BUSH BLITZ SPECIES DISCOVERY PROGRAM Henbury Station Northern Territory 12–24 May 2013 What is Contents Bush Blitz? Summary 3 Bush Blitz is a multi‑million Abbreviations 3 dollar partnership between Introduction 5 the Australian Government, Reserve Overview 6 BHP Billiton and Earthwatch Methods 8 Australia to document plants and animals in selected Results 12 properties across Australia’s Discussion 15 National Reserve System. Appendix A: Species Lists 33 Fauna 34 Vertebrates 34 This innovative partnership Invertebrates 46 harnesses the expertise of many Flora 53 of Australia’s top scientists from Appendix B: Threatened Species 67 museums, herbaria, universities, Fauna 68 and other institutions and Vertebrates 68 Invertebrates 70 organisations across the country. Flora 71 Appendix C: Exotic and Pest Species 73 Fauna 74 Vertebrates 74 Invertebrates 75 Flora 76 Glossary 79 2 Bush Blitz survey report Summary In May 2013, a Bush Blitz survey was conducted at Henbury Station in the Northern Territory. The area had been surveyed before, however, previous Abbreviations studies focused on vertebrates and flowering ABRS plants. This Bush Blitz survey gave researchers an Australian Biological Resources Study opportunity to document the invertebrates and EPBC Act cryptogams (liverworts, mosses, lichens and fungi) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation of the area. The survey also provided a snapshot of Act 1999 (Commonwealth) the species diversity on Henbury and the condition of its ecological communities. MAGNT Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Henbury Station contains an important collection NRS of arid land ecosystems, including floodplains, National Reserve System sand dunes, rocky outcrops, arid grasslands and TPWC Act scrublands. The ancient Finke River that runs through Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2007 the property has high conservation value and (Northern Territory) provides critical drought refuge areas. Management WoNS of water resources and protection of aquatic habitats Weeds of National Significance on Henbury is crucial for regional conservation. MacDonnell Ranges © Copyright, P. Taylor Henbury Station Northern Territory 2013 3 Twenty-seven reptile species were identified, six of which were new records for the station. Two frogs were recorded as well as nine fishes, three of which are listed under the Northern Territory’s Fisheries Act 1988. This was the first major survey of invertebrates on Henbury Station. The collection included 28 bees, 64 true bugs, 4 thrips, 7 dragonflies, 3 damselflies, 4 millipedes, 8 centipedes, 48 spiders, 3 stygofauna Many insects not targeted for collection were encountered, such as this species, 6 crustaceans and 18 snails. grasshopper nymph, possibly Buforania crassa © Copyright, R. Whyte In total, 685 vascular plant species were identified, During the Bush Blitz survey of Henbury Station 53 of which were new records for the station. 1,080 species were identified, 297 of which had not Henbury Station now has 768 recorded vascular plant been recorded previously. The survey took place taxa, which represents a third of the total number of in autumn during and after rain, which appears species recorded for central Australia. This high figure to have reduced the number of species recorded reflects the variety of habitats present on the station. for some groups (invertebrates and reptiles), but Thirty-five cryptogam species were also identified, all favoured others (cryptogams). of which are new records for the station. Eleven putative species new to science were The main pest species affecting the station are identified, including 10 invertebrate species: mammals and weeds. Introduced herbivores— 1 native bee, 5 true bugs, 3 spiders, and Camels (Camelus dromedarius), Donkeys (Equus 1 pseudoscorpion. One putative new Acacia asinus), Horses (Equus caballus), European Cattle species was also identified. (Bos taurus) and Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)— cause major damage to local flora and also The vertebrate collection focused on birds, reptiles, damage waterholes, riverbanks and reed beds. frogs and fishes. Ninety bird species were observed, Forty-four weed species were identified, mostly four of which are listed under the Territory Parks and associated with sites of station activity. Prickly Pear Wildlife Conservation Act 2007. Two species listed as (Opuntia stricta), which is a gazetted weed requiring near threatened—Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) monitoring and reduction of spread, was seen at the and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus station rubbish dump. banksii samueli)—seem to have viable resident populations. The waterholes and reed beds of the Finke River are regionally significant habitat for many species. 