantings trees in the Calverts Hill stand in 1991 and only have been made and Eucalyptus morrisbyi has seven mature trees were still alive in early 2018 been widely planted as a specimen tree and (one dying) following a dramatic decline that ornamental. started after 2005 (and was first reported in 2014 at which time 70 to 80% of mature trees In natural stands, Eucalyptus morrisbyi occurs in had already died). Seed-bearing mature coastal, dry sclerophyll woodland on gentle to individuals can still be found in the small hilly slopes where it tends to be restricted to remnant patches in the Cremorne area though gullies that offer some relief in this drought

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 3

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)

Table 1. Population summary for Eucalyptus morrisbyi

Subpopulation Tenure NRM 1:25,000 Year of Area of Number of region mapsheet census occupancy adult trees (ha) (NR not reproductive) 1.1 Calverts Hill Calverts Hill South Cremorne 2019 6 Nature Reserve 2018 7 1991 11.5 1915 1.2 Lumeah Point Coastal South Cremorne 2019 ^ Reserve 1991 0.15 16 1.3 Honeywood Drive 2019 >8^^ road reserve*, South Cremorne 1991 0.15 12 1.4 South Arm Road/ private land 2017 6^^^ Delphis Drive 1.5 Cremorne Avenue 2019 5^^^^ 1991 ~5 2 Government Hills, East East Risdon South Hobart 2014 0 (219NR)** Risdon State Reserve 2002 0.7 0 (81NR) 1996 <20 (69 NR) *managed by the Department of State Growth for sites1.4 and Clarence City Council for sites 1.3 and 1.5 **of the 219 stems sampled, there were 110 distinct genotypes (Jones unpubl.) ^mix of natural and planted trees both pure and hybrid, more hybrids than pure, some recruits ^^seed collected from 8 trees, others with little seed, no recruits ^^^plus 9 planted (North Barker Ecosystem Services 2017) ^^^^plus 2 hybrids and some planted (origin disputed)

some of the roadside trees have died since the B. Extent of occurrence estimated to be less last census in 1991. In total, the number of than 5,000 km2, and naturally occurring mature trees (reproductive) 1. it is known to exist at no more than five of Eucalyptus morrisbyi is estimated to be fewer locations, and than 30. 2. there is a continuing decline observed in At least two mid-1990s ex situ plantings grown the number of mature individuals from a genetically diverse collection of seed C. Total population estimated to number fewer from Calverts Hill are reproductive, with than 2,500 mature individuals, and recruitment present in the understorey. Once 2 there is a continuing decline observed in the seedlings grow to maturity, these plantings numbers of mature individuals and could be considered to be self-perpetuating and a.(i) no subpopulation estimated to could be included as subpopulations for the contain more than 250 mature purposes of applying extinction risk criteria. individuals, a.(ii) at least 90% of all mature individuals CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT in a single subpopulation Eucalyptus morrisbyi meets the following criteria D. Total population estimated to number fewer for listing as endangered on the Tasmanian than 250 mature individuals. Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: A. Total population reduction in the form of It qualifies as Critically Endangered using the 1. an observed reduction of at least 50% IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List within the last three generations (to a criteria given its restricted distribution, a greater maximum of 100 years) based on than 80% decline observed in the number of a. direct observation mature individuals and fewer than 50 mature individuals remaining in the wild.

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 4

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)

Eucalyptus morrisbyi forest and woodland is listed to invasion by weeds and increased vertebrate as a threatened vegetation community on and insect browsing pressure in the stands. schedules of the Nature Conservation Act 2002. Climate change: Eucalyptus morrisbyi is susceptible to drought, with the range of the THREATS, LIMITING FACTORS AND species apparently retracting to wetter gullies MANAGEMENT ISSUES since the last glaciation (Wiltshire et al. 1991). Eucalyptus morrisbyi has undergone a dramatic This makes the species particularly vulnerable decline in recent decades to the point at which to the warmer conditions and changed rainfall the species is at imminent risk of becoming patterns associated with the accelerated rate of extinct in the wild. Extinction of the species as climate change seen in recent decades. As well a whole is unlikely, at least in the short to as increasing transpiration rates, warmer and medium term, given the presence of ex situ and drier conditions may cause an increase in the ornamental plantings. The main issues with the browsing pressure on Eucalyptus morrisbyi as decline and recovery prospects are discussed food resources become restricted or by causing below. local increases in insect populations. It is now evident that with the current rate of climate change, significant intervention will be required to maintain Eucalyptus morrisbyi in the wild. image removed due Vertebrate browsing: Genotypes from the to copyright Calverts Hill stand are particularly palatable to vertebrate browsing (mainly possums, wallabies and possibly rabbits). While there are a large number of seedlings still evident in the Calverts Hill stand following the death of all but a few mature trees, they were continually being browsed, often to ground level after resprouting from lignotubers. Several areas with seedlings (natural or planted) have been fenced Plate 2. Calverts Hill site, April 2016 or caged, allowing the seedlings to grow, but possum damage was evident where fences had been breached or seedlings had outgrown their Clearing and fragmentation: Past records cages. Recent exclusion of vertebrate browsing indicate a decline from clearing for agriculture by perimeter and some internal fencing, cutting and urban development of at least 50% in the of overhanging branches, and relocation of area occupied by Eucalyptus morrisbyi in the possums has occurred. However, relocation of Cremorne area since European settlement browsers and maintenance of fences for at least (Wiltshire 1992). Much of the original Lumeah the next 7 to 10 years may be required to allow Point stand is likely to have been cleared the seedlings in this stand to grow to maturity because remaining trees are in a narrow coastal and regular surveillance will be required to strip adjacent to a housing subdivision. The risk allow prompt intervention before significant of further clearing has decreased with the damage occurs. Surrounding agricultural land is reservation of the bulk of the Calverts Hill likely to continue to attract vertebrate browsers stand in 2007. However, the roadside remnant to the site. stands have suffered from roadside Insect browsing: Both subpopulations of maintenance and are at risk of being cleared for Eucalyptus morrisbyi are highly susceptible to safety reasons as they impede line of sight to insect browsing. The mortality rate, particularly the highway from access roads to new of saplings and seedlings, is high following subdivisions. The stands in the Cremorne area drought stress and the trees appear to become have also suffered from woodcutting. The more susceptible to defoliation caused mainly fragmentation caused by conversion for by the autumn gum ( privata). agriculture, roads and housing has contributed The mortality rate, particularly of saplings and

