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Kaputar Rock Skink Egernia Roomi Wells & Wellington 1985 As a CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act

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Kaputar Rock Skink Egernia Roomi Wells & Wellington 1985 As a CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee Publication date: 19/02/2021 Final Determination The NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee, established under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (the Act), has made a Final Determination to list the Kaputar Rock Skink Egernia roomi Wells & Wellington 1985 as a CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of Critically Endangered species is provided for by Part 4 of the Act. Summary of Conservation Assessment Egernia roomi is eligible for listing as Critically Endangered under Clause 4.3 (a) (d) (e ii, iii, iv) because: i) the distribution of the species is very highly restricted with an extent of occurrence and area of occupancy of 8 km2; ii) the species is known from only one location; and iii) there is a continuing decline in the geographic distribution and the area, extent and quality of the habitat of the species. The NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee has found that: 1. Egernia roomi is described by Swan et al. (2017) as “dark chocolate brown to grey- brown above, often paler on head and nape; dark brown variegations on head and nape form a broad, mottled dark brown ventral stripe, or two paravertebral stripes, that break up behind shoulders into dark brown bars along back. A broad, very dark upper lateral zone over face and neck breaks up behind shoulders. Throat bluish grey, belly dull orange. Snout to vent length 103-121mm”. This species differs from E. saxatilis and E. mcpheei by having smooth (or slightly grooved) dorsal scales, rather than sharply or bluntly keeled scales (Swan et al. 2017). 2. Although unofficially recognised as a distinct taxon for over 25 years (Sadlier et al. 2019) and listed as an unnamed species of Egernia in popular literature for over 15 years (Swan et al. 2004; 2017), the formal description of Egernia roomi has only recently been published in peer-reviewed literature (Sadlier et al. 2019). 3. Egernia roomi is endemic to NSW, Australia. The species is restricted to the Nandewar Ranges, located in the Northern Tablelands region of NSW, where it is has been recorded from only three locations near the summit of Mount Kaputar and adjacent peaks (Sadlier et al. 2019). The sites are a maximum of 3 km straight-line- distance apart. The species has so far only been recorded from habitats between 1360 and 1480 metres in elevation. All known sites are within Mount Kaputar National Park (NP). 4. Egernia roomi is known only from high elevation outcrops of volcanic rock-habitat (Sadlier et al. 2019). Habitat may also include volcanic intrusions such as plugs and dykes, though these areas are yet to be surveyed sufficiently for the species (R. Sadlier in litt. August 2019). High elevation rock escarpment habitat across the Nandewar Range extends down to 1200 m in elevation and covers an area of 122 km2. Established under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 Locked Bag 5022 Parramatta NSW 2124 (02) 9585 6940 [email protected] NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee 5. Potentially suitable rocky escarpment habitat extends down to around 1000 m in elevation on the eastern sector of the Nandewar Range, but it is not known if the species inhabits these lower elevations (Sadlier et al. 2019). The rocky habitat at 1000 m elevation and above in the Range covers an area of 241 km2. The western section of the Nandewar Range has not been investigated for this species (R. Sadlier in litt. August 2019) but herpetological surveys undertaken around Mt Yulludunida (~8 km from known locations of species), with a summit at around 1160 m, did not detect the species, despite having potentially suitable rocky habitat (R. Sadlier in litt. August 2019). 6. The species appears to prefer sheltering sites of rock overlying rock, (not rock in soil) and areas adjacent to rock habitat with appropriate exposure for basking (thermoregulatory) activity (Sadlier et al. 2019). 7. The diet of Egernia roomi is unknown, but likely to be similar to other members of the genus, which are omnivorous, consisting predominantly of invertebrates, including beetles, ants, grasshoppers and cockroaches. There may be some reliance on vegetation adjacent to rock habitats to provide part of the species diet during some seasons (Brown 1991; Chapple 2003; O’Connor and Shine 2003; R. Sadlier in litt. August 2019). 8. There have been no detailed behavioural or ecological studies on this species. The population structure is not known, but other related rock-dwelling (or rock- dependant) members of the genus (e.g. Egernia saxatilis) form social groups or occur as related ‘families’ in areas of rock habitat (O’Conner and Shine 2003). It is likely the species has a defined home range rather than random movement through the landscape. 