Threatened species & ecological communities

Curved-leaf Grevillea (Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba) Interim Recovery Plan 2000-2003

Val English & Robyn Phillimore
Department of Conservation and Land Management
Western Australian Threatened Species and Communities Unit (WATSCU), September 2000

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Contents


Foreword

Interim Recovery Plans (IRPs) are developed within the framework laid down in Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) Policy Statements Nos. 44 and 50.

IRPs outline the recovery actions that are required to urgently address those threatening processes most affecting the ongoing survival of threatened taxa or ecological communities, and begin the recovery process.

CALM is committed to ensuring that Critically Endangered taxa are conserved through the preparation and implementation of Recovery Plans or Interim Recovery Plans and by ensuring that conservation action commences as soon as possible and always within one year of endorsement of that rank by the Minister.

This Interim Recovery Plan will operate from September 2000 to August 2003 but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced. It is intended that, if the taxon is still ranked Critically Endangered, this IRP will be replaced by a full Recovery Plan after three years.

This IRP was approved by the Director of Nature Conservation on day, month, 2000. The provision of funds identified in this Interim Recovery Plan is dependent on budgetary and other constraints affecting CALM, as well as the need to address other priorities.

Information in this IRP was accurate at September 2000.

 

SUMMARY

Scientific Name: Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba
Common Name: Curved-leaf grevillea
Family: Proteaceae
Flowering Period: September to October
CALM District: Perth
CALM Region : Swan
Shire: Swan
Recovery Team: Swan Region Threatened Flora and Communities Recovery Team (SRTFCRT)

Illustrations and/or further information: Brown, A., Thomson-Dans, C. and Marchant, N. (Eds). (1998). Western Australia's Threatened Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia; Olde, P.M. and Marriott, N.R. (1995). The Grevillea Book 2: 107-108. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst N.S.W.

Current status: Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba was declared as Rare Flora in March 1998 and was ranked in December 1999 as Critically Endangered (CR). It currently meets World Conservation Union (IUCN 1994) Red List Category 'CR' under criterion B1+2bc, as there are only five populations with a total of 208 mature plants with continuing decline in the quality of the habitat. The main threats are weed invasion, inappropriate fire regimes, trampling, grazing, dieback disease and threats associated with road and rail maintenance.

Habitat requirements: The subspecies is very geographically restricted, with a range of less than 20 km. This subspecies is generally associated with the Muchea Limestone community which is ranked as Endangered due to threats associated with its restricted nature. The community is characterised by a suite of species including Melaleuca huegelii, M. systena ms and Acacia saligna.

Critical habitat: The critical habitat for Grevillea curviloba subsp. curvilobacomprises: the area of occupancy of the known populations, areas of Muchea Limestone with remnant vegetation within 200 metres of known populations, the local catchment for the surface waters that provide the wetland habitat of the subspecies, corridors of remnant vegetation that link populations, and additional occurrences of the ecological community 'Shrublands and Woodlands on Muchea Limestone of the Swan Coastal Plain' that do not currently contain the subspecies.

Existing Recovery Actions: The following recovery actions have been or are currently being implemented:

  1. Relevant land managers have been informed of the subspecies location and the associated legal obligations.
  2. Declared Rare Flora (DRF) markers have been installed at all populations.
  3. Dashboard stickers and posters that illustrate DRF markers and describe their purpose have been produced and distributed.
  4. An A4 sized poster that provides a description of the subspecies and information about threats and recovery actions has been produced.
  5. Negotiations are underway to establish conservation reserves at the site of Populations 3 and 4, and Public Open Space at Population 2.
  6. Approximately 605 seeds were collected in 1998 for CALM's Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC).
  7. The Swan Region Threatened Flora and Communities Recovery Team is overseeing the implementation of this IRP.
  8. Staff from CALM's Perth District office regularly monitor the populations.

IRP Objective: The objective of this Interim Recovery Plan (IRP) is to abate identified threats and maintain or enhance in situ populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the subspecies in the wild.

Recovery Criteria

Criterion for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased.

Criterion for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased.