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 5

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum) seedlings, has also been observed to increase occurrences that may not be possible to following high rainfall growing seasons due to eradicate on adjacent cleared land within and outbreaks of insect populations. Surviving trees surrounding the Calverts Hill Nature Reserve. are weakened and flowering is compromised in Invasion of recruitment niches by chilean following seasons. Warmer temperatures and needlegrass (Nassella neesiana), another declared unusually wet periods in warmer months may weed, is a risk to the smaller remnant stands of encourage increased insect populations. the Cremorne subpopulation. The diversity of Allowing seedlings to reach maturity will weeds in the Cremorne subpopulation may require monthly monitoring in spring, summer increase insect damage to Eucalyptus morrisbyi by and into autumn and treatment of insect supporting increases in insect populations. outbreaks. Weeds may also attract and Fire: Frequent fires will cause a decline in contribute to insect outbreaks. Noisy miners stands. While larger trees can resprout from (Manorina melanocephala) are native honey eaters lignotubers and epicormic buds, smaller trees that can move into eucalypt stands in large will be killed. If the store of seed held in the numbers, particularly when the stands are canopy is not replenished in the fire-free fragmented and drought stressed, where they interval, recruitment from seedlings will not drive out other bird species by their aggressive replace the individuals killed. The small Risdon behaviour. By driving out insect eating birds, subpopulation is particularly at risk from fire as noisy miners can cause increases in insect the mortality rate would be high given the poor populations that can result in eucalypt dieback health of trees and currently there is no seed (Bennett et al. 2015). While noisy miners have being produced in the stand. A burn in the area, been noted in the Calverts Hill stand, it is not however, may provide an opportunity to known whether they contributed to the recent replant the fire created recruitment niches using decline and monitoring will be required to stored seed. Fire will need to be excluded from determine whether they might adversely impact the Calverts Hill stand until most of the wild recovery. ‘Aggressive exclusion of birds from and planted seedlings are large enough to potential woodland and forest habitat by over- survive a burn. Grazing of cleared land at abundant noisy miners (Manorina melanocephala)’ Calverts Hill to reduce fuel loads and is listed as a threatening process under the establishment of a mineral earth fire break have Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation been undertaken to protect recovering Act 1999. seedlings from wildfires. Competition: The poor health of the Risdon Ex situ management of genetic resources: subpopulation has reduced its competitive Ex situ plantings have been established at ability. In the late 1970s, a native parasitic vine, Brighton (established 1994), and Geeveston , threatened to smother and kill and Lutana (both established 1999) and provide many of the trees and was removed (Brown & a resource of seed for revegetation and long- Bayley-Stark 1979). The understorey of silver term storage. An additional planting at wattle, blackwood and prickly mimosa was Meadowbank was burnt in 2012 and the trees thinned in October 2001 in order to further are not currently reproductive. The Brighton reduce competition stress on the trees. These planting was established from seed from plants actions have not reversed the decline. originating from the Calverts Hill stand and Weeds: Drought conditions and a lack of genetically diverse seed has been collected from awareness in relation to identification and this planting. The health and seed output of the impacts, have allowed serrated tussock (Nassella declining Risdon subpopulation was briefly trichotoma), a declared weed and Weed of improved following an unusually wet spring National Significance to significantly increase in and summer in 1995/96 allowing seed to be numbers. It is present in the Calverts Hill stand, collected for the establishment the Geeveston where it poses a significant threat if not and Lutana seed orchards and seed from the controlled, by invading recruitment niches and Geeveston orchard has also been collected for increasing fire frequencies by significantly conservation storage. This orchard was planted increasing the fuel load. Control will need to be with alternate rows of seedlings from the ongoing given continual invasion from large Risdon and Calverts Hill stands. The Calverts

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 6

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)

