Approved Recovery Plan Forrest’s Mouse (Leggadina forresti) and Sandy Inland Mouse (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis) Recovery Plan Leggadina forresti Pseudomys hermannsburgensis July 2002 © NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, July 2002. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission from NPWS. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 43 Bridge Street (PO Box 1967) Hurstville NSW 2220 Tel: 02 95856444 www.npws.nsw.gov.au For further information contact Threatened Species Unit, Western Directorate. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service P.O. Box 2111 Dubbo NSW 2830 Tel (02) 6883 5358 Cover illustrations: Leggadina forresti: Photographer: Andrew Henley, ã Nature Focus Pseudomys hermannsburgensis: Photographers: H&J Beste, Ó Nature Focus This Plan should be cited as follows; NPWS (2002). Forrest’s Mouse (Leggadina forresti) and Sandy Inland Mouse (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis) Recovery Plan. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville NSW. ISBN: 0731365151 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Recovery Planning Program Forrest’s Mouse (Leggadina forresti) and Sandy Inland Mouse (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis) Recovery Plan Prepared in accordance with the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 July 2002 Acknowledgements Information and assistance that was useful in the preparation of the plan was obtained from Sandy Ingleby, David Read, David Croft, Lars Kogge, Kim Piddington, Rebecca Montague-Drake, Gerry Swan, Murray Ellis, Dani Ayers, Michele Cooper, David Monahan, Robyn Molsher, Rita Enke, Silvia Ricci, Paul Mahon and Terry Dawson. ii Foreword The conservation of threatened species, populations and ecological communities is crucial for the maintenance of this State’s unique biodiversity. In NSW, the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) provides the framework to conserve and recover threatened species, populations and ecological communities through the preparation and implementation of recovery plans. The preparation and implementation of recovery plans are identified by both the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity and the approved NSW Biodiversity Strategy as a key strategy for the conservation of threatened flora, fauna and invertebrates. The object of a recovery plan is to document the research and management actions required to promote the recovery of a threatened species, population or ecological community and to ensure its ongoing viability in nature. This plan describes our current understanding of Forrest’s Mouse and the Sandy Inland Mouse, documents research and management actions undertaken to date and identifies actions required and parties responsible to ensure ongoing viability of the species in the wild. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has prepared the Forrest’s Mouse and Sandy Inland Mouse Recovery Plan with the assistance of a number of people. I thank these people for their efforts to date and look forward to their continued contribution to the recovery of the species. BOB DEBUS MP Minister for the Environment iii Executive Summary Legislative Context The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) is New South Wales’ most comprehensive attempt at establishing a legislative framework to protect and encourage the recovery of threatened species, populations and communities. Under the TSC Act, the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife has certain responsibilities including the preparation of recovery plans for threatened species, populations and ecological communities. This Recovery Plan has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the TSC Act. Preparation of Plan This Recovery Plan has been prepared with the assistance of interested parties with relevant expertise. Components within the plan do not necessarily represent the views nor the official positions of all the individuals or agencies consulted. The information in this Recovery Plan was accurate to the best of the NPWS’ knowledge on the date it was approved. Current Conservation Status Forrest’s Mouse Forrest’s Mouse is listed as vulnerable on Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). The species is not listed on the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1992 (ESP Act), but is listed as “lower risk, near-threatened” in the IUCN (1996) Red List of Threatened Species. Sandy Inland Mouse The Sandy Inland Mouse is listed in Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Act 1995 (TSC Act) as vulnerable. The species is not listed in the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1992 (ESP Act) or in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. iv Objectives of the Recovery Plan The overall objective of this Recovery Plan is to secure extant populations of Forrest’s Mouse and Sandy Inland Mouse in New South Wales through appropriate management. Specific objectives are to: 1) monitor the populations of Forrest’s Mouse and Sandy Inland Mouse to determine their status; 2) protect the populations of Forrest’s Mouse and Sandy Inland Mouse from the threatening processes of overgrazing by herbivores and predation by feral animals; 3) survey areas of potential habitat for new extant populations of Forrest’s Mouse or Sandy Inland Mouse; 4) promote appropriate grazing practices and feral animal control where Forrest’s Mouse or Sandy Inland Mouse occurs on non-Service estate through cooperation with landholders and other relevant stakeholders; 5) improve current knowledge of the biology and ecology of both Forrest’s Mouse and the Sandy Inland Mouse. Recovery performance criteria Recovery criteria are that: 1) an ongoing system of trapping and release is implemented on and off Service estate to monitor the populations of small mammals; 2) the control and monitoring of grazing herbivores and feral predators is continued on the Service estate; 3) appropriate management is instituted where Forrest’s Mouse or Sandy Inland Mouse occurs on areas of non-Service estate through the provision of information and, where appropriate, assistance to landholders and other relevant stakeholders; 4) areas of potential habitat for Forrest’s Mouse and Sandy Inland Mouse are identified and surveyed for new extant populations of the species; 5) a greater understanding of the biology and ecology of Forrest’s Mouse and Sandy Inland Mouse in NSW is achieved through appropriate research. v Biodiversity Benefits The native rodent fauna of Western New South Wales has experienced a severe decline since European settlement. Of the seventeen native rodents which have been recorded in the arid zone of Western New South Wales, eleven are now regionally extinct, three (including Sandy Inland Mouse) are rare, two (including Forrest’s Mouse) are sparse, and one is common in limited habitat (Dickman, 1993). In view of this decline, the biodiversity value of the remaining species is considerable. As well as aiding the recovery of Forrest’s Mouse and Sandy Inland Mouse, the actions contained in this Recovery Plan will have benefits for biodiversity in general. Actions such as control of feral predators and reduction of grazing pressure have benefits for a range of native species (Dickman, 1993), while surveys and ongoing monitoring will yield data which will be useful in the management of other native species. Other threatened species that will benefit from actions detailed in this Recovery Plan include the Flame Spider-flower (Grevillea kennedyana), Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis), Flock Bronzewing (Phaps histrionica), Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta), Long-haired Rat (Rattus villosissimus), Inland Blind Snake, (Ramphotyphlops endoterus), Centralian Blue-tongue Lizard (Tiliqua multifasciata), Gunther’s Skink (Cyclodomorphus branchialis) and Stimson’s Python (Liasis stimsoni). BRIAN GILLIGAN Director-General vi Table of Contents Acknowledgements Foreword Executive Summary 1 Introduction .................................................................. 1 2 Species Information - Forrest's Mouse ...................... 1 2.1 Current Conservation Status...........................................1 2.2 Description......................................................................1 2.2.1 Taxonomy ....................................................................... 1 2.2.2 General ............................................................................ 2 2.3 Distribution .....................................................................2 2.4 Ecology ...........................................................................4 2.4.1 Life Cycle........................................................................ 4 2.4.2 Diet.................................................................................. 4 2.4.3 Habitat............................................................................. 5 2.5 Threats and reasons for decline ......................................6 3 Species Information - Sandy Inland Mouse............... 8 3.1 Current Conservation Status...........................................8 3.2 Description......................................................................8 3.2.1 Taxonomy ....................................................................... 8 3.2.2 General ............................................................................ 8 3.3 Distribution .....................................................................9 3.4 Ecology ...........................................................................9