A Recovery Plan, Research Phase, for a threatened butterfly community at Mt Piper in Central Victoria Australian National Parhs and Wildlife Seraice Endangered SpeciesProgrann Prepared by Ann Jelineh Noaember 7992 O Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria 595.789 099452 REC '"T:'r;J:: ! : , .'\-! 'frT.+t1oqen taqg{ +t2 fr{c -'J.o**'00075615 1 \ t"t''' ' i ., : i. :. Disclaimer: The viewsexpressed in this report are thoseof the author and do not necessarilyreflect thoseof the Australian National Parks and wildlife service, canberra. {& ,l Publication referenceand availabilitydetails: Jelinek, A. (1992).A RecoveryPlan, ResearchPhase, for a threatened butterfly community at Mt Piper in Central Victoria. Unpublished report to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service,Canberra. Acknowledgements: Dr David Baker-Gabb, Department of Conservation & Natural Resources,Flora and Fauna Branch On David Crosby, 74 Gipps Street, East Melbourne Dr Tim New and David Britton, La Trobe university, zoologyDepartment Dr Alan Yen, Museum of Victoria / *1, TABLEOF CONTENTS S[]MMARY currentspecies slatus........... Habitatrequirements and limiting factors.. ..............' ResearchObjective.................... _.. ResearchCriteria A ^+i^-^ SUMMARY Current species status A community, known as Butterfly Community .l is listed on Schedule2 of the Flora and Fauna GuaranteeAct 1g88. ' The community is an assemblage of flora and fauna characterised by the presence of significant, threatened and rare invertebrate species. o Acrodipsas brisbanensis cyrilus and A. myrmecophila arc butterflies listed as threatened taxa on Schedule2 of the Flora and Fauna GuaranteeAct 1g88. Habitat requirements and limiting factors The only known occurrence of this community is Mt Piper in central Victoria. ' The summit of Mt Piper is used for hill-topping by at least ten speciesof butterflies and two speciesof day-flying moths. o Mistletoes growing on eucalypts and acaciasprovide food sourcesfor several speciesof butterfly larvae. ' Threats to the community include tree lopping on the summit for trigonometrical sight lines, mineral exploration and mining activities, rural subdivision,fire, pest plants and animals, livestock, salinity, fire wood collecting and tree dieback. Research Objective The objective of the research is to study the ecology of two highly threatened butterfly species,the Large Ant-blue Acrodipsas brisbanensis cyrilus (Anderson and Spry) and the Small Ant-blue Acrodipsas myrmecophllo (Waterhouse and Lyell), and the rare Genoveva Azure Ogyris genoueuagenoueud (Hewitson) at Mt Piper in central Victoria so that informed management actions can be undertaken to reduce threats to the butterflv cornmunity. Research Criteria r 1 year - compare and assessrelative significance of previously known, currently known and potential sites for the target butterfly species. ' - 2 years compare and assessthe relative significanceof butterfly communities associatedwith hill tops in central Victoria. ' 2 years - determine critical habitat characteristics (e.g.food, host plants, oviposition sites, associatedant species,use oflandscape features), for the target species(adult and immature stages)on and surrounding Mt piper. 2-3 years - develophabitat management guidelines ' years - 2-3 achieve community awareness about the significance of the butterfly/ant communities and the ANPws Endangered speciesprogram, and encourage involvement in habitat conservation. r 3 years - document the distribution patterns of ant speciesassociated with butterflies at Mt Piper. o years - 3 obtain baselineinformation on the target butterfly speciesat Mt piper: population dynamics, distributions, breeding habitats and interactive behaviour with ants and other fauna. r 3 years - complete a ConservationResearch Statement. o - 4-5 years monitor changesto butterfly populations and habitats. Actions needed 1. Survey previously known, currently known and potential sites of the three target butterfly species. 2. Locate and identify food sources, host plants, associated ant speciesand other fauna and flora which interact with the target butterfly species. 3. Record breeding habitats, oviposition sites and, immature stagesof the target species. 4. Identiff critical habitat characteristics for the flora and fauna community on and surrounding Mt Piper and compare these with other known and previously known sites of the target species. 5. Assess the significance of remnant bushland adjoining Mt Piper, including roadside vegetation, for the conservation of the butterfly community. 6. Monitor populations, distributions and behaviour of the target butterflies on Mt Piper, in surrounding remnant bushland and at other known or potential sites. 