Hill plants were severely browsed with only one vertebrate browsing resistant Risdon genotypes tree flowering at the time the seed was set so have been made at the site. To alleviate edge that there would have been minimal effects, a buffer planting of more drought contamination of the Risdon Hills seed tolerant eucalypt species could be considered. collected. If necessary, molecular techniques could be used to identify and cull any MANAGEMENT STRATEGY intraspecific hybrids though molecular studies indicate that the contamination was minimal The main objectives for the recovery of and restricted to seed from trees surrounding Eucalyptus morrisbyi are to maintain the species in the flowering tree from Calverts Hill (Jones the wild by arresting declines and to preserve unpubl.). Supplementation of the collection genotypic variation within the species through may require prior pruning of any of the conservation storage of seed and the Calverts Hill trees with flower buds. Given establishment of ex situ plantings in areas genetic differences, the supplementation of the where the future climate is expected to be small collection of seed from the smaller suitable for the species. remnant stands in the Cremorne area is What has been done? warranted. The Eucalyptus morrisbyi seed collections are currently held in long term  Long-term research conducted at the conservation storage at the Tasmanian Seed University of Tasmania has been Conservation Centre based at the Royal fundamental to our understanding of the Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Seed used in population genetics, evolutionary most of the ornamental and early conservation relationships, and population decline. plantings is thought to have originated from the  Implementation of a Recovery Plan for smaller fragments of the Cremorne Eucalyptus morrisbyi commenced in 1992. The subpopulation. However, the seed used was Recovery Plan was revised in 2006 collected from a small number of individuals (Threatened Species Section 2006). Both that may not have been representative of the plans were partially implemented. genetic variation available and it included hybrids that were not culled prior to planting. A  The bulk of the Calverts Hill stand of relatively large number of trees planted at Eucalyptus morrisbyi is now in the Calverts Hill Lumeah Point in order to supplement numbers Nature Reserve, acquired through the 1999 in the stand appear to be hybrids. Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) Private Maintenance of the species in the wild: Land Reserve Program. Given the decline of the Risdon and Calverts  Ex situ plantings and seed orchards are Hill stands and small size and threats faced by being maintained by Forestry Tasmania and the four smaller remnant stands of the the University of Tasmania, School of Cremorne subpopulation, maintenance of the Biological Science. species in the wild will be dependent on  Serrated tussock in the Calverts Hill Nature recovery of the Calverts Hill stand. Recovery of Reserve is being managed. the Risdon stand is unlikely to be feasible given the small area occupied by the species and  Seed from trees originating from the Risdon ongoing decline that has not been possible to and Calverts Hill stands has been collected arrest. A burn in the area, however, may for long term conservation storage at the alleviate threats and provide an opportunity to Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre based replant the fire created recruitment niches using at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. stored seed. Recovery of the Calverts Hill stand  The Parks and Wildlife Service have taken will be dependent on ongoing control of action to reduce the risk of the Risdon stand vertebrate and insect browsing pressure to being burnt by illegally lit fires, a firebreak allow existing seedlings and supplementary has been establish to protect the Calverts plantings to survive to maturity. However, to Hill stand. improve the prospects of maintaining the species in the wild, plantings of the more

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 7

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)

 Through the efforts of Pipe Clay Coast Care o supplement seed conservation holdings Group and the Understorey Network, a from trees originating from the Calverts number of conservation plantings have been Hill stand, made on private land in the vicinity of o supplement seed conservation holdings Calverts Hill using locally sourced seed from the Cremorne lowland remnants. (collected under permit) to address  monitor wild and ex situ stands and manage fragmentation and to establish wildlife as appropriate; corridors.  implement measures to control serrated  Plantings have been made to supplement the tussock in the Calverts Hill Nature Reserve Calverts Hill stand. and to prevent spread of Chilean needle grass into the remnant stands of the  Fences and cages have been constructed and Cremorne subpopulation; maintained to protect natural and planted  conduct a census of plants in the small seedlings from browsing at Calverts Hill, remnant stands of the Cremorne possums caught in the fenced areas have subpopulation; been relocated, and remaining mature trees  maintain conservation plantings and seed have been banded to prevent damage from holdings; possums.  establish seed conservation holdings for the  Groups including staff and students from smaller remnant stands; the University of Tasmania, NRM South and  supplement the conservation seed holding Wildcare’s Threatened Plants Tasmania have of the Risdon subpopulation; been involved in survey and monitoring  consider a buffer planting at Calverts Hill actions at Calverts Hill. of more drought tolerant eucalypt species  The Department of State Growth is to address edge effects; implementing measures to encourage  reduce competition in the Risdon stand recruitment away from the road verge in the when needed; South Arm Road/Delphis Drive stand  encourage an ecological burn in the Risdon through land acquisition, fence relocation site and supplement the stand if burnt and weed management. through sowing or planting;  A Threatened Species Recovery Fund  consider culling planted hybrids (do not cut project to recover the Calverts Hill stand down naturally occurring hybrids) following its catastrophic decline is being  consider culling noisy miners at Calverts implemented. Hill if monitoring demonstrates that their What is needed? numbers are reducing bird diversity at the site. Agencies, groups or individuals may assist with  pursue uplisting to Critically Endangered some or all of the following recovery actions on schedules of the Environment Protection (coordinated efforts may achieve the best and and Biodiversity Protection Act 1999. most efficient results):  implement the actions detailed in REFERENCES Threatened Species Recovery Fund project Bennett , J.M., Clarke, R.H., Thomson, J.R. and i.e. MacNally, R. (2015) Fragmentation, o protect surviving trees, seedlings and vegetation change and irruptive competitors plantings in the Calverts Hill stand from affect recruitment of woodland birds. vertebrate and insect browsing, Ecography 38: 163–171. o supplement plantings at Calverts Hill, o include the species in Greening Blackhall, S.A. & Lynch, J. (1992). Eucalyptus Australia’s Eucalyptus restoration trials in morrisbyi flora Recovery Plan: Management phase. sites that are projected to be within the Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage, future climate envelope of the species, Hobart, Tasmania. o control invasive grasses

