Threatened species & ecological communities

National recovery plan for the Yornaning Wattle (Acacia insolita subsp. recurva)

Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington

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Summary

Illustrations and/or further information:

Brown, A., Thomson-Dans, C. and Marchant, N. (1998). Western Australia’s Threatened Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia. pp 62; Durell, G.S and Buehrig, R.M. (2001) Declared Rare and poorly Known Flora in the Narrogin District. Western Australian Wildlife Management Program No. 30. Department of Conservation and Land Management. pp 163; Maslin, B.R. (1999) the taxonomy of fifty-five species of Acacia, primarily Western Australian, in section Phyllodineae (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae). Nuytsia. 12(3): 363; CALM (2003 onwards) Western Australian Herbarium FloraBase 2 – Information on the Western Australian Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia. Accessed 2006. http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/science/ .

Analysis of outputs and effectiveness of draft Interim Recovery Plan (IRP) (1999-2001) prepared by G. Stack and A. Brown.

The criteria for success in the previous plan (the number of individuals in populations and/or the number of populations have increased over the term of the plan) has been met, as follows.

The number of known plants in wild populations has increased from a 771 to 800 due to the discovery of an additional 29 mature plants in Population 2 and no recent deaths in previously known plants.

Actions carried out in the previous plan include:

Action 1          Obtain biological and ecological information: Research into reproductive phenology, population structure, soil seed band dynamics, germination rate, response to fire, impact of grazing and efficiency of germplasm storage techniques has been undertaken.
Action 5          Preserve genetic diversity of the subspecies: DEC’s Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC) has seed from both populations.

Action 5 and other recovery actions included in the previous plan are ongoing and are included in this revised plan.

New recovery actions included in this plan are:

Action 2                Propose ranking change
Action 5                Develop and implement an insect pest control strategy and follow-up with regular monitoring and additional control if required
Action 9                Seek security of tenure for land supporting Population 2
Action 10              Develop and implement fire and disturbance trials

Current status:

Acacia insolita subsp. recurva was declared as Rare Flora in 1996 under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and is ranked as Endangered (EN) under World Conservation Union (IUCN 1994) Red List criteria B1+2ce. However, due to its extent of occurrence being less than 100 km2 and area of occupancy less than 10 km2 with fragmented populations and continuing decline in habitat quality, the subspecies now meets Critically Endangered (CR) under IUCN 2001 criteria. It is therefore proposed in Recovery Action 2 to recommend to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) that the ranking of Darwinia apiculata be amended to CR under criterion B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). Threats include inappropriate fire regimes, track maintenance, weed invasion, dieback disease, rubbish dumping, trampling, mining activities, and the development of small tracks bisecting the habitat. The subspecies is listed as Endangered (EN) under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Acacia insolita subsp. recurva is known from two populations and a total of 800 mature plants over a range of less than 7 km in the Shire of Wickepin.

Population one is located in a Nature Reserve and represents 96% of the total plant numbers. Population 2 is located on private property.

Description:

Acacia insolita subsp. recurva is a multi-stemmed shrub 60 to 120 cm tall. Its slender green or reddish stems, which may or may not have short fine hairs, are usually erect but sometimes scramble through associated low vegetation. Each leaf is made up of two compound leaflets, which persist on mature plants. Leaflets curve downwards and are shallowly concave but often fold longitudinally about the midrib when dry. The golden flower heads are borne at the ends of the branchlets (Brown et al. 1998; Maslin 1999).The seed pod is 5 to 6 mm long and the seeds are tranverse and cubic to obloid (Maslin 1999).

Acacia insolita subsp. insolita is distinguished from A. insolita subsp. recurva as by its flat, non-recurved leaflets (Brown et al. 1998).

Habitat requirements:

Acacia insolita subsp. recurva occurs on exposed lateritic breakaways and lateritic soils, in shallow sandy clay supporting open low Eucalyptus wandoo and Allocasuarina huegeliana woodland over open scrub of Banksia nobilis, Banksia sessilis, Gastrolobium sp. and sedges. 

Habitat critical to the survival of the subspecies, and important populations:

Given that Acacia insolita subsp. recurva is ranked as EN, it is considered that all known habitat for wild populations is critical to the survival of the subspecies, and that all wild populations are important populations. Habitat critical to the survival of A. insolita subsp. recurva includes the area of occupancy of extant populations, areas of similar habitat surrounding populations as it may provide potential habitat for natural recruitment, remnant vegetation that surrounds and links important populations (habitat for pollinators) and additional occurrences of similar habitat that may contain the subspecies or be suitable for future translocations.

