Acizzia Veski Section 1 - Legal Status, Distribution, Biological, Ecological Conservation Theme 1
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
2011 Nomination – Acizzia veski Section 1 - Legal Status, Distribution, Biological, Ecological Conservation Theme 1. The conservation themes for the This nomination is for a species that is co-dependent upon assessment period commencing another species for its existence in the Stirling Ranges of 1 October 2009 (for which Western Australia. It does not appear to fall within either nominations close 26 March 2009) of the conservation themes. are ‘terrestrial, estuarine and near–shore environments of Australia’s coast’, and ‘rivers, wetlands and groundwater dependent species and ecosystems of inland Australia’. How does this nomination relate to the conservation theme? Taxonomy 2. What are the currently Scientific name: Acizzia veski Taylor & Moir, 2009 accepted scientific and common Family: Psyllidae name/s for the species (please Suborder: Sternorrhyncha include Indigenous names, where Order: Hemiptera known)? Class: Insecta Note any other scientific names that Common name: Vesk’s plant-louse (Taylor & Moir 2009) have been used recently. Note the species authority and the Order and Family to which the species belongs (Family name alone is sufficient for plants, however, both Order and Family name are required for insects). 3. Is this species conventionally Yes, based on a peer-reviewed research publication (Taylor accepted? If not, explain why. Is & Moir 2009) there any controversy about the taxonomy? 4. If the species is NOT NA conventionally accepted, please provide: (i) a taxonomic description of the species in a form suitable for publication in conventional scientific literature; OR (ii) evidence that a scientific institution has a specimen of the species and a written statement signed by a person who has relevant taxonomic expertise (has worked, or is a published author, on the class of species nominated), that the person thinks the species is a new species. 5. Is this species taxonomically Yes, based on a peer-reviewed research publication (Taylor distinct (Taxonomic distinctiveness & Moir 2009) – a measure of how unique a species is relative to other species)? Version 7 1 Legal Status 6. What is the species’ current Unlisted conservation status under Australian and State/Territory Government legislation? 7. Does the species have specific No protection (e.g. listed on an annex or appendix) under other legislation or intergovernmental arrangements, e.g. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Fauna and Flora (CITES), Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Description 8. Give a brief description of the Acizzia veski is a small winged plant-louse (~3 mm) and, species’ appearance, including size as with all species of plant-lice, requires expert and/or weight, and sex and age taxonomists to distinguish it from other species. For a full variation if appropriate; social detailed description, see Taylor & Moir (2009). structure and dispersion (e.g. solitary/clumped/flocks). 9. Give a brief description of the This species is a herbivore. As for other plant-lice species, species’ ecological role (for Acizzia veski is a key recycler of nutrients by expelling example, is it a ‘keystone’ or manna after feeding on the sap of plants. Plant-lice also ‘foundation’ species, does it play a account for a large part of the diet of many insectivorous role in processes such as seed birds and predatory invertebrates (e.g., Stone, 1996). dispersal or pollination). Australian Distribution 10. Describe the species’ current Acizzia veski is currently known only from one location (Mt and past distribution in Talyuberlup) within the Stirling Range National Park of Australia and, if available, attach a Western Australia (see Taylor & Moir 2009). Past map. distribution is unknown. 11. What is the extent of Acizzia veski is currently known only from one population occurrence (in km2) for the of its host plant, Acacia veronica in the Stirling Ranges. species (described in Attachment This population occurs within a 1km2 area. Further A); explain how it was calculated populations of plant-louse do not occur on any other known and datasets used. population of Acacia veronica (see Taylor & Moir 2009). Acizzia veski formed a part of a dataset from an ARC discovery funded project on the co-extinction of insects on threatened plant species. For this project, other Acacia and plant species within the area were sampled for the Acizzia without success. a. What is the current extent of Known from approximately 1km2 occurrence? b. What data are there to indicate No past data is available for Acizzia veski. However, its past declines in extent of host plant Acacia veronica is listed by the State occurrence (if available, include data that indicates the Government as a conservation ‘Priority’ species because of percentage decline over the its confined distribution (it is endemic to the Stirling past 10 years or 3 generations Ranges) and vulnerability to threatening processes (e.g., whichever is longer)? see http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/12675 ; Barrett et