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 8

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)

Brown, M.J. & Bayly-Stark, H.J. (1979). The Wiltshire, R.J.E, Potts, B.M. & Reid, J.B. plant communities of the East Risdon (1991). Phenetic affinities, variability and Nature Reserve. The Tasmanian Naturalist conservation status of a rare Tasmanian 58: 1–11. endemic, Eucalyptus morrisbyi R.G. Brett. In Curtis, W.M. & Morris. D.I. (1975). The Banks, M.R. et al. (Eds): Aspects of Student’s Flora of Tasmania, Part 1 (Second Tasmanian Botany – A tribute to Winifred Edition), Government Printer, Tasmania. Curtis. Roy. Soc. Tasm. 31: 213–229. Jones R.C., McKinnon G.E., Potts B.M. & Prepared in 2001 under the provisions of the Vaillancourt R.E. (2005) Genetic diversity Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. and mating system of an endangered tree Revised in March 2009, September 2018 and Eucalyptus morrisbyi. Australian Journal of Botany February 2020. 53: 367–377. Cite as: Threatened Species Section (2020) Mann A.N., O'Reilly-Wapstra J.M., Iason G.R., Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi Sanson G. & Davies N.W. (2012). (morrisbys gum). Department of Primary Mammalian herbivores reveal marked Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, genetic divergence among populations of an Tasmania. endangered plant species. Oikos 121: 268– View: www.naturalvaluesatlas.tas.gov.au 276. www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/threatenedspecieslists North Barker Ecosystem Services (2017). www.threatenedspecieslink.tas.gov.au/ Sandford Morrisby Gum Conservation Area, South Contact details: Threatened Species Section, Arm Secondary Road. Management Report Department of Primary Industries, Parks, July 2017 For Department of State Growth Water and Environment, GPO Box 44 Hobart Potts, B.M. & Savva, M. (1988). Self- Tasmania Australia 7001. incompatibility in Eucalyptus. In ‘Pollination [email protected] 88’. pp. 165–170. Plant Cell Biology Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, Research Centre, University of Melbourne: damage or destroy this species unless under Melbourne. permit. Potts, B.M., Sandhu, K.S., Wardlaw, T., Freeman, J., Li, H., Tilyard, P., Park, R.F. (2016) Evolutionary history shapes the susceptibility of an island tree flora to an exotic pathogen. Forest Ecology and Management 368: 183–193. Threatened Species Section (2006). Flora Recovery Plan: Morrisby’s gum, Eucalyptus morrisbyi Year 2006–2010. Department of Primary Industries and Water, Hobart. Williams, K.J. & Potts, B.M. (1996). The natural distribution of Eucalyptus species in Tasmania. Tasforests 8: 39–165. Wiltshire, R.J.E (1992). Section III. Eucalyptus morrisbyi R.G.Brett. In Wiltshire, R.J.E, Potts, B.M. Reid, J.B. and Brown, M.J. (Eds): Conservation of Endangered Species of Eucalypts in Tasmania. A report to the World Wildlife Fund. Wiltshire, R.J.E & Potts, B.M. (2007). Eucaflip. School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania & CRC for Forestry.

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 9

Saving Eucalyptus morrisbyi, one of Australia's most threatened eucalypts Final project partner report June 2019 - October 2019

This project has substantially improved the trajectory for Eucalytus morrisbyi. At the start of the project the largest sub-population of this species, at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve, had undergone rapid and extreme decline with only 7 of the original 2,000 adult trees remaining and some supressed juveniles under pressure from mammal browsing. It also was underrepresented in seed banks. The activities undertaken over the last 2 years have contributed significantly to the improved trajectory for Eucalyptus morrisbyi with the decline at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve halted and active regeneration occurring. A final report of project progress since June 2018 includes:

Calverts Hill Nature Reserve

Wildlife proof fences: Since the project was initiated E. morrisbyi plants at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve has been protected from browsers in three fenced areas. The regeneration resulting from the establishment and maintenance of these fences is now evident in the landscape with a young E. morrisbyi woodland emerging from the protection of the grass. There is an estimated 2,400 naturally regenerating juveniles and these juveniles have grown an average of 33cm since the fences were established. Maintaining this regeneration is labour intensive, with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) committed to actively monitoring, trapping and relocating possums from the fenced areas when required. Without this continued commitment E. morrisbyi would resume its decline at this site. In the six months between January-July 2019 16 brush tailed possums were trapped and relocated from the two larger fenced areas (over a total of 117 trapping nights). Seven of these possums were recaptures in the northern block.

