BUSH BLITZ SPECIES DISCOVERY PROGRAM Fish River Station Northern Territory 23 April–3 May 2012 What is Contents Bush Blitz? Bush Blitz is a Summary 3 multi-million dollar Abbreviations 3 partnership between the Introduction 5 Australian Government, Reserve Overview 6 BHP Billiton and Earthwatch Methods 8 Australia to document plants Results 12 and animals in selected properties across Australia’s Discussion 15 National Reserve System. Appendix A: Species Lists 37 Fauna 38 Vertebrates 38 This innovative partnership Invertebrates 46 harnesses the expertise of many Flora 54 of Australia’s top scientists from Appendix B: Threatened Species 67 museums, herbaria, universities, Fauna 68 and other institutions and Flora 68 organisations across the country. Appendix C: Exotic and Pest Species 69 Fauna 70 Vertebrates 70 Invertebrates 71 Flora 72 Glossary 73 2 Bush Blitz survey report Summary This Bush Blitz was the first substantial baseline flora and invertebrate survey of Fish River Station, and has significantly increased information for the Abbreviations reserve. In total, 701 flora and fauna species were ABRS added to those previously known for the reserve, of Australian Biological Resources Study which 60 are believed to be new to science. Of the ANIC putative new species, a spider (Phlogius n. sp. 13) Australian National Insect Collection and a vascular plant (Brachychiton n. sp. Fish River) are likely to be endemic to Fish River Station. CSIRO Another major discovery was a new species of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research goblin spider that has since been described as Organisation Cavisternum attenboroughi n. sp. in honour of EPBC Act Sir David Attenborough. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) Fish River Station supports a diverse group of ILC terrestrial vertebrates broadly characteristic of the Indigenous Land Corporation tropical savannas of the Top End of the Northern IUCN Territory. During this study, 14 frogs, including International Union for Conservation of Nature the Cane Toad (Rhinella marina), and 35 reptile species were documented, bringing the number NRS of amphibians and reptiles known from Fish River National Reserve System Station to 81. Six of these were recorded on the TPWC Act reserve for the first time. Fish River Station has a Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000 high diversity of freshwater fishes, with 29 species (Northern Territory) recorded during the survey, raising the total number to 45. Delicate Blue Eye (Pseudomugil tenellus) specimens collected have an unusual gold colour form and might be an undescribed species from the Daly Basin, with most of its known range on Fish River Station. A spring-fed swamp appears to be a rare core habitat for this species. The diversity and abundance of small mammals was low, which reflects the severity of ongoing small mammal declines experienced across the Top End. Unfortunately, the team did not capture The survey team for the Fish River Station Bush Blitz © Copyright, R. Whyte the undescribed species of false antechinus Back row: Ben Firth, Ian Cowie, Vince Kessner, Dane Trembath, Gavin Dally, Stephen Richards, Dave Wilson. (Pseudantechinus sp.) that was the main target of Middle row: Mim Jambrecina, Nicole Gunther, Jo Harding, Celia Symonds, Chris Cargill, Michael Hammer. mammal trapping. This suggests that population Front row: Alister Bell and Darren Stockton (helicopter pilots), Michael Braby, densities are low, requiring a longer survey period. Kate Gillespie, Donna Lewis, Robert Raven, Jeff Long. Fish River Station Northern Territory 2012 3 One of the many rivers fringed by Melaleuca and Eucalyptus woodlands, R. Raven © Copyright, Queensland Museum The semi-aquatic Mertens’ Water Monitor (Varanus A significant attribute of Fish River Station is the mertensi) was the only threatened animal observed lack of introduced fishes. Other feral animals were that is listed under the Territory Parks and Wildlife common on most parts of the reserve with 20 exotic Conservation Act 2000 (TPWC Act). No species listed or pest animal species recorded. The environmental under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity damage attributed to Water Buffalo Bubalus( bubalis), Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) were recorded; European Cattle (Bos taurus) and Pigs (Sus scrofa) however, several are known to occur on the was evident at most sites. Some reptiles known to property. experience population declines following the arrival of the Cane Toad and expected to occur on the Some 351 flora species were recorded on Fish reserve were not found during this survey. River Station for the first time. It supports