Threatened species & ecological communities

National recovery plan for the Chiddarcooping Wattle (Acacia lobulata)

Department of Environment and Conservation, Yilgarn District Office, Wheatbelt Region

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Summary

Illustrations and/or further information:

R.S Cowan & B.R. Maslin, (1990) Nuytsia Vol. 7 (2), pp 194-195; A. Brown, C. Thomson-Dans and N. Marchant (Eds) (1998) Western Australia’s Threatened Flora; Flora of Australia; C.J Yates & L.M. Broadhurst, (2002) Biological Conservation 108: 13-26; C.J Yates, I. Abbott, S.D Hopper & D.J Coates (2003) Fire in Ecosystems of south-west Australia: Impacts and management, pp 395-420; M.L. Buist, D.J Coates & C.J. Yates (2002) Conservation Science W.Aust. 4 (3) : 36-53; M. Byrne, G. Tischler, B. Macdonald, D.J. Coates & J. McComb, (2001) Conservation Genetics 2: 157 –166; C.P Elliott, C.J. Yates, P.G Ladd and D.J Coates (2002) Aust.J. Bot, 2002, 50, pp 63-73. M.L Buist Comparative ecology and conservation biology of two critically endangered acacias (Acacia lobulata and A.sciophanes) and two common, widespread relatives (Acacia verrivula and A.anfractuosa) from the south-west of Western Australia. 2003.

Current status:

Acacia lobulatawas declared as Rare Flora in 1997 and currently meets World Conservation Union (IUCN 2000) Red List category ‘EN’ under criterion B1a(v)+B2a(v), as populations are severely fragmented, the area of occupancy is believed to be less than 10 km2 and there is continuing decline in the number of individuals. This species is listed as Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Threats include inappropriate fire regimes, grazing, restricted habitat, road maintenance, poor recruitment, herbicide application and weed invasion.

Description:

When mature Acacia lobulata develops into an erect, open and often spindly shrub, 1 m to 2 m tall. The bark is smooth. Branchlets are slightly angled, warty and resinous. The phyllodes are asymmetrical, with curved, pointed tips. They are ascending, curve inwards, and are a dull grayish-green. Solitary globular flower heads appear in July, 3.5 mm by 4.5 mm in diameter, are composed of between 15 and 17 flowers. The dull dark brown seeds, 4 to 5.5 mm long and 1.8 to 2.3 mm wide, are oblong (Brown et al 1998).

Habitat requirements:

Acacia lobulata occurs exclusively on colluvial quartz gravel loam of decaying kaolinite granite. This soil type is in close proximity to large granite outcrops and laterite breakaways (Buist, 2003). The species is known from three populations over a geographic range of 17 km in and adjacent to Chiddarcooping Nature Reserve. Associated species include Acacia andrewsii, Acacia hemiteles, Daviesia nematophylla, Eucalyptus yilgarnensis, Eremophila drummondii, Gastrolobium parviflorum, Melaleuca uncinata, Maireana marginata, Waitzia acuminata, Rhodanthe sp., Austrostipa eremophila, Austrodanthania setacea, Austrostipa elegantissima.

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

Habitat critical to the survival of Acacia lobulata is the area of occupancy of important populations; areas of similar habitat surrounding important populations and additional occurrences of similar habitat that do not currently contain the species but may have so in the past and may be suitable for translocations. These areas of similar habitat are important where they provide potential habitat for natural range extension and/or for allowing pollinators or biota essential to the continued existence of the species to move between populations.

As Acacia lobulata is listed as Endangered all populations, including any resulting from translocations, are important.

Benefits to other species or ecological communities:

There are no known listed threatened species or ecological communities in the habitat of Acacia lobulata. However, recovery actions implemented to improve the quality or security of its habitat will also improve the status of associated vegetation.

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. The species is not listed under the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In addition, it is not listed under any other specific international treaty and this recovery plan does not affect Australia’s obligations under 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 lobulata, or Indigenous groups with a cultural connection to land that is important for the species’ conservation and to determine whether there are issues or interests identified in the plan. A search of the Department of Indigenous Affairs Aboriginal Heritage Sites Register has identified no sites of Aboriginal significance at or near the population of the species covered by this recovery plan. Where no role is identified in the development of the recovery plan for the Indigenous community associated with Acacia lobulata, opportunities may exist through cultural interpretation and awareness of the species. 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 impact:

Several populations of Acacia lobulata occur on private land and there is some potential for limited social and economic impact. However, as recovery actions will involve liaison and cooperation with all stakeholders it is unlikely that the implementation of this recovery plan will have any significant social and economic impact.

Evaluation of the Plan’s Performance:

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), in conjunction with the Yilgarn District Threatened Flora Recovery Team (YDTFRT) 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 of implementation.

Existing Recovery Actions:

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

  1. All relevant land managers have been made aware of the location and threatened status of the species.
  2. Surveys have been conducted to locate new populations.
  3. Markers that define populations have been installed and maintained.
  4. Approximately 16,684 seeds collected from Subpopulation 1a and population 2 are stored in DEC’s Threatened Flora Seed Centre at –18°C.
  5. An information sheet that describes and illustrates the species and calls for information on any further sightings has been produced and distributed.
  6. PhD complete on “Comparative ecology and conservation biology of two critically endangered acacias (Acacia lobulata and Acacia sciophanes) and two common, widespread relatives (Acacia verricula and A. anfractuosa) from the south-west of Western Australia”
  7. Staff from DEC’s Yilgarn District regularly monitor populations of the species.
  8. The Yilgarn District Threatened Flora Recovery Team is overseeing the implementation of this recovery plan and will include information on progress in an annual report to DEC 's Corporate Executive and funding bodies.
  9. Dashboard stickers, posters and can holders that illustrate DRF markers and describing their purpose have been produced and distributed.

Recovery Plan Objective:

The objective of this Recovery Plan is to abate identified threats and maintain or enhance in situ populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the species in the wild.

Recovery criteria

Criteria for success:

The numbers of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased by ten percent or more over the five year term of this plan.

Criteria for failure:

The numbers of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased by ten percent or more over the five year term of this plan.

Recovery actions

  1. Coordinate recovery actions
  2. Map habitat critical to survival
  3. Achieve long-term protection of habitat and secure land tenure
  4. Develop a translocation proposal
  5. Collect seed and cutting material
  6. Develop and implement a rabbit control strategy
  7. Develop and implement a weed control strategy
  8. Develop and implement a fire control strategy
  9. Develop and implement a proposal to stimulate germination of soil-stored seed and monitor periodically
  10. Obtain biological and ecological information
  11. Promote community awareness
  12. Monitor populations
  13. Conduct further surveys
  14. Liaise with relevant land managers
  15. Review the plan and the need for further actions
Cover page of recovery plan

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