Revegetation: Two seasons of revegetation have resulted in 549 E. morrisbyi seedlings planted into the remaining empty niches in the fenced areas at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve. Over 95% of the plants from the first planting season are surviving after 13 months and this represents an increase of genetic diversity at the site with the introduction of plants from the Risdon provenance.

Banded Adult trees: Six of the seven adult trees banded to prevent possum browsing are surviving, all showing increases in canopy cover and/or epicormic growth. The trees on the upper slopes are still of concern, as while they have shown increase epicormic growth they still have low canopy cover. One of these trees, which had no canopy (only weak epicormic growth) when the wildlife proof fences were established, died during the project. Further management options to address the risk of losing these adults trees on the upper slopes are being investigated.

Caging: Fifty-five juvenile plants within the southern fenced area have had their cages removed to improve growth and reduce on-going maintenance for PWS. These juveniles are now significantly advanced in comparison to the juveniles that have only been protected from browsing since 2017, with some reaching over 2m tall and developing adult leaves. The only three juvenile plants found outside of the fenced area have been caged.

Weed Control: pakana Services undertook serrated tussock control across the 2 larger fences areas at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve. This involved follow up control from the control undertaken in preparation for re-vegetation, and survey and primary control across the entire fenced areas - both the northern and southern block. The infestations of serrated tussock in the fenced areas have been substantially reduced. Other Conservation Actions:

Conservation Plan: Project partners have developed a Conservation Action Plan which has been proposed by the DPIPWE’S Threatened Species Section as the basis for the National Recovery Plan for the species. This work included a reassessment of the species using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. This plan has an overarching conservation objective of down-listing the species from its current status of Critically Endangered over the 20-year timeframe. This Conservation Action Plan involves management strategies that focus on: 1. reversing the decline at Calvert Hill Nature Reserve; 2. connecting this sub-population with ‘lowland’ remnants and; 3. undertaking 4 large, biodiverse E. morrisbyi plantings in the future climate envelope of the species to increase both the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy (assisted migration in the face of changes in climate).

Genetic analysis of planted Eucalyptus morrisbyi seed sources: This research, undertaken by informed the seed collection and banking undertaken during this project. The initial results showed that the seed orchard at Brighton was of Calverts Hill provenance and represented the pre-decline diversity of this sub-population. It also indicated the specific seed lot pairs that had higher relatedness and should not be planted together in conservation plantings. Over 84,000 seeds have now been collected from 59 individuals from this seed orchard and are banked in the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre and the genetic relatedness data can be tracked against seed lots which have been stored as individuals rather than in a single bulked collection. Genetic analysis and health assessments of community plantings on South Arm has helped to identify seed collection sites for this project for the underrepresented “lowland” provenance. The recommendations from this research have been implemented in the final seed collection activity. Of the 33 community plantings assessed, there were surviving plants at 28 plantings, 25 plantings included mature trees producing seed and 12 had some recruitment occurring. Overall there are at least 1,218 living E. morrsibyi trees in these plantings. The analysis the 2018 E. morrisbyi planting at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve showed that over 95% of plants from both the Calverts Hill and Risdon provenances survived 13 months after planting. There was no significant difference in the growth or survival between these two provenances during the study period, though the local provenance (Calvert Hill) showed less insect damage and a higher initial growth than the Risdon provenance.

Seed conservation: In total, the seed banking from Calverts Hill Nature Reserve has increased from a single bulked collection of 16,870 seed from 15 trees to over 100,000 seeds from 74 individuals with all new collections stored as separate collections from individual trees. Due to the large diverse amount of seed from the Calverts Hill provenance – the final seed collection effort focused on the recommendations of the genetic study. This study recommended collections from the “Lowland” provenance (Honeywood/Delphis/Lumeah/Cremorne) and plantings from this provenance as identified by genetic analysis (Utas campus, Lauderdale Yacht Club and Clifton Beach). At the completion of the project (30 September) collections had been made from the “Lowland” planting from Clifton Beach, and due to later ripening of capsules collections from Honeywood Drive, Lauderdale Yacht Club, Lumeah Point were completed in late October.

Assisted migration to future climate range: A planting of 320 E. morrisbyi has also been undertaken by Greening Australia in the future climate envelope of the species (assisted migration), as determined by climate modelling undertaken by Peter Harrison of the University of Tasmania. These plants were planted at the property Marchweil, are protected by wire mesh cages, and are part of a field trial monitored by plant researchers at the University of Tasmania. This trial includes paired planting of seedlings from the Calverts Hill and Risdon provenances, in a similar experimental design to the trial at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve. This activity was postponed from May until September due to dry autumn conditions. There was rain at the site before, during and after planting, resulting in good soil moisture to support the establishment of this planting.