7. Obtain distribution, seasonal and habitat information on ants associated with butterflies at Mt Piper. 8. Establish field observation sites of each of the target butterflies and associatedant speciesto observetheir life cycles,interrelationships and behaviour, or separatecaptive breeding coloniesif field data are inadequate. 9. Develop detailed, practical and where possible,site-spegific, management guidelines for habitat conservation,based on research results. 10 Achieve community and landholder awareness,appreciation and involvement in habitat conservation works on public and private land and acknowledge ANPWS program. Totaf Estimated Cost of Research (Igg}prices in $000'Vyear) Actions 1 2 3 4 5 6 I 8 9 10 Total t992 2 2 1 I 2 2 1 11 1993 3 5 o 3 3 3 D D 0.5 0.5 33 L994 2 5 5 5 o 10 0.5 0.5 33 1995 6 3 10 0.5 0.5 20 1996 3 5 8 1997 1998 1999 2000 a Total T t 11 I o 19 t4 30 1.5 1.5 105 Biodiversity benefits Understanding and conservation of the diverse and interdependent flora, fauna and ecologicalprocesses at Mt Piper will: o Protect the habitat of other rare or threatened speciessuch as the Regent Honeyeater. r Provide wildlife corridor links between areas of remnant bushland in this area. Provide important vegetated recharge areas for salinity control. o Indicate changes to habitat quality through a detailed knowledge of the invertebrate community, particularly ants, which are sensitive to environmental changes and are good indicators of habitat quality. r fncrease community awarenessabout the significance of similar landscapefeatures, sites and ecologicalcommunities throughout Australia, especiallyinvertebrates. 1. INTRODUCTION Description A flora and fauna community, known as Butterfly Cornmunity No.-f is Dsted on Schedule 2 of the Flora and Fauna GuaranteeAct 1988as a threatened community. T'he community is an assemblageof flora and fauna characterised by the presence of a large number of significant, threatened and rare invertebrate species. It contains at least27 speciesofbutterflies including several rare and threatened speciessuch as the Large Ant-blue, Acrodipsas brisbanensis cyrilus (Anderson and Spry) 1897, Small Ant- blue, Acrodipsas myrmecophila (Waterhouse and Lyell) 1g1g and Genoveva Azure ogyris genoueuo,genoueud (Hewitson) 1853,butterflies which have restricted distributions and butterflies which occasionally occur at Mt Piper which is at the limit of their natural distribution. Several speciesof day-flying, hill-topping and grassland moths and numerous speciesof terrestrial and arboreal ants also occur at Mt Piper. Acrodipsas brisbanensiscyrilus and A. rnyrmecophilaarc listed as threatened taxa on Schedule2 of the Flora and Fauna GuaranteeAct 1988. This community: . represents a unique co-occurrenceof the Small and Large Ant-blue butterflies, . is the southern-most occurrenceof several northern butterfly species, . involves interdependent relationships between somebutterlly speciesand ants, . includes butterfly and moth specieswhich exhibit hill-topping behaviour, e includes insectivorous birds, mammals and reptiles, butterfly food plants and other flora and fauna which are interdependent with the butterflies and ants. Distribution The only known occurrenceof this community is Mt Piper, a steep,solitary mountain rising from 230m to 456m abovean undulating plain between the Tallarook and Mt William ranges in central Victoria. Habitat Mt Piper is a quartz plug or epithermal deposit of quartz and other minerals depositedby hot solutions. The quartz capping at the summit is localised. Mt Piper is virtually an island ofnatural bushland surrounded by largely cleared grazing land. The vegetation on Mt Piper is a mosaic of open forest and woodland. Broad-leaved PeppermintEucalyptus diues, Long-leavedBoxE. goniocalyx, Red stringybarkE. rnacrorhyncha and Red Box E. polyanthenlos are widespread and also occur around the summit with MessmateE. obliqua. Small, scattered clumps of Eucalyptus rnacrorhyncha and small groups of live, partly dead and deadAcacia implexa occur on the elliptical-shaped summit covering approximately 2000m. Past clearing of eucalypts and acaciashas occurred on the summit surrounding the present Tligonometrical station located at the highest point but naturally treeless, rocky and grassy patches also occur. Red Ironbark E. sideroxylon subsp. tricarpa and Yellow Box .8. melliodora grow on the lower slopes. The cooler and moister south and south east slopeshave the richest variety of shrubs and herbs including the wattles Acacia diffusa, A. implexa and A. pycnantha, tea tree Leptospermurn myrsinoid,es,Silver Banksia Banksia marginata, Common Correa Correa reflexa, Common Heath Eparcris impressa, Spider Flower Greuillea alpina, Beard Heath Leucopogonuirgatus, Pea Bush Pultenaea gunnii, Showy Guinea-flower Hibbertia