Benefits to other species or ecological communities:

Recovery actions implemented to improve the quality or security of the habitat for Acacia insolita subsp. recurva will also improve the status of remnant native vegetation in which it is located. Notably open low Eucalyptus wandoo and Allocasuarina huegeliana woodland over open scrub of Banksia nobilis, Banksia sessilis, Gastrolobium sp. and sedges. No other threatened or priority flora species are located with Acacia insolita subsp. recurva.

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. Acacia insolita subsp. recurva is not listed under any specific international treaty however, and this recovery plan does not affect Australia’s obligations under any other international agreements.

Role and interests of Indigenous people:

Involvement of the Indigenous community is being sought through the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC) and the Department of Indigenous Affairs to assist in the identification of cultural values for land occupied by Acacia insolita subsp. recurva, or groups with a cultural connection to land that is important for the subspecies’ conservation and to determine whether there are any issues or interests identified in the plan.  A search of the Department of Indigenous Affairs Aboriginal Heritage Sites Register does not list any significant sites in the vicinity of populations of Acacia insolita subsp. recurva.  Where no role is identified for the Indigenous community associated with this subspecies in the development of the recovery plan, opportunities may exist through cultural interpretation and awareness of the subspecies.  Indigenous involvement in the implementation of recovery actions will be encouraged.'

Continued liaison between DEC and the Indigenous community will identify areas in which collaboration will assist implementation of recovery actions.

Social and economic impacts:

The implementation of this recovery plan is unlikely to cause significant adverse social and economic impact. However, as one population of Acacia insolita subsp. recurva occurs on private property the protection of it may potentially affect future farming activities. Where populations are located on private property, recovery actions refer to continued liaison between stakeholders with regard to these areas.

Affected interests:

Stakeholders potentially affected by the implementation of this plan are the owners of private property.

Evaluation of the Plan’s Performance: DEC in conjunction with the Great Southern District Threatened Flora Recovery Team (GSDTFRT) will evaluate the performance of this recovery plan. In addition to annual reporting on progress and evaluation against the criteria for success and failure, the plan will be reviewed following five years implementation.

Existing Recovery Actions:

The following recovery actions have been or are currently being implemented -

  1. Appropriate land managers have been made aware of the threatened nature of this subspecies, its location and their legal obligations to protect it.
  2. Joint DEC/community surveys were conducted in 1996.
  3. A comprehensive survey of the plants in Population 1 was completed in 1997.
  4. Fencing of Population 2 on private property has been undertaken.
  5. Collections of seed from both populations have been stored at DEC’s Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC).
  6. Research has been undertaken into factors affecting the subspecies reproductive potential.
  7. Research into the subspecies response to fire has been conducted by staff from the TFSC and DEC’s SCB.
  8. Research has been undertaken into the susceptibility of A. insolita subsp. recurva to Phytophthora.
  9. Surveys conducted in 2006 identified a number of private property remnants for further survey
  10. The Great Southern District Threatened Flora Recovery Team (GSDTFRT) is overseeing the implementation of this recovery plan and will include information on progress in its annual report to DEC's Corporate Executive and funding bodies.
  11. Staff from DEC’s Great Southern District and community volunteers regularly monitor populations of the subspecies.

Recovery plan objective:

The objective of this recovery plan is to abate identified threats and maintain or enhance viable in situ populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the subspecies in the wild.

Recovery criteria

Criteria for success:

The number of populations have increased and/or the number of mature individuals in populations have increased by 10 percent or more over the five year term of the plan.

Criteria for failure:

The number of populations have decreased and/or the number of mature individuals in populations have decreased by 10 percent or more over the five year term of the plan.

Recovery actions

  1. Coordinate recovery actions
  2. Propose ranking change
  3. Liaise with relevant land managers
  4. Develop and implement fire and disturbance trials
  5. Develop and implement a fire management plan
  6. Monitor populations
  7. Develop and implement insect control and follow-up with regular monitoring and additional control if required
  8. Collect seed
  9. Conduct further surveys
  10. Promote awareness
  11. Seek security of tenure for land supporting Population 2
  12. Obtain biological and ecological information
  13. Review the plan and need for further recovery actions
Cover page of recovery plan

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