Recovery actions

  1. Coordinate recovery actions.
  2. Notify and liaise with relevant land managers.
  3. Negotiate with land managers to establish conservation reserves.
  4. Undertake weed control.
  5. Fence Population 4.
  6. Establish appropriate walk trails and erect signs at Population 2.
  7. Monitor populations.
  8. Conduct further surveys.
  9. Develop and implement a fire management strategy.
  10. Collect seed and cutting material.
  11. Obtain biological and ecological information.
  12. Start translocation process.
  13. Promote awareness.
  14. Incorporate recovery actions into Interim Management Guidelines (IMGs) for new conservation reserves.
  15. Write full Recovery Plan.

 

1. BACKGROUND

1.1 History

Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba was first collected in the late 1830s by James Drummond. D.J. McGillivray named the taxon Grevillea curviloba in 1986, a name which replaced G. diversifolia var. rigida that had been attached by Meissner in 1845 to the specimen collected by Drummond. The name curviloba refers to the inwardly curved leaf lobes (McGillivray 1986).

Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba was originally collected from the Muchea-Bullsbrook area, and is still only known from a range of less than 20 km.

1.2 Description

Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba has leaves that are 1.5 to 5 cm long and have mostly oval, wedge-shaped lobes cut about half way to the mid rib. The inflorescences are 1 to 3 cm long and 3 cm wide. The flowers occur on short stalks, usually in the leaf axils. The individual flowers are 7 to 10 mm long by 0.5 mm across, and are creamy white. The fruits are 10 to 13 mm long and 6 to 9 mm wide with a wrinkled surface. The shiny seed is 7 to 9 mm long by 3 to 3.5 mm wide (Brown et al. 1998; Olde and Marriott 1995).

Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba differs from narrow curved-leaf grevillea (G. curviloba subsp. incurva) in having broader, slightly cupped primary leaf lobes that are generally more than 1.5 mm wide, rather than leaf lobes that are narrow and prominently incurved (Brown et al. 1998).

Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba is extremely variable in form. It can occur as a prostrate shrub with broad dark green leaves, or a tall erect shrub to two metres tall with greyish green leaves.

1.3 Distribution and habitat

The species is very geographically restricted, with a range of less than 20 km. The subspecies is associated with the Muchea Limestone community, which is ranked as Endangered as the habitat has been mostly cleared for agriculture and the remaining area is under threat from weed invasion, clearing, and inappropriate fire regimes. The habitat is typically winter wet, deep peaty grey sands over limestone at depth. The subspecies occurs with a suite of shrubs including Melaleuca huegelii, M. systena ms and Acacia saligna that are more commonly associated with limestone soils near the coast (English and Blyth 2000).

1.4 Critical Habitat

Critical habitat is habitat identified as being critical to the survival of a listed threatened species or listed threatened ecological community. Habitat is defined as the biophysical medium or media (a) occupied (continuously, periodically or occasionally) by an organism or group of organisms; or (b) once occupied (continuously, periodically or occasionally) by an organism, or group of organisms, and into which organisms of that kind that the potential to be reintroduced. (sections 207A and 528 of Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)).

The critical habitat for Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba comprises:

1.5 Biology and ecology

While the biology of many grevillea species is well researched, the biology of Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba is poorly known. Like many other grevilleas, the subspecies regenerates from soil-stored seed, but has also been observed to resprout from root stock after fire or loss of foliage by other means such as grazing and slashing. It is pollinated by insects, possibly native bees (Olde and Marriott 1995).

The subspecies is relatively hardy in most conditions but has not been widely cultivated for the horticultural industry (Olde and Marriott 1995).

1.6 Threats

Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba was declared as Rare Flora in March 1998 and ranked in December 1999 as Critically Endangered (CR). It currently meets World Conservation Union (IUCN 1994) Red List category 'CR' under criterion B1+2bc as there are only five populations with a total of 208 adult plants, and continuing decline in the quality of the habitat. The main threats are weed invasion, inappropriate fire regimes, trampling, grazing, dieback disease and threats associated with road and rail maintenance.

