Conservation Research and Conservation Planning …...4.4 Conservation Effectiveness Monitoring...

Conservation Research and Conservation Planning l Environment and Planning Directorate

CONSERVATION RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION PLANNING

PROGRAM REPORT 2013–15

Technical Report 32

November 2015

Environment Division Environment and Planning Directorate GPO Box 158 Canberra ACT 2601

© Australian Capital Territory, Canberra 2015This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process without the written permission from the ACT Government, Conservation Research and Conservation Planning Units, Environment Division, Environment and Planning Directorate, GPO Box 158 Canberra ACT 2601.

ISBN 978-1-921117-23-7Published by the Environment and Planning Directorate, ACT Government Website: www.environment.act.gov.au

AcknowledgementsAll of the work undertaken by the Conservation Research and Conservation Planning units are supported by funding, executive and management support, collaboration, volunteers, other State and Territory Governments or on-ground help from parties within and external to Government. We would like to thank them all and look forward to working collaboratively in the future.

Front cover photos: Collared Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Richard Barnsley); Stypandra glauca (Mark Jekabsons); Lick Hole Creek (Mark Jekabsons) and Euastacus crassus spiny crayfish (Mark Jekabsons)

DisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, opinions or policy of funding bodies or participating member agencies or organisations.This publication should be cited as: Environment and Planning Directorate (2015) Conservation Research and Conservation Planning Program Report 2013–15, ACT Government, Canberra.

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CONTENTS

PROGRAM OVERVIEW v1. INTRODUCTION 12. THREATENED SPECIES AND COMMUNITIES 2

2.1 ACTFloraandFaunaCommittee–ScientificCommittee 22.2 ACTNativeGrasslandStrategy 22.3 BrindabellaMidgeOrchid 32.4 Brush-tailedRock-wallaby–revisedactionplan 42.5 ButtonWrinklewortmonitoring 52.6 CanberraSpiderOrchidmonitoring 72.7 GinninderraPeppercressmonitoring 82.8 GrasslandEarlessDragonmonitoring 92.9 GrasslandEarlessDragonhabitatmonitoring 102.10 GrasslandEarlessDragoncaptivecolonyandresearch 102.11 LittleEagleresearchandmonitoring 112.12 MurrayCrayfish2015survey 122.13 MurrumbidgeeBossiaea 142.14 NorthernCorroboreeFrog–monitoring,captivebreedingandrelease 152.15 SmallPurplePeamonitoring 162.16 StripedLeglessLizardsurveys 182.17 SuperbParrotsurvey 182.18 TarengoLeekOrchidmonitoring 192.19 TroutCodstockingandmonitoring 212.20 Two-spinedBlackfishmonitoring 212.21 TuggeranongLignummonitoringandtranslocation 24

3. THREATENING PROCESSES 253.1 Deer–Fallow,RedandSambar 253.2 Fire–EcologicalreviewoftheTAMSBushfireOperationalPlan 253.3 Fire–Prescribedburnmonitoring 263.4 Fire–Post-firerecovery–CotterHut 273.5 Kangaroosandtheirmanagement–Communityopinionpoll 283.6 Kangaroo–fertilitycontrolresearch 293.7 Kangaroo–grazingandbiodiversitywithinCanberraNaturePark 303.8 Kangaroo–monitoringatLawsonSouth 31

4. SURVEY AND BASELINE INFORMATION 344.1 ArborealMammalSpotlightSurvey2014 344.2 Animalethicsinresearch 344.3 CanberraNatureMap–RareanduncommonplantsintheACT 354.4 ConservationEffectivenessMonitoringProgram 364.5 EasternBettong–currentstatusofreintroducedpopulation 37

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4.6 Fireandfauna–linkingfireandhabitatstructureacrosstheACT 374.7 Longitudinalstudyofgroundcoverfloraconditioninselectgrassyecosystemsites 394.8 Long-nosedBandicoot 434.9 Monitoringnativeandintroducedwildlifebyspotlightcounts 434.10 MountainSpinyCrayfishoftheACT 434.11 MurrumbidgeeRiverfishmonitoring 464.12 SouthernBrownBandicoot 474.13 Vegetationmapping–easternACT 47

5. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION 495.1 CasuarinaSandsfishway 495.2 Tharwafishhabitatproject-EngineeredLogJamsatTharwa 49

6. RECREATIONAL ANGLING 536.1 Recreationalfisheriesstockingandmonitoring 53

7. CONSERVATION PLANNING 587.1 Biodiversityadvice 58

8. PLANS OF MANAGEMENT 598.1 CanberraNatureParkReserveManagementPlan 598.2 LowerCotterCatchmentReserveManagementPlan 598.3 ACTSphagnumBogsandFensManagementPlan 59

Appendix 1. List of Current Action Plans and Threatened Species 60Appendix 2. List of Related Conservation Research and EPD Publications and Abstracts 61

ii CR & CP Program Report 2013–15

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FIGURES

Figure1.1 ButtonWrinklewort. 1Figure2.1 BrindabellaMidgeOrchid. 3Figure2.2 BrindabellaMidgeOrchidabundancefrom2009to2015. 4Figure2.3 TotalcountsoffertileCanberraSpiderOrchid(Arachnorchis actensis)atMtAinslie

andMajura(2012–2014). 7Figure2.4 MinisterfortheEnvironment,SimonCorbell,plantingGinninderrapeppercressat

CraceNatureReservewithACTGovernmentandGreeningAustraliastaff. 9Figure2.5 GrasslandEarlessDragon. 10Figure2.6 MurrayCrayfishcaughtduring2015Monitoring. 13Figure2.7 MurrumbidgeeBossiaea. 14Figure2.8 BlackandwhitedrawingofaNorthernCorroboreeFrog. 15Figure2.9 Swainsona recta habitatinthesuburbofKambahinSpring2013aftertheecological

burncarriedoutinJune2013. 16Figure2.10 Swainsona rectahabitatinthesuburbofKambahinspring2014. 16Figure2.11 AbundanceofnewandreoccurringS. rectaatMt.Taylor,ACT. 17Figure2.12 StripedLeglessLizard. 18Figure2.13 ThrosbyRidgeSuperbParrotbreedingarea. 19Figure2.14 HallCemeteryTarengoLeakOrchid(Prasophyllumpetilum)abundancesastotalcountsof

floweringindividualsperyear. 20Figure2.15 RecruitmentatHallCemeteryshownasthenumberofpreviouslyunrecorded(‘new’)

plantsperyearinrelationtothetotalabundanceperyear. 20Figure2.16 Two-spinedBlackfishintheCotterRiver. 21Figure2.17 MeanBlackfishcapturesperbackpackelectrofishingshot(30metres)foreachsite

sampledontheCotterRiverforboth2014and2015. 22Figure2.18 MeannumberofBlackfish(recruitsandadults)recordedpersiteforeachrivermanagementtype. 23Figure2.19 MeannumberofBlackfishrecruits(Fish<80mm)capturedpersiteforeachrivermanagement

type;sitesBendora-CotterareregulatedandaboveCorinareunregulatedsites. 23Figure3.1 Volunteer’s(ParkCare)noticeboarddefacedbyanti-cullactivists. 28Figure3.2 FemaleEasternGreyKangaroosfittedwithidentificationcollarsandeartags. 30Figure3.3 HeavygrazingbykangaroosatArandaSnowgums. 31Figure3.4 ExcursionofamalekangarooinNovember2013. 32Figure3.5 HabitatuseofamaleEasternGreyKangaroo

(a)beforethecommencementofdevelopmentand (b)duringdevelopment. 33

Figure4.1 TrimFlatSedge(Cyperus concinnus)previouslyonlyknownintheACTfroma1965recordfromReid.NowknownthroughCanberraNatureMapfromtwolocationsontheMurrumbidgee. 36

Figure4.2 StratificationmapsofNamadgiNationalParkandstaffsurveyingsites. 38Figure4.3 Locationofthe24plotssurveyedin2014acrossthenorthernACTregion. 40Figure4.4 Euastacus crassus. 44Figure4.5 Eggcarrying(berried)femaleEuastacus rieki. 44Figure4.6 DistributionofconfirmedrecordsofE. crassus and E. rieki intheACT. 45

iv CR & CP Program Report 2013–15

Figure4.7 Numberoffishcaughtduringthe2015MurrumbidgeeRiverMonitoring (*indicatesalienspecies).Sitesareinorderofupstreamtodownstream. 46

Figure4.8 VegetationmappingoftheACTasatJune2015. 48Figure5.1 CasuarinaSandsweirandfishway(left)andGoldenPerchwithdorsaltag(right). 49Figure5.2 TheMurrumbidgeeRiverpastTharwashowingachannelsignificantlyaffectedbysand.

ImageGoogleEarth2002. 50Figure5.3 EngineeredLogJamsayearafterconstruction(2014). 51Figure5.4 2014BathymetricsurveyoftheMurrumbidgeeRiverpastTharwaattheELJs. 51Figure5.5 Numberofdifferentfishspeciesperhabitattypesampledforthe2014ELJmonitoring.

‘Combined’habitatisamixofhabitattypes,the‘groyne/ELJ’habitatareconstructed habitatsintheTharwareach. 52

Figure6.1 MurrayCodbeingmeasuredduringurbanlakemonitoring. 53Figure6.2 CaptureofcarpusingboatelectrofishingatLakeGinninderra. 54Figure6.3 BoatelectrofishingatYerrabiPond. 55Figure6.4 Fishcaughtduring2015UrbanLakesSurveys. 55Figure6.5 BiomassofFishCaughtDuring2015UrbanLakesSurveys. 56Figure6.6 BiomassoffishinYerrabiPondsinceintroductionofelectrofishing. 57

TABLES

Table2.1 SurveyforButtonWrinklewort 6Table2.2 S. rectaabundance,McTaggartSt,KambahACT 17Table3.1 Percentagesoffemalesineachtreatmentgroupobservedwithyoungeachyear 29Table4.1 Summaryofpercentagechangesinfloristicvariablesforplots:(a)FloristicValueScore;

(b)Nativespeciesrichness;and(c)Exoticspeciesrichness. 41

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

TheConservationResearchandConservationPlanningunitshavealongtraditionofprovidingscienceandresearchevidencewithingovernmenttoinformenvironmentalconservation,policy,planningandmanagement.ThisincludeslegislativerequirementsundertheNature Conservation Act 2014andthePlanning and Development Act 2007.Thisreportpresentstheunit’sprojectsfromJuly2013toJune2015.

Thisprogramreportsummarisesprojectsspanningalloftheelementsoftheunits;flora,fauna,aquaticecologyandconservationplanning.Theseelementsestablishthebasisoftheunit’sprogramthatdeliverson:

• Threatened species and communities–improvingknowledge,research,survey,monitoringandmanagementofrareandthreatenedterrestrialandaquaticspeciesandcommunitiestoeffectivelymanagecurrentpopulations,threats,manageactionplansandassistrecovery.

• Threatening processes–improvingknowledge,research,survey,monitoringandmanagementofpotentialorcurrentthreateningprocesses.Assistwithensuringmanagementprogramsareevidence-basedandreducethreatstobiodiversityandnatureconservation.

• Survey and baseline information–maintainup-to-dateinformationontheACT’sbiologicalresourcesandhabitatandmakedataaccessibletostakeholdersthroughACTMAPiandtheinternet.

• Ecological restoration–implementandprovideresearchsupportforon-groundrecoveryandrehabilitationactions;developinformationonconnectivityandenvironmentalcorridorsandsupporton-goingrestorationprojects.

• Recreational angling–provisionofrecreationalanglingopportunitiesandmonitoringintheurbanlakesofCanberra.

• Conservation advice for policy, land management and planning–provideinformationforplanning,policyandmanagementprogramsfortheprotectionoftheACT’sterrestrialandaquaticecosystemsandensuringitisbasedonsoundscientificinformation,research,regulationandlicensingadvice.

• Conservation planning and plans of management–providescientificadviceonplanninganddevelopmentproposalstotheConservatorofFloraandFaunaandothergovernmentagencies;prepareplansofmanagementfornon-urbanpubliclandreservesinaccordancewiththerequirementsofthePlanningandDevelopmentAct.

Noneoftheworkoftheunitscouldbeachievedwithouttheinterest,investmentandsupportofourstakeholdersandcollaboratorswhoassistinmanyways,fromfundingtoinputandvolunteering.

Thisreportprovidesacomprehensivesummaryoftheprojectsundertakenanddemonstratestheapplicationofevidencetosupportlandmanagement,planningandecosystemrestoration.Byprovidingthisoverviewofthefocusandresultsoftheresearchandplanningwork,wehopetoensureknowledgeoftheseprogramscontinuestogrowandinformationaboutthisworkisshared.MoredetailedinformationisalsoprovidedthroughourwebdeliveryservicesACTMAPiandwww.environment.act.gov.au/cpr.

vi CR & CP Program Report 2013–15

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1. INTRODUCTION

Figure 1.1 Button Wrinklewort.

ThisreportprovidesanoverviewofthenatureconservationprogramsfortheConservationResearchandConservationPlanningunitsoftheEnvironmentandPlanningDirectoratefortheperiodofJuly2013toJune2015.

ConservationResearch(CR)andConservationPlanning(CP)arepartoftheEnvironmentDivisionoftheEnvironmentandPlanningDirectorate(EPD)oftheACTGovernment.CRisresponsibleforprovidingscientificadviceonnatureconservationtostakeholdersincludingACTGovernmentagencies,landmanagersandthepublic.

Inordertounderpinthisadvicewithdataandsoundscience,CRundertakesorsupportsarangeofmonitoringandresearchprogramsincludingwildliferesearch,ecologicalsurvey,socialresearchandbiodiversitymonitoring.Itpreparesandguidestheimplementationofthreatenedspeciesactionplans.CRalsoundertakesorsupportskeyon-groundactionstoassisttherecoveryofthreatenedspecies,suchascaptivebreedingprograms.CPprovidesecologicalinputintoplanningdecisionmakinganddevelopmentofreservemanagementplans.

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2. THREATENED SPECIES AND COMMUNITIES

Monitoringthedistribution,andinsomecasesabundance,ofthreatenedspeciesandecologicalcommunitiesisacoreactivityoftheConservationResearchunit(CR).Thisinformationisessentialfordeterminingtheconservationstatusofspeciesandcommunities,foridentifyingtrendsandrecoveryactionsaimedathaltingorreversingdeclines(thusconservingbiodiversity),andforprovidingconservationandmanagementadvicetotheConservatorofFloraandFauna,theACTScientificCommittee,otherACTandCommonwealthGovernmentagencies,non-governmentorganisationsandthepublic.MonitoringprogramshaveledtoCRimplementingon-groundrecoveryactionssuchasthreatenedplanttranslocationsandabreedingprogramforCorroboreeFrogs.

2.1 ACT Flora and Fauna Committee – Scientific CommitteeAsignificantroleofCRisprovidinginformationandadvicetotheACTScientificCommittee(formerlytheFloraandFaunaCommittee).TheCommitteeoverseesthelistingandreportingofdeclaredthreatenedspeciesandcommunities.

Thefollowingreportsonimplementationofactionsintheactionplans,reviewsofactionplansandotherscientificinformationwereprovidedduring2013–15(fulllistofActionPlansatAppendix1):

• RibbonsofLifeACTAquaticSpeciesandRiparianZoneConservationStrategy–Implementationreport(June2013)

• WoodlandsforWildlifeACTLowlandWoodlandConservationStrategy–Implementationreport(September2013)

• Spotted-tailedQuoll–Implementationreport(December2013)

• Brush-tailedRock-wallaby–Actionplanreviewcommenced(December2013)

• ScarletRobin–listingandconservationadvice(March2014)

• VisionSplendidofGrassyPlainsExtendedACTLowlandNativeGrasslandConservationStrategy(ActionPlan28)–Actionplan/Strategyreviewcommenced(June2014)

• CanberraSpiderOrchid,BrindabellaMidgeOrchidandTarengoLeekOrchid–Implementationreport(March2015)

• GinninderraPeppercressandButtonWrinklewortforinclusionintherevisedNativeGrasslandsConservationStrategy–RevisedActionPlans(June2015)

2.2 ACT Native Grassland StrategyTheACTLowlandNativeGrasslandConservationStrategy(ActionPlan28)wasdueforits10yearreviewin2015.CRdevelopedadraftdocumentincorporatingthefollowingkeychangesfromthe2005version:

• Thenewdocumentisseparatedintoaninitialstrategy(Part1–identifyingactionsfortheconservationofgrasslandsingeneral)andactionplans(Part2).Theactionplansoutlinerecoveryactionforindividualspeciesandcanbeusedasstandalonedocuments.

• ThestrategycomponentseekstofocusonmanagementofallgrasslandassociationsintheACTincludingthoseinthemontaneandsub-alpinetractsthatwerenotcoveredbythepreviousstrategy.

• TherevisedactionplanforLowlandNaturalTemperateGrasslandwillrevisethedefinitionoftheNaturalTemperateGrassland(NTG)community.Thiswillchangethealtitudinallimitdefiningthiscommunityfromthecurrentmaximumof625metresabovesealeveltotheEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999(EPBCAct)maximumof1200metresabovesealevel.Theterm‘lowland’willthusberemovedfromthetitleofthestrategy.

BeforethedraftrevisionisadopteditwillbereviewedbytheACTScientificCommitteeandadraftreleasedforpubliccomment.

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2.3 Brindabella Midge Orchid TheBrindabellaMidgeOrchid(Corunastylis ectopa)wasfirstdiscoveredin1992asasmallpopulationofapproximately130plants(Figure2.1).ItisknownfromonlyonelocationintheACT,andiscurrentlylistedasendangeredundertheACT Nature Conservation Act 2014,andcriticallyendangeredundertheEPBCAct.TheBrindabellaOrchidsitewasburntinthe2003wildfiresandthepopulationappearstohavefluctuatedoverthefollowingyears.In2004CRinitiatedanannualpopulationmonitoringprogramatthespecies’knownlocation.

TheaimsofannualmonitoringoftheBrindabellaMidgeOrchidpopulationbetween2013and2015wereto:

• re-establisharepeatablemethodforaligningthesurveytransect

• locateandcountanyorchidsthathademergedasaformalpopulationsurveyfor2013–14and2014–15reportingyears

• initiateatrialmanipulationoflitterandwoodyvegetationwithinthetabledrainadjacenttotheknownpopulationtoinvestigateifseedwashedorblownintothetabledraincouldbeencouragedtoestablish.SiteworkswerecarriedoutbystafffromtheParksandConservationService(PCS).

Key findings• Thenumberofplantsknowntohaveemergedwas127in2013–14

and99in2014–15(Figure2.2).Thisnumberisthelargestnumberofobservedemergentindividualsforeachyearineachtransectacrossmultiplesurveys.Numbersinboththepasttwoyearswerethehighestsincedetailedannualrecordshavebeenkept(Figure2.2).

• In2015eachofthethreesurveysdocumentedarepresentativespreadofindividualsfromallvegetativeandreproductivelifestages.Thisisincontrasttopreviouspatternswheretherehasbeenaclearlinearprogressionfromamajorityofindividualsinavegetativestatetomajorityreproductive(andpost-reproductive)statesoversuccessivesurveysinthesameyear.

• BrindabellaMidgeOrchidindividualswereobservedalongthelengthofthetransect(includingthe5–10metrezonewhichwasunoccupiedin2014).

• Individualswerealsorecordedbeyondtherangeofthe40metresurveytransectalongtheroadcutting,althoughnotbeyondthesectionofroadcuttingpreviouslydocumentedinACTGovernmentspatialdata.

• Recordedindividualswereevenlyspreadbetweenthebareearthonthecuttingfaceandabovethelipofthecuttingface.

• Noindividualsweredetectedabovethetransecttapein2015(whereasonehadbeendetectedemergingfromdenseleaflitterforthefirsttimeintheMay2014).

• Noplantswereobservedinthetabledrain,indicatingtheexperimentalremovalofvegetationcoverandlitterinthetabledraindidnotstimulateestablishmentorgerminationinthefirstorsecondyearsofthistrial.

Figure 2.1 Brindabella Midge Orchid.


Figure 2.2 Brindabella Midge Orchid abundance from 2009 to 2015.

Increasedvariabilityinlifestagecomparedtoprevioussurveyyearssuggestsashiftinreproductivestrategyforthespeciesin2015.ItwasanticipatedthatduetothecontinuinghighnumbersofnewshootingvegetativeindividualsinMay2015thattheremaybehighnumbersofindividualsforsometimetocomethrougheventhewinterperiod.Informalobservationswillbemaintainedthroughouttheyeartoassistinunderstandingthecomplexnaturalhistoryofthisspecies.

2.4 Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby – revised action planCRreviewedtheBrush-tailedRock-wallabyActionPlanin2014–15.TheBrush-tailedRock-wallaby(Petrogale penicillata)isamemberofthekangaroofamilyMacropodidaeandoneof16knownrock-wallabyspecies.Thespeciespossessesalongtail(regularlyexceedingthebodylength)withaprominentbrushatitsend.

Whileformerlymorewidespreadinsouth-easternAustraliaandnearbyinlandareas,therangeofthespeciesisthoughttohavebeenreducedby50–90%sincetheEuropeansettlementofAustralia.TheBrush-tailedRock-wallabyisthoughttobeextinctintheACTwiththelastwildanimalseenin1959atWallabyRocksinTidbinbillaNatureReserve.However,thediscoveryofskeletalmaterialinNamadgiNationalParkin1996suggestsamorerecentoccurrence.

TherearetwosmallpopulationsofthisspeciespersistinginVictoria.InNSW,apartfromapopulationintheWarrumbunglesinnorthernNSW,thetwoclosestcoloniestotheACTareatNattaiNationalPark(156kmnorthnorth-eastofCanberra)andintheKangarooValley(187kmeastnorth-eastofCanberra).

TheBrush-tailedRock-wallabywasfirstdeclared‘Endangered’intheACTon27December1996,withthefirstactionplanforthisspeciesintheACTcompletedinOctober1999.Thissecondactionplanbuildsontheconsiderableresearchachievementsflowingfromthefirstplanandaimstobuildonthisresearchknowledgeoftheecologyandmanagementofthespecieslookingforwardtotherecoveryofthespeciesinthefuture.

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TidbinbillaNatureReserve,whichmaintainsacaptivepopulationofthespecies,hascontributedsignificantlybyprovidinganimportantvenueforresearchthatincludesphysiological,behaviouralandreproductivebiologystudies.TidbinbillahassuccessfullybredanimalsforreintroductioninVictoria.ItisenvisagedtheACTwillcontinuetocontributetostateandnationalrecoveryteams,continuetoprovidebreedingfacilities,andstaffwillcontinuetodevelopexpertiseintheecologyandmanagementofthespecies.

2.4.1 Key objectives of the revised new action plan include the following:Anongoingprogramofsurvey,monitoringandresearchtounderstandtheecologyofthespeciesandtoidentifyandmanagethecausesofpollutiondecline.

• WhilesurveyofformerlyoccupiedsitesintheACThasbeencompleted,furtherhabitatmodellingusinggeographicinformationsystems(GIS)cantargetpotentialreintroductionsites.

IdentifyingandprotectinghabitatcriticalfortheBrush-tailedRock-wallabyintheACT.

• Plansforre-introductionshouldconsiderthekeyresearchquestionsinre-introductionbiologyandtheInternationalUnionforConservationofNature(IUCN)re-introductionguidelines.Re-introductionshouldonlybeconsideredwhenalandscapelevel,multi-speciesrecoveryeffortincludingpredatorcontrol,becomespossible.

Cooperatingwithstateandlocalauthoritiesinformulatingconservationmeasures.

• BreedingfacilitiesatTidbinbillaNatureReserveanddirectinvolvementbystaffintheCommonwealth,VictorianandNewSouthWalesBrush-tailedRockwallabyRecoveryProgramstobemaintained.

IncreasingcommunityawarenessoftheneedtoprotecttheBrush-tailedRock-wallabyanditshabitat.

• ThecaptivepopulationoftheBrush-tailedRock-wallabyatTidbinbillaNatureReservewillcontinuetobeusedasabasisfordevelopinginterpretivematerialandacommunityeducationprogram.

2.5 Button Wrinklewort monitoringIntheCanberra–QueanbeyanregiontheslenderperennialButtonWrinklewort(Rutidosis Leptorrhynchoides) primarilyoccursbetweengrasslandsandtheopengrassywoodlands.ACTpopulationsoftenextendwellintothegrasslands.Knownsitesoccuratelevationsbetween570and780metresabovesealevelonshallow,stonyred-brownclayloamsoils.ACTpopulationshavebeenmonitoredsince1998,withcountsbeingconductedonthediscoveryofnewpopulations.Mostpopulationshavebeentaggedwithmetaltagsattheextentsofthepopulation.

Duetothelargesizeofsomeofthepopulations(e.g.StirlingRidgehasbeenestimatedtosupportasmanyas50,000plants)itisnotpossibletogenerateaccuratecountsorestimateswithoutasubstantialinputofresources.InrecentyearsCRmonitoringhasfocusedonidentifyingthreatstothevariouspopulationsalongwithveryroughestimatesofnumbers.

Estimatesupto2007indicatedthatmanyofthepopulationswereincreasing,withthepossibleexceptionofStMarks.MorerecentestimatesshowninTable2.1donotsupportacontinuedincreasebutcountnumbersarenotfullyaccurate.Futuremonitoringshouldattempttoestablishanindexofabundanceatthelargestpopulationstotryandidentifytrends.

PCShasundertakenatranslocationofthisspeciesintoJerrabomberraEastNatureReserve(NR).Monitoringofthispopulationhasshownthattubestockout-performeddirectseedingasameansofestablishingapopulation.However,despiteagoodsurvivalrateofthetubestocktherehasbeennoevidenceofrecruitmentinthetranslocatedpopulation.Tubestockplantswerealsotranslocatedintothesouthern-mostWoodsLanepopulationtohelpremediatedisturbancecausedbydevelopment.Theseplantsarenowwellestablished.


InJune2015PCSandCRundertooksmallprescribedburnstoreducethegrassbiomassinportionsofeachpopulationonWoodsLane.Notallplantswereburned.CRwillmonitorcomparativesurvivorshipofburntandunburntplantstodetermineifthetreatmentwasbeneficialforthepopulations.

Table 2.1 Survey for Button Wrinklewort.

Location 2011 population notes 2012 population notes 2015 population notes

CraceNR Notmonitored Notmonitored Veryhealthy,seedlingsandreproductiveplants

KintoreStYarralumla

Populationhealthyandflowering

Noplantsfound,possibleremoval?

Noplantsfound

WoodsLane Allpopulationsflowering Somedisturbancefromroadworks

Northernpopulationimpactedbyroadworks–1plantfound Centralpopulationindensegrass–21plants Southernsitegenerallygoodcondition–60-80plants

Northernpopulationcontainsatleast38plantsonwesternsideofroadbutallovergrown Centralpopulationhasatleast20plantsbutgrassdense Southernpopulationhasatleast100plants,excludingthosethathavebeentranslocated,andsomeweeds.

BaptistChurchKingston

Wholesitemownandrubbishdumped–3plantsfound

Sitemownandcarparkencroachingonhabitatandcrushingplants–6plantsfound

Sitemownandparkingencroachmentcontinues,atleast71plantspresentwithevidenceofseedlingsandflowering

StMarksBarton Populationhealthyandflowering,noteffectedby2009burn

Populationfloweringbutstrongcompetitionfromgrass–estimated40-50plants

Biomasshigh,siteprobablynotburntin2014fire,evidenceofflowering–atleast31plants

StateCircle Allpopulationsflowering,closesttoStateCircledyingback,weedy

Weedsnoted,upto100plantsscatteredacrosssitewithmostflowering

Noplantsfoundinnorthernpopulation

Southernpopulation–atleast20plantsfloweringbutweedsaproblem

CampbellOffices Allpopulationsinfloweranddistributionexpanding

Mostpopulationsfloweringandingoodcondition–estimated80-90plants

Notmonitored

RedHill Allpopulationsfloweringandingoodhealth

NotmonitoredbyCR NotmonitoredbyCR

MajuraTrainingArea

NolongermonitoredbyCR NolongermonitoredbyCR NolongermonitoredbyCR

TennantStFyshwick

Notmonitored Verygoodcondition–estimated100plants,minorweedencroachment

Atleast400plantscounted,lotsofseedlings,mostplantsflowering,siteconditionsgood

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2.6 Canberra Spider Orchid monitoringTheCanberraSpiderOrchid(Arachnorchis actensis)islistednationallyasCriticallyEndangeredundertheEPBCActandlocallyasEndangeredandaSpecialProtectionStatusspeciesundertheNature Conservation Act 1980. Itisaterrestrialorchidthatgrowssinglyorinsmallcoloniestoaheightof40–90millimetres.

AllthreeextantpopulationsofthisspeciesareinthenorthoftheACT.ThefirstisspreadalongtheslopesofMtAinslieandMtMajura.Thesecond,morerecentlydiscoveredpopulation,iswithintheMajuraValleyonlandmanagedbytheDepartmentofDefenceastheMajuraTrainingArea.ThethirdandmostrecentlydiscoveredpopulationistotheeastoftheMajuraValleyintheKowenEscarpmentNatureReserve.WhiletherearetwootherrecordsofthespeciesinthesuburbsofCampbellandArandabeforetheirdevelopment,ithasnotbeenrecordedintheseareasforoveradecade.ThespeciesisnotknownoutsidetheACT.

ThespeciesismonitoredonMtMajuraandMtAinslieduringthefloweringseasonwithcountsofplantsoccurringintheknownpopulationareas.Detailsrecordedincludenumbersoffertileflowers,pollinationratesandincidenceofgrazing.ThesecountsareconductedbyDrPeterMilburn.

Duringtheprolongeddroughtconditionsintheearly2000sveryfewindividualsofA. actensiswererecordedatanyknownpopulations.Inthepastsixyearstherehavebeenclearsignsofrecoveryacrossthepopulations;numbersappearstablewithexpectedfluctuationsduetoseasonalconditions.Moreindividualswererecordedin2014thaninanypreviousyear(Figure2.3).

Figure 2.3 Total counts of fertile Canberra Spider Orchid (Arachnorchis actensis) at Mt Ainslie and Majura (2012 – 2014).

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Membersofthepublicdiscoveredtwonewsub-populationsofA. actensisduringthe2014floweringseason;oneisoutsideofthenaturereserveatMtMajuraandtheotherintheeasternfoothillsofMtAinslie.AnothersmallnewpopulationwaslocatedbyamemberofthepublicinKowenEscarpmentNatureReserve.Thesub-populationatMtMajurawasinspectedbyCRstaffinSeptember2014,with138plantsrecordedovera100x10metrearea.Theremainingsub-populationshaveonlyafewplantseachandwillbevisitedandinspectedbyCRstaffinspring2015.


TwofencedenclosuresandsmallcageshavebeensuccessfullyusedtoreducedamagecausedbykangaroosandrabbitstopopulationsonMtMajuraandMtAinslie.Habitatconditionsaremonitoredannuallyandaremaintainedorimprovedbymanagementactionsandavoidanceofpotentialthreats.AtranslocationplanandEPBCassessmenthavebeenwrittenbyCRinpreparationforatranslocationofthisspeciesbutfurtherworkisrequiredtodeterminepollinatordistributionandhabitatcharacteristicsbeforeplantingoccurs.ThisworkwillbeundertakenbyanANUpost-graduatestudentandstafffromtheNationalHerbarium.

2.7 Ginninderra Peppercress monitoringGinninderraPeppercress(Lepidium ginninderrense)isendemictotheACT.Firstdescribedin1970fromasinglecollectioninthesuburbofReid,itwasnotseenagainuntilitwasfoundin1993onthefloodplainofGinninderraCreekintheBelconnenNavalTransmissionStation.TheReidpopulationhasnotbeenseensince1970andislikelytobeextinct.TheonlyextantpopulationwastheNavalStationuntilOctober2013whenasmallpopulationwaslocatedinanareaofSpecialPurposeReserveinMitchell.

TheDefenceDepartment,whichmanagestheNavalStation,monitorsthisspecies.Thispopulationhasvariedconsiderably,fromalowoflessthan50plantsin1997toahighof3523in2006.Thelatestestimateis1137plantsin2009.

CRstaffconductedapopulationcensusattheMitchellsiteinOctober2012,counting50plants.Allweretaggedtohelpdeterminethespecies’lifecyclecharacteristics.Additionalsub-populationsweresubsequentlyfoundbylocalbotanists,someofwhomcollectedabundanceinformation.Forexample,in2014aconsultantreportedcountingfoursub-populationsincludingtheplantstaggedbyCR.Helocated32individualsinthetaggedsub-population(adeclineof18plants)andanother72plantsscatteredacrossthreeadditionalsub-populations.In2015CRundertookamorecomprehensivesurveyoftheNorthMitchellgrasslands,findingfivesub-populations,someofwhicharefragmentedbyareasofunsuitablehabitat.Wheretheplantsweretaggedin2012,47individualswerecounted.Atotalof377plantswerecountedacrossallthesub-populations.Seedlingswereobservedandmanyplantswerecarryingseed.GinninderraPeppercressatNorthMitchellislargelyrestrictedtosmallscalds,siteswithlittletonovegetationonahardpackedgravellyclayBhorizonwherethetopsoillayerhasbeenremovedthroughsomeformofpriordisturbance.

SeedwascollectedbytheAustralianNationalBotanicGardens(ANBG)from406plantsfromtheLawsonpopulationonanumberofoccasionsbetween2002to2008;seedhasbeensuccessfullygerminatedfrom307oftheseindividuals.By2013theseedbankattheANBGcontainedinexcessof99,750GinninderraPeppercressseeds,includingover500fromtheNorthMitchellpopulation.Newaccessionstotheseedbankweremadein2015.

Inspring2013,GreeningAustralia,CR,ANBGandPCStranslocatedplantsgrownfromseedcollectedororiginatingfromtheLawsonpopulationintoCraceandDunlopNatureReserves;Cracereceived1050plantsandDunlopapproximately500.Unfortunately,despitefollow-upwateringbyGreeningAustralia,itappearsthatbothtranslocationsfailedasnoliveplantshavebeenobservedateithersitesincetheendofsummer2013.Factorsthatcouldhavecontributedtothisfailureincludethepottingmix,whichmayhavebecomehydrophobicafterplanting,especiallyduringahotsummerwith47daysreachingatemperatureof30degreesormore,andaverydryFebruaryandMarch.FurthertranslocationeffortsmayoccurtotrialotherwaysofestablishingnewpopulationsofGinninderraPeppercress.

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Figure 2.4 Minister for the Environment, Simon Corbell, planting Ginninderra peppercress at Crace Nature Reserve with ACT Government and Greening Australia staff.

2.8 Grassland Earless Dragon monitoringTheGrasslandEarlessDragon(Tympanocryptis pinguicolla)isanendangeredlizardthatwasoncebroadlydistributedacrosssouth-easternAustraliabutisnowrestrictedalmostentirelytoafewremnantpatchesofNaturalTemperateGrasslandintheCanberra–QueanbeyanregionandtheMonarograsslandsinNSW.IntheACTthespeciesoccursastwoseparatepopulations;oneintheMajuraValleyandoneintheJerrabomberraValley.LossormodificationoftheNaturalTemperateGrasslandhabitatisthemaincauseofdecline.

GrasslandEarlessDragonsaremonitoredintheACTtodeterminetrendsinpopulationsizeanddistribution.Thisinformationisusedtoguideconservationprogramsandinformurbandevelopmentplanning.GrasslandEarlessDragonshavebeenmonitoredannuallyattwokeysitesforthespecies;theMajuraTrainingAreaandtheJerrabomberraWestGrasslandsReserve.Since2009thespecieshasbeenmonitoredintheJerrabomberraEastGrasslands,andmorerecently(since2013)monitoringhasbeenundertakenontheproperty‘Cookanalla’intheJerrabomberraValley.ThespecieshasalsobeenintermittentlysurveyedatanumberofothersitesintheACTwhereitisknowntooccur.

MonitoringinvolvestheuseofplasticartificialburrowsdevelopedbyCRthatmimicthesmallburrowsusedbythedragons;theseartificialburrowsarenowthestandardsurveytechniqueusedinotherjurisdictions.Theyenablethespeciestobedetectedinthefieldandthepopulationsizeatsitestobeestimated.Ateachsitearound200artificialburrowsarecheckedthreetimesaweekfor4–5weeks.Theprogramfor2013–2015followedasimilarprogramforpreviousyears.MonitoringisusuallyundertakenbytwotosixpersonsduringFebruaryandMarch.


Figure 2.5 Grassland Earless Dragon.Duringthe2002–2009droughtperiod,monitoringresultsindicatedthatnumbersofGrasslandEarlessDragonsintheACTdeclinedtolowlevels,raisingconcernsaboutthesurvivalofthespeciesinthewild.AcaptivepopulationwasestablishedattheUniversityofCanberratoinvestigateaspectsoftheecologyofthespecies,husbandrytechniquesandtoserveasan‘insurance’populationintheeventwildpopulationsbecameextinct.Followingthereturntonormalrainfallyears,populationsofGrasslandEarlessDragonsinthewildareshowingencouragingsignsofrecovery.Themonitoringprogramhashighlightedthesensitivityofthisspeciestomajorenvironmentaldisturbancessuchasdroughtandlossofgrasscoverduetoovergrazing.

2.9 Grassland Earless Dragon habitat monitoringThemainhabitatareaforGrasslandEarlessDragonatJerrabomberraWestNatureReservewasfencedattheendofthelastdroughttoexcludekangaroograzingandprovideagrassyrefugeareaforGrasslandEarlessDragons.Subsequentyearsofhigherrainfallhasresultedinanincreaseingrassbiomassintheungrazedfencedarea,leadingtoconcernsthattheuniformlyhighlevelofgrassbiomassinthisareawasbecomingunsuitablehabitatforGrasslandEarlessDragons(whichappeartorequiregrassheight,orgrassbiomass,atintermediatelevelsratherthanveryshortorverylong).

InconjunctionwithPCS,CRbeganinvestigatingmethodstopromotevariation(heterogeneity)inthestructure(coverandheight)ofthegrassswardatJerrabomberraWestGrassland.Ratherthanauniformlyhighdensesward,aheterogeneousswardhasgrassofdifferentheightsandcontainsgrasstussocksandinter-tussockspaceswhichallowadiverserangeofothernativeplantstogrow.TheseheterogeneousconditionssuitGrasslandEarlessDragonsandotheranimalsthatliveingrasslands.

PCSandCRundertooksmall-scalepatchburninginGrasslandEarlessDragonhabitatin2012,2013and2014withtheaimofencouragingheterogeneityinstructureandinplantspeciescomposition.Patchburningcreatedamosaicofburntareas(eachburnpatchbeingseveralmetresacross)andunburntareas.CRimplementedamonitoringprojecttomeasurechangesingrasslandstructure(coverandheight)associatedwithchangesinthesemanagementtreatments.Monitoringofthechangestovegetationstructureandplantspeciescompositioniscontinuing,asismonitoringofGrasslandEarlessDragonnumbersatthesesites.

2.10 Grassland Earless Dragon captive colony and researchTheUniversityofCanberra(UC),inpartnershipwithCR,hasbeeninvestigatingpotentialmechanismsbehindtherecentpopulationdeclineofGrasslandEarlessDragonsintheACTandnearbyNSWduringthe2002–2009drought.Hypothesesinclude:(1)drysoilcausingdesiccationanddeathoftheburiedeggs,and(2)increasesinhigherambienttemperaturesforcingthelizardstoseekshelterforlongerperiods,whichreducesthetimeavailableforforagingandotheractivities.

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Todatethisprojecthasachievedthefollowing:

• ThecolonyofGrasslandEarlessDragonshasexpandedtomorethan50individuals,includingsuccessfulbreedingofthefirstgenerationofcaptivebornanimals.Muchhasbeenlearnedaboutthespeciesbreedingbiologyandsocialbehaviours.

• 25individualshavebeenreleasedbacktothewildtoinvestigatesuccessfultechniquesforreleasingindividualstothewild.Individualswereradiotaggedandtrackedforsixweeksfollowingrelease,providingdetailedinformationonhabitatselection,homerangeanddispersal.

• Skintemperatureandactivitydatahavebeencollectedon432daysfor29free-rangingGrasslandEarlessDragonsusingtemperature-sensitivetransmitters.Dailyactivitydurationwasgreatlyreducedondaysthatreachedhighambienttemperatures(>37°C),whentemperaturesonopengroundexceeded50°C,asindividualsweredriventoseekthermalrefugiainarthropodburrowsortussocksforthemostoftheday.Longperiodsofhighambienttemperaturescouldhaveadverseeffectsonthespeciesastheymaybeunabletoobtainenoughfoodtosupporttheirmetabolicneeds.

• ThemetabolicratesofGrasslandEarlessDragonshasbeenmeasuredinfourseasons.Metabolicratesincreaseexponentiallywithtemperatures,asexpectedforallectotherms,butshowamarkedincreaseattemperaturesover38°C.

• MorethantwoyearsofcontinuousdatahavebeencollectedonmicrohabitattemperaturesinACTgrasslandsusingmorethan2000‘iButtons’(miniaturetemperatureprobes).Preliminaryanalysisindicatesthatburrowtemperaturesareatleast20°Clowerthanabovegroundtemperaturesonhotdayswithdifferencesbeingevenmorepronouncedinareaswithhighgrassbiomass.Temperaturesinthebaseofgrasstussocksareasmuchas10°Clowerthanonopenground.

• Astudywascompletedonthegeneticsof204GrasslandEarlessDragonsthatprovidesstrongevidencethatlonghistoricalisolationandtherecentimpactsofurbanisationhaveledtogeneticdifferentiation.ThereappeartobethreedistinctgeneticgroupsforGrasslandEarlessDragons:(1)anorthernCanberragroupwhichoccursintheMajuraValley;(2)asouthernCanberragroupwhichoccursintheJerrabomberraValleyandnearbyareasclosetoQueanbeyan;and(3)aMonarogroupwhichoccursontheMonaroplainsinthevicinityofCooma.

2.11 Little Eagle research and monitoringUpto100sightingsarerecordedbybirdobserverseachyearofnon-breedingLittleEagles,whichtendstoobscurethetruestatusofthespeciesintheTerritory.Declaredvulnerable,theLittleEaglehasbeenrecordedthroughouttheACTbutforagesmainlyinthenorthernhalfoftheTerritoryandbreedsonlyonthelowlands,whichareincreasinglyoccupiedbyCanberra.Inrecentyearsonlyoneortwopotentialbreedingpairshavebeenfoundbutthreewerefoundin2015.Twoofthesepairsarenestingwithinproposeddevelopmentsites,whichisapotentialthreattotheeagles;likewise,theirpresenceisapotentialobstacletothedevelopment.

LittleEaglespairforlifeandbuildmultiplenestsinaterritory,rotatingtoadifferentnesteveryfewyears.Theyconsumetheirpreyonaperch,sometimesusingoneoftheinactivenestsforthis.Thesebehaviourshavesometimesledtoundulyoptimisticassessmentsofthelikelyeffectofdevelopment.Somepairshavetoleratedsuburbstowithinabout¾km,butdevelopmenthasalsocausedabandonmentofbreedingterritories,asatEastO’MalleyandGungahlinHill.Toprotectnesttreesfromdisturbanceisinsufficient;abreedingpairalsorequiresitsforagingareastobeprotected.

ThedietofLittleEaglesisfairlywellknown(mainlyrabbitsandmiddlesizedbirds),buttherehasbeennostudyofLittleEaglemovements.SuchinformationispotentiallyvaluablefortheconservationofthespeciesgenerallyandisregardedascriticalforretentionofthisspeciesintheACTinthecontextoftheurbandevelopmentproposals,andfordeterminationofthelikelyenvironmentalimpactofproposeddevelopment.


Theaffecteddevelopershaveprovidedfundsforlight-weightsatellite-GPStrackingdevicesandassociatedequipment.Startingin2015,itishopedtodefinethemovementpatternsoftheadultLittleEaglesoverseveralmonths.Thecaptureandinstrumentationofeaglesischallenging,sotheteamhasfirstobtainedsomeexperienceonthemorecommonWedge-tailedEagle.

AnotherpossiblethreattoLittleEaglesistherabbitcontrolagentPindone,whichisusedinpreferenceto1080fornear-urbanrabbitcontrolbecauseitposesalowerrisktodogsandpeople.ToxicitytestingindicatesthatLittleEaglesandWedge-tailedEagleswouldbekillediftheyconsumedarabbitthathadrecentlyeatenamealofcarrottreatedwithPindone.InformationaboutLittleEagleforagingbehaviour(e.g.howfartheyforagefromanest)wouldhelpmanagetheriskso,forexample,Pindonecouldbewithheldinareaswithinacertainradiusofknownnestsites.Themovementsstudyfromthesitesproposedfordevelopmenthasthepotentialtobewidelyuseful.

2.12 Murray Crayfish 2015 surveyMurrayCrayfish(Euastacus armatus)isthelargestandmostwidelydistributedofallspeciesfromthegenusEuastacusandislistedasvulnerableintheACT.Aninitialsurveyofthisspeciesin1988revealedthat,despiteevidenceofdistributionthroughoutthelengthoftheMurrumbidgeeRiverwithintheACT,catchrateswerepatchyandlowincomparisonwithotherpartsoftheirrange.

InresponsetothesefindingstheACTGovernmentbannedfishingofMurrayCrayfishin1993andputinplaceamonitoringprogram.Twentyfiveyearsaftertheinitialsurveyand20yearsfollowingtheclosureofthefishery,areviewofthemonitoringprogramhasrevealedthatthespeciesisstillatrisk.

Guidedbya2013reportaboutthesamplingmethodologyforthisspecies,asurveywasconductedforMurrayCrayfishin2015.FoursitesalongtheMurrumbidgeeRiverweresampledontwooccasions,inMayandJune.Samplingconsistedofsetting20hoop-stylebaitedliftnetsandcheckingandmovingthenetsevery30minutes.

ThesurveyindicatedthatMurrayCrayfishintheACTarestillinlownumbersandhaveapatchydistribution(Figure2.6).Thirteencrayswerecaught,mostatCasuarinaSands.NocrayfishwerecaughtatTharwaSandwash,despitehavingbeingcaughtatthissiteinprevioussurveys.

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Figure 2.6 Murray Crayfish caught during 2015 Monitoring.

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2.13 Murrumbidgee BossiaeaMurrumbidgeeBossiaea(Bossiaea grayi)(Figure2.7)wasfirstdescribedin2009whenfournewspeciesweretaxonomicallysplitfromB. bracteosa.In2012MurrumbidgeeBossiaeawasdeclaredathreatenedplantspeciesintheACTundertheNature Conservation Act 1980.Accordingly,anactionplan(No.34)wascreatedtodefineconservationmeasuresforthespeciesthatincludesurveyandmonitoringofthepopulation.

Inspring2013asurveywasconductedtoconfirmthepresenceandsizeofMurrumbidgeeBossiaeapopulationsatanumberofACTlocations.Thesurveyresultedintendiscretepopulationclustersbeinglocatedwithanestimatedtotalpopulationsizeofbetween2700and2900individuals.Whilenoformalsurveywasundertakenin2014,allpopulationclustersalongthePaddysRiverandoneindividualattheCotterRiverCampGroundwereinspectedforsignsofplanthealthandsitedisturbance.

Toenhancetheplant’slong-termconservationprospects,acollaborativepartnershipwasestablishedbetweentheANBGandEPD,withassistancefromNationalSeedbankvolunteerstocollectseedfromthetwolargestpopulationclustersonthePaddysRiverinlate2014.BagssownbytheNationalSeedbankvolunteerswereplacedover120branchesbearingripeningpodsinNovember,withtheseedsharvestedfollowingdehiscenceamonthlater.

TheAustralianNativePlantSociety(ANPS)expressedinterestinundertakingagerminationtrialofthecleanedseed.Thisprovidedanopportunityforapracticaloutcomefromthecollectionbypotentiallyfillingacriticalknowledgegap;toutilisethestoredseedmosteffectivelyforconservationpurposesitisimportanttounderstandthemechanismsbywhichtheseedgerminatesmostefficiently.SeedgerminationtrialswereconductedincollaborationwiththeNationalSeedBank,andANBGbetweenMarchandJuly2015.Seedwastreatedtopromotegerminationbymanualnickingwithascalpel,manualscarificationwithglasspaper,microwavingorimmersioninhotwater(95°Cfortwominutes).Untreatedseedwasincludedinthetrialsasacontrol.Thetreatmentsthatresultedinthemostgerminationweremanualnickingwithascalpelandthehotwatertreatment.However,thehotwatertreatmentresultsvarieddependingonwhetherseedsweresurfacedisinfectedwithethanolandbleachornot.ManualnickingoftheseedcoatistherecommendedtreatmenttopromotegerminationofMurrumbidgeeBossiaeauntilfurthertrialsareconducted.

Key findings/outcomes• Oftheelevendiscretepopulationclusterslocatedduringthe2013surveys,fivewerereinspectedalongthe

PaddysandlowerCotterRiversin2014.Populationsabovethealluvialflatsremainconsistentlyinbetterconditionthanthoselowerdownonalluvialsoils.Thesecondlargestpopulationincludedsomeindividualssufferingfromaformof‘dieback’inadefinedgeographicarea.Noobviouscauseforthediebackwasevidentatthesite.Progressionorrecoveryisbeingmonitoredandfurtherinvestigationsareunderwaytodeterminethecauseofpoorplanthealthatthesesites.

Figure 2.7 Murrumbidgee Bossiaea.

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• Successfulcollaborationbetweengovernmentandnon-governmentorganisationshasresultedinprogressionoflisteditemsinActionPlan34,includingdevelopmentofexsituconservationmeasures.

• 21,695MurrumbidgeeBoassiaeaseedsweresuccessfullyharvestedandstoredforexsituconservationpurposesattheNationalSeedbank,Canberra.AsmallproportionofthisseedwasutilisedingerminationtrialsbyANPS.

• PreliminarygerminationtrialsofMurrumbidgeeBoassiaeaseedhasshownthatpre-treatmentofseedimprovedgerminationrelativetountreated(control)seed,withimmersioninhotwaterresultinginthehighestgerminationpercentagecomparedtoanyothertreatment.

2.14 Northern Corroboree Frog – monitoring, captive breeding and releaseFigure 2.8 Black and white drawing of a Northern Corroboree Frog.

NorthernCorroboreeFrogs(Pseudophryne pengilleyi) arestrikingblackandyellowfrogsthatinhabitthehigherelevationareasofNamadgiNationalParkandnearbyNSW.CRhasintermittentlymonitoredNorthernCorroboreeFrogpopulationsintheACTsincethemid-1980sandmoreintensivelysince1996.Thismonitoringrevealedamajorpopulationcrashinthelate1980sandearly1990s,withlessthan50individualscurrentlyestimatedtoremaininthewildintheACTfromtheoriginalpopulationofmanythousands.ThecloselyrelatedSouthernCorroboreeFrog,whichoccursintheSnowyMountainsaroundMtKosciusko,hassufferedasimilarcatastrophicdecline.ThedeclineisduetothespreadoftheintroducedAmphibianChytridFungus,apathogenthathascauseddeclines,andinsomecasesextinction,offrogsworldwide.

MonitoringofNorthernCorroboreeFrogsisundertakenbyfourto12peopleinearlyFebruaryeachyear.Thefrogsaremonitoredbycountingthenumberofcallingmalesatbreedingsites(sphagnummossbogsandotherwetareas)duringtheannualsummerbreedingseason(JanuarytoMarch)atkeybreedingsitesintheNamadgiNationalPark,includinhGininiFlats,CheyenneFlatsandSnowyFlats.

In2003,CRestablishedacaptivepopulationofNorthernCorroboreeFrogsatTidbinbillaNatureReservefromeggscollectedinthewild.TheobjectiveistomaintainacaptivecolonyofNorthernCorroboreeFrogsasaninsuranceagainstextinctionintheACT.Thecaptivepopulationcurrentlyhasaround1000individuals,mostofwhicharefromsuccessfulcaptivebreeding.

TherearenowtoofewCorroboreeFrogsremaininginNamadgiNationalParktobreedandmaintainwildpopulations.JuvenileCorroboreeFrogsbredincaptivityhavebeenreleasedtosphagnummossbogsinNamadgiNationalParksince2011todeterminewhethersuchreleasescanbolsterwildpopulationsandpromotebreedinganddevelopmentofnaturalresistancetoChytridFungus.Monitoringin2015hasshownthatsomeofthejuvenilefrogsreleasedin2011hadreachedbreedingageandbeguncalling.Whilethenumberwaslow(about10%ofthenumberreleasedin2011),theresultsareencouragingastheydemonstratecaptive-bredfrogscansurviveinthewildforseveralyearstoreachbreedingage.Thenextstageoftherecoveryprogramistodetermineoverallsurvivorshipoffrogsreleasedduringsubsequentyearsandwhethertheoffspringofcaptivefrogswillsuccessfullybreedinthewild.


2.15 Small Purple Pea monitoring FivesiteswithintheurbanareasofCanberrahavebeenknowntosupportpopulationsoftheSmallPurplePea(Swainsona recta).Thelargestpopulation,intheMtTaylorNatureReserve,hashadover300individualplantsrecordedsincesurveyingbeganin2001.Thissitewasseverelyburntinthe2003fires.Asmallpopulationofapproximately20plantsexistsonavacanturbanblockinthesuburbofKambahwhichhasbeenfencedtoprotectthepopulation.SmallnumbersofplantshavebeenrecordedinthepastatsitesonLongGullyRoad,aruralblockonCaswellDriveandatFarrerRidge.

The2014surveyofSwainsona rectaconsistedoftwocountsoftheKambahandMtTaylorsiteson15and22October.CaswellDrivewasinspectedon16OctoberbyBiosisecologists.TheMtTaylorpopulationwasinspectedfromearlyOctobertodeterminethebeginningofthefloweringperiod.Asin2013,in2014floweringoccurredinOctober—atthetimeexpectedfromthespeciesdescription—incontrasttothe2010–2012seasonsinwhichfloweringbeganlaterinOctoberandpeakedinNovember.

AtMcTaggartStreet,Kambah,plantswerelocatedusingpreviousmappingandmeasurements.Nonewplantswerefound,withthesurveyrecordingverysimilarnumberstopreviousseasons(Table2.2).AnecologicalburnwasconductedwithintheSwainsonahabitatduringJune2013asapartoftheannualTAMSBushfireOperationsPlan,toreducethedensityofKangarooGrass,Themeda triandra.Thisburnfollowedapatchy,lowintensityburninJune2011.Theintentionwasthatthechangeinstructureandbiomass(Figure2.9)couldpotentiallyencouragethere-sproutingofdormantindividualsandgerminationofnewS. rectaandothernativeforbs.Manyforbspecieswereseeninhighnumbersinspring2014,suchasBulbine bulbosa, Stackhousia monogyna, Thelymitra sp. and Drosera peltata(Figure2.10).

Figure 2.9 Swainsona recta habitat in the suburb of Kambah in Spring 2013 after the ecological burn carried out in June 2013.

Figure 2.10 Swainsona recta habitat in the suburb of Kambah in spring 2014.

Thegeneralsiteconditionanddiversityisverygoodwithlargenumbersofdisturbance-sensitiveforbspresentinspring2014.Atthisearlystageitwouldappeartherehasbeenapositiveresponsetothemostrecentburnwithwidespreadfloweringandgrowthfromnativespeciesandlimitedspreadofbroadleafandwoodyweeds.Atotalof23individualplantshavebeentaggedatthissite,withmanyoftheseindividualsnotrecordedforanumberofyearsandnonewplantsidentifiedsince2003.

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Table 2.2 S. recta abundance, McTaggart St, Kambah ACT.

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*Ecological burn in June of this year.

AtMtTaylor,countsofthesitewereconductedbyflaggingthepermanentlymarkedcornerpegsandsweepingtheareawithalineofpeople.Metaldetectorswereusedtolocatetagsburiedbysoilmovement.Alltagnumbersandassociatedplantlifestageswererecordedanduntaggedplantsmarkedwithnewtags.

AfterasignificantincreaseinabundanceoftheMtTaylorpopulationin2013,2014sawadecreaseofover34%(Figure2.11).Therehavebeennoclearlong-termtrendsofeitheranincreaseordecreaseintheoverallabundance,withannualfluctuationssuchasthesecommoninsmallpopulations.Factorsthatmayhaveinfluencedthesevariationsincluderainfall,predationofplants,groundtemperatures,moisturelevelsandintra-specificcompetition.Itislikelythechangesaredueinparttonaturalpopulationfluctuation;S. rectaisknowntohavedormancyperiodsofanywherefrom1to9years(BriggsandMüller,1999).Itshouldbenotedthatin2004,toavoidoverlytramplingthesiteandnewregrowthafterthefirein2003,afullsurveywasnotcarriedout;onlyuntaggedplantswererecordedandtagged(seeFigure2.11).Recruitmentlevelshavesteadilydroppedsincethepeakabundancein2009.BurningpartsoftheMtTaylorsitewillbeconsideredifthepopulationcontinuestodeclinein2015andtheKambahplantscontinuetoshownodetrimentaleffectsfromthe2013burn.

AtCaswellDrive,asearchmadewithina50metreradiusoftheknownpopulationlocatedtwoplants.Theseappearedtobethesameindividualslocatedin2013buttheplantsatthissitehavenotbeentagged.

Figure 2.11 Abundance of new and reoccurring S. recta at Mt. Taylor, ACT.

Newlytaggedplantsarerepresentedbythedarkportionofeachtotalcountandpreviouslytaggedplantsarerepresentedbythelighterportionofeachtotalcount.

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2.16 Striped Legless Lizard surveysStripedLeglessLizards(Delma impar)areknowntooccurinfourdiscreteplaceswithintheACT:theGungahlinarea,thesouthernhalfoftheMajuraValley,landadjacenttoYarramundiReachonLakeBurleyGriffinandintheJerrabomberraValley.ThelizardisalsoknownfromsevensitesinNewSouthWales,twoinSouthAustraliaandaround70inVictoria.NearlyallsitesoutsideoftheACTareconsideredtosupportlessthan,atmost,afewhundredanimals.

StripedLeglessLizardsweresurveyedintheGungahlingrasslandreserves(Crace,Mulanggari,Gungaderra)andtheproposedreserveofKennyin2012and2013.Basedonthesurveyresults,thesizeoftheStripedLeglessLizardpopulationacrosstheseareaswasestimatedtobearound10,000individuals.StripedLeglessLizardsweresurveyedintheJerrabomberraandMajuraValleysin2014,whichconfirmedthespeciesoccursatlowdensitybutiswidespreadinthesevalleys.AtleasttwoStripedLeglessLizardswereobservedwithinYarramundiReachonLakeBurleyGriffin,confirmingtheongoingsurvivalofthelizardwithinthissmallgrasslandremnant.

Figure 2.12 Striped Legless Lizard.

2.17 Superb Parrot survey BaselineinformationonthelocationofSuperbParrot(Polytelis swainsonii)breedingareaswithintheACTand/ortheinteractionsofnestingbirdswithpotentialhollowcompetitorshasbeenobtainedwithintheACTsince2009.Breedingisconcentratedintwoareas,theCentralMolongloValleyandonThrosbyRidgeinGungahlin.BreedingintheThrosbyareaappearstohavebeenstableoverthistime,whilethatoftheMolongloValleyappearstohaveoccurredoverawideningarea.

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Figure 2.13 Throsby Ridge Superb Parrot breeding area.

Researchwillcommenceduringthe2015breedingseasonintowhySuperbParrotsselectparticularbreedinglocations,theirnestsitefidelityandfecundityandwhethertheseareimpactedbynearbyurbandevelopment,andhowmanagementactionsmayimprovethesuitabilityofhabitatandbreedingsuccess.

2.18 Tarengo Leek Orchid monitoringTheTarengoLeekOrchid(Prasophyllum petilum),isaslendergroundorchidfoundinonlyfivelocationsingrasslandsandgrassywoodlandsoftheSouthernTablelandsoftheACTandNSW.HallCemeterycontainstheonlypopulationofP. petilumintheACT.Littleisknownaboutthespecificecologyandrequirementsofthisorchid.Thefragilenatureofsmallpopulationsmeansthein-situconservationandmonitoringoftheHallCemeterypopulationiscrucialforthesurvivalofthespeciesintheACT.Managementrequirementsforgravedigging,vehicleaccessandmovement,weedcontrolandmowingareoutlinedintheHallCemeteryManagementPlanthatwasdevelopedin2005andupdatedin2013.

Frommid-September2014thesitewasvisitedweeklytodetectflowering.Threefullsurveysoftheeightareasknowntocontainorchidswerecarriedouton8,16and21October2014,withtheremainderoftheCemeterysearchedforpotentialnewareas.Surveyinginvolvedvisuallyscanningeachareafororchidsandsweepingwithmetaldetectorstolocatethemetaltagsofpreviouslyidentifiedorchids.Thelifestage,conditionandpresence/absenceofeachorchidwithametaltagwererecordedontheexistinginventory.Anyneworchidsdiscoveredinflowerwereidentifiedwithanewnumberedtagintheground.


Adecreaseof12.7%wasrecordedinthetotalnumberoffloweringplantsafterasignificantincreaseinthepreviousyear(Figure2.14).TheabundanceofthefloweringpopulationatHallhasfluctuatedsincemonitoringbeganin1991.Noobviouslinkhasbeenidentifiedbetweenmarkedfluctuationsandtheprecedingyears’abundanceorenvironmentalfactors.

Figure 2.14 Hall Cemetery Tarengo Leak Orchid (Prasophyllum petilum) abundances as total counts of flowering individuals per year.

In2014,20newindividualswererecorded,thesameas2013,althoughitrepresentsahigherpercentage(41.6%)oftheoverallabundanceoffloweringplantsfortheyear(Figure2.15).

Figure 2.15 Recruitment at Hall Cemetery shown as the number of previously unrecorded (‘new’) plants per year in relation to the total abundance per year.

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TheabundanceofP. petilumatHallCemeteryhasonceagainfluctuatedmarkedlyfromthepreviousseason.Theunpredictablenatureofpopulationsofthisgenusmeansitisnotpossibletoforecastthespringfloweringresponse.Giventhevariablenatureofthepopulation,managementproceduresneedtoberegularlyreviewed.

2.19 Trout Cod stocking and monitoringTroutCod(Maccullochella macquariensis)islistedasendangeredintheACTundertheNature Conservation Act 1980aswellasnationallyundertheEPBCAct.ThespeciesbecameextinctintheCanberraregioninthe1970s.ConservationstockinghasbeenundertakeninanumberofwaterwaysaspartoftheNationalRecoveryPlanforTroutCodinanefforttore-establishthespeciesinitsformerrange.

IntheACTTroutCodhavebeenstockedin:theMurrumbidgeeRiveratAngleCrossing(1996–2005);theMurrumbidgeeRiveratKambahPool(2006–2008);andtheCotterRiveratBendoraReservoir(1989–1990).StockinghasnotoccurredintheACTregionsince2008.

CRmonitorsthesuccessofthesestockingsandthestatusoftheupperMurrumbidgeeRiverTroutCodpopulationaspartofthethreatenedspeciesmonitoringprogram.TheMurrumbidgeereleasesaresurveyedthroughthebiennialMurrumbidgeemonitoringprogramandBendoraReservoirisalsosurveyed.

TwoTroutCodadultscaughtin2015atKambahPoolweretaggedwithaPassiveIntegratedTransponderanddorsaltaggedforfutureassessmentofindividualfish.ApotentialhybridwascapturedjustabovetheACTbordernearMichelago,whichsuggeststhespeciesdoesnotexistinsufficientdensitytofindasuitablebreedingpartnerintheupperMurrumbidgee.NoTroutCodwerecaughtinBendoraReservoirin2014.

2.20 Two-spined Blackfish monitoringFigure 2.16 Two-spined Blackfish in the Cotter River.


CRhasundertakenaCotterRivermonitoringprogramontheCotterRiversince2001andinBendoraDamsince1995.TheprogramispartofalargerprojectlookingatenvironmentalflowsintheCotterRiverandthreatenedspeciesintheACT.TheprogramfulfilsmonitoringobligationsundertheRibbonsofLifeACTAquaticSpeciesandRiparianZoneConservationStrategyActionPlan29.In2014,15sitesweresurveyedincludingBendoraDamandnon-Cotterreferencesites.In2015,12riversitesweresurveyedincludingsitesforprescribedburnmonitoring;sitesnotsurveyedincludedaboveandbelowBendora,BendoraDamandnon-Cotterreferencesites.Fishweresurveyedusingbackpackelectrofishing.

Atotalof277Two-spinedBlackfish(Blackfish)andfourMacquariePerchwererecordedin2014.Atotalof364Blackfishand13MacquariePerchwererecordedin2015.GenerallyBlackfishwerereasonablyconsistentacrosssitesfor2015(Figure2.17);Blackfishacrosssitesfor2014werequitevariableparticularlyintheunregulatedsites(Figure2.17).

Figure 2.17 Mean Blackfish captures per back pack electrofishing shot (30 metres) for each site sampled on the Cotter River for both 2014 and 2015.

Blackfisharebeginningtodemonstrateageneralincreaseinabundancesincethelownumberscapturedin2011–12(Figure2.18).Samplingin2014suggestedpoorbreedingsuccessinboththeregulatedandunregulatedsitesasjuvenilenumbersarelow(Figure2.19).Thereasonforthisresultisunclearastherehasbeenrecoverytimesincethe2011floodandtheearliermillenniumdrought.Fortunatelythe2015surveydoesindicateanincreaseinbothoverallabundanceandmoresuccessfulbreedingforbothregulatedandunregulatedsites(Figure2.18).

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Figure 2.18 Mean number of Blackfish (recruits and adults) recorded per site for each river management type.

SitesBendora–CotterareregulatedandaboveCorinareunregulatedsites.Thedatapresentedarefromsitesthatwererelativelyconsistentlysampledacrossyears.

Figure 2.19 Mean number of Blackfish recruits (Fish < 80mm) captured per site for each river management type; sites Bendora-Cotter are regulated and above Corin are unregulated sites.

Thedatapresentedarefromsitesthatwererelativelyconsistentlysampledacrossyears.

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2.21 Tuggeranong Lignum monitoring and translocationTheTuggeranongLignum(Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong)wasfirstdescribedin1997afterbeingdiscoveredbyMallinsonontheeasternbankoftheMurrumbidgeeRiverinthePineIslandReservenearTuggeranong,ACT.Initiallyonefemaleandtwomaleplantswererecorded.Thoroughsurveyinglocatedanotherfourmaleplantsintwomorelocationswithinthereserve.Asingleplantwasalsoobservedin1999inRedRocksGorge,butfollow-upsurveyshavefailedtolocateit.RedRocksGorgeandthethreemostsoutherlylocationsofM. tuggeranong atPineIslandwereallseverelyburntduringthe2003bushfires.AllfiveplantsaffectedbyfireatPineIslandhaverecovered.

Since1999aseriesofsurveysandopportunisticsightingshaveidentified13individualwildplantsontheeasternbankoftheMurrumbidgeeRiver.Noplantsareknowntopersistonthewesternbankoftheriver.All13plantswerestillalivein2013.AsurveyinFebruary2015found12plantswerestillalive;amaleplant,firstobservedin1997onthebanksoftheMurrumbidgee,appearstohavedied.ThisplantwasinanareasubjecttoagreatdealofdisturbanceduetofloodingandmovementofsandandwasalsobeingencroacheduponbyBlackberry.

TranslocationofclonallygrownTuggeranongLignumhasbeenattemptedonanumberofoccasionssince2010.Initially93plantsweretranslocatedintotheMurrumbidgeeRiverCorridorinlocationsclosetothewildplants.Noneareknowntohavesurvived,withpossiblecausesforthisfailureincludingextensivefloodingandheavyweedinfestationatthesite.In2013CRstafftranslocated19plantsintosuitablehabitatonPointHutHillandanother17plantsintoBullenRangeNaturereserveneartheoldrecordfromRedRocksGorge.AllplantstranslocatedintoBullenRangehavesincedied,butasofFebruary2015,10plantsstillpersistedatPointHutHill.Anecdotalobservationsoftheseplantingsindicatethatplantsonshelteredsoutherlyaspectsappeartosurvivelongerthanotheraspects.

In2013CSIROdeliveredtheresultsofgenetictestingundertakentoidentifyhowmanywildindividualsthereare(plantssprawlacrosseachotherinsomesitesmakingitdifficulttodeterminenumbersbyobservation)andhowmanyofthesegenotypesarereflectedinthesurvivingtranslocatedplants.Unfortunately,theresultswereinconclusiveduetothelimitednumberoflocithatcouldbeusedintheanalysis.

Followingthelossofoneofthewildindividuals,CRandANBGdecidedtocollectmaterialfromall12wildplantsand10translocatedplantssoTuggeranongLignumcouldbepropagatedintheANBG.Thisprojectisdesignedtosecurethecurrentgeneticdiversityofthespeciesbyhavingatleastonerepresentativeofeachplantgrowinginthegardens’permanentcollection.Additionalmaterialgrownbythegardensmaybemadeavailableforfuturetranslocationattempts.

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3. THREATENING PROCESSES

A‘threateningprocess’isanyprocessthatthreatensthesurvival,abundanceorevolutionarydevelopmentofanativespeciesorecologicalcommunity.ExamplesofthreateningprocessesincludepredationbytheEuropeanRedFox,damagebyherbivoressuchasferalrabbitsanddeer,orinappropriatefireorgrazingregimes.Somejurisdictionslist‘key’threateningprocessesinlegislation(suchasNSWandtheCommonwealth)whereasotherjurisdictions(suchastheACT)recognisekeythreateningprocesseseventhoughtheyarenotlistedinlegislation.

TheConservationResearchUnit(CR)providesecologicalresearchinputandmanagementadviceonarangeofthreatsintheACT,particularlywhentheyhavethepotentialtoimpactlistedspeciesandcommunities.

3.1 Deer – Fallow, Red and SambarCRisassistingtheParksandConservationService(PCS)withthegovernmentresponsetotheincreasingpopulationsofthreedeerspeciesintheACT.Followingonfromworkdescribedinpreviouseditionsofthisreport,anexperimenthasbeenestablishedtomonitorimpactsofSambardeer(Rusa unicolor)onmontanevegetationinNamadgiNationalParkusingpartialexclosures.TheexclosurespreventaccessbylargeanimalssuchasSambardeerbutnotsmallerherbivoressuchaswallabiesandwombats.Baselinedataonvegetationdiversityandstructurewerecollectedin2014ateightexclosuresandeightpairedopenplotsinmontaneforestintheupperCotterRivercatchment.Thesebaselinedatawillenablecomparisonwithfutureassessmentsandprovideabasisformonitoringdeerimpactsonmontaneecosystemsbytrackingdifferencesinvegetationbetweenplotsaccessibleandplotsnotaccessibletothedeer.

Spreadofdeerspeciesisbeingmonitoredbyrecordingad hocsightings.SpotlightcountshavealsobeenestablishedbyPCSforFallowDeer(Dama dama)intheCanberraareaandGoogong.CRinputin2015ledtoareviewandstandardisationofspotlightingmethods.

3.2 Fire – Ecological review of the TAMS Bushfire Operational PlanEachyearTAMSdevelopsaBushfireOperationalPlan(BOP)outliningaworksprogramforfirefuelmanagementacrosstheACT.Worksincludegrazing,slashing,prescribedburningandphysicalremovaloffirefuelsinstrategiclocationstoreducebushfirerisktobuiltandenvironmentalassets.CRconductsanecologicalreviewoftheBOPeachyeartodetermineifplannedworkscouldimpactonecologicalvalues,includinglistedthreatenedspeciesandthreatenedecologicalcommunitiesaswellasrareandfire-sensitivespeciesandcommunities.

Overthepasttwoyears,CRhasassessedmorethan500proposedmanagementactivitieslistedinthe2013–14and2014–15TAMSBOP.Treatmentsincludedproposedfuel,accessandinfrastructuremanagement.CRecologistsconductedassessmentsusingspatialanalysistechniquesandappraisalofpossibleimpacts,includingsiteinspectionswhererequired.Ecologicalassessmentofthe2014–15andsubsequentBOPshaveincludedafocusonpotentialimpactsoflargescaleandrapidvegetationremovalforfireaccessmaintenance.BOPassessmentshavealsohadanincreasedfocusonpotentialforbiodiversityimpactsasaresultoflarge‘ridgetop’burnsinremoteruralareassuchasNamadgiNationalParkandTidbinbillaNatureReserve.Inparticular,CRhasworkedwithfiremanagementagenciestominimiseburninginecosystemsthatarebelowminimuminter-fireintervalthresholdsandalsoinlongunburntareasofNamadgiNationalParkthatescapedthe2003Canberrawildfires.CRcontinuestoworkcloselywithPCSandcommunitygroupssuchasParkCaretoidentifyandmitigatepotentialimpactsofprescribedburningonnaturalassetsinCanberraNaturePark,suchasrareplantsandareasofhighhabitatvalue.


Actionsassessedashavingthepotentialtocauseadverseimpactsonbiodiversityhavebeenhighlightedtothelandmanager,andrecommendationsformitigatingimpactslistedinaccordancewithecologicalguidelines.InmanycasesCRalsostipulatessite-specificconditionstobeincludedinworksplansandaddressedpriortoimplementationoftheseactivities.EcologicaloutcomesoffuelmanagementactivitiesareassessedaspartofCR’songoingPrescribedBurnMonitoringProgram(seefollowingsection).AdviceandrecommendationscomingfromtheCRecologicalassessmentofproposedBOPactivitiesareprovidedtotheACTConservatorofFloraandFaunaforconsiderationandfurthercorrespondencewithTAMS.

ThisprogramisjointlymanagedacrossEPDandTAMSdirectorateswithfundingprovidedfrombothtoensurefiremanagementactivities,particularlyinnaturereserves,arestronglyalignedwithconservationoutcomes.

3.3 Fire – Prescribed burn monitoringCRmaintainsanongoingmonitoringprogramaimedatdeterminingtheimpactofprescribedburningonbiodiversityconservationvalues(includingcomposition,structureandfunctionofvegetation,terrestrialfaunahabitatandaquaticspecies)inareasidentifiedforfuelreductioninTAMSBOP.CRalsomonitorspopulationresponsestoecologicalburnsprogrammedbyCRandimplementedaspartoftheBOP.Asinpreviousyears,theprescribedburnmonitoringprogramaimstoassessapproximately10%ofplannedburnseachyearusingacombinationofquantitativeplot-basedecologicalassessmentsandqualitativeordescriptivepost-fireassessments.

Qualitativepost-fireassessmentsreportontheoutcomeofprescribedfiresfromanenvironmentalperspectiveandprovidefeedbacktofiremanagementagenciesastohoweffectivelyburnshavemetecologicalguidelinesandothersensitivitieshighlightedintheBOPreviewstagepriortoimplementing.Quantitativeplot-basedmonitoringisundertakenusingaBeforeAfterControlImpact(BACI)designandaimstoaddressarangeofexplicitmonitoringandresearchquestions,therebyprovidingnewknowledgeandinsightstoinformfuturefiremanagement.

2013–14 monitoringTwentysixhazardreductionburnswerecompletedintheACToverthe2013–14season.ThevastmajoritywereconductedwithinCanberraNaturePark(CNP),andrangedfrom1to31hectares.The2013–14prescribedburnmonitoringprogramundertookdetailedquantitativemonitoringonfive(approximately20%)ofthe26burnscompletedintheyearandoneruralburnthatwasnotimplementedduetowetconditions.

The2013–14prescribedburnmonitoringprogramwassupportedbyadditionalfundingfromTAMSenablingincreasedsamplingeffort.Itconsistedofthreecomponents:

• Aretrospectiveor‘spacefortime’studyoftheeffectsofpastfireregimesonthestructureandcompositionofdryforestcommunitiesinCNP.Thisstudyinvolvedcollectingvegetationandhabitatstructuredatafromover120plotsindryforestonBlackMountain,BruceRidge,O’ConnorRidgeandArandaBush.Plotswerestratifiedbyslope,aspect,timesincelastfireandfirefrequencyoverthepast50years.

• Establishmentof55BACImonitoringplotstomeasuretheeffectsofsixprescribedburns;fiveburnsinCNP(22burnand22controlplots)andoneprescribedburnproposedforanareaofsubalpinewoodlandinsouthernNamadgiNationalPark(fiveburnplotsandfivecontrolplots).

• Qualitativepost-fireassessmentsweremadeatanumberofotherlargeruralandsmallerurbanprescribedburnstodetermineifstipulatedecologicalguidelinesweremet.

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2014–15 monitoringSeasonalconditionsthroughoutlatesummerandautumnwereconducivetoprescribedburningandasignificantnumberofburnswereimplementedbyTAMSincludinganumberoflargeruralburnsinNamadgiNationalParkandTidbinbillaNatureReserve.Prescribedburnmonitoringin2014–15includedre-sampling55BACIplotsinCNPandNamadgiNationalParkoneyearpostburn,nativebirdsurveysatasubsetof10CNPBACIplots(oneburntandonecontrolplotfromeachoffiveburns),detailedpre-burnassessmentsofecologicalassetsassociatedwiththelargeruralburnsinNamadgi,andqualitativepost-fireassessmentsoffourlargeruralprescribedburnsinNamadgitodetermineifstipulatedecologicalguidelinesweremet.

AquaticassessmentofonelargeruralprescribedburnontheCotterRiveraboveCorinDaminNNPwasundertakenin2015.SixsitesweresurveyedinearlyautumnaspartoftheBlackfishmonitoringprogram.Thisincludedtwositesbelowtheburnarea,twowithintheburnareaandtwoabovetheburnarea.Twoofthesesiteshavebeensampledannuallysince2013andanotherthreesiteshavebeensampledsince2001.Thesiteswereresurveyedinlateautumnfollowingtheburn.

3.4 Fire – Post-fire recovery – Cotter HutCRcontinuestopartnerwiththePCStoundertakepost-firerecoverywhenneeded.Usingarapidriskassessmentapproachthatisbeingadoptedinanumberofsouth-eastAustralianstates,theACTisaddressingriskintheenvironmentfollowinghigherintensityburns.

InApril2015,theCotterRiverprescribedburn,oneofmanyidentifiedintheTAMSBushfireOperationalPlan(BOP)for2014-15,wasundertaken.Theburncontainedanumberofenvironmentalassets(particularlyasphagnummossbog)andwasadjacenttotheCotterRiver.Theseassetswereidentifiedintheburnplanandactionstakenintheplanningoftheburntoprioritiseworkintheseareas.VariableweatherconditionsandincreasedfirebehaviourresultedinsomesmallspotfiresandthefirecrossingtheCotterRiver.Oncecontained,theburnareaincludedapproximately175hectaresofadditionalareaburntinvaryingseverityfrompatchylowintensitytohighintensitycrownscorchandcrownconsumption.ImpactsofvaryingdegreehadoccurredtotheAlpineAshforest,sphagnummossbog,CotterRiver,nativefloraandfaunahabitatandnativevegetation.

Processesforarehabilitationandrecoveryplanwereimmediatelyinitiated,withCRandPCSstaffimmediatelymeetingonsitetoassessriskstoboththeexistinginfrastructure,theenvironmentandrehabilitationofdozertracks.

Apost-fireriskassessmentwasundertakenusingtheformatofthepost-fireriskassessmentteamsnowoperatinginVictoria,NSWandACT(theACT/NSWBurnedAreaAssessmentTeam(BAAT)).Arehabilitationplanwascompiledthatprovidedanoverviewofallassetsassessedunderthisrapid(1day)riskassessmentandtheprioritiesassignedforfutureinvestigationandworks.

ThehighestriskswerefoundtobetothewaterqualityintheCotterRiverfromthepotentialforsedimentresultingfromtracksandtrailscutintonativevegetationascontainmentlines.Thehighestpriorityactionswereidentifiedtobetomitigatethisriskthroughtheinstallationandmaintenanceofsedimentcontrolstructuresatpointsofhighesterosionpotential(i.e.wherebulldozerlinesanddrainagelinesintersectandroadsidedrains).TherehabilitationplanwasimmediatelyimplementedbyPCSandmonitoringinspring/summerwillcontinuetoassesswhetherfurtherworkisneeded.


3.5 Kangaroos and their management – Community opinion poll In2015,MarketresearchcompanyMicromexwasemployedtoundertakeatelephonepollaboutkangaroomanagement.Similarpollshavebeenundertakenin2008and2011.Eachsurveypolledapproximately600randomlychosenCanberraadults.BasedonadvicefromMicromex,thissamplesizewassufficienttoanswerthequestionswithgoodprecision.Thefullresultsofthethreesurveysareavailableatwww.tams.act.gov.aubysearching‘kangaroos’.

Thesurveyresultsin2015infer:

• CanberransvaluethekangaroosinCNPbutareawareoftheirimpactsandhavehighsupportforconservationculling.

• Kangaroosarefrequentlyseen,withasmanyas28%ofpeoplehavingseenakangaroointheprevious24hrsand65%inthepreviousweek.

• AwarenessthattheACThasanexceptionalabundanceofkangarooshasincreasedstronglysince2011,with69%ratherthan37%ofpeoplebelievingthereisa‘higher’to‘muchhigher’‘concentration’ofkangarooscomparedtotherestofAustralia.Also,75%ofresidents‘agree’to‘stronglyagree’withanAustralianGeographicarticlestatingthatCanberraisthebestplaceinAustraliatoseekangaroos.

• 75%ofresidentsbelievethecullingofkangaroosis‘humane’or‘veryhumane’incomparisontocontrollingotherwildanimals.

• Thereissomemisunderstandingaboutreasonsforgovernmentcullsinnaturereserves.Although83%ofresidentscorrectlythinkthatcullinginnaturereservesiscarriedoutfortheconservationofgrasslandandwoodlandecosystems,anumberofincorrectreasonsarealsothoughttoapply.Thisincludes80%believethecullingisdonetopreventkangaroosstarvingduringadrought,56%believeitisdonetoreducemotorvehiclecollisions,32%believeitisdonetopreservegrassforlivestockand12%forsaleofmeatandskins.

• ToapplyfertilitycontrolmethodstocontrolthebreedingofkangaroosinCanberrawasthought‘important’to‘veryimportant’by76%ofrespondants.

Figure 3.1 Volunteer’s (ParkCare) notice board defaced by anti-cull activists.

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TheCanberracommunityhasarangeofopinionsaboutkangaroomanagement,buttherandomphonepollshowedanoverwhelmingmajorityofCanberranssupporttheannualconservationcullinreservesdespitesomestrongprotests(Figure3.1).

Thesamesurveygathereddataonthefrequencyofmotorvehiclecollisionswithkangaroos.Theresponsesindicateamorerealisticestimateofcollisionsthaninsurancestatistics,policereportsorcarcassnumbers,whichareallknowntobeunderestimates.Fromthephonesurveyanannualaverageofalmost14,000motorvehiclecollisionswithkangaroosisthecurrentestimate.

Thisissubstantiallyhigherthanthe2011estimateofalmost6,000collisionsbecause:8.2%ofdriversreportedcollisionsasopposedto6%in2011;thenumberofdrivershasincreasedbyover19,000;and,forthefirsttime,the2015surveytookaccountofpeoplewhohadhadmultiplecollisions.Basedonanaverageof308,592licenceddriversintheACTduringthethreeyearperiod,theaveragenumberofmotorvehiclecollisionswithkangarooswasestimatedtobe13,985peryearoverthelastthreeyears.

Thelikelymagnitudeoftheunderestimationfromothersourcesofmotorvehiclecollisionstatisticsishintedatbytheanswerstoquestionsaboutwhathappenedafterthecollision.Insuranceclaimsweremadein57%ofcasesandreportstopolicein33%ofcases.

3.6 Kangaroo – fertility control researchTheACTGovernmenthassupportedresearchonfertilitycontrolforEasternGreyKangaroossince1998.ThemostsuccessfultrialtodatehasbeenundertakenincollaborationwiththeInvasiveAnimalsCooperativeResearchCentre(IACRC)andCSIRO.In2008,sub-adultfemalekangaroosresidentatBelconnenNavalTransmissionStationwerecapture-dartedallowingtheapplicationofidentificationcollarsandeartagsandtreatmentwitheitherGonaConImmunocontraceptiveVaccine™(16animals)oraplaceboinjection(10animals).Sincetreatment,animalshavebeenmonitoredannuallytodeterminetheirreproductivecondition.

ResultstodatehavedemonstratedGonaCon™tobeeffectiveinahighproportionoffemaleEasternGreyKangaroosforaminimumofsixyearsfollowingasingleinjection(Table3-1).Allthetreatedkangarooswereinfertileforthefirstthreeyearsaftervaccination.Inthefourthyear,onetreatedanimalstartingbreedingandhasproducedayoungeachyearsince.ThisresultisextremelypositiveandGonaCon™currentlyrepresentsthemostpromisingcontraceptivetrialledforuseinthisspecies.However,thehighcostsandresourcesrequiredtocaptureandhandleeachindividualtoinjectthevaccineandmonitortheirrecoveryfromtheanaestheticlimitstheviabilityofthismethodfortreatinglargefree-rangingkangaroopopulations.Thesecostsandinefficiencieswouldbeovercomeifthevaccinecouldbedeliveredtokangaroosremotely.

Table 3.1 Percentages of females in each treatment group observed with young each year.

Treatment 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

GonaCon™ 0% 0% 0% 7% 10% 10%

ShamVaccine 100% 78% 100% 38% 63% 83%

WithsupportfromTAMSandCSIRO,CRiscontinuingtoresearchtheuseofGonaCon™forEasternGreyKangaroos.Trialsarecurrentlyunderwaytodevelopadartdeliverytechniquesothevaccinecanbeadministeredremotely.Thetrialswillinvestigatethemostappropriatedartcomponentsforsuccessfullyexpellingtheviscousvaccineintothetargetmuscle,developasystemtotemporarilymarkeachanimaltoavoidindividualsreceivingmultipledosesandassessthehumanenessofthetechnique.


FurtherfieldtrialswillbeconductedofhandinjectedGonaCon™,thistimeadministeredtoadultfemales.Oncethedartdeliverysystemisdevised,thismethodwillbetrialledonwildfemalekangaroos.AtsomeresearchsitesthekangarooswillbetreatedwitheitherhandinjectedordartdeliveredGonaCon™oraplacebotreatmenttoevaluatetheeffectivenessofthevaccineonanindividualbasis.Atothersites,allormostofthefemaleswillbetreatedwithGonaCon™toassesstheeffectofthevaccineatapopulationlevelandtodetermineifitisaneffectivetoolforlimitingtherateofincreaseinthesepopulations.Populationgrowthratesandbreedinglevelswillbeassessedinuntreatedpopulationsascomparison.

Inpreparationforthedartdeliveryfieldtrials,50femalekangarooshavebeenfittedwithidentificationcollarsandeartags(Figure3.2).ThecollarsandeartagsalloweachkangarootobeidentifiedindividuallysothatthesuccessanddurationofeffectofdartdeliveredGonaCon™canbeaccuratelyassessed.Thesekangarooswillbetreatedwithdart-deliveredGonaCon™(orplacebo)in2016.

Figure 3.2 Female Eastern Grey Kangaroos fitted with identification collars and eartags.

3.7 Kangaroo – grazing and biodiversity within Canberra Nature ParkKangaroosareanintegralpartofnativegrassyecosystems.AtsomesitesintheACT,kangarooscanoccurathighdensities,resultinginpotentialimpactsonthelocalfloraandfauna.InthenorthernACT,manyreservesandothersitescontainnativegrassyecosystems,includinglargeareasofLowlandNaturalTemperateGrasslandandYellowBox–Blakely’sRedGumwoodlandprotectedundertheACT Nature Conservation Act 1980andtheCommonwealth EPBC Act 1999.Thesesitesrequireactivemanagementofkangaroopopulationsinordertomaintainarangeofvalueswithintheselandscapes(Figure3.3).

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CRiscontinuingtoinvestigatetheimpactsofkangaroograzingongroundlayervegetationstructureandbiodiversity.Thisprograminvolvesindividuallyassessing:1)relationshipsbetweenkangaroodensityandpastureoff-take(at5–6reserveswherekangaroonumbersarestableandmostaccuratelydetermined);2)relationshipsbetweenlocalisedkangaroograzingpressureandpasturestructure;and3)relationshipsbetweengroundlayerpasturestructureandmeasuresofbiodiversity(assessedatapproximatelyfifty1hectareresearchplotsthroughoutthelandscape).

Figure 3.3 Heavy grazing by kangaroos at Aranda Snowgums.

Todate,alargedatasetdescribingpastureoff-take,groundlayervegetationstructureandfloristicandreptilediversityfromvariouslocationswithinCNPhasbeencollected.Additionalpilotsurveysofbirdsandsmallmammalswereundertakenin2014–15.Formalanalysisofthefulldatasetawaitssufficientsamplingtoallow‘landscapescale’patternstobedetectedabovethestronginfluenceofbetween-yeardifferencesinweatherpatterns(andhencegrassgrowth).AsubsetofthedatasetwasusedtodescribethehabitatpreferencesoftheStripedLeglessLizard(Delma impar)inapaperacceptedforpublicationin2015(Howlandetal.2015).Otherpreliminaryobservationsincludeastrongincreaseinpastureoff-takewithincreasingkangaroodensityatthereservescaleandchangesinbothreptileandfloristicsdiversityinresponsetoground-layervegetationstructureinsomeyears.Smallmammalfootprintsweredetectedintrackingtunnelspredominantlyinassociationwithhighgrassherbagemass.

Thedetailsofthisproject’smethodsandkeyobjectivescanbefoundinthepreviousConservationResearchProgramReportfor2011–13.Long-termdatacollectedasapartofthisstudywillenablegovernmenttomakeinformeddecisionsregardingherbivoremanagementforconservationatthelandscapescale.

3.8 Kangaroo – monitoring at Lawson SouthIn2013,IridiumGPScollarswerefittedto12EasternGreyKangaroosatthesiteofthenewsuburbofLawsoninBelconnen.Thistwoyearstudy,fundedbytheLandDevelopmentAgency,aimedtoinvestigatetheresponseoftheresidentkangaroopopulationtotheurbandevelopment.WhileexcellentbaselinedataexistsonthemovementbehaviourandhomerangeofkangaroosinCanberra,beforethisstudyitwasunknownhowthekangarooswouldrespondtourbandevelopmentoftheirhabitat.


Thecollarsrecordthelocationofeachcollaredkangarooevery30minutesandtransmitthedatatoawebsiteevery12hours,allowingforintensive,near-realtimetrackingofthekangaroos.AlthoughdataanalysiswillbeundertakenwhenthelastofthecollarsautomaticallydropsfromthekangaroosinSeptember2015,patternsareapparentinthedata.Previousresearch,includingsomeconductedinCanberra,showedEasternGreyKangaroosarefaithfultoremarkablysmallhomerangesforsuchlargeanimalsthatarecapableofsuchrapidandsustainedmovement.Thisstudyisshowingthatsitefidelityinthisspeciesisevenstrongerthansuspectedfrompreviousstudies.

Figure 3.4 Excursion of a male kangaroo in November 2013.

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ThekangaroopopulationhasremainedatLawsonSouthdespitenoisyconstructionmachineryandextensiveclearingofhabitat.Noneofthecollaredkangarooshavepermanentlyleftthesite,thoughsomeleftthesiteforshortperiods.Thelongestandmostinterestingexcursionoff-sitewasbyamalekangaroothattravelledinNovember2013throughKaleenandGiralangtothePercivalHillarea,returningbyadifferentroutetoLawson.Thisexcursiontook33hoursandhecoveredadistanceof12.9km(Figure3.4).Thiskangaroohassincemadeseveralothershorterexcursions.

ThepopulationatLawsonhasincreasedfrom120kangaroosinSeptember2012to166kangaroosinNovember2014.Thekangarooshavemodifiedtheirhomerangesinordertoavoidtheconstructionareas(Figure3.5);insomecasesitappearstheyhavereducedtheirhomerangesizecomparedtobeforethedevelopmentcommenced.Thekangarooshavenotusedthewildlifecorridorstopermanentlymoveawayfromthesite,norhavetheyfledthesiteonadailybasisinresponsetotheconstructionmachineryandattemptedtoreturnafterconstructionceases.Whilelargeareasofundevelopedlandstillexistonthesiteitappearspossiblethekangarooswillnotattempttomoveaway.However,thiscouldchangewhenmorehousesareconstructedandmoreresidentsandtheirdogsmoveintothesuburb,orwhenaperiodofdryweatherisencounteredandtheremaininghabitatisnolongerabletosupportthelevelofgrazingnowoccurring.

Figure 3.5 Habitat use of a male Eastern Grey Kangaroo (a) before the commencement of development and

(b) during development.


4. SURVEY AND BASELINE INFORMATION

ConservationResearch(CR)undertakesresearchprojects(includingsurveyandmonitoring)tobetterunderstandecologicalprocesses,theeffectsofmanagementactionsand,insomecases,toassesscommunityviewsonparticularaspectsofconservationmanagement.Theaimistoprovideinformationtolandmanagersandgovernmentagenciesthatisunderpinnedbyevidenceandsoundscience.

4.1 Arboreal Mammal Spotlight Survey 2014In2014,CRcollaboratedwiththeParksandConservationServiceinTAMS(PCS)toconductanarborealspotlightingsurveyinNamadgiNationalParkandTidbinbillaNatureReserve.Thesurveyaimedtorevisitsitessurveyedafterthe2003wildfiresandsetuprepeatabletransectsforabaselineforalong-termmonitoringprogram.

TheTechnicalReport: Snape, M., Stevenson, B. And Evans, M. (2015) Arboreal mammal spotlight survey 2014 reportsonthesurveyandisavailableontheEPDwebsitewww.environment.act.gov.au.Thesurveyfoundacombinationofspotlighting(fromvehicles)andcall-playbackmethodssurveyedarangeofspeciesandincreaseddetectabilityoftheYellow-belliedGlider,whichisrarelysighted.

4.2 Animal ethics in researchResearchactivitiesinvolvinganimalsrequirepriorapprovalbyalegallyconstitutedAnimalEthicsCommittee(AEC).Alllargeresearchorganisationsadministersuchacommittee.ThemembershipandconductoftheAECmustmeettherequirementssetoutintheNationalHealthandMedicalResearchCodeofPractice‘Australiancodeforthecareanduseofanimalsforscientificpurposes8thedition’(http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/ea28)andmustalsocomplywithstateorterritoryrequirementssuchastheACT Animal Welfare Act 1992.AECsrequirebalancednumbersofeachoffourclassesofmemberstobepresentateachmeeting,including(A)veterinarians,(B)researchexperts,(C)membersofcommunitywildlifegroupsand(D)laymembersofthecommunitywithnoexperienceofanimalsorresearch.

SmallorganisationssuchasCR(representingbiologicalresearchforwhichtheACTGovernmentisresponsible)areallowedbytheCodetosharewithothersintheAECprocess.Giventheexpenseofadministeringsuchacommittee,theACTGovernmenthasparticipatedintheAECattheUniversityofCanberraandhadresearchproposalsevaluatedthere.Inreturn,CRfillsoneoftheCategoryBpositionsonthecommittee.

TheAECmet12timesintheperiod.Priortothemeetingsmembersareprovidedwithtwokindsofapplicationstoread:(i)applicationsandrenewalapplicationsforstatusasapersonauthorisedtoconductresearchinvolvinganimals(90inallincluding43fromACTGovernment);and(ii)applicationsforapprovalofresearchprojects(46inallincluding11fromACTGovernment).Projectsareevaluatedintwostagessothatresearchershaveabriefopportunitypriortothemeetingtorespondbyemailtotheinitialquestionsandconcernsfromthecommittee.Fiveapplicationswerewithdrawnatthisstageorremainpending.

Duringtheperiodtheuniversityappointedapart-timeveterinarianforanimalwelfarepurposes.TheveterinarianmadenumerousinspectionsoffacilitiesandonefieldresearchvisittoaprojectmanagedbyCR.

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4.3 Canberra Nature Map – Rare and uncommon plants in the ACTIn2013theACTFloraandFaunaCommitteeestablishedadraftlistof318nativeplantsconsideredrareanduncommonintheACT.Ofthese,4,000existingplantrecordswerecollatedbyCRorConservationPlanningstaff.Since2013theunitshaveundertakenandsupervised,inconjunctionwithTAMSRangersandParkcareandBioblitzvolunteers,targetedsurveyoftenofCanberra’snatureparks.Thishasyieldedafurther500recordsoftherareanduncommonplants.

VolunteerAaronClaussenattendedtwoofthesurveysand,followingtheircompletion,continuedtoprovideCR’sDrMichaelMulvaneywithmanyrareanduncommonrecords.WithsomanyphotosandGPScoordinates,AaronneededabetterwayofmanaginghisinformationandgettingittotheACTGovernment.ThushedevelopedCanberraNatureMap,anonlinedatabase.

AnobservationisreportedtothedatabasebyuploadinganimagefromasmartphoneorGPSenabledcamera.TheGPSlocation,dateandauthorareautomaticallyobtainedduringtheupload.Anobserveralsorecordsabundancedataandcansuggestidentificationorleaveitasunknown.Thirty-fivevolunteerandACTGovernmentexpertsmoderatedataentryandspeciesidentificationforeitheraparticulararea(e.g.BlackMountain)oraplantgroup(e.g.Ferns).Anobserverisnotifiedbyemailonceidentificationisconfirmed.Variousmappinganddatabasetoolsenablecontributorstotracktheirownrecords,viewspeciesdistributions,orreceiverecordsforaparticularreserve.

IntheCanberraNatureMap’sfirstyear,over200peoplelodged7200plantandfungireportsincludingrecordsofafurther2000rareoruncommonspecies(40%ofthetotalrecordedovertheprevious110years).

Recordhighlightsinclude:

• threenewpopulationsoftheendemicandendangeredCanberraSpiderOrchid

• newrecordsforoveradozenspeciesnotrecordedintheACTforatleast50years

• doublingormoretheknownACTlocationsforover30rareplantspecies

• approximately20plantsonthelistarenowfoundtobecommon

• newrecordsofinfestationsofhighriskweedsinvadingtheACTincludingofSpanishHeath,FrenchLavender,Clockweed,CobblersPegs,SulphurCinquiel,MothVineandMadeiraVine.

CanberraNatureMapisuseddailyinlandmanagement,developmentandconservationdecisions.Ithasledtotheeradicationofnewweedinfestations,alterationinthetimingorlocationoffiremanagementactivities,changestodevelopmentproposalsandtargetedconservationandrestorationactions.

Currently,themapgets1000visitsaday,30,000visitsamonthandover300,000hitsayear.Itisawidelyusededucationandmanagementresource.WiththesupportoftheACTGovernment,theCanberraOrnithologistGroupandtheACTHerpetologicalAssociationandotherinterestedparties,CanberraNatureMapisbeingexpandedtoincludebirds,reptiles,frogsandbutterflies.


Figure 4.1 Trim Flat Sedge (Cyperus concinnus) previously only known in the ACT from a 1965 record from Reid. Now known through Canberra Nature Map from two locations on the Murrumbidgee.

Spanish Heath (Erica lusitanica), plants on Farrer and Issaacs ridges have been destroyed following reporting.

4.4 Conservation Effectiveness Monitoring ProgramTheConservationEffectivenessMonitoringProgram(CEMP)aimstoguidesystematicassessmentandevaluationoftheconditionofACTnaturereservesinresponsetomanagementprograms.TheprogramprovidesaframeworkforlinkingbiodiversityconditioninformationwithlandmanagementmonitoringinformationtoevaluateandreportontheeffectivenessofPCSprogramsinprotectingbiodiversityvaluesinACTnaturereserves.

AninitialreviewphasedocumentedtheextentofexistingmonitoringwithintheACTreservenetwork,suggestedanappropriateframeworkformonitoringatanecosystemscaleacrosseightbroadecosystemsrepresentativeofnaturalenvironmentsintheACT,andidentifiedkeygapsinexistingmonitoringprogramsthatlimittheabilitytolinkconservationoutcomestoecosystemdriversandmanagementeffectivenessanddecisionmaking.

Theprogramhasprogressedtothedevelopmentof‘pilot’monitoringplansfortwooftheeightecosystems.Draftplanshavebeendevelopedforlowlandnativegrasslandsandforaquaticandriparianecosystems.DevelopmentoftheseplanshasbeeninformedbyexpertreferencegroupsconsistingofPCSstaff,EPDecologists,universityacademicsandcommunitygrouprepresentatives.SupportfortheprojecthasbeenveryhighamongthemembersofthesegroupsandvariousotherstakeholdersincludingstafffromPCS,EPD,ParkCare,ACTConservationCouncil,ACTNationalParksAssociationanduniversityresearchers.

Overthecomingyear,CEMPaimstocompletethedraftmonitoringplansforlowlandnativegrasslandsandforaquaticandriparianecosystems,developmonitoringplansfortheremainingsixecosystems(lowlandwoodlands,lowlanddryforests,uplandmontanegrasslands,uplandwoodlands,uplandforests,uplandbogsandfens),developdetailedfieldprotocolsforselectedindicatorsandmetricsforeachmonitoringplan,anddevelopsystemstocompile,analyseandreportonmonitoringdatatoinformreservemanagementplanning.

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4.5 Eastern Bettong – current status of reintroduced populationThepopulationofEasternBettongs(Bettongia gaimardi)introducedin2010tothefoxandcatfreeMulligansFlatWoodlandSanctuary(MFWS)achievedmaximumperformanceforpouchoccupancy,bodyconditionandpopulationgrowthrate.Quarterlytrappingsessions,exceptinwinter,revealedapopulationof200bytheendoftheperiod,withmanyoftheoriginal32foundersstillpresent.Onlyslightmortalityhasbeenobserved.

ThebettongsatMFWShavebecomeade factoambassadorspeciesforconservation,withmanypoliticalandcommunityleadershavingbeenintroducedtothem.BettongsarefrequentlyseenbythepublicandnighttoursrunbytheCapitalWoodlandsandWetlandsTrustarehighlypopular.Apublicrelationscampaignfeaturing‘BriantheBettong’isbeingusedbytheTrusttoattractpublicfundingtoextendthefoxandcatfreeareaandisgivingahigherprofiletobothbettongconservationandCanberra,especiallyonFacebook,TwitterandInstagram.

ItwasoriginallyassumedthesustainablecapacityofMFWSwas100to200bettongs.Workhascommencedtoconsiderthemanagementofover-population,includingestablishmentofanunfencedbettongpopulationinanACTareawherefoxescanbecontrolled.Discussionshavecommencedwithinterstatepartnersaboutthepotentialforexperimentalwildre-introductionofbettongsatthosesites.

EasternBettongswerealsointroducedin2010toseverallargeenclosuresatTidbinbillaNatureReserve.ThismoreintensivelymanagedpopulationhasperformedquitedifferentlytotheoneatMFWS,withbreedingslowedtoalmostzero.The48animals(from28founders)arebeingallocatedintofourdifferenttreatmentgroups,usingactiveadaptivemanagementtodiscernthereasonsforthedifferentpopulationperformancetothoseatMFWS.

4.6 Fire and fauna – linking fire and habitat structure across the ACTFiremanagementforconservationoutcomeshaslargelybeenfocusedontheresponseoffire-sensitiveplantspeciestowildfireandprescribedfire.Adoptingamorecomprehensiveapproachtobiodiversityconservationrequiresthattheecologicalneedsoffaunaspeciesalsobeconsideredinfiremanagementandplanning.CRiscontinuingresearchontherelationshipsbetweenfirehistory,faunadiversityandabundanceandhabitatstructure.

Thefire–faunaresearchprojectincludesfieldsurveysoffaunadiversityandhabitatstructureinarangeofforestedecosystemsthroughoutNamadgiNationalPark.Siteshavebeenselectedtorepresentarangeoffireseverityclassesresultingfromthe2003wildfiresaswellasmorerecentprescribedfireandotherenvironmentalvariablessuchaselevation,aspectandslope(Figure4.2).Todate115plotshavebeensurveyedacrossfourbroadvegetationtypes;wetsclerophyllforest,montanewetsclerophyllforest,rockyheathsandsubalpinewoodland.

Preliminarydataanalysishashighlightedaclearlegacyofthe2003wildfireswithhabitatstructurestronglylinkedtopastfireseverityinsomeecosystems.Analysesalsoindicatetheneedforgreatersamplingeffortinsomevegetationandfireseveritystrata.Consequently,furthersurveysin2015–16willfocusonincreasingsamplingdensityandoncollectingdatafromdrysclerophyllforest.SiteswithinNamadgiNationalParkestablishedaspartofthePrescribedBurnMonitoringProgramwillalsoadddataforthefire–faunaresearchproject,furtherincreasingsamplingeffortandprovidingdataontheresponseofforeststructureinmontaneecosystemstosubsequentburning.

Thesurveyswillestablisharelationshipbetweenfireseverity,foresttype,habitatvaluesandfaunadiversity.Thisunderstandingwillfeedintolandscapescalemodellingofbiodiversityvaluesandcontributetoregionalplanningaimedatbalancingconservationandfiremanagementobjectives.


Figure 4.2 Stratification maps of Namadgi National Park and staff surveying sites.

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4.7 Longitudinal study of groundcover flora condition in select grassy ecosystem sites

In2009theConservationResearchunitcommencedaprojecttomeasurefloristicandvegetationstructureattributesinlowlandgrassyecosystemsinarangeofnaturereservesandotherareasofhighconservationvalue.Whencollectedovertime,thesemeasurescancontributetowardsthemonitoringofecosystemconditionandpotentiallyinformmanagementpractices.Inthefirstyearofdatacollection,16sitesacrossthenorthernACTregionwereselectedformonitoring,encompassing46surveyplotsinlowlandwoodlands,grasslandsandsecondarygrasslands.The16sitesconsistedofarangeoflandusetypes,includingnaturereserves,DepartmentofDefencelandandNationalCapitalAuthorityland.

Theplotswerere-surveyedin2012and2013,withCampbellParkaddedtotheprojectin2012toreplaceMajuraTrainingArea,whichbecamedifficulttoaccess.In2013afurtherfoursiteswereaddedtotheproject:GungaderraNatureReserve,MajuraNatureReserve,MtPainterNatureReserveandthePinnacleNatureReserve,bringingthetotalnumberofsitesto20andencompassing62surveyplots.Inspring2014,24surveyplotswereselectedforre-surveying(Figure4.3).

Thisdatawasanalysedtoexaminetrendsinarangeoffloristicandvegetationstructureattributesacrossthese24plots.Thedatawasanalysedintwoways:

• Trendsacrossplots,particularlyinrelationtovegetationstructuretypeandyear.

• Trendsattheindividualplotlevel.

Yeartoyeardifferenceswerelargelyconfinedtothefollowing:

• 2009:highercoverofbareearth,lowercoverofperennialexoticgrasswithingrasslandplots,andhighercoverofcryptogamswithingrasslandplots.

• 2012:lowerlitter/deadvegetationcoverthanotheryears.

• 2014:lowercoverofnativeperennialgrass,andhighercoverofannualexoticgrassandexoticbroadleafcomparedto2013.

Overall,thereweremoredifferencesdetectedbetweenvegetationstructuretypes,particularlyinrelationtonon-livingstructurecategories:

• Woodlands:highercoveroflitter/deadvegetation,highercoverofbareearth(cf.grasslands).

• Grasslands:lowcoverofrock,highercoverofperennialexoticgrass,highercoverofexoticbroadleaf(cf.woodlands).


Figure 4.3 Location of the 24 plots surveyed in 2014 across the northern ACT region.

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Plotbyplottrendswere:

• Themajorityofplotsexhibitedrelativelysmallpercentagechanges(lessthan+25%)intheirFloristicValueScore(FVS)andnativespeciesrichnessbetweensurveys(Table4.1(a),(b)).Inparticular,themajorityofplotshadrelativelystablenativespeciesrichnessbetweenyears(Table4.1(b)):73%ofplotsremainedstablebetween2009and2013;79%plotsremainedstablebetween2012and2013;and92%ofplotsremainedstablebetween2013and2014.

• Between2013and2014therewereslightlymoreplots(8outof24)thatexperienceddeclinesintheirFVSofover50%,comparedtotheothertwotimeperiods(3outof19plots)(Table4.1).

• Incontrast,alargernumberofplotsfluctuatedinexoticspeciesrichness(Table4.1(c)).Between2009and2012,11outof19siteshadanincreaseinexoticspeciesrichnessofover25%;whereasbetween2012and2013,nineoutof19sitesdeclinedinexoticspeciesrichnessofover25%.Between2013and2014,exoticspeciesrichnesstendedtoincreaseagainwith16outof24sitesincreasingbyover25%.

Table 4.1 Summary of percentage changes in floristic variables for plots: (a) Floristic Value Score; (b) Native species richness; and (c) Exotic species richness.

(a) FVS Plots

2009–2012 2012–2013 2013–2014

>-100%decline 0 0 0

-100%to-50%decline 1 1 3

-50%to-25%decline 2 2 5

-25%declineto25%increase(relativelystable)

11 13 13

25%-50%increase 3 3 3

50%to100%increase 2 0 0

>100%increase 0 0 0

Total 19 19 24

(b) Native Species Richness Plots

2009–2012 2012–2013 2013–2014

>-100%decline 0 0 0

-100%to-50%decline 0 0 1

-50%to-25%decline 1 2 0


14 15 22

25%-50%increase 4 2 1


>100%increase 0 0 0

Total 19 19 24


(c) Exotic Species Richness Plots

2009–2012 2012–2013 2013–2014

>-100%decline 0 1 0

-100%to-50%decline 1 6 0

-50%to-25%decline 1 2 0


6 9 8

25%-50%increase 10 1 13


>100%increase 0 0 0

Total 19 19 24

Themainconclusionsfromtheanalysiswere:

• Overall,nativespeciesrichnessandtheFVSremainedrelativelystable(lessthan+25%change)atmostplots.Nativespeciesrichnesswastheleastresponsivemetricfordetectingchanges.

• TrendsintheFVSweredrivenbythepresenceorabsenceofseveralIndicatorSpecies,particularlyIndicatorSpecies2,aswellastheirrelativeabundance.Thissuggestsitisimportanttocontinuemonitoringtheoccurrenceandabundanceofthesespecies.

• Exoticspeciesrichnessfluctuatedtoagreaterdegree,especiallybetween2013and2014withtwo-thirdsofplotsshowinga>25%increase.Coverofexoticannualgrassesandexoticbroadleavesalsoincreasedsignificantlybetween2013and2014.Somesiteshadanincreaseinsignificantweedspeciesrichnessin2014,althoughnumbersremainedlow.

• PlotsthatshowedconsiderabledeclinesinbothnativespeciesrichnessandtheFVSduringthemostrecentsurveyperiod(2013-2014)were:

» DU02(DunlopNatureReserve)

» JW02(JerrabomberraWestNatureReserve,insidetheexclosure)

» GG02(GoogongForeshores),whereplantdeathandsenescencewereobserved

» PA01(MtPainterNatureReserve).

• Severalfloristicandvegetationstructuraldifferenceswereidentifiedbetweenwoodlands,secondarygrasslandsandgrasslands,suggestingthatfuturemonitoringeffortsshouldcontinuetoconsiderthemseparately.Differencesincludedspeciescomposition(withwoodlandsandsecondarygrasslandsgroupedtogetherseparatelyfromgrasslands,whenordinated);nativespeciesrichness;IndicatorSpecies2richness;theFVS;litter/deadvegetationcover;andbaregroundcover.

• Somechangeswereassociatedwithyears;inparticular2009hadahighercoverofbareground.

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4.8 Long-nosed BandicootLong-nosedbandicoots(Perameles nasuta),thoughttohavebeenextinctintheACTlongago,wererediscoveredinearly2015whenaroad-killedcarcasswasfoundbyarangerbesideCorinDamroad.Thedeadindividualatfirstappearedpeculiar,beingsubstantiallylargerthanthepublishedsizerangeforthespecies,butspecimensaslargewerepresentintheAustralianNationalWildlifeCollection,wherethiscarcasswasdeposited.FundingandAnimalEthicsapprovalwillbesoughtforafuturesurveyinthearea(usingmethodsthatsearchforevidenceofanimaldiggingsandbaitedcameratraps).Meanwhile,thepossibilityofvolunteersurveyswillbeinvestigated.

4.9 Monitoring native and introduced wildlife by spotlight countsThelongest-runningACTwildliferesearchprogramisthespotlightcountingbyPCSstaff,withtechnicalsupportbyCR.Inthisonemonitoringprogram,abundancesoftwelvespeciesaremonitored,includingspeciesofthehighestsignificanceforconservationofACTfloraandfauna.

Someofthemostimportantresultsformanagershavebeenobtainedfromthedataonspeciesincidentaltotheoriginalrabbit-relatedpurposeforwhichthecountswerecommenced,suchasDingoes,Red-neckedWallabiesandEasternGreyKangaroos.Thevalueofthedata,particularlyitslong-termrecordingperiod,isastrongreasonforcontinuingthemonitoring.TheprimaryactionbyCRinthisreportingperiodwasprovisionofdatabaseassistancetoPCS.

4.10 Mountain Spiny Crayfish of the ACT Euastacusspinycrayfish(Figure4.4)areendemictoeasternAustraliaandaredistinguishedfromothercrayfish,suchasCherax“yabbies”,bylargespinyclawsorchelipedsandoftenhavespinesonthethoraxandabdomen.TheACThasthreespeciesofEuastacus“spiny”crayfish.Twoofthesearemontanespecies,Euastacus rieki and Euastacus crassus,inhabitingthestreamsandbogsinthemountainareasoftheACT.RelativelylittleisknownabouttheirbiologyordistributionintheACT,however,theyareknowntorequirepermanentwater,berestrictedbycooltemperatureandsuspectedofbeinglonglived.Basedontheirhabitatrequirements,thesetwospeciesarelikelytobehighlysusceptibletotheimpactsofclimatechange,includingincreasesintemperatureandreductioninwateravailability.Inaddition,bothspeciesarelistedasthreatenedorprotectedbyotherjurisdictionsandatleastoneofthespeciesisknowntoinhabittheendangeredecologicalcommunityofthesphagnumbogsandfens,suchasGininiFlats,wheretheymayplayimportantrolesinnutrientcyclingandphysicalstructureofthebogs.

Thisprojectwasdesignedtotrialpotentialmethodsofcapturetodetectcrayfishandmeasurehabitatforawiderdistributionsurvey.Variousmethodsofbaittrappingandspotlightingweretrialledat12sitessurveyedbetweenMarchandMay2014.Foursiteswereresurveyedatleastonce.Atotalof52spinycrayfishwerecaughtfromsixofthesites;19E. riekiwerecollected,17fromboghabitatsand2fromcreeks,and33E. crassus,werecollectedfromcreeksites.Nositewassurveyedwherebothspecieswerepresent.Anumberofsitesweresurveyedwherenocrayfishwererecorded,particularlyalongtheCotterRiver,andthreeofthesixsitesthatrecordedcrayfishonlyrecordedoneindividualpervisit.Thisindicatesthepopulationsofcrayfishmaybepatchyandadditionalsurveyswillberequiredtodefinetheirdistribution.


Figure 4.4 Euastacus crassus.BaittrappinginbothcreeksandbogswasthemosteffectivemethodtocaptureE. rieki and E. crassus,catching94%ofcrayfishincreeksand65%inbogs.Spotlightingwasalsoeffectiveinbogs,recordingtheremaining35%ofcrayfish,butnoteffectiveincreeks,withnocrayfishbeingrecordedusingthismethod.Therewerenosignificantdifferencesinthetimeofdayornightthetrapswereset,allowingthedistributionsurveytobedesignedmoreefficientlyforuseofstafftimeandequipment.

Thehighlightofthesurveywastherecordingofanegg-carrying(berried)femaleEuastacus rieki (Figure4.5).Thisisthefirsttimethatanybreedingcharacteristicofthisspecieshaveeverbeenobserved.TwolargefemaleswererecordedfromSnowyWetland(bothover40mmoccipitalcarapacelength(OCL)),andwith70-100orangeovaleggs.Thisindicatesthisspecies,likeotherEuastacus species,carrytheireggsandjuvenilesoverwinter,despitethesnowcoverandfrozenpoolsurfacesinthesubalpinebogs.

Figure 4.5 Egg carrying (berried) female Euastacus rieki.Laboratoryidentificationofthecrayfishcollectedinthisstudyandpreviousopportunisticallycollectedcrayfishshowedthatexternalphysicalfeatureswerenotparticularlyinformativeindeterminingspeciesofcrayfish.However,oneinternalfeaturewasalwaysdistinctiveandexternalcolour,alongwithclawmorphology,werealsoreasonablydistinguishable.Thedistributionoftheconfirmedrecordsofeachspeciesisshownbelow(Figure4.6).

Additionalinvestigationoftechniqueshasbeenrecommendedtoassessbiasincollectionmethodsandissueswithescapefrombaittrapsandquantitativesurvey.Abroaderdistributionsurveyisplannedfor2015–16todeterminetherangeofbothspeciesintheACT.Itisrecommendedthissurveyuseovernightbaittrappingtodetectthepresenceofcrayfishincreeksandusespotlightinginbogsasavailable.

ThisprojectwasfundedbytheEPDClimateChangesectionandhasbeenpublicisedonaspecialistcrayfishresearchblogandpresentedatthe2015EcoFocusforum.

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Figure 4.6 Distribution of confirmed records of E. crassus and E. rieki in the ACT.


4.11 Murrumbidgee River fish monitoringTheMurrumbidgeeRiveristhelargestriverintheCanberraregion.ItisimpactedbyalargenumberofcurrentandhistoricthreatsintheACTanduppercatchment.Thesethreatsincludewaterextractionandflowmodification,erosionandsedimentation,degradedriparianvegetation,urbanandruralpollutionandinvasivespecies.TheMurrumbidgeestillsupportsanumberofnativefishspecies,includingthreatenedspeciessuchTroutCod,MacquariePerchandMurrayCrayfish,andrecreationallyimportantspeciessuchasGoldenPerchandMurrayCod(listedasSpecialProtectionStatusintheACT Nature Conservation Act 2014andvulnerablenationallyintheEPBCAct).TheriverisalsopartofthewatersupplynetworkforCanberra,withboththeCotterPumpStationandtherecentlycompletedMurrumbidgeetoGoogongPipeline(M2G)abletoextractwaterfromtheriver.

TheMurrumbidgeeFishMonitoringprogramisundertakenbienniallytomonitorthefishpopulationsintheMurrumbidgeeRiverintheACTregionandinformmanagementofthreatened,pestandrecreationalfishspecies.In2015ninesitesontheMurrumbidgeeRiverweresurveyed.ThesixsiteswithintheACTformpartoftheACTGovernment’slongtermmonitoringoftheMurrumbidgeeRiver.TheotherthreesitesareupstreamoftheACTand,withseveraloftheACTsites,aresurveyedaspartofanongoingbaselineforIconWater’sM2GPipelineProject.ManyofthesitesarewithintheUpperMurrumbidgeeDemonstrationReach.

In2015,269fishwerecapturedfromeightspeciesincludingtwoACTthreatenedspecies(TroutCodandMacquariePerch)andfourpestspecies.Capturemethodsincludedboatelectrofishing,overnightnettingwithfykenetsandbaittraps.Figure4.7showsthenumbersoffishcaughtforeachsite.Carparepresentatallsitesalthoughinlowernumbersthan2013.NationallyorACTlistedthreatenedspecieswererecordedatallsitesexceptPointHutCrossing,whichisaffectedbyhabitatdegradationandfishpassagebarriers.Cod(eitherTroutCodorMurrayCod)wererecordedatallsitesexceptPointHut,andwerewellrepresentedasjuveniles.MacquariePerchwererecordedatthesouthernendoftheACTborderandatasitefurthersouthinNSW,suggestingtheysuccessfullybreedupstreamoftheACT.Unfortunately,MacquariePerchwerenotcapturedatCasuarinaSandsordownstream,astheywereinthe2013,suggestingthatongoingsurvivalafterfishweredisplacedfromCotterDamislimited.

Figure 4.7 Number of fish caught during the 2015 Murrumbidgee River Monitoring (* indicates alien species). Sites are in order of upstream to downstream.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

No.

of fi

sh

Site

Western Carp Gudgeon

Trout Cod

Redfin*

Murray Cod

Macquarie Perch

Golden Perch

Carp*

Australian Smelt

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4.12 Southern Brown BandicootThepreviouseditionofthisreportmentionedanunsuccessfulsurveyforthisspecies.NofurtherrecordsofSouthernBrownBandicoots(Isoodon obesulus obesulus)cametonoticeintheACTduringthecurrentperiod.

4.13 Vegetation mapping – eastern ACTMappingoftheACT’svegetationcommencedin2012withtheaimofproducingamapthatwillmeettherequirementofProductClass5:FineClassification/HighSpatialResolution/FullFloristics(asdefinedintheNSWStrategyforVegetationTypeClassificationandMapping,2009).Todatetheprojecthasmapped73,740hectaresoftheACT,classifyingthevegetationinto51differentmappingunitsincluding33nativevegetationcommunitiesandanumberofotherclassesofnon-nativevegetationanddisturbednativevegetation(Figure4.8).

ThemostwidespreadmappingunitisNativeGrassland,whichcovers9108hectares.Thismappingunitcomprisesamixtureofsitesdominatedbynativegrassesthatmayhavebeennaturallytreelessormayhavebeenderivedfromwoodlandsorforestsbyclearing.ThenextmostcommonmappingunitsareRibbonGum–Robertson’sPeppermintwetsclerophyllforest(6859ha)andSnowGum–MountainGum–Daviesia mimosoides sub-alpineforest(5954ha).Ofthe33nativevegetationcommunitiesmappedintheprojectatotalof11havedistributionsoflessthan100hectares.Anassessmentofthefirst20,000hectaresofthemappingdisplayedanoverallaccuracyof83%,withuseraccuracy(theprobabilitythatarandomlyselectedpointclassifiedasmappingunit‘x’bythemapisfoundtobemappingunit‘x’bytheuser)varyingfromalowof20%forAppleBox–Broad-leavedPeppermintdrysclerophyllforesttoahighof100%forBlakely’sRedGum–YellowBoxgrassywoodland.Theseaccuracyfiguresarepreliminaryandwillchangeasthemappingprogresses,buttheyprovidevaluablefeedbackonthemappingmethod.

Themappingiscurrentlybeingusedintheassessmentofproposedfuelreductionactivities,developmentassessmentandtheplanningoffaunasurveys.

MappingofNamadgiNationalParkwillbecompletedbyJune2016,whilemappingoftheNaasValleyleaseholdareawillbecompletedbyDecember2016.FundinghasyettobeallocatedtomapthelowerCotterareanorthtoGoorooyarooNatureReserve(approximately70,000ha).


Figure 4.8 Vegetation mapping of the ACT as at June 2015.

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5. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecologicalrestorationistheprocessofrepairingdamagetoecosystemstorestoreecosystemcomposition,structureandfunction.Inapracticalsense,successfulrestorationrequiresagoodunderstandingoftheecologicaldeficienciesinthedamagedecosystemandthedevelopmentofaprogramforcarryingoutrestorationwithinascientificoradaptivemanagementframeworksothatsuccessandfailurecanbeevaluated.

5.1 Casuarina Sands fishwayBarrierstofishpassagesuchasdams,weirsandroadcrossingsareathreattonativefreshwaterfish.Fishneedtomoveformanyreasonsincludingtobreed,maintainpopulationdiversity,accessrefugeareasduringdroughtandre-establishfollowingdisturbances.TheACThasanumberofbarrierstofishpassageandfourofthemhavefishwaystoallowfishtomovethroughthebarrier.

AverticalslotfishwaywasconstructedontheCasuarinaSandsWeirontheMurrumbidgeeRiverwhentheweirwasreplacedin2000butithasbeenunclearwhetheritiseffective.Aprojectin2013foundthefishwaytobenon-functionalforpassingfish,especiallyatlowerflowswhenpassagethroughthefishwaywouldbemorecritical.UsingfundingfromtheDarlingBasinAuthoritythroughtheUpperMurrumbidgeeDemonstrationReachinitiative,afishwaydesignerwasfundedtoassessthefishwayanddeterminedesignmodificationstoimproveitsfunction.Thesemodificationsshouldbeinplaceforthespringbreedingseason.

Figure 5.1 Casuarina Sands weir and fishway (left) and Golden Perch with dorsal tag (right).

5.2 Tharwa fish habitat project - Engineered Log Jams at TharwaPriortoupstreamEuropeanoccupation,theMurrumbidgeeRiverchannelpastTharwawouldhavepredominantlyhadabaseofpebble,cobbleandbedrockthatwouldhaveallowedfishpassageandprovidedhabitatforfish.A‘sandslug’derivedfromupstreamclearinganderosionhassubstantiallyreducedriverchanneldepthintheTharwavicinityandsmotheredstructuralfishhabitat(Figure5.2).In2009–10aconsultancyreportadvisedwaystomanagethesandproblemintheUpperMurrumbidgeeDemonstrationReach,recommendinginstallationofEngineeredLogJams(ELJ)toimprovefishpassageandhabitat.2013sawtheconstructionoftwoELJwiththeprimaryobjectivesofincreasingriverchanneldepthpastthestructures,improvingfishpassageandhabitatinthearea.


Figure 5.2 The Murrumbidgee River past Tharwa showing a channel significantly affected by sand. Image Google Earth 2002.

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Figure 5.3 Engineered Log Jams a year after construction (2014).

ThedarkerpatchesofwatershowthedeeperwatersectionsthathavedevelopedsinceELJconstruction(Figure5.3).

SonarbathymetricmonitoringofthestructuressinceconstructionhasfoundtheELJstobesuccessfullyincreasingthewaterdepththroughtheriversectionwheretheywereinstalledfromapproximately45centimetrestoover2metresbyincreasingthevelocitypastELJsandconsequentlysandscourrates(Figure5.4).TheBathymetricsurveysovertimealsoshowaslightimprovementtotheareawithincreasingdepth.

Figure 5.4 2014 Bathymetric survey of the Murrumbidgee River past Tharwa at the ELJs.


TheELJsandnearbysitesweresampledusingboatelectrofishingin2014and2015tolookatthestructures’effectonfishnumbers.SitessampledtoassesstheeffectfromtheinstallationoftheELJsonfishpopulationsincludedthereachnearTharwawheretheywereconstructed,upstreamatTharwaSandwashanddownstreamatPointHutCrossing.The2014surveyfoundthatMurrayCodarethedominantspeciesaroundtheELJsandgroynehabitatsandinrockyareas(Figure5.5).IntheELJs,groynesandrockyareas,codnumbersaregreaterthancarp.ThisissuggestingthatintheabsenceofrockyhabitatinthisareaoftheTharwasandslug,codhavelimitedaccesstosuitablehabitat.Whennewrockyorwoodyhabitat(i.e.ELJs/groynes)isintroducedcodareattractedtoandcontinuetoexistaroundtheintroducedhabitat.Theintroducedstructuralhabitatappearstobelesssuitableforcarp,howevercarparestillfoundinmacrophyteandcombinedhabitatareas(Figure5.5).

Figure 5.5 Number of different fish species per habitat type sampled for the 2014 ELJ monitoring. ‘Combined’ habitat is a mix of habitat types, the ‘groyne/ELJ’ habitat are constructed habitats in the Tharwa reach.

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6. RECREATIONAL ANGLING

6.1 Recreational fisheries stocking and monitoringTheACTGovernmentconductsanannualfishstockingprograminaccordancewiththeACTRegionFishStockingPlan2015–20.In2013–14,18,730MurrayCodwerestockedintoLakeTuggeranong,11,000MurrayCodwerestockedintoYerrabiPond,and20,636GoldenPerchwerestockedintoGungahlinPond.Inthe 2014–15season,39,000MurrayCodwerestockedintoLakeGinninderra.

MonitoringoftheCanberraregionstockedrecreationalfisheriesisarollingprojectthatsurveysthestockedlakesonabiennialbasisusingboatelectrofishing.Monitoringofthefishcommunitiesprovidesdataontheproportionofpestspecies,identifiesgrowthandsuccessofstockingevents,identifiesnaturalbreedingeventsandallowsforthedetectionofdiseaseoutbreaksandnewpestspecies.CRsurveyedYerrabiPond(twosites)andLakesTuggeranong(twosites)andGinninderra(threesites)inthe2013–14and2014–15fieldseasons.

TheFishStockingPlanfortheAustralianCapitalTerritorywasupdatedandreviewedin2014.ItoutlinesthenumbersandspeciesoffishtobestockedacrosstheACTfor2015to2020andprovidesguidanceforotherstockingactivitiesthatmaytakeplace,suchasresearchorconservationstockings.TheStockingPlancanbefoundathttp://www.environment.act.gov.au/cpr/fish/fisheries_management/fish-stock-plan-for-the-australian-capital-territory-2015-2020

Figure 6.1 Murray Cod being measured during urban lake monitoring.


Figure 6.2 Capture of carp using boat electrofishing at Lake Ginninderra.

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Figure 6.3 Boat electrofishing at Yerrabi Pond.

DuringmonitoringoffishstockingatYerrabiPond,327fishwererecordedfromtwonativeandthreeintroducedspecies(Figure6.4).Redfinwerethemostabundantspecies,comprising65%ofthetotalcatchbynumberbutduetotheirsmallsize,only5%ofthebiomass(Figure6.5).Carpcomprised68%ofthetotalbiomassandthisfigureislikelytoincreaseinfuturesurveys.CarpwereinitiallydetectedinYerrabiPondonlyin2010(Figure6.6).The2011–12surveyindicatedthecarpbiomassinthatwaterbodyat18%,butthatfigureincreasedto44%inthelatestsurvey.

Figure 6.4 Fish caught during 2015 Urban Lakes Surveys.

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Figure 6.5 Biomass of Fish Caught During 2015 Urban Lakes Surveys.

Insurveysoftheurbanlakes,thenativeanglingspeciesofMurrayCodandGoldenPerchweredetectedineachofthesampledwaterbodies(Figures6.4and6.5).Twenty,outofatotalof28GoldenPerch,wereabovetheminimumlegalanglingsizeof30centimetreswithtwofishabove50centimetres.

InSeptember2014afishkilloccurredinYerrabiPond,withover100moderatetolargesizedMurrayCoddying.Thiseventisthelikelycauseofthedeclineinbiomassofthisspeciesinthe2015survey(Figure6.6).ItisalsothecauseoftheriseinpercentagetermsoftotalbiomassofCarpinthelake(Figure6.6).DespitetheremovalofthisnumberofMurrayCod,YerrabiPondstillhadthelargestbiomassofthisspeciesofanyoftheurbanlakessurveyed.

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Figure 6.6 Biomass of fish in Yerrabi Pond since introduction of electrofishing.

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7. CONSERVATION PLANNING

7.1 Biodiversity advice ConservationPlanningandConservationResearchprovidebiodiversityinformationandadviceondevelopmentproposalsandplanningprocesses,includingmajorinfrastructureprojects,potentialsolarfarmsites,residentialandindustrialdevelopments,touristandrecreationalfacilities,on-reserveactivities,structureplans,environmentalmanagementplansforconstructionanddevelopmentcontrolplans.

Adviceisgivenonthebiodiversityvaluespresent,howtheymaybeimpactedbythedevelopmentandhowtheproposalcouldbealtered,oranalternativeapproachtakentoavoidsignificantadverseimpacts.Insituationswhereimpactsareunavoidable,adviceisprovidedonhowtheseimpactscanbeminimised.Onlyafteroptionstoavoidandminimiseimpactshavebeenexhaustedwilladvicebeprovidedonhowimpactsmaybebestoffset.

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8. PLANS OF MANAGEMENT

ConservationPlanningpreparesplansofmanagementforareasofpubliclandwithintheconservationestate.Amanagementplanoutlinesthevaluesofanareaandthepoliciesandactionswhichaimtoprotectthesevalues.ItprovidesguidancetotheACTGovernment’sparkmanagementagencyandindicatestotheACTcommunityandparkvisitorstheprimaryobjectivesinmanagingtheland.PlansofmanagementarerequiredundertheNature Conservation Act 2014.

8.1 Canberra Nature Park Reserve Management Plan AnewmanagementplanisbeingpreparedforCanberraNaturePark.Areviewofthecurrentplan(releasedin1999)andrecommendationsfromtheCommissionerforSustainabilityandtheEnvironment’sinvestigationreportintoCanberraNatureParkareguidingthedevelopmentofthenewplan.Thenewplanwillinclude:

• InternationalUnionforConservationofNature(IUCN)categorisationofreserves

• actionstoimproveconditionandresilience

• implicationsofclimatechange

• opportunitiesforrecreation,educationandresearch,suchastheCentenaryTrailandWoodlandConservationTrust

• actionstostrengthencommunityawarenessandinvolvement,includingthroughParkCare.

8.2 Lower Cotter Catchment Reserve Management Plan WorkhascommencedonamanagementplanfortheLowerCotterCatchment.TheAuditorGeneral’sreportontheRestorationoftheLowerCotterCatchmentrecommendedincluding:

• incorporationoftheelementsofaCatchmentManagementPlanasarticulatedintheAustralianDrinkingWaterGuidelines

• aclearstatementofresponsibilitiesofdifferentagenciesandagreedcoordinationprocesses

• definitionofappropriatelowimpactrecreationalactivitiesbaseduponariskassessment.

Otherkeyinclusionswillbeonmanagementofpineplantations,managementoffirerisk,andconsiderationofmanagementzoning.

8.3 ACT Sphagnum Bogs and Fens Management PlanAnACTBogsandFensManagementPlanisinpreparation.AlpineSphagnumBogsandAssociatedFensisanationallyendangeredecologicalcommunity.TheplanwilladdressallACTbogsandfens,whicharemainlylocatedwithintheNamadgiNationalPark.TheplanwillalsomeettherequirementsofaRamsarwetlandmanagementplan,asoutlinedintheNature Conservation Act 2014,fortheGininiFlatsWetlandsRamsarsite.


Appendix 1. List of Current Action Plans and Threatened Species

Action Plan No. and Name Threatened Community and/or Species covered in the Action Plan DateAction Plan 5 ASubalpineHerb(Gentiana baeuerlenii) 1997

(Underreview)Action Plan 6 NorthernCorroboreeFrog(Pseudophryne pengilleyi)RevisedEdition 1997–2011Action Plan 22 Brush-tailedRock-wallaby(Petrogale penicillata)RevisedEdition 1999–2015Action Plan 23 SmokyMouse(Pseudomys fumeus)RevisedEdition 1999–2013Action Plan 27 WoodlandsforWildlife ACT Lowland Woodland Conservation Strategy

Threatened Ecological Community YellowBox–RedGumGrassyWoodland

Threatened plant species TarengoLeekOrchid(Prasophyllum petilum) SmallPurplePea(Swainsona recta) AustralToadflax(Thesium australe) HoarySunray(Leucochrysum albicans var. tricolour)

Threatened animal species HoodedRobin(Melanodryas cucullata) BrownTreecreeper(Climacteris picumnus) White-WingedTriller(Lalage sueurii) VariedSitella(Daphoenositta chrysoptera) PaintedHoneyeater(Grantiella picta) RegentHoneyeater(Xanthomyza phrygia) SuperbParrot(Polytelis swainsonii) SwiftParrot(Lathamus discolor)

2004

Action Plan 28 VisionSplendidofGrassyPlainsExtended ACT Lowland Native Grassland Conservation Strategy

Threatened ecological community NaturalTemperateGrasslands

Threatened plant species ButtonWrinklewort(Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides) GinninderraPeppercress(Lepidium ginninderrense)

Threatened animal species StripedLeglessLizard(Delma impar) GrasslandEarlessDragon(Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) GoldenSunMoth(Synemon plana) PerungaGrasshopper(Perunga ochracea)

2005 (Underreview)

Action Plan 29 RibbonsofLife ACTAquaticSpeciesandRiparianZoneConservationStrategy

Threatened plant species TuggeranongLignum(Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong)

Threatened animal species Pink-TailedWormLizard(Aprasia parapulchella) Two-spinedBlackfish(Gadopsis bispinosus) TroutCod(Maccullochella macquariensis) MacquariePerch(Macquaria australasica) MurrayRiverCrayfish(Euastacus armatus) SilverPerch(Bidyanus bidyanus)

2007

Action Plan 30 Spotted-tailedQuoll(Dasyurus maculatus) 2005Action Plan 31 CanberraSpiderOrchid() 2012Action Plan 32 BrindabellaMidgeOrchid(Corunastylis ectopa) 2012Action Plan 33 GlossyBlack-Cockatoo(Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus) 2013Action Plan 34 MurrumbidgeeBossiaea(Bossiaea grayi) 2013Action Plan 35 LittleEagle(Hieraaetus morphnoides) 2013

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Appendix 2. List of Related Conservation Research and EPD Publications and Abstracts

Technical reports and Background papersEnvironmentandSustainableDevelopmentDirectorate(2013)ConservationPlanningandResearch,Programreport2011-13.Technical Report 29.ACTGovernment,Canberra.

Eyles,K.andMulvaneyM(2014)Responsiblepetownershipandtheprotectionofwildlife:OptionsforimprovingthemanagementofcatsintheACT.ABackgroundPaperpreparedfortheACTResponsibleCatOwnershipSteeringCommittee

Osborne,WandEvans,M(2015)RiskAssessmentfortheImportationofNativeReptilesintotheACT. Technical Report 31.EnvironmentandPlanningDirectorate,ACTGovernment,Canberra.

Snape,M.,Stevenson,B.andEvans,M.(2015)Arborealmammalspotlightsurvey2014.Technical Report 30. EnvironmentandPlanningDirectorate,ACTGovernment,Canberra.

Journal articles written or co-authored by staffHowlandB.,StojanovicD.,GordonI.J.,StirenmannI.,FletcherD.,SnapeM.&LindenmayerB.D.(2015)Habitat preferences of the threatened striped legless lizard: implications for the management of grazing in grasslands. In review.

HowlandB.,StojanovicD.,GordonI.J.,ManningA.D.,FletcherD.&LindenmayerB.D.(2014)Eaten out of house and home: Impacts of Grazing on Ground-Dwelling Reptiles in Australian Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands.PLoSONE9,e105966.

PortasT.,FletcherD.,SprattD.,ReissA.,HolzP.,StalderK.,DevlinJ.,TaylorD.,DobroszczykD.,ManningA.D.(2014).Health evaluation of free-ranging eastern bettongs (Bettongia gaimardi) during translocation for re-introduction.J.Wildl.Dis.Inpress.

AbstractsClausen,A.andMulvaneyM.(2015)CanberraNatureMap–collection,managementandvalidationofcitizenplantdata.AustralianCitizenScienceAssociation:MaximisingthecapacityofCitizenScienceforScienceandSociety.AFennerConferenceontheEnvironment.

Cook,E.(2014)Adecadeofhuntingdragons:monitoringGrasslandEarlessDragonpopulationsintheMajuraandJerrabomberraGrasslandsoftheACT.ConservationResearchUnit,ACTGovernment.AbstractfortalkpresentedatFriendsofGrasslands2014forum.

Evans,L.,Beitzel,M.andJekabsons,M.(2015)StatusofFishintheACT.ConservationResearchUnit,ACTGovernment.Abstractfortalkpresentedat2015ACTEIANZForumontheStateofRivers,Creeks,LakesandPondsandConservationResearch2015EcofocusSeminar.

Evans,L.,Howson,T.,Jekabsons,M.andBeitzel,M.(2014)What’stheangle?CouldtroutanglingbenefitthreatenednativefishspeciesintheACT?Abstractforposterpresentedatthe2014ASLandASFBjointConference.

Kitchin,M.(2014)Nativeplantspeciesandcommunityresearch,monitoringandmappingintheACT.2014ACTEIANZForumontheStateofVegetationintheACT.

Mulvaney,M.(2014)ThemothsandlizardsthatshapedCanberra.InproceedingsofGrasshalffullorgrasshalfempty?Valuingnativegrassylandscapes.FriendsofGrasslandsForumpp26–30.


On-line materialACTConservationresearch:theeffectsofkangaroograzingonbiodiversity(April2015). http://www.environment.act.gov.au/cpr/conservation-research/research.

EcoFocus(annualinformationseminaroftheConservationResearchunit)–2013and2014abstracts. http://www.environment.act.gov.au/cpr/conservation-research/report_series/eco_focus_abstracts.

Facts sheetsAll facts sheets are available at:

http://www.environment.act.gov.au/cpr/conservation_and_ecological_communities/threatened_species_factsheets.

• Brush-tailedRock-wallaby(May2015)

• MurrumbidgeeBossiaea–athreatenedspecies.(November2013)

• NorthernCorroboreeFrog(July2015)

• RehabilitatingACTrivers:highlightsfromthelastthreeyears(October2013)

ReferencesACTGovernment(2014).Nature Conservation Act 2014.ACTGovernment,Canberra.

ACTGovernment(2007).Ribbons of Life: ACT Aquatic Species and Riparian Zone Conservation Strategy.ActionPlanNo.29,EnvironmentandRecreation,TerritoryandMunicaplServices,Canberra.

AustralianGovernment(1999).Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999(EPBCAct)DepartmentofEnvironment,Canberra.

Briggs,J.D.&Müller,W.J.(1999).Effects of fire and short-term domestic stock grazing on the endangered perennial forb, Swainsona recta, in a secondary grassland bordering the Australian Capital Territory. (UnpublishedreportforEnvironmentACT)

HowlandB.,StojanovicD.,GordonI.J.,StirenmannI.,FletcherD.,SnapeM.&LindenmayerB.D.(2015)Habitatpreferencesofthethreatenedstripedleglesslizard:implicationsforthemanagementofgrazingingrasslands.Inreview.

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