Next steps:

The most significant lesson learned during this project was from the reassessment of the species using the IUCN criteria. With the decline that occurred for this species since 2010 it now meets the thresholds for Critically Endangered under multiple IUCN criteria (A1 + A2a +B1 +B2ab(ii,v) + C1+ C2a(i) + D). This reassessment highlighted that while the project activities have halted the immediate decline at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve, further action is required to continue to improve the trajectory for this species in long-term timeframes. Continued protection from browsing and wildfire is required to increase numbers of mature plants and reverse population decline at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve, which is the only remnant stand capable of significant regeneration. Threat abatement of this stand alone will not be adequate to ensure the long-term survival of the species. New conservation plantings are planned to increase its extent of occurrence, area of occupancy and assist its migration under future climate predictions and provide seed orchards for future plantings.

Future Funding: A 4-year project proposal was submitted to NRM South to include in their tender for the Regional Landcare Partnerships Program and has been approved, though for only for 46% of the funding requested. We are currently working with NRM South and project partners to rescope the project activity in line with the revised budget and funder feedback. The Conservation Action Plan was used to guide the development of this project and will also be used to rescope the activity to fit the available budget along with additional requirements in the funder feedback. Images removed due to copyright

The natural regeneration of E. morrisbyi at Calverts Hill Nature reserve is apparent in the landscape and the shape of the new E. morrsibyi woodland can be seen. Images show he view of the dam from outside the fence in November 2017 (top) and the same view in August 2019 (bottom) showing natural regeneration of E. morrisbyi (red arrows) and improved canopies of adult trees (white arrow). images removed due to copyright

Conservation Volunteers removed older cages from 55 juvenile plants within safe havens (top in 2016), to reduce on-going maintenance for PWS staff. These plants that had been caged from 2014-2016 prior to the installation of the safe haven fences are now significantly advanced in comparison to the suppress juveniles that have only been protected from browsing since 2017 (below in 2018). images removed due to copyright

Conservation Volunteers planted 99 E. morrisbyi at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve in July 2019.

The 2018 plantings with over 95% survival after 13 months and no statistically significant difference in survival between provenances to date, having been watered by CVA volunteers over the summermonths (inset).

Plantings in southern (left) and northern (right) fenced areas are growing well. images removed due to copyright

Conservation Volunteers, Greening Australia and University of Tasmania staff planted 320 E. morrisbyi at Marchweil in September 2019 after heavy rain. Planting occurred over 5 days and were followed by further rainfall. image removed due to copyright

University of Tasmania

undertaking sampling of community Eucalyptus morrsibyi plantings. research has helped to identify seed collection sites for this project for the underrepresented “lowland” provenance.

University of Tasmania sampling Eucalyptus morrisbyi seed. research will compare the genetic diversity between community plantings from the “lowland” provenance to inform the use of this seed in future conservation plantings. images removed due to copyright

Possum monitoring, trapping and relocations to maintain the browser free fences is an on-going effort from PWS staff, with ‘scar-ear’ trapped multiple times in the northern block (top). The fence has been modified and the gate reinforced with metal sheeting.

Damaged Eucalyptus morrisbyi plants in the third safe haven before (left) fence modification in Stage 3 are showing improved growth with adult foliage in Stage 4 (right). images removed due to copyright

Images of canopy of two banded adult trees near water sources in November 2017 (left) and August 2019 (right), showing increase in canopy cover and epicormic growth. Science for Saving Species Preliminary Research findings factsheet Project 2.4.1

Rarity or decline: Key concepts for the Red List of Australian eucalypts

Research overview

This project has undertaken a considered to be a cause of past federal legislation were assessed as comprehensive review of the decline in eucalypt populations. Near Threatened or Least Concern in conservation status of Australian Future decline was inferred in areas this study. An additional 11 currently eucalypts (Eucalyptus, Corymbia subject to urbanisation and current listed species were assessed as Data and Angophora), including individual or inevitable mineral extraction, or Deficient due to uncertain . assessments of all 822 Australian where there was clear evidence species. It has been a collaboration of an association between other between Botanic Gardens threatening processes and ongoing Conservation International, Botanic population declines, such as die- Gardens Australia and New Zealand, back and lack of regeneration. the NESP Threatened Species Recovery image removed due to cpyright A total of 193 (23%) species were Hub, and the Australian Government. assessed to meet the criteria for listing imag Assessments were undertaken against as threatened, in the Vulnerable, the International Union for the Endangered or Critically Endangered Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categories. Many species met multiple criteria. The assessments will inform criteria for listing and at the time of the global IUCN Red List of Threatened this assessment only two Australian Species and the threatened species eucalypts were listed as threatened listing under Australian legislation. on the IUCN Red list. Of the eucalypt The assessments will be provided taxa accepted as assessable species to the Commonwealth, state in this project, 62 are currently listed as and territory governments at the threatened under Australian national completion of the project. environmental law, while 87 species are listed in at least one state jurisdiction. A major data source developed during the project was digitised coverages Under this project, 128 species defining the geographic range of were assessed as threatened under each species. The geographic range Criterion A2 only, including 90 as image removed due to copyright of each species was intersected with Vulnerable, 36 as Endangered and a continental land-use coverage to two as Critically Endangered. Only Eucalyptus macrocarpa, with the Noongar estimate past population decline. 13 of these species are currently name of mottlecah, was assessed as This estimate was then augmented listed in state or federal legislation. Vulnerable under IUCN Criterion A due to population declines of between 30-50%. by the habitat preference of each Of the additional 65 species assessed The species is found on sandy or lateritic soils species that was derived from as threatened, 29 as Vulnerable, 22 in the wheatbelt of south-western Western expert elicitation and peer-reviewed as Endangered and 14 as Critically Australia. There has been heavy clearing in literature. Given that vegetation Endangered. Thirty-three of these this region associated with wheat cropping. Mottlecah is a mallee that grows to 5 m with clearance is now regulated by all species are currently listed under large blue-grey leaves. The flower buds have a Australian state jurisdictions, land state or federal legislation. Thirty-two white, waxy surface and open to red blooms clearing for agriculture was only species currently listed under state or that produce large fruits up to 7 cm wide. Figure 1: Distribution of eucalypts assessed as threatened Figure 2: Distribution of eucalypt species richness in Australia. under the IUCN criteria.

