Threatened species & ecological communities

National recovery plan for the Blue Tinsel Lily (Calectasia cyanea)

Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington

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Summary

Illustrations and/or further information:

Barrett, R.L. and Dixon, K.W. (2001). A revision of the genus Calectasia (Calectasiaceae) with eightnew species described from south-west Western Australia. Nuytsia. 13 (3):411-448; DEC (2003 onwards) Western Australian Herbarium FloraBase 2 – Information on the Western Australian Flora.Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia (Accessed 2007) http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/science/ .

Current status:

Calectasia cyanea was declared as Rare Flora in 2003 under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and was ranked at that time as Critically Endangered(CR) under the World Conservation Union (IUCN, 2001) Red List criteria C2a(i);D based on the species area of occupancy being less than 10 km2 with all plants known from a single population containing fewer than 50 mature plants. Additional mature plants have since been found and the species no longer meets CR based on the above criteria. However, it is proposed that the ranking of Calectasia cyanea remain CR due to there being a single population that may be damaged or destroyed by a single event The species is listed as Critically Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBCAct). The main threats are inappropriate fire regimes, small population size and grazing.

Calectasia cyanea is confined to the south coast of Western Australia where it is known from a single population totalling approximately 180 mature plants over an area of occupancy of 0.02 km2.

Description:

Calectasia cyanea is an undershrub to40 cm, with a few short lateral branches, usually with stilt roots. Leaves are6.5 to 13 mm long by 1.0 to 1.3 mm wide, lack hairs, and have rough margins,the apex tapering to a sharp point. Bracts are 6.8 to 7.5 mm long by 1.6 to 2.3mm wide, light green to pale brown in colour. Perianth tube is 6.5 by 8.0 mm long, with distinct hairs in the lower half to two thirds. The throat has a tangle of short hairs and the lobes are papery, 8.3 to 11.2 mm long by 2.1 to 3.3 mm wide, dark blue, fading to white with hairs on the underside. The anthers are 4.9 to 5.2 mm long, yellow, turning orange-red with age. The style is generally 9.5 mm long or occasionally to 12 mm long and exceeds the anthers.

Calectasia cyanea is most closely related to C. gracilis and C. pignattiana but differs in its clumping habit (due to vigorous basal sprouting). It also differs from C. pignattiana in its mature leaves that are not turned downwards.

Habitat requirements:

Calectasia cyanea occurs on yellow sand or gravel over laterite in low heathland on alow ridge to gentle slope.

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

Given that Calectasia cyanea is ranked as Critically Endangered, it is considered that all known habitat for the wild population is critical to the survival of the species, and that the wild population is an important population. Habitat critical to the survival of C. cyanea includes thearea of occupancy of the population, areas of similar habitat surrounding the population (this is necessary to provide habitat for pollinators and future population expansion) and additional occurrences of similar habitat that may contain unrecorded populations of the species or be suitable for future translocations.

Benefits to other species or ecological communities:

Recovery actions implemented to improve the quality orsecurity of the habitat of Calectasia cyanea will also improve the status of associated native vegetation. No other threatened flora are located with C.cyanea, however four priority flora species are located with this species and are listed in the table below.

Conservation-listed flora species occurring in habitat of Calectasia cyanea

Species name Conservation Status (Western Australia) Conservation Status (EPBC Act 1999)
Conospermum quadripetalum Priority 2 -
Gyrostemon thesioides Priority 2 -
Eucalyptus goniantha subsp. goniantha Priority 4 -
Adenanthos x cunninghamii Priority 4 -

For a description of the Priority categories see Atkins (2006)

International obligations:

This plan is fully consistent with the aims and recommendations of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by Australiain June 1993, and will assist in implementing Australia’s responsibilities under that convention. Calectasia cyanea is not listed under any specific international treaty however, and therefore this recovery plan does not affect Australia’s obligations under any other international agreements.

Role and interests of Indigenous people:

Involvement of theIndigenous 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 Calectasia cyanea, or groups with a cultural connection to land that is important for the species’ 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 has identified that there are no sites of Aboriginal significance at or near the population of the species. Where no role is identified for the Indigenous community associated with this species in the development of the recovery plan, 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:

The implementation of this recovery plan is unlikely to cause significant adverse social and economic impacts as the population is located in National Park.

Affected interests:

No stakeholders have been identified tha will be affected by the implementation of this plan.

Evaluationof the plan’s performance:

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), in conjunction with the Albany District Threatened Flora Recovery Team 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. Between 2002 and 2006, DEC staff conducted surveys for Calectasia cyanea along the coast,west, south and east of Albany. No additional populations were found.
  2. Between 2002 and 2005, staff of DEC’s Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC) made collections of seed from Calectasia cyanea.
  3. Declared Rare Flora markers have been installed at the population.
  4. The ADTFRT is overseeing the implementation of this recovery plan and will includeit in its annual report to DEC’s Corporate Executive and funding bodies.
  5. Staff from DEC’s Albany District have been monitoring the population of Calectasia cyanea since 2002.
  6.  A poster has been produced for Calectasia cyanea.
  7. Th ehabitat of the species is excluded from prescribed burning.

Recovery plan objective:

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

Recovery criteria

Criteria for success:

The number of populations have increased and/or the number of mature individuals have increased by twenty five per cent or more over the five year term of the plan.

Criteria for failure:

The number of mature individuals have decreased by twenty five percent or more over the five year term of the plan.

Recovery actions

  1. Coordinate recovery actions
  2. Monitor population
  3. Collect seed and other material to preserve genetic diversity
  4. Develop and implement a fire management strategy
  5. Obtain biological and ecological information
  6. Conduct further surveys
  7. Promote awareness
  8. Map habitat critical to the survival of Calectasia cyanea
  9. Prepare a translocation proposal
  10. Review the Plan and need for further recovery actions
Cover page of recovery plan

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