1.7 Summary of population information and threats

Summary of population information and threats
Pop. No. & Location Land Status Year/No. plants Condition Threats

1A. Bullsbrook

Shire road reserve

1997/ 20

1998/ 20

1999/ 40 (20)*

In disturbed habitat, but healthy

Road maintenance, weed invasion, inappropriate fire, dieback disease

1B. Bullsbrook

Westrail rail reserve

1999/ 40 (20)*

2000/ 70 (30)

In disturbed habitat, but healthy

Rail maintenance, weed invasion, inappropriate fire, dieback disease

2. The Vines

Private property

1996/ 40

1998/ 40 (20)

In disturbed habitat, but healthy

Weed invasion, inappropriate fire, trampling, dieback disease

3. The Vines

Private property

1996/ 44

1998/ 10

In disturbed habitat, but healthy

Weed invasion, inappropriate fire, grazing, dieback disease

4. The Vines

Private property

1996/ 4

2000/ 23 (30)

In disturbed habitat, but healthy

Weed invasion, grazing, inappropriate fire, dieback disease

5. Bullsbrook

Shire road reserve

2000/ 25

In disturbed habitat, but healthy

Road maintenance, weed invasion, inappropriate fire, dieback disease

Numbers in brackets are seedlings.

1.8 Guide for decision-makers

Section 1 provides details of current and possible future threats. Developments in the immediate vicinity of any of the populations or within the defined critical habitat of Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba require assessment. No developments should be approved unless the proponents can demonstrate that they will have no significant impact on the subspecies, its habitat or potential habitat, or on the local surface hydrology.

2. RECOVERY OBJECTIVE AND CRITERIA

2.1 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.

Criterion for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased.

Criterion for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased.

3. RECOVERY ACTIONS

3.1 Existing recovery actions

Most relevant land managers have been formally notified of the presence of the Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba populations on their lands. These notifications detailed the Declared Rare status of the taxon and the associated legal responsibilities.

Declared Rare Flora (DRF) markers have been installed at all populations. These alert people working in the area to the presence of significant flora, helping to prevent accidental damage during maintenance operations. Awareness of the significance of these markers is being promoted to relevant bodies such as local government authorities. To this end, dashboard stickers and posters have been produced and distributed. These illustrate DRF markers, inform of their purpose and provide a contact telephone number to use if such a marker is encountered.

An A4 sized poster that provides a description of the subspecies and information about threats and recovery actions has been developed for Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba. It is hoped that the poster will result in the discovery of new populations.

Negotiations are underway to establish conservation reserves at the site of the Populations 3 and 4. Population 2 is proposed as bushland Public Open Space as part of Perth's Bushplan (Government of Western Australia, 1998).

Approximately 605 seeds were collected for CALM's Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC) in 1998. An initial germination rate of 95% was recorded.

The Swan Region Threatened Flora and Communities Recovery Team (SRTFCRT) is overseeing the implementation of this IRP and will include it in its annual report to CALM's Corporate Executive and funding bodies.

Staff from CALM's Perth District Office regularly monitor the populations.

3.2 Future recovery actions

Where populations occur on lands other than those managed by CALM, permission has been or will be sought from the appropriate land managers prior to recovery actions being undertaken.

3.2.1. Coordinate recovery actions

The SRTFCRT will continue to oversee the implementation of the recovery actions for Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba and will include information on progress in its annual report to CALM's Corporate Executive and funding bodies.

Action: Coordinate recovery actions

Responsibility: CALM (Perth District) through the SRTFCRT

Cost: $5,700 per year

3.2.2. Notify and liaise with relevant land managers

Managers of land on which Population 5 occurs will need to be officially notified of the presence of DRF. Staff from CALM's Perth District will continue to liaise with the managers of land on which the taxon occurs and managers of adjacent lands to ensure the populations are not accidentally damaged or destroyed.

An information kit will be developed that illustrates the importance of the subspecies' conservation, the role of DRF markers in the conservation of declared rare species, contact names and numbers, and specific information about this subspecies. Due to the potential susceptibility of the habitat of the subspecies to dieback caused by Phytophthora spp., the need for the application of dieback hygiene procedures will be included in information provided. This will stress the need to restrict the movement of soil into the habitat of the populations.

Action: Notify and liaise with relevant land managers
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $500 per year

3.2.3. Negotiate with land managers to establish conservation reserves

Staff from CALM's Swan Region will continue to negotiate with the land owners at Populations 3 and 4 to establish conservation reserves to protect plants and their habitat.