IUCN Criteria A A total of 134 eucalypt species were assessed as eligible under IUCN Criterion A2. These species had undergone a past and irreversible population decline of at least 30% over the past 210 years of colonisation. These species are primarily found in the wheat-growing districts of south-western Western Australia, and the Wimmera district of western Victoria and eastern South Australia.

Table 1: Eucalypts assessed as eligible under Criterion A2.

No. of Category Eligible Species species Critically Endangered 4 E. foliosa, E. morrisbyi, E. ornans, E. silvestris >80% decline

Endangered 38 E. absita, E. aequioptera, E. behriana, E. calycogona, E. cretata, E. cuprea, E. dissimulata, 50-80% decline E. dolichorhyncha, E. erythronema, E. forrestiana, E. froggattii, E. fulgens, E. goniocarpa, E. gunnii, E. kitsoniana, E. kondininensis, E. longicornis, E. microcarpa, E. mimica, E. myriadena, E. neutra, E. occidentalis, E. odorata, E. orthostemon, E. peninsularis, E. petiolaris, E. platypus, E. recta, E. rhodantha, E. rigens, E. sargentii, E. spathulata, E. splendens, E. strzeleckii, E. valens, E. woollsiana, E. wubinensis, E. yarraensis

Vulnerable 92 E. aggregata, E. albens, E. albida, E. alipes, E. angulosa, E. angustissima, E. annulata, 30-50% decline E. arenicola, E. armillata, E. aromaphloia, E. baueriana, E. blakelyi, E. bridgesiana, E. buprestium, E. burracoppinensis, E. cadens, E. cambageana, E. camfieldii, E. captiosa, E. cephalocarpa, E. cladocalyx, E. clivicola, E. cneorifolia, E. conica, E. cyanophylla, E. dawsonii, E. dielsii, E. diminuta, E. diversifolia, E. dumosa, E. extensa, E. falciformis, E. fasciculosa, E. flocktoniae, E. gittinsii, E. glaucina, E. gomphocephala, E. goniocalyx, E. haemastoma, E. halophila, E. hawkeri, E. hebetifolia, E. ignorabilis, E. indurata, E. kartzoffiana, E. kessellii, E. kochii, E. lane-poolei, E. largiflorens, E. latens, E. leptophylla, E. leucoxylon, E. litoralis, E. longifolia, E. loxophleba, E. luemanniana, E. macrocarpa, E. mckieana, E. melliodora, E. merrickiae, E. moderata, E. moluccana, E. nicholii, E. nova-anglica, E. obtusiflora, E. ovata, E. phaenophylla, E. phenax, E. pileata, E. pleurocarpa, E. pluricaulis, E. populnea, E. porosa, E. pyriformis, E. quaerenda, E. risdonii, E. sabulosa, E. salmonophloia, E. sheathiana, E. sporadica, E. squamosa, E. subangusta, E. suggrandis, E. thamnoides, E. tumida, E. uncinata, E. varia, E. vegrandis, E. vesiculosa, E. wandoo, E. wimmerensis, E. xanthonema Eucalyptus ovata (Swamp Gum) was assessed to be image removed due to Vulnerable under IUCN Criterion A due to an irreversible copyright population decline of between 30-50%. The species is found on fertile valley bottoms on clay soils in south- eastern Australia. These habitats have been heavily cleared for agriculture. Swamp Gum is a tree to 20 m with rough grey-brown bark and small white flowers.

Eucalyptus ovata.

IUCN Criteria B The 22 species assessed as eligible under Criterion B are under high risk of future decline due or predominantly due to mining or urbanisation. These species have a narrow geographic range and are subject to threatening processes that occur over a small number of locations. Severe fragmentation was rarely used to assess species under Criterion B, as the associated threats to genetic integrity are often assumed but rarely tested in eucalypt genetic studies.