4 Bush Blitz survey report Introduction This is a report for the Bush Blitz program, which An important feature of this Bush Blitz was the aims to survey recent additions to the National involvement of school teachers participating in Reserve System (NRS).1 Bush Blitz is an initiative of the TeachLive program. The Bush Blitz TeachLive the Australian Government, through the Australian program is a collaborative project between the Bush Biological Resources Study (ABRS), in partnership Blitz partners: the Australian Government through with BHP Billiton and Earthwatch Australia. The the ABRS, BHP Billiton, Earthwatch Australia, and the Bush Blitz objectives are: Australian Science Teachers Association. Teachers + to promote, publicise and demonstrate the assisted in fieldwork and species identification and importance of taxonomy through species taught ‘live’ back to their classrooms via the TeachLive discovery; website, taking their students on a virtual expedition. + to undertake a national species discovery Two Totally Wild television episodes showing Bush program targeted at recently acquired properties Blitz participants at work in the field appeared on of the National Reserve System of Australia; Network Ten. + to support the science of taxonomy in Australia through training students and early career The ABRS provided the logistical coordination researchers, the provision of grants for species and overall leadership for the survey. Experts from description and resolution of taxonomically the following organisations conducted the field problematic, nationally important groups; and laboratory work: Museum and Art Gallery + to promote partnerships between scientific of the Northern Territory, Northern Territory institutions, government, industry and non- Herbarium, South Australian Museum, Western government organisations; and Australian Museum, National Herbarium of + to inform the National Reserve System, Reserve Victoria, University of Adelaide, University of New Managers and other stakeholders of the results of South Wales, Australian National Botanic Gardens, the Bush Blitz Program. Aquagreen and EcOz Environmental Services. The Henbury Station Bush Blitz was conducted Bush Blitz wishes to thank: Northern Territory in May 2013. Rain before and during the survey Herbarium and Museum and Art Gallery of made conditions difficult, with many roads and the Northern Territory for hosting this survey; tracks within the property closed or impassable. RM Williams Agricultural Holdings and the property However, a combination of vehicle and helicopter managers, especially Joel Hartwig, for facilitating trips provided good coverage across the station. access to the reserve and providing helpful advice The rain and cool weather resulted in reduced on survey locations; Angus Duguid from the activity of many species. Surveys at different times Department of Land Resource Management for of the year are likely to add more species to the list. information on regional habitats and previous surveys; Wendy Stuart of the Central Land Council; and Christobel Swan, Bessie Liddle and Peter 1 The NRS is Australia’s network of protected areas, Abbott, Traditional Owners, for sharing their covering 17.88% of the country—over 137 million hectares. It is made up of Commonwealth, state and knowledge and traditional species names. territory reserves, Indigenous lands and protected areas run by non-profit conservation organisations, through to ecosystems protected by farmers on their private working properties <http://www.environment.gov.au/land/nrs>, accessed 18 May 2015. Henbury Station Northern Territory 2013 5 Darwin 2 Northern Reserve Overview Territory Henbury Station Henbury Station Description RM Williams Agricultural Holdings Henbury Station is located 130 km south of Alice Springs and covers more than 500,000 ha of desert habitats within the Lake Eyre Date of purchase Basin of central Australia. It is bisected by the Finke River, which originates in the MacDonnell Ranges and is often described as the 2001 oldest river in the world. The overall climate is arid, with erratic and unreliable rains occurring at any time of the year. The geology of Area Henbury is complex and is typically representative of the geology 516,800 ha of the MacDonnell Ranges and Finke River floodplain. Most of the rock formation is sedimentary, consisting of bands of limestone, sandstone, siltstones and dolomite. The plains consist of alluvial sands and silts, or of aeolian sands forming sand dunes. 2 Information from the NRS applications and assessments. <http://www.abc.net.au/ news/2014-06-09/henbury-station-sold- carbon-farming/5509950>. <http://www.abc. net.au/news/2013-08-28/henbury-station-rm- williams-sale-market/4916426>. Rain Moth (Trictena atripalpis), with tripectinate