extensive areas of Excoecaria parvifolia/Eucalyptus Twenty weeds were recorded including six noxious microtheca/Melaleuca/Eucalyptus camaldulensis- weeds gazetted under the Weeds Management Act dominated forest, a community not observed 2001 (NT). The most important emerging weed is elsewhere. Thirty-seven species of conservation Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus), which is not yet significance1 were identified, although no listed well established on Fish River Station, in contrast to threatened plants were recorded. Information nearby pastoral land. Gamba Grass is likely to have gathered during this survey may result in the a serious impact on the conservation of native flora. change of conservation status of some species at Of the non-gazetted weeds, the most significant are the next (2014–15) review of species listings under Gambia Pea (Crotalaria goreensis) and Annual Mission the TPWC Act. Grass (Cenchrus pedicellatus subsp. pedicellatus)— both are common and appear to be spreading. Gambia Pea promises to cause similar problems as the declared weeds Coffee Senna Senna( occidentalis) 1 Species of conservation significance are those in the and Arsenic Weed (S. obtusifolia) because of its similar IUCN categories Data Deficient, Not Evaluated and Near structure and ecological characteristics. Threatened. 4 Bush Blitz survey report Introduction This is a report for the Bush Blitz program, which coordination and overall leadership of the aims to survey recent additions to the National survey. Experts from the following organisations Reserve System (NRS)2. Bush Blitz is an initiative of conducted the field and laboratory work: Museum the Australian Government, through the Australian and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Northern Biological Resources Study (ABRS), in partnership Territory Herbarium, Department of Land Resource with BHP Billiton and Earthwatch Australia. The Management Flora and Fauna Division, Australian Bush Blitz objectives are: National Insect Collection (CSIRO), Australian + to promote, publicise and demonstrate the National Herbarium (CSIRO), Queensland Museum, importance of taxonomy through species Darwin Botanic Gardens, University of New South discovery; Wales and the consultancy Aquagreen. + to undertake a national species discovery The ABRS wishes to thank the Museum and Art program targeted at recently acquired Gallery of the Northern Territory and the Northern properties of the NRS of Australia; Territory Herbarium for hosting this Bush Blitz. Jeff + to support the science of taxonomy in Long and Shaun Ansell from the Indigenous Land Australia through training students and Corporation (ILC) facilitated access to the reserve early career researchers, and the provision of and provided helpful advice on survey locations. grants for species description and resolution of taxonomically problematic, nationally important groups; + to promote partnerships between scientific institutions, government, industry and non-government organisations; and + to inform the NRS, reserve managers and other stakeholders of the results of the Bush Blitz Project. This Bush Blitz took place from 23 April 2012 to 3 May 2012, in the transition period between the wet and dry seasons. The ABRS provided logistical 2 The NRS is Australia’s network of protected areas, covering 16.52% of the country—over 12.7 million hectares, comprising Commonwealth, state and 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/topics/land/national- reserve-system>, accessed 27 May 2014. Vince Kessner, Michael Braby and Robert Raven having a moment of rest, M. Jambrecina © Copyright, Department of the Environment Fish River Station Northern Territory 2012 5 Reserve Overview3 Fish River Station Description Indigenous Land Corporation Fish River Station is a former pastoral property situated approximately 150 km south of Darwin in the Daly Basin bioregion. Date of purchase The property is largely undeveloped, with past clearing only for infrastructure (fencing, tracks, airstrip and homestead) and more 2010 recently from tracks associated with uranium exploration and a gas pipeline easement. Area The ILC purchased Fish River Station through the NRS component of the 182,500 ha Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Pew Foundation. The ILC holds Fish River Station on behalf of the traditional owners (Larbarganyin, Wagiman, Malak Malak and Kamu representatives) in a trust arrangement with Greening Australia. The ILC and traditional owners, with support from The Nature Conservancy, are working to develop long-term, sustainable management plans for Fish River Station. With a tropical wet–dry climate, Fish River Station