Action: Negotiate with land managers to establish conservation reserves
Responsibility: CALM (Swan Region) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $500 in the first year

3.2.4. Undertake weed control

Weeds are a major threat to all populations. The following actions will be implemented:

  1. Selection of appropriate herbicides after determining which weeds are present.
  2. Controlling invasive weeds by hand removal or spot spraying around Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba plants when weeds first emerge.
  3. Scheduling weed control to include spraying at other threatened flora populations within the district.

The tolerance of associated native plant species to herbicides at the site of Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba is not known and weed control programs will be undertaken in conjunction with research (see Recovery Action 11).

Action: Undertake weed control
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District, CALMScience) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $700 per year

3.2.5. Fence Population 4

Kangaroos are grazing Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba seedlings at Population 4. A fence will be erected around the population including a buffer of surrounding habitat.

Action: Fence Population 4
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District) through the SRTFCRT and relevant land manager
Cost: $1,600 in the first year

3.2.6. Establish appropriate walk trails and erect signs at Population 2

Walk trails will be sited to discourage trampling of Population 2 and its habitat. Signs will also be erected that indicate the site is environmentally sensitive and suggests that users stay on the designated pathways.

Action: Establish appropriate walk trails and erect signs at Population 2
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District) through the SRTFCRT and relevant land manager
Cost: $1,600 in the first year

3.2.7. Monitor populations

Monitoring of factors such as weed invasion, habitat degradation (including the impact of dieback), salinity levels and population stability (expansion or decline), pollinator activity, seed production, recruitment, and longevity are essential. The populations will be inspected annually.

Action: Monitor populations
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $1,300 per year

3.2.8. Conduct further surveys

Further surveys will be conducted during the species' flowering period (September to October). Local volunteers such as members of naturalists clubs and wildflower societies will be encouraged to be involved in surveys supervised by CALM staff.

Action: Conduct further surveys
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $1,900 per year

3.2.9. Develop and implement a fire management strategy

Frequent fire may prevent the accumulation of sufficient soil stored seed to allow regeneration of the population, and may deplete underground stores if the subspecies reproduces by suckering. A fire management strategy will be developed to determine fire control measures and fire frequency.

Action: Develop and implement a fire management strategy
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $2,400 in the first year and $1,000 in subsequent years

3.2.10. Collect seed and cutting material

A small quantity of seed has been collected from Population 1. Additional seed will be collected as required. Cuttings will also be collected to establish a living collection of genetic material at Botanic Garden and Parks Authority (BGPA).

Action: Collect seed and cutting material
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District, TFSC) and BGPA, through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $2,800 per year

3.2.11. Obtain biological and ecological information

Increased knowledge of the biology and ecology of the subspecies will provide a scientific basis for management of Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba in the wild. Investigations will include: 1. Study of the soil seed bank dynamics and the role of various factors including disturbance, competition, rainfall and grazing in recruitment and seedling survival. 2. Determination of reproductive strategies, phenology and seasonal growth. 3. Investigation of the mating system and pollination biology.

  1. Investigation of population genetic structure, levels of genetic diversity and minimum viable population size.
  2. Investigation of the impacts of dieback disease and control techniques on Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba and its habitat.

Action: Obtain biological and ecological information
Responsibility: CALM (CALMScience, Perth District) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $14,500 per year

3.2.12. Start translocation process

Translocation is essential for the conservation of this subspecies, as the total number of extant plants is low, and the only known populations are not secure from threats including disease and fire. The urgency of this action will be reduced following reservation of areas that contain populations of the taxon. (refer Recovery Action 3). Although translocations are generally undertaken under full Recovery Plans, it is possible to develop a translocation proposal and start propagating plants within the time frame of an Interim Recovery Plan. This will be coordinated by the SRTFCRT. Information on the translocation of threatened animals and plants in the wild is provided in CALM Policy Statement No. 29 Translocation of Threatened Flora and Fauna. All translocation proposals require endorsement by the Director of Nature Conservation.

Action: Start translocation process
Responsibility: CALM (CALMScience, Perth District) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $4,500 in the third year

3.2.13. Promote awareness

The importance of biodiversity conservation and the protection of the Critically Endangered Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba will be promoted to the public. Formal links with members of groups such as local naturalists clubs and wildflower societies, and interested individuals will also be encouraged.

Action: Promote awareness
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $100 per year

3.2.14. Incorporate recovery actions into Interim Management Guidelines (IMGs) for new conservation reserves

The recovery actions for Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba will be addressed in the IMGs produced for new conservation reserves created around the taxon.

Action: Incorporate recovery actions into Interim Management Guidelines (IMG) for new conservation reserves
Responsibility: CALM (Perth District) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $400 in the second year

3.2.15. Write full Recovery Plan

At the end of the three year term of this Interim Recovery Plan, the need for further recovery will be assessed. If the species is still ranked Critically Endangered, a full Recovery Plan will be developed to describe action required for long-term maintenance. A Recovery Plan will be prepared with the benefit of knowledge gained over the time frame of this Interim Recovery Plan.

Action: Write full Recovery Plan
Responsibility: CALM (WATSCU, Perth District) through the SRTFCRT
Cost: $17,600 in the final year

4. TERM OF PLAN

This Interim Recovery Plan will operate from September 2000 to August 2003 but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced. It is intended that, if the taxon is still ranked Critically Endangered, this IRP will be replaced by a full Recovery Plan after three years.

5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The following people have provided assistance and advice in the preparation of this Interim Recovery Plan:

Ken Borland Previously Operations Officer, CALM Perth District
Anne Cochrane Manager, CALM Threatened Flora Seed Centre
Colin Crane Senior Technical Officer, CALMScience
Rebecca Evans Project Officer, CALM Swan Region
Sophie Juszkiewicz Propagator, Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Greg Keighery Principal Research Scientist, CALMScience
Stephen King Field Officer, CALM Perth District
David Mitchell Program Leader Nature Conservation, CALM Swan Region
Lyndon Mutter Program Leader Nature Conservation, CALM Perth District
Sue Patrick Senior Research Scientist, CALM W.A. Herbarium
Les Robson Previously OperationsOfficer, CALM Swan Region
Amanda Shade Horticulturalist, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
Gillian Stack

Technical Officer- DRF Database, CALM Swan Region

Thanks also to staff of the W.A. Herbarium for providing access to Herbarium databases and specimen information, and CALM's Wildlife Branch for their extensive assistance.

6. REFERENCES

Brown, A., Thomson-Dans, C. and Marchant, N. (Eds). (1998). Western Australia's Threatened Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.

CALM (1992). Policy Statement No. 44 Wildlife Management Programs. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.

CALM (1994). Policy Statement No. 50 Setting Priorities for the Conservation of Western Australia's Threatened Flora and Fauna. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.

CALM (1995). Policy Statement No. 29 Translocation of Threatened Flora and Fauna. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.

English, V. and Blyth, J. (2000) Shrubland and woodlands on Muchea Limestone: Interim Recovery Plan, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.

Government of Western Australia (1998). Perth's Bushplan Volume 1. Western Australian Planning Commission, Perth.

IUCN (1994). IUCN red list categories prepared by the IUCN Species Survival Commission, as approved by the 40th meeting of the IUCN Council. Gland, Switzerland.

McGillivray, D.J.(1986), New names in Grevillea (Proteaceae). pp. 4. D.J. McGillivray. Castle Hill, N.S.W.

Olde, P.M. and Marriott, N.R. (1993). New species and taxonomic changes in Grevillea (Proteaceae: Grevilleoideae) from south-west Western Australia. Nuytsia, 9 (2): 237-304.

Olde, P.M. and Marriott, N.R. (1995). The Grevillea Book 2: 107-108. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst N.S.W.

Western Australian Herbarium (1998). FloraBase - Information on the Western Australian Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia. http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/science/

7. TAXONOMIC DESCRIPTION

Grevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba has leaves 1.5 to 5 cm long, mostly pinnatifid, obovate-cuneate and coarsely divided either with apical toothing or more deeply cleft with strongly ascending lobes, rarely simple, entire and linear; simple leaves or leaf lobes mostly 1.5 to 2 mm wide, triangular to narrowly so, occasionally a deeply cleft lobe with -fid division of the apex; undersurface exposed over most of its area, glabrous or sparsely tomentose; pistil 3.5 to 4.5 mm long.

INTERIM RECOVERY PLAN NO. 72