The Action Plan for Australian Rodents
Environment Australia, April 1995
Recovery Outlines for Critical, Endangered and Vulnerable Australian Rodents
Recovery Outline - Western Mouse
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Pseudomys occidentalis Tate, 1951
3 English Name Western Mouse
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Vulnerable: taxon with populations that have been seriously depleted and whose ultimate security is not yet assured.
Mace and Lande Vulnerable: populations fragmented and localised within ten reserves. N probably <10 000 but may be declining.
6 Former Distribution
Sub-fossil deposits suggest that this species once occurred in a narrow belt from the mid-west coast of Western Australia, across the southern wheatbelt and Nullabor Plain to the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
7 Current Distribution
Ten conservation reserves in the southern wheatbelt of Western Australia (see below).
8 Habitat
Shrublands which have not been burnt for at least 15-30 years on sandy clay loam soils, usually with a laterite component.
9 Reason for decline
Sub-fossil records suggest that this species had probably declined prior to European settlement. Feral cats may have had an impact on this species. Loss of habitat through clearing in the wheatbelt and the introduction of the European Fox and Rabbit have probably contributed to its decline.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Anderson Lake, Dragon Rocks, Bendering, Harris, Lake Grace, North Kalgarin, Rock View and Tarin Rock Nature Reserves, Fitzgerald River National Park and Ravensthorpe Range.
