A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE ANANGU PITJANTJATJARA LANDS SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1991 - 2001 Editors A. C. Robinson, P. B. Copley, P. D. Canty, L. M. Baker and B. J. Nesbitt Biodiversity Survey and Monitoring Section Science and Conservation Directorate Department for Environment and Heritage South Australia 2003 i Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Biological Survey The Biological Survey of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands, South Australia was carried out with the assistance of funds made available by the Commonwealth of Australia under the National Reserves System Program (Project #N508) and the State Government of South Australia. The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Environment Australia or the State Government of South Australia. The report may be cited as: A. C. Robinson, P. B. Copley, P. D. Canty, L. M. Baker and B. J. Nesbitt (Eds) (2003). A Biological Survey of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands, South Australia, 1991-2001. (Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia). Copies of the report may be accessed in the library: Environment Australia Department for Environment and Heritage GPO Box 636 or 1st Floor, Roma Mitchell House CANBERRA ACT 2601 136 North Terrace, ADELAIDE SA 5000 EDITORS A. C. Robinson, P. B. Copley, P. D. Canty, Science and Conservation Directorate, Department for Environment and Heritage. PO Box 1047 Adelaide 5001 L. M. Baker, B. J. Nesbitt, Wallambia Consultants. 1070 South Arm Rd, URUNGA, NSW 2455 AUTHORS D. M. Armstrong, P. D. Canty, P. B. Copley, J. N. Foulkes, D. Hopton, P. J. Lang, H. M. Owens, S. J. Pillman, L.F. Queale, A. C. Robinson, Science and Conservation Directorate, Department for Environment and Heritage. PO Box 1047 Adelaide 5001 L. M. Baker, B. J. Nesbitt, Wallambia Consultants, 1070 South Arm Rd, URUNGA, NSW 2455 L. P. Pedler, PO Box 58, KOOLUNGA, SA 5464 M. C. Benbow, Longlat Enterprises P/L, PO Box 458, KAPUNDA, SA 5373 P. Gee, SA Outback Research, PMB 118 WILLIAM CREEK via Port Augusta 5710 D. B. Hurst, M. N. Hutchinson, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, ADELAIDE, SA 5000 CARTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN Science and Conservation Directorate, Department for Environment and Heritage. Marketing and Public Communications Group, Department for Environment and Heritage. Department for Environment and Heritage 2003 ISBN: 0 7590 10498 PRINTED BY Endeavour Print Digital, Adelaide Cover Photograph View south towards Mt Illbillee from foothills near Ronald Bore, Everard Ranges Photo: P. D. Canty ii Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Biological Survey PREFACE A Biological Survey of Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands, South Australia is a further product of the Biological Survey of South Australia. The program of systematic biological surveys to cover the whole of South Australia arose out of a realisation that an effort was needed to increase our knowledge of the remaining vascular plants and vertebrate fauna of South Australia and to encourage its conservation. Over the last 18 years, there has been a strong commitment to the Biological Survey by Government and an impressive dedication from hundreds of volunteer biologists. By 2015, it is anticipated that the Biological Survey will achieve complete statewide coverage. The Biological Survey of South Australia will be an achievement for which we can be very proud. We will have substantially improved our knowledge of the biodiversity of South Australia to enable biologists in the future to measure the direction of long-term ecological change. This will greatly enhance our ability to adequately manage nature conservation into the future. JOHN HILL MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION iii Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Biological Survey ABSTRACT A biological survey covering the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands (AP Lands) of South Australia was carried out between 1991 and 2001. Before the present survey work, biological studies over the AP Lands had been scattered and opportunistic. This report therefore documents the first systematic attempt to collect comparable biological data across this very significant area of the State. The AP Lands in northwestern South Australia cover an area of 102 650 km 2(or approximately 10% of the land area of SA). The Aboriginal people (Anangu) living on the lands were involved with the survey from its earliest days and worked with the scientists on each of the seventeen field trips involved in the survey. During this period Anangu provided a wealth of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and, that which is publicly available, is referred to throughout this report. Extensive and documented lists of Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara names for flora and fauna species were compiled into a separate database but this report contains lists for fauna species in particular. The ten-year biological survey sampled 260 quadrats in 32 separate campsite areas distributed across the northern two thirds of the AP Lands. The extensive Great Victoria Desert areas in the southern one third of the AP Lands were not sampled due to remoteness and inaccessibility. The total number of records contributed to the Biological Survey databases as a result of this survey were: 14 132 plants (5 339 with voucher collections), 2135 mammals, 5789 birds, 2353 reptiles and 83 frogs. Pattern analysis of the quadrat data revealed distinctive groupings in all taxa. Analysis of 447 plant species at 253 quadrats resulted in the recognition of 30 groups in 11 clusters. A simplified version of this plant community patterning was mapped to produce a vegetation map with 15 floristic/structural vegetation communities. Analysis of 15 mammal species from 133 quadrats resulted in the recognition of 6 groups. 68 bird species at 169 quadrats produced 8 groups. Analysis of 53 reptile species at 133 quadrats produced 4 groups with three additional sub-groups. The survey recorded 719 vascular plant species (or taxa of lower rank) within the AP Lands. Of these, 16 were species not previously recorded in South Australia, 44 are new for the North-western Region, and several appear to represent new undescribed taxa. Highlights include the rediscovery of Acacia tenuior and the recognition of a new undescribed Garland Lily (Calostemma sp.). The AP Lands are remarkable for the low incidence of alien plants, which comprised only 2.6% of quadrat records. Overall only 25 introduced species were recorded, representing 3.5 % of the total flora encountered. This reflects the relatively intact vegetation in the AP Lands compared to most other regions of the State. Like the rest of the Australian arid zone, a significant proportion of the mammal fauna has become extinct since European settlement. These extinctions occurred relatively late in the AP Lands compared with areas further south. Many species did not become extinct till the 1960s. Approximately 44 native and 9 introduced mammal species were known to inhabit the region. Twenty-seven native mammal species still remain across the AP Lands. At least 18 species are now presumed extinct. Two species collected on this survey, the Fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) and the Narrow-nosed Planigale (Planigale tenuirostris), represent additions to the previously known mammal fauna. One hundred and fifty four species of birds are now known from across the AP Lands. Two species, the northern form of the Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor plumbea) and the Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) appear to have become extinct since European settlement. The survey added eight species to the known bird fauna with the most notable species being a first record for South Australia for the Spinifexbird (Eremiornis carteri). Ninety-seven species of reptiles and 5 species of frogs are now recorded for the AP Lands. The survey added 33 new reptile species but no new frogs to the previously known fauna. New reptile records included eight new records for South Australia, and the re-discovery by Anangu of several populations of the Tjakura (Egernia kintorei) previously thought to be extinct in this State. Insects and spiders collected in association with quadrat sampling for vertebrates are presented mainly as compiled lists. Many species with both national and State conservation ratings occur on the AP Lands with 3 plants rated nationally and 54 on the State list. Twelve nationally rated and 10 State-rated mammals occur/occurred on the AP Lands. One nationally and 14 State-rated birds occur. One nationally rated and 3 State-rated reptile species were found Finally a series of conservation management recommendations are provided covering: fire, introduced herbivores, weeds, water, introduced predators, hunting pressure, threatened species recovery, monitoring and reporting and training and education. The recent development of two Indigenous Protected Areas on the AP Lands is also briefly discussed. iv The Perentie Varanus giganteus is widespread in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands and is a very popular item of food among Anangu. Photo: P. D. Canty. Early morning mist on a patch of Desert Oaks Allocasuarina decaisneana south of the Mann Ranges in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands. Photo P. D. Canty. v vi Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Biological Survey CONTENTS PREFACE ................................................................................................................................................................ iii ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................................