al. 2008). Version 7 2 c. What data are there to indicate No data is available for Acizzia veski. However, its host future changes in extent of plant Acacia veronica is listed by the State Government for occurrence (if available, include ‘Priority 3’ conservation because of its restricted data that indicates the percentage decline over 10 distribution (see years or 3 generations http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/12675 ). whichever is longer (up to a Key threatening processes most likely include climate maximum of 100 years in the change (Barrett et al. 2008), inappropriate fire regime and future) where the time period is habitat clearing. Given that only a single population of a continuous period that may include a component of the Acizzia veski is currently known from only one population past)? of Acacia veronica (all other known populations of A. veronica were unsuccessfully searched for A. veski), it is extremely vulnerable to extinction if its host plant population was further threatened. (Most Psyllidae are highly host specific. It is highly unlikely that Acizzia veski occurs on hosts other than Acacia veronica). 12. What is the area of Approximately 1km2, as calculated from Taylor & Moir occupancy (in km2) for the species (2009). (described in Attachment A); explain how calculated and datasets that are used. a. What is the current area of Approximately 1km2 occupancy? b. What data are there to indicate No past data is available for Acizzia veski as it was only past declines in area of discovered in 2007 (see Taylor & Moir 2009). However, its occupancy (if available, include data that indicates the host plant Acacia veronica is listed as a ‘Priority’ species for percentage decline over the conservation because of its confined distribution and past 10 years or 3 generations vulnerability to threatening processes (e.g., whichever is longer)? http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/12675 ; Barrett et al. 2008). c. What data are there to indicate No data is available for Acizzia veski. However, its host future changes in area of plant Acacia veronica is vulnerable to the threatening occupancy (if available, include data that indicates the processes of climate change (Barrett et al. 2008), percentage decline over 10 inappropriate fire regime and habitat clearing (widening of years or 3 generations roads, management of picnic area where population whichever is longer (up to a occurs, etc). Given that only a single population of Acizzia maximum of 100 years in the veski is currently known, it is extremely vulnerable to future) where the time period is a continuous period that may extinction if its host plant population was further include a component of the threatened. past)? 13. How many natural locations Only one population of Acizzia veski is known at Mt do you consider the species occurs Talyuberlup in the Stirling Ranges (Taylor & Moir 2009). in and why? Where are these Further sampling did not uncover the plant-louse on any located? other population of its threatened host plant, Acacia The term 'location' defines a veronica (see also comment on host specificity, above). geographically or ecologically distinct area. 14. Give locations of other No other populations known. populations: captive/propagated populations; populations recently re-introduced to the wild; and sites for proposed population re- introductions. Note if these sites have been identified in recovery plans. 15. Is the species’ distribution This information for A. veski is unknown, although only one severely fragmented? What is the population of A. veski has been found on the host plant, cause of this fragmentation? Acacia veronica. All other known populations of Acacia Describe any biological, geographic, veronica have been sampled for A. veski without success human-induced or other barriers (see Taylor & Moir 2009). The other populations of Acacia causing this species’ populations to veronica occur some distance (>10 km) from the be fragmented. Version 7 3 Severely fragmented refers to the population harboring A. veski, therefore it is highly unlikely situation in which increased extinction that A. veski can travel between these isolated populations risk to the taxon results from most individuals being found in small and of its host plant. relatively isolated subpopulations (in certain circumstances this may be inferred from habitat information). These small subpopulations may go extinct, with a reduced probability of recolonisation. Global Distribution 17. Describe the species’ global Acizzia veski is known only from Australia (Western distribution. Australia). 18. Give an overview of the global NA population’s size, trends, threats and security of the species outside Australia. 19. Explain the relationship between the Australian population and the global population, including: a. What percentage of the global 100% population occurs in Australia; b. Is the Australian population NA distinct, geographically separate or does part or all of the population move in/out of Australia’s jurisdiction (give an overview; details in Movements section); c. Do global threats affect the Climate change (see Barrett et al.