Giant Andersonia (Andersonia axilliflora) Interim Recovery Plan 2003-2008
Interim Recovery Plan No. 147
Rebecca Evans, Sarah Barrett, Gillian Stack and Andrew Brown
Department of Conservation and Land Management, WA, 2003
Summary
| Scientific Name: | Andersonia axilliflora | Common Name: | Giant Andersonia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family: | Epacridaceae | Flowering Period: | October - November |
| Dept Region: | South Coast | Dept District: | Albany Work Centre |
| Shire: | Gnowangerup | Recovery Team: | Albany District Threatened Flora Recovery Team (ADTFRT) |
Illustrations and/or further information: Barrett, S. (1996). A Biological Survey of the Mountains in Southern Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management, unpublished report; Brown, A., Thomson-Dans, C. and Marchant, N. (Eds). (1998). Western Australia's Threatened Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia; Druce, G. C. (1917). Nomenclatorial notes: chiefly African and Australian, Reprinted from: Report of the Botanical Society and Exchange Club of the British Isles (1916, suppl., 2): 604(1917), Fig. 21, p. 122; Meney, K. A., Nielssen, G. M., and Dixon, K. W. (1994). Seed bank patterns in Restionaceae and Epacridaceae after wildfire in kwongan in southwestern Australia, Journal of Vegetation Science, 5: 5-12.
Current status: Andersonia axilliflora was declared as Rare Flora in October 1996 and ranked as Critically Endangered (CR) in November 1998. The three year Interim Recovery Plan (IRP) that was prepared for this species in May 1999 will be replaced by this revised 5 year IRP. The species currently meets World Conservation Union (IUCN, 2000) Red List Category 'CR' under criteria A2e as all populations are threatened by Phytophthora and it is estimated that there will be a decline of 80% in the next three generations. The main threats are Phytophthora, wildfire and damage through recreational use. This IRP will be implemented in conjunction with the "Eastern Stirling Range Montane Heath Community" IRP (Barrett 1999), the Persoonia micranthera IRP (Stack and Brown 2002), the Leucopogon gnaphalioides IRP (Phillimore and Brown) and the Dryandra montana IRP (Kershaw, Holland and Brown).
Distribution and habitat: Andersonia axilliflora is confined to the upper slopes and summits of the eastern peaks of the Stirling Range National Park, where it grows in shallow rocky soil over schist, supporting dense low heath and scrub (Brown et al. 1998). The species is part of the Critically Endangered Eastern Stirling Range Montane Heath Community (Barrett 1999).
Critical habitat: The critical habitat for Andersonia axilliflora comprises the area of occupancy of the known populations; similar habitat within 200 metres of known populations; vegetation that links populations and additional nearby occurrences of similar habitat that do not currently contain the species but may have done so and may be suitable for translocations.
Habitat critical to the survival of the subspecies, and important populations: Given that this species is listed as Critically Endangered it is considered that all known habitat containing wild and translocated populations is habitat critical and that all populations are important.
Benefits to other species/ecological communities: Recovery actions implemented to improve the quality or security of the habitat of Andersonia axilliflora will also improve the health of the Critically Endangered Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) "Eastern Stirling Range Montane Heath and Thicket Community" in which it occurs and which includes several other threatened plant taxa including Dryandra montana, Sphenotoma drummondii, Darwinia collina, D. squarrosa, Banksia brownii, Leucopogon gnaphalioides, Deyeuxia drummondii and Persoonia micranthera.
International obligations: This plan is fully consistent with the aims and recommendations of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by Australia in June 1993, and will assist in implementing Australia's responsibilities under that Convention. However, as Andersonia axilliflora is not listed under any international agreement, the implementation of other international environmental responsibilities is not affected by this plan.
Role and interests of indigenous people: There are no known indigenous communities interested or involved in the management of areas affected by this plan.
Social and economic impacts: The implementation of this recovery plan is unlikely to cause significant adverse social and economic impacts. All populations occur in the Stirling Range National Park.
Evaluation of the Plan's Performance: The Department of Conservation and Land Management (DCLM), in conjunction with the Recovery Team will evaluate the performance of this IRP. The plan is to be reviewed within five years of its implementation.
Existing Recovery Actions: The following recovery actions have been or are currently being implemented -
- Stirling Range National Park Rangers are aware of the location and threatened status of the species.
- Aerial phosphite spraying has been undertaken and is ongoing.
- Approximately 8500 seeds have been collected and stored in DCLM's Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC).
- The Botanic Garden and Parks Authority (BGPA) currently have one cultivated plant of A. axilliflora grown from a seedling provided by the Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC).
- Tissue culture trials have been undertaken by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA) but have so far been unsuccessful.
- An IRP has been prepared for the Threatened Ecological Community in which Andersonia axilliflora occurs.
- A demographic study has commenced in association with a study on the fire ecology of the Montane Community.
- Staff from DCLM's Albany Work Centre regularly monitor all populations of the species and have established monitoring plots to assess the impact of P. cinnamomi and phosphite application.
- Staff from DCLM's Albany Work Centre are overseeing the implementation of this IRP and will include information on progress in an annual report to DCLM's Corporate Executive and funding bodies.
- The alignment of the Ridge Walk has been assessed regarding possible effects on threatened species and communities and has been found to be of no current threat.
IRP Objective: The objective of this Interim Recovery Plan is to abate identified threats and maintain and/or enhance in situ populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the taxon in the wild.
Recovery criteria
Criteria for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased by 10% or more.
Criteria for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased by 10% or more.
| 1. Coordinate recovery actions | 6. Conduct further surveys |
| 2. Apply phosphite and monitor its effect | 7. Obtain biological and ecological information |
| 3. Develop and implement a fire management strategy | 8. Promote community awareness |
| 4. Collect seed and cutting material | 9. Review this IRP and revise it or prepare a full Recovery Plan if necessary |
| 5. Monitor populations |
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