Mitchell's Rainforest Snail Thersites mitchellae Recovery Plan
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, July 2001
ISBN 0 731 6298 5
Appendix 3. - Guidelines for the Collection of Land and Snails for Identification and Research purposes.
General Guidelines
- Any unnecessary damage to sites is to be avoided. Beyond any existing formed roads, access to sites will be by foot. No repeat collections from populations sampled within five years will be conducted, unless it is part of a specific program approved by NPWS.
- Rocks, logs and other potential refuge sites are to be returned to their original position immediately after searching.
- When collecting genetic material, a tissue sample shall be taken rather than a whole animal, unless the collection of the animal is part of a program approved by NPWS. When taking a tissue sample, it must be collected in a manner that does not compromise the survival of the specimen.
- For the purposes of live study and/or photography, one live individual from any discrete population may be held in captivity for up to five days, after which time the individual must be released at the point of capture.
- Any empty shells may be collected as voucher material, and are to be used wherever possible in preference to vouchering of live animals.
- For the purposes of collecting live specimens to be permanently retained as vouchers or for research purposes, the following prescriptions will apply:
- Where less than 1% of the available potential habitat at a site is surveyed, a minimum of three live animals or recent shells/fragmented shells must be located before one specimen can be taken.
- Where between 1 and 25% of the available potential habitat at a site is surveyed, a minimum of five live animals or recent shells/fragmented shells must be located before one specimen can be taken.
- Where between 25 and 75% of the available potential habitat at a site is surveyed, a minimum of ten live animals or recent shells/fragmented shells must be located before one specimen can be taken.
- Where more than 75% of the available potential habitat at a site is surveyed, a minimum of 15 live animals or recent shells/fragmented shells must be located before one specimen can be taken.
- Juvenile animals are to be vouchered in preference to adult animals.
- No more than two live individuals from any discrete population will be collected for voucher purposes, unless the collection of additional specimens has been specifically approved by NPWS.
- Prior to commencing any collecting on lands controlled by the NPWS, permission will be obtained from the relevant NPWS Regional Office.
- Prior to commencing any collecting on other lands permission should be obtained from the relevant owner or land manager.
Data Records
- Once identification has been confirmed, any records of threatened species will be provided to the NPWS in a format appropriate for entry into the NPWS Atlas of NSW Wildlife.
- Any person who becomes aware of first species records for NSW or of populations considered likely to extend the known range of any species is to provide such information to the NPWS within three months of becoming aware of the new information.
- Within twelve months from the date of collection of a voucher specimen or specimens, the Licensee must lodge a specimen with a recognised collection such as the Australian Museum.
Note
- If special collections, eg. additional voucher specimens, are required, the collector must consult with the NPWS Northern Directorate Threatened Species Unit prior to collection and obtain a written variation to the licence or Certificate.
- NPWS may prohibit, condition or limit collecting for some species at some sites if the collecting would affect research plots. Other conditions or prohibitions may apply after consideration of population estimates, age structure and viability. Where any doubt exists as to the advisability of permitting the collection or the level of collection to be permitted, a precautionary approach shall be enforced.