This Conservation Advice was approved by the Delegate of the Minister on 11 April 2014

Approved Conservation Advice for Myrmecobius fasciatus (numbat)

(s266B of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)

This Conservation Advice has been developed based on the best available information at the time this Conservation Advice was approved; this includes existing and draft plans, records or management prescriptions for this species.

Description

Myrmecobius fasciatus (numbat), the only member of the family Myrmecobiidae, also known as the banded anteater, is a small, insectivorous marsupial with reddish-brown fur, measuring approximately 40 cm from head to tail and with an average weight of approximately 500 g (Friend, 2008). The limbs are approximately equal in length, all toes bear well-developed claws, and the tongue is slender, long, and protrusible (Mahoney & Ride, 1988). The tail is non-prehensile, with long, often erect hairs, giving it a distinctive ‘bottle-brush’ appearance (Mahoney & Ride, 1988; Friend, 2008). Other identifying features include a dark rump, with prominent white transverse bands, and a narrow, flat head with sharp snout, and dark horizontal eye-stripe (Friend, 2008).

The numbat is solitary and diurnal, and its diet consists largely of termites (Calaby, 1960), which it searches for by scent and which adhere to the tongue after it is inserted into the shallow runways that radiate from the termites’ fortified nests (Friend, 2008). Daily activity is seasonal, and varies depending on termite activity. Numbats build nests in hollow logs or trees, or dig burrows comprising a narrow shaft 1-2 m deep, opening out into a chamber lined with vegetable matter such as grass, bark, leaves and flowers (Friend, 2008). Females reach sexual maturity within their first year, whereas males are not mature until their second year. Mating occurs in January, and the young are born 14 days later (Friend, 2008). The young disperse after approximately 12 months of parental care, and dispersal movements of more than 15 km have been recorded (Friend, 2008). The home range size varies from 25- 50 ha, but males can roam for greater distances during the breeding season (Friend, 2008). Longevity rarely exceeds five years (Friend, 2008), and is usually 2-3 years (DEC, 2012a). Natural predators include the carpet python and birds of prey (Friend, 2008).

Conservation Status

Myrmecobius fasciatus is listed as vulnerable under the common name Numbat. This species is eligible for listing as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act) as, prior to the commencement of the EPBC Act, it was listed as vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth).

The species is listed as: extinct in New South Wales under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, extinct in the Northern Territory under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000, endangered in South Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, and vulnerable in Western Australia under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.

The species is also listed as endangered and with a decreasing population trend under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2013).

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Cultural Significance

The numbat is known as the noombat by the Noongar Indigenous people of south-western Australia (Whitehurst, 1997). The species is also named by the Manytjilytjarra, Ngaanyatjarra, Ngaatjatjarra, Pintupi, and Pitjantjatjarra Indigenous people of the central and western deserts of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia, reflecting its historical range (Burbidge et al., 1988). Indigenous people from these areas also acquired ecological knowledge of the species, such as preferred habitat, shelter and diet (Burbidge et al., 1988).

This species is of considerable cultural significance. To the Pitjantjatjarra people in the area around the NT/WA/SA border, the numbat (walpurti/walputi) painted the spots on the large lizard Ngintaka, or Perentie (Varanus giganteus), during the Dreamtime, and in return the Ngintaka painted Walpurti’s distinctive stripes (IAD, 2006).

Distribution and Habitat

At the time of European settlement, the numbat’s distribution extended across arid and semi- arid regions, from western NSW through South Australia and across much of the southern half of Western Australia (Friend, 2008), encompassing coastal, arid and semi-arid lands (Friend & Thomas, 2003). This distribution lasted until at least the end of the 19th century (Spencer, 1896); however, by 1985, only two isolated populations remained: at Dryandra and Perup in the southwest of Western Australia (Friend, 2008), approximately 160 km apart. The historic contraction in the numbat’s range occurred mainly between 1900 and 1950, and a further population crash in the late 1970s brought the total population size down to the low hundreds (Friend, 2008). A survey at Dryandra in 1992 indicated a population size of approximately 800 individuals, although the population estimate was considerably lower in the late 1990s/early 2000s (Friend & Thomas, 2003). Fumagalli et al. (1999) analysed the mitochondrial DNA of the populations at Dryandra and Perup; results indicated low nucleotide diversity relative to other marsupial species, and recent connectivity between the two remnant populations, although the population at Perup may have lost significant amounts of genetic diversity during the 1970s population size reduction (Fumagalli et al., 1999).