9. No information is available on generation length for this species but based on information on related species in the genus Liopholis and Egernia, this species could potentially mature at around two to three years and may live for up to 10 years (O’Connor and Shine 2003). For Egernia roomi, the time to maturity may be longer given the species is restricted to high elevation and the daily and seasonal activity periods for young individuals to undertake necessary activities to reach maturity (forage/bask) are likely to be shorter (R. Sadlier in litt. August 2019). 10. The distribution of Egernia roomi is considered to be highly restricted. Using the recorded occurrences of the species (ALA 2020; Sadlier et al. 2019), Egernia roomi occupies an extent of occurrence (EOO) estimated to be 1 km2, based on a minimum convex polygon enclosing all known mapped occurrences of the species, the method of assessment recommended by IUCN (2019). The area of occupancy (AOO) for all records was estimated to be 8 km2, based on 2 x 2 km grid cells, the scale recommended for assessing area of occupancy by IUCN (2019). Note: ‘If the EOO is less than AOO, EOO should be changed to make it equal AOO to ensure consistency with the definition of AOO as an area within EOO’ (IUCN 2019). Therefore, the EEO is also 8 km2. 11. The species is likely to occur in suitable habitat across the Nandewar Range within its altitudinal limitations, however, the extent of interconnectivity of this type of Established under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 Locked Bag 5022 Parramatta NSW 2124 (02) 9585 6940 [email protected] NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee habitat has yet to be determined and it is likely that the species is fragmented by areas of unsuitable habitat (i.e. areas lacking essential sheltering sites). Areas of outcropping rock habitat away from the escarpment have yet to be thoroughly investigated and if they are not utilised by the species, may increase the degree of known unutilised habitat (R. Sadlier in litt. August 2019). The extent to which Egernia roomi can move between populations or habitat patches is unknown but will likely depend on its ability to utilize alternative sheltering and foraging sites in the intervening areas between its preferred habitat (R. Sadlier in litt. August 2019). 12. The population size of Egernia roomi is unknown and requires investigation. No systematic targeted surveys have been undertaken for the species. To date it has only been found at three sites (ALA 2020; Sadlier et al. 2019). 13. Natural fires occur at low frequency in the subalpine and alpine landscape, and post fire regeneration of vegetation in these areas is slow (Williams et al. 2009). In late 2019 and early 2020, wildfires burnt around 30% of Mount Kaputar NP (DPIE 2020), including large areas of the sub-alpine zone (i.e. above 1200 m; ~ 63%). Conservatively, the extent of Egernia roomi habitat (which includes all known records, likely habitat above 1200 m, and potential occupied areas, down to 1000 m a.s.l.), impacted by the wildfire is estimated to be around 50% of its range. While the impact of fire on the species is unknown, the rock habitat of Egernia roomi may provide refugia during fire events and individuals may survive the direct impacts of the fire. However, resident populations would likely be adversely affected by the loss of surrounding vegetation, potentially resulting in reduced food availability, increased predation pressure, fragmentation of suitable habitat, and altered microclimate (Atkins et al. 2015; Fenner and Bull 2007; Pianka and Goodyear 2012). The impact of fire, even of low intensity, could further be exacerbated if proceeded or followed by an extended period of drought, by reducing the cover surrounding sheltering and foraging sites with the possible flow-on effect of reduced availability to food sources (R. Sadlier in litt. August 2019). Extensive drought- related defoliation of Eucalyptus species and shrub-death were observed within the Mount Kaputar National Park in the period preceding the 2019 fire (A. Fawcett pers. comm. May 2020). ‘High frequency fire resulting in the disruption of life cycle processes in plants and animals and loss of vegetation structure and composition’ is listed as a Key Threatening Process under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. 14. Climate change is likely to have a negative impact on species such as Egernia roomi as it is adapted to a narrow, high elevational range of climatic conditions and occurs in isolated and fragmented populations. As such, it has limited scope for uphill migration in response to increasing temperatures and changes to habitat which are likely to make sites unsuitable, resulting in a reduction in habitat patch size and increased distance between habitat patches and fragmentation (Haines et al. 2017; R. Sadlier in litt. August 2019). The direct and indirect impacts of climate change on the life cycle and health of the species are unknown but are likely to be deleterious.
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