Threatened species & ecological communities

The Action Plan for Australian freshwater fishes

R. Wager and P. Jackson
Environment Australia, June 1993
ISBN 0 6421 6818 0

Recovery outlines (continued)

Species recovery outline: Barred Galaxias, Brown Galaxias

Family: Galaxiidae

Scientific name: Galaxias fuscus

English names: Barred Galaxias, Brown Galaxias

Species taxonomic status: Formally described by Mack, 1936. Frankenberg (1969), in an unpublished thesis, reviewed the taxonomy of the Galaxiidae. He placed G. fuscus as a junior synonym of G. olidus based on specimens collected well to the west of the type locality. McDowall and Frankenberg (1981) also included G. fuscus as a junior synonym of G. olidus. Electrophoretic examinations by Rich (1986) were inconclusive but determined that the taxonomic status was at least of a subspecies. Recent collections by Rudie Kuiter have revealed consistent colour and dentition differences between G. fuscus and G. olidus and Shirley (1991) showed some ecological differences.

Species survival status: Has declined over most of its range. Recent invasion of trout into new waters has reduced populations. If trout invade remaining populations, extinction is imminent.

  1. Action plan status: Endangered.
  2. Australian Society for Fish Biology status: Endangered.
  3. Proposed new IUCN criteria status: Critical (interaction with introduced species).

Former distribution: Distributional limits poorly known. Type locality is the Rubicon River, on the Murray-Darling Drainage, Victoria. Possibly restricted to the Goulburn River Drainage, Victoria.

Current distribution: Limited to six small streams in the upper reaches of the Goulburn River between Marysville and Mount Howitt:

Habitat: Small, clear, flowing upper reaches of streams with gravel or boulder substrates in mountainous country above and below the winter snowline. Shows a preference for pools.

Reasons for decline:

  1. Predation by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta);
  2. Habitat degradation and sedimentation from forestry and mining operations and roads may have contributed to the decline;
  3. At least one spill of cyanide from nearby mining operations has occurred (Rich 1986).

Conservation reserves on which species occurs: None.

Other public lands on which species occurs: State Forest.

Other land on which species occurs: Private land.

Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately? (If not provide list of additional studies required): No.

  1. Determine precise distribution of remaining populations.
  2. Clarify the taxonomic status in relation to the mountain galaxias (Galaxias olidus).

Recovery objectives:

  1. Protect all known populations and habitats.
  2. Survey other habitats for unknown populations.
  3. Locate habitat within former range suitable for re-establishing or translocating populations.
  4. Establish monitoring program to monitor known populations and occurrence of trout.

Management actions already initiated:

  1. Some initial surveys of known populations have been undertaken. Due to inaccessibility and nature of terrain, surveying is difficult.
  2. Initial ecological work on the species biology.
  3. Listed under Schedule Two of the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. An action statement outlining intended management actions is in preparation.
  4. A Recovery Plan (writing research phase) is being prepared with funding from ANPWS Endangered Species Program.

Management actions required:

  1. Declaration of additional conservation reserves: Yes. Several populations need protection.
  2. Habitat management: Yes. Additional protection measures needed to reduce the risk of sedimentation and habitat damage from roads, forestry, and mining operations:
  1. Feral animal control: Yes.
  1. Translocation or re-establishment of populations: Yes. Establish new populations into sites were trout do not occur (above waterfalls) or have been removed.
  2. Captive breeding: Possibly; may be useful if other actions fail. Need to establish biological requirements for maturation, spawning and larval rearing.
  3. Other: Yes.

Organisations responsible for conservation of species:

Other organisations or individuals involved:

Can recovery plan be carried out with existing resources?: No.

  1. Weir construction on Taggerty River and Pheasant Creek by the Rural Water Commission weir construction team in conjunction with biologists from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – (4 weirs at $7 000 per weir) $28 000.
  2. Removal of trout from known populations requires one biologist and two technicians for four weeks – $8 280, plus operating costs including chemicals, car hire and camping allowance – $7 000.
  3. Monitoring to determine presence of trout and the status of Barred Galaxias populations. Requires one biologist and two technicians for four weeks in the first year (two separate occasions) – $8 280 plus $4 000 vehicle hire, camping allowance and expenses, and then for two weeks annually in subsequent years – $4 140 plus $2 000 vehicle hire, camping allowance and expenses.

Total: $55 560

Annual monitoring $6 140