Table 2: Summary of eucalypts listed under criterion B

No. of Category Eligible Species species

Critically E. carolaniae, E. crenulata, E. imlayensis, E. impensa, E. ornans, E. purpurata, 7 Endangered E. yarriambiack

Endangered 9 E. argophloia, E. benthamii, E. johnsoniana, E. kabiana, E. platydisca, E. rhomboidea, E. rugulata, E. splendens, E. stoatei

Vulnerable 6 E. cerasiformis, E. georgei, E. infera, E. jutsonii, E. magnificata, E. steedmanii

IUCN Criteria C There were 36 species assessed as eligible under Criterion C. These species have both small total populations and sub- population sizes, with ongoing decline. For example, Eucalyptus johnsoniana is known from 647 individuals spread over 36 sub-populations the mid-west region of Western Australia and is threatened by mineral extraction.

Table 3: Summary of eucalypts listed under criterion C

No. of Category Eligible Species species

Critically Endangered 6 E. beardiana, E. dalveenica, E. imlayensis, E. morrisbyi, E. ornans, E. recurva

Endangered 9 E. aurifodina, E. conglomerata, E. desmondensis, E. johnsoniana, E. nudicaulis, E. paludicola, E. petrensis, E. stoatei, E. synandra

Vulnerable 2 E. jutsonii, E. macarthurii

Interesting findings Very few tropical eucalypts qualified for listing as threatened and no threatened eucalypts occurred in the Northern Territory. The majority of these species occur in habitats that are not subject to intensive land use. Of the 102 Angophora and Corymbia species, none were assessed as threatened. The majority of these species (82) occur in low productivity habitats that have not been cleared for agriculture. Only two species were found to occur on productive landscapes, although both were widespread and had not undergone significant past decline. South-western Western Australia was the hotspot for threatened eucalypts. Of the species assessed as threatened, 54% (105) occurred in Western Australia. No eucalypt species were threatened by timber harvesting. Too-frequent fire was rarely a threat for eucalypt species. Most eucalypts have adaptive traits that allow post-fire recovery and many occur in low-productivity landscapes where fuel loads do not accumulate rapidly. This project provides a quantitative method for assessing decline under Criterion A2, with broad relevance for listing threatened species where historic land clearing is the cause of population decline. image removed due to Eucalyptus dalveenica (Dalveen Blue Box) was assessed to be Critically Endangered under IUCN Criterion C. The species was described in 2019 and there are less copyright than 250 mature individuals. The species grows on clay soils near Dalveen at the Queensland-New South Wales border. These habitats have been heavily cleared for agriculture and pastoralism leaving the species restricted to roadsides and gardens on private property. Dalveen Blue Box is a tree to 15 m with flaky grey bark.

Eucalyptus dalveenica.

IUCN Criteria D The 37 species that were assessed as eligible under Criterion D are scattered across the southern parts of Australia with hotspots in south-western Western Australia and western Victoria. These species have either small total population sizes or a very restricted geographic range with plausible future population declines.

Table 4: Eucalypts assessed as eligible under Criterion D No. of Category Eligible Species species

Critically 7 E. dolorosa, E. filiformis, E. imlayensis, E. morrisbyi, E. ornans, E. recurva, E. walshii Endangered <50 mature individuals

Endangered 6 E. absita, E. arcana, E. brevipes, E. elaeophloia, E. erectifolia, E. molyneuxii <250 mature individuals

Vulnerable 23 E. annettae, E. articulata, E. bensonii, E. brandiana, E. calcicola, E. conferta, E. crucis, E. farinosa, E. fracta, E. halophila, E. jutsonii, E. mcquoidii, E. megacornuta, E. mitchelliana, E. newbeyi, E. nutans, E. praetermissa, E. pumila, E. relicta, E. semota, E. suberea, E. vesiculosa, E. virginea

Species currently listed under Australian legislation Some eucalypt taxa that are currently listed as threatened under Australian legislation were assessed as Data Deficient under this project due to uncertain taxonomy. These taxa were either highly likely to be hybrids or synonymous with another species. Other currently listed species were assessed as Near Threatened or Least Concern on the basis of decline below the thresholds in the criteria or a lack of evidence to substantiate an association between threats and ongoing population declines. The latter could be considered for formal delisting. Table 5: Eucalypts currently listed as threatened, which were assessed as Data Deficient, Near Threatened or Least Concern No. of Category Eligible Species species

Data Deficient 11 E. aquatica, E. canobolensis, E. castrensis, E. copulans, E. crispata, E. forresterae, due to uncertain E. lateritica, E. leprophloia, E. paedoglauca, E. phoenix, E. pruiniramis taxonomy Near Threatened 15 A. inopina, C. clandestina, C. leptoloma, C. rhodops, C. xanthope, E. argutifolia, E. boliviana, E. broviniensis, E. dunnii, E. hallii, E. insularis, E. macarthurii, E. mooreana, E. sturgissiana, E. taurina

Least Concern 17 A. robur, C. petalophylla, E. approximans, E. beaniana, E. burdettiana, E. ceracea, E. coronata, E. corticosa, , E. langleyi, E. largeana, E. pachycalyx, E. parvula, E. pulverulenta, E. saxatilis, E. scoparia, E. sicilifolia, E. tetrapleura

Further Information Associate Professor Rod Fensham, The University of Queensland – [email protected]

This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program.