The species’ habitat is generally dominated by eucalypts that provide hollow logs and branches for shelter and termites for food (Friend, 2008). Although its range has contracted to jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest and wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) woodland, the numbat was found in a wide range of woodland types, including York gum (Eucalyptus loxophleba) and mallee (Eucalyptus spp.) woodland in Western Australia, mulga woodland in central Australia, and mallee woodland in South Australia (Friend, 2008). At Dryandra, numbats inhabit brown mallet (Eucalyptus astringens) plantations (DEC, 2012a). The numbat’s habitat requirement of protection from raptors can be met by vegetation thickets, as well as burrows or hollows (Friend & Thomas, 2003).

Populations have been reintroduced by translocation to nine localities in Western Australia: Boyagin Nature Reserve, Tutanning Nature Reserve, Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, Batalling Forest, Hills Forest, Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve, Stirling Range National Park, Cocanarup Timber Reserve, and Karakamia Sanctuary (DEC, 2012a). A population has also been translocated to Yookamurra Sanctuary in South Australia, and another to Scotia Sanctuary in New South Wales (Friend & Thomas, 2003). Translocations were unsuccessful at Karroun Hill Nature Reserve (DEC, 2012a) and Karakamia Sanctuary (S Legge, pers. comm., 2014). The remaining self-sustaining populations in Western Australia likely comprise less than 1000 individuals (DEC, 2012b).

This species occurs within the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, and Mallee Bioregions, and the South West, South Coast, and Avon Natural Resource Management Regions.

The distribution of this species is associated with the ‘Claypans of the Swan Coastal Plain’ EPBC Act-listed threatened ecological community.

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The Department of the Environment has prepared survey guidelines for Myrmecobius fasciatus. The survey guidelines are intended to provide guidance for stakeholders on the effort and methods considered appropriate when conducting a presence/absence survey for species listed as threatened under the EPBC Act. http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/threatened-mammals.html

Threats

The main identified threats to the numbat are:

• Predation by foxes (Vulpes vulpes). The historic contraction of the numbat’s range occurred largely between 1900 and 1950, and especially from 1920, coinciding with the rapid westward spread of foxes (Friend & Thomas, 2003; Friend, 2008). A dramatic increase in numbat sightings occurred at Dryandra followed a program of control of this introduced predator (Friend, 2008). Predation by foxes is a significant threat across the region (Friend, 2008; DEC, 2012a). • Predation by cats (Felis catus). Cats are known to prey on numbats at Dryandra (DEC, 2012c) and Karroun Hill Nature Reserve (Friend & Thomas, 2003), although the level of impact is unknown (DEWHA, 2008a). • Clearing of bush for agriculture (DEC, 2012a), especially in the wheatbelt region of southwest Western Australia. Land clearing has led to severe fragmentation of suitable habitat.

The main potential threats to the numbat include:

• Inappropriate fire regimes (DEC, 2012a). The numbat is dependent on hollow logs and vegetation thickets for shelter and protection from predators, and so the species is currently restricted to more heavily wooded areas which are vulnerable to wild fires. Numbats can also be killed directly by fire while sheltering in hollow logs. The existing populations are fragmented, further increasing the threat to the species posed by extensive fires. Large fires due to lightning strikes are a feature of the environment at Stirling Range National Park (Friend & Thomas, 2003). • Predation by native predators, such as the carpet python (Morelia spilota), brown goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus), and little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) (Friend & Thomas, 2003). Native raptor abundance may be elevated in fragmented landscapes; predation by native species is known from Dryandra, Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, and Yookamurra Sanctuary (Friend & Thomas, 2003). • Climate change. There has been an approximate 20% decline in rainfall in the south- west of Western Australia over the 30 years to 2004 (Timbal, 2004). Modelling of future climate change scenarios for this region suggests a drying trend in winter over the next fifty years, as well as reduced spring rainfall, and a reduction of extreme rainfall events; i.e. heavy rainfall days and long wet spells (Timbal, 2004). Very low rainfall years are projected to increase by a factor of five (Timbal, 2004). Modelling of the effects of climate change on the numbat indicated very little predicted change in total habitat or an increase in suitable habitat under some scenarios (Hughes, 2003); however, a drying trend with increased temperature will most likely lead to increases in the frequency and intensity of bushfires. • Disease/infection. The numbat is commonly affected by diseases and parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis (Power and Monaghan, 2003) and nematodes (Smales, 1997; Power and Monaghan, 2003). Acanthocephalan parasites have led to mortality in numbats at Yookamurra Sanctuary (Friend and Thomas, 2003) and have been implicated in the decline of the population at Dryandra State Forest (Smales, 1997; Friend and Thomas, 2003); however, the threat of disease/infection to the survival of the species is unknown.

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Research Priorities

Research priorities that would inform future regional and local priority actions include:

• Investigating the precise impact(s) on numbat populations of predation by feral cats. Investigations should occur where foxes are being controlled (Friend & Thomas, 2003). • Reviewing the successes and failures of the numbat translocation program in planning future translocations, including an analysis of the factors affecting the success of establishment of new populations (Friend & Thomas, 2003). • Developing more accurate techniques for estimating population size. Numbats do not respond to conventional trapping methods, and population monitoring is based on changes in sighting rates (Friend & Thomas, 2003). • Undertaking survey work in potential habitat (including a thorough assessment of threats) to locate any additional localities suitable for future translocations. • Developing a prioritised list of sites at which future translocations can take place. Include consideration of any potential environmental constraints on establishment, and an assessment of the impact on the source (i.e. Dryandra) population (Fumagalli et al., 1999). • Undertaking further genetic analyses (using microsatellite markers) to determine contemporary connectivity and movement patterns involving all extant populations. Identify any inbreeding issues in the Perup population. Investigate the presence of reduced genetic diversity and any evidence for inbreeding depression (Fumagalli et al., 1999). Consult Weeks et al. (2011) for further possible research needs relating to different types of translocations. • Identifying optimal fire regimes for plant growth and regeneration, seed germination and protection of numbat habitat. Investigate the impacts of prescribed burning on numbat survival and behaviour, as well as its habitat, especially the quality of hollow logs and whether the amount of protective vegetation cover can be maintained or increased with prescribed burning. Research has shown that termite abundance, density and biomass in the south west of Western Australia are unaffected by moderate intensity fire (Abbott, 1984), but are significantly less abundant and diverse after intense fire (Abensperg-Traun & Milewski, 1995). • Strategies to improve the probability of survival of translocated individuals. Focal areas could be predator awareness training and enhancement of habitat (such as adding hollow logs to the release area). • Assessing the vulnerability of the numbat to climate change. Endemic species with restricted range are particularly susceptible, and the inclusion of this species would be a high priority in a regional assessment of vulnerability and conservation planning in response to climate change in the south-west of Western Australia (see Gibson et al., 2010).

Regional Priority Actions

The following regional priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of the numbat:

Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification • Continue to monitor the progress of recovery by population size and distribution, and assess the relative impacts of threatening processes at each site where the numbat occurs. • Investigate formal conservation arrangements, management agreements and covenants on private land and state forests, to protect source populations and host sites for future translocations.

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Animal Predation • Ensure that a strategy is in place for ongoing control of foxes at all sites where the numbat occurs. • To assist with controlling the adverse impacts of European red foxes in the region, implement the threat abatement plan for predation by the European red fox (DEWHA, 2008a). • Implement a management plan (e.g. DEWHA, 2008c) to control the likely adverse impacts of feral cats in all areas other than the designated research site(s). • Maintain and closely monitor the integrity of predator exclusion fencing at all sites where the numbat occurs within fenced areas. Fire • Develop and implement a suitable fire management strategy for the habitat of the numbat. Investigate the pattern of appropriate fire intensity and frequency that does not directly threaten numbat survival or the availability of its food source (termites), and maintains the amount of protective cover such as vegetation thickets. Diseases, Fungi and Parasites • Develop and implement a suitable strategy for the identification and management of disease outbreaks in the numbat. Conservation Information • Continue to raise awareness and community involvement in the conservation of the numbat via the Project Numbat campaign (Project Numbat, 2013). This project assists the numbat recovery program with such activities as supporting research projects, on-ground protection and restoration of numbat habitats, assisting landholder participation in feral animal control programs, promoting media coverage of this species, and fundraising (Project Numbat, 2013). Population Recruitment and Translocation • Continue to implement the standard translocation protocol and monitoring program developed for this species (Friend & Thomas, 2003). Adapt protocol to reflect successes and failures. • Use genetic data to form the basis of a risk assessment for translocation, following the Weeks et al. (2011) risk assessment procedure. • Plan future translocations with consideration of issues such as results of the above risk assessment, disease, impacts on the viability of the source population, number of individuals and from which source sites to reduce deleterious genetic effects. • Maintain the captive breeding program established at Perth Zoo (Friend & Thomas, 2003; Power et al., 2009). Numbats bred as part of this program have been used for translocations at four sites (Friend & Thomas, 2003). • Investigate options for linking, enhancing and establishing additional populations at new sites within the historical range of the species.

Local Priority Actions

The following local priority recovery and threat abatement actions can be done to support the recovery of the numbat:

Habitat Loss, Disturbance and Modification • Continue to monitor presence and abundance of the numbat at both surviving natural populations (Dryandra and Perup), and at all translocated populations. Identify any new threats at all sites and where possible ameliorate these threats. Monitoring to be conducted annually.

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• Continue to monitor the progress of recovery at all natural and translocated sites, including the effectiveness of management actions and the need to adapt them if necessary. • Protect populations in non-reserved areas through the development of conservation agreements and/or covenants. Animal Predation • Control introduced pests (European red foxes and cats) to manage these threats at all known numbat localities. • Continue baiting to control these species at all sites where the numbat is present, and at all future sites so that both pest species are absent prior to translocation. Fire • Implement an appropriate fire management regime for all populations. • Continue the prescribed burning at Stirling Range National park, to reduce the extent of wildfires. Diseases, Fungi and Parasites • Develop a database of signs and symptoms of diseases and parasites known to infect numbats. Identify any parasites or diseases found in dead and live numbats as part of monitoring (presence/abundance) surveys. Sample scats at all sites for the presence of infection. • Where parasites or disease are identified, mitigate their effects where possible. Develop and implement suitable hygiene protocols to protect known sites from further outbreaks of mycobacteria and cryptococcosis where possible. Conservation Information • Raise awareness of the numbat within the local community. Engage with private landholders and land managers responsible for the land on which populations occur and encourage these key stakeholders to contribute to the implementation of conservation management actions.

This list does not necessarily encompass all actions that may be of benefit to the numbat, but highlights those that are considered to be of highest priority at the time of preparing the Approved Conservation Advice.

Existing Plans/Management Prescriptions that are Relevant to the Species

• Threat abatement plan and background document for predation by the European red fox (DEWHA, 2008a,b). • Threat abatement plan and background document for predation by feral cats (DEWHA, 2008c,d).

These prescriptions were current at the time of publishing; please refer to the relevant agency’s website for any updated versions.

References

Abbott (1984). Changes in the abundance and activity of certain soil and litter fauna in the jarrah forest of Western Australia after a moderate intensity fire. Australian Journal of Soil Research 22(4): 463–469.

Abensperg-Traun M and Milewski AV (1995). Abundance and diversity of termites (Isoptera) in unburnt versus burnt vegetation at the Barrens in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 20: 413-41.

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Burbidge AA, Johnson KA, Fuller PJ and Southgate RI (1988). Aboriginal knowledge of the mammals of the central deserts of Australia. Australian Wildlife Research 15: 9-39.

Calaby JH (1960). Observations on the banded ant-eater Myrmecobius f. fasciatus Waterhouse (Marsupialia), with particular reference to its food habits. Journal of Zoology 135(2): 183-207.

Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) (DEC) (2012a). Fauna profile, numbat Myrmecobius fasciatus (Waterhouse, 1836). Available on the Internet at: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/our-environment/science-and-research/animal- conservation-research/5761-factors-affecting-establishment-of-the-numbat-recovery- plan.html

Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) (DEC) (2012b). Factors affecting establishment of the numbat recovery plan. Available on the Internet at: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/our-environment/science-and-research/animal- conservation-research/5761-factors-affecting-establishment-of-the-numbat-recovery- plan.html

Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) (DEC) (2012c). Science Division annual research activity report and management implications. Available on the Internet at: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/news/7132-science-division-annual-research-activity- report-2011-2012.html

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008a). Threat abatement plan for predation by the European red fox. DEWHA, Canberra. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/predation-european-red-fox

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008b). Background document for the threat abatement plan for predation by the European red fox. DEWHA, Canberra. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/predation-european-red-fox

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008c). Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats. DEWHA. Canberra. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/predation-feral-cats

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008d). Background document for the threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats. DEWHA, Canberra. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/predation-feral-cats

Friend JA (2008). Numbat, Myrmecobius fasciatus. In C. Van Dyck, & R. Strahan, The Mammals of Australia (pp. 162-165). Chatswood, Sydney: Reed New Holland.

Friend JA and Thomas ND (2003). Conservation of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus). In Predators with Pouches: The Biology of Carnivorous Marsupials. (eds Menna Jones, Mike Archer, Chris Dickman) (pp. 452-463). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing.

Fumagalli L, Moritz C, Taberlet P and Friend JA (1999). Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation within the remnant populations of the endangered numbat (Marsupialia: Myrmecobiidae: Myrmecobius fasciatus). Molecular Ecology 8: 1545-1549.

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Gibson L, McNeill A, de Tores P, Wayne A and Yates C (2010). Will future climate change threaten a range restricted endemic species, the quokka (Setonix brachyurus), in south-west Australia? Biological Conservation 143: 2453–2461.

Hughes L (2003). Climate change and Australia: trends, projections and impacts. Austral Ecology 28: 423-443.

Institute for Aboriginal Development (IAD) (2006). Women’s gathering and hunting in the Pitjantjatjara homelands. Alice Springs: IAD Press.

IUCN (2013). Myrmecobius fasciatus. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. Available on the Internet at: www.iucnredlist.org

Legge S (2014). Personal communication by telephone, 13 February 2014, Threatened Species Scientific Committee (Cwlth).

Mahoney JA and Ride WDL (1988). Myrmecobiidae. In D.W. Walton, Zoological Catalogue of Australia, volume 5, Mammalia (pp. 34-35). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.

Power V, Lambert C and Matson P (2009). Reproduction of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus): observations from a captive breeding program. Australian Mammalogy 31: 25-30.

Power V-L and Monaghan C (2003). Numbats. In S. Jackson, Australian Mammals: biology and captive management (pp. 99-125). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing.

Project Numbat (2013). Community awareness and involvement in the conservation of our unique mammal emblem. Annual report 2012-13. Available on the Internet at: http://numbat.org.au/

Smales LR (1997). Multisentis myrmecobius, gen. et. sp. nov. (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae), from the numbat, Myrmecobius fasciatus, and a key to genera of the Oligacanthorhynchidae. Invertebrate Taxonomy 11: 301-307.

Spencer B (1896). Summary of the zoological, botanical and geological results of the expedition. In B Spencer, Report on the Work of the Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia. Part 1 - Introduction, Narrative, Summary of Results, Supplement to Zoological Report, Map (pp. 139-200). Facsimile edition, 1994. Bundaberg, Queensland: Corkwood Press.

Timbal B. (2004). Southwest Australia past and future rainfall trends. Climate Research 26: 233-249.

Weeks AR, Sgro CM, Young AG, Frankham R, Mitchell NJ, Miller KA, Byrne M, Coates DJ, Eldridge MDB, Sunnucks P, Breed MF, James EA and Hoffmann AA (2011). Assessing the benefits and risks of translocations in changing environments: a genetic perspective. Evolutionary Applications 4: 709-725.

Whitehurst R (1997). Noongar dictionary: Noongar to English and English to Noongar (2nd edition). Perth, Noongar language and Culture Centre (Aboriginal Corporation).

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