The Action Plan for Australian freshwater fishes
R. Wager and P. Jackson
Environment Australia, June 1993
ISBN 0 6421 6818 0
Appendix 2 – Comments received on draft conservation status listing
Comments on species
Ambassis agassizii
Brad Pusey:
- suggests listing should be changed from rare to unlisted.
- neither rare nor of limited distribution in Queensland.
Craterocephalus fluviatilis
Bryan Pierce:
- apparent rarity due to sampling regime; can be very common at certain times of year.
- recommend changing classification to unlisted.
Edelia obscura
Peter Unmack:
- list as indeterminate; little firm evidence to suggest decline throughout entire range, however little survey work in known localities.
- requires action plan to determine conservation status.
Bryan Pierce:
- no evidence for population abundance or distribution changes within South Australia within last eight years.
- difficult to capture except in mid to late summer.
- unless strong evidence of decline in other states would recommend changing status to unlisted.
Galaxias rostratus
Peter Unmack
- should be listed as indeterminate.
- small numbers known from a few localities.
- requires more survey work to determine status.
Galaxiella munda
Brad Pusey:
- should be unlisted.
- well distributed throughout south west Western Australia.
Galaxiella pusilla
Peter Unmack:
- classify as rare.
- still requires preparation of species recovery outline.
- distribution largely unknown.
- information on conservation status lacking.
Bryan Pierce:
- South Australian populations have not appreciably altered over last eight years. Populations common over much of state's south east.
- notes that annual population cycles result in apparent absence from samples for much of the year. May be numerically dominant species at some locations.
- recommend classification be changed to unlisted.
Glossogobius sp B.
-
Brad Pusey:
- limited to Mulgrave River system.
- should be ranked equal to or higher than Cairnsichthyes rhombosomoides.
Melanotaenia eachamensis
Peter Unmack and Bryan Pierce:
- should no longer be considered following taxonomic investigations by Crowley and Ivantsoff (1991).
Mogurnda adspersa
Brad Pusey:
- suggests changing status to unlisted.
Bryan Pierce:
- Murray
- Darling stocks endangered.
Mogurnda sp. (Dalhousie gudgeon)
Peter Unmack:
- remove from list as no longer considered as a separate taxon. (Glover, pers. comm.).
Mogurnda sp. (Flinders gudgeon)
Peter Unmack
- no current threats.
- recovery plan essential.
- should be listed as rare.
Nannatherina balstoni
Brad Pusey:
- suggest listing as rare.
- most restricted distribution of all fishes of south
- western Australia; occurs in small numbers where it is found.
Nannoperca oxleyana
Angela Arthington:
- should be classified as Vulnerable on basis of Queensland work. Should investigate distribution in New South Wales.
Nannoperca variegata
Bryan Pierce:
- occupies several coastal drains in South Australia. Many located in reserves or other protected habitats.
- on basis that adults are only visible during a portion of the year and at that time there is no evidence of a population decline.
- recommend classification as rare.
Neoceratodus forsteri
Brad Pusey:
- should be listed as rare.
- natural distribution limited.
- phylogenetic status and general scientific interest sufficiently great to warrant elevation of status.
- natural habitat becoming degraded; persistence in natural habitat not assured.
Doug Hoese:
- is lungfish less rare than some of the species listed as 'rare'?
Neosilurus sp. B. (Cooper Creek Catfish)
Peter Unmack:
- should be listed as rare.
- only occurs in Cooper Creek system where it is reasonably common and widespread.
- easily distinguished from other catfishes, may be new genus.
Neosilurus brevidorsalis
Peter Unmack:
- list as rare considering limited distribution on Cape York.
Oxyeleotris auruensis
Peter Unmack:
- list as rare considering limited distribution on Cape York.
Oxyeleotris fimbriata
Peter Unmack:
- list as rare considering limited distribution on Cape York.
Prototroctes mareana
Peter Unmack:
- should not be listed as still found throughout former range with large populations in some areas. Also protected by state legislation throughout its range.
- no recovery outline required.
Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis
Bryan Pierce:
- apparent threat from Gambusia holbrooki not as great as originally thought therefore list as 'rare'.
Scortum parviceps
Brad Pusey:
- suggests change in status from rare to indeterminate or unlisted.
- locally common in Burdekin catchment and not restricted to the Upper Burdekin.
Terapontidae
Doug Hoese:
- notes discrepancies in classification between grunters from the Kimberley region (rare) and those from elsewhere (often indeterminate) while both have apparently restricted distributions. Similarly for other species with restricted distributions.
Comments on conservation categories and/or definitions
Brad Pusey:
- difficult to determine criteria used to assign conservation status. Need to distinguish species that have small distributions but are locally abundant.
- the species chosen as action plan species show regional bias. Western Australian species appear to have been neglected. Preparation of an reocery outline to conserve Lepidogalaxias salamandroides would benefit Galaxiella munda, Galaxiella nigrostriata, Nannatherina balstoni and several other species.
- protection of Ophisternon candidum and Milyeringa veritas requires consideration.
- some species of dubious taxonomic status considered, ie Lake Eacham rainbowfish and Mary River cod. Is time and expense worth it?
- is it worth maintaining a few endangered species to the possible detriment of common species, community structure or ecosystem processes? Need to consider why endangered species are endangered and why are the conservation measures required.
John Paxton:
- noted similarity of threatened species list with ASFB listing.
- suggested that a more objective scheme for identifying threatened species be used (eg Millsap et al. 1990).
- ASFB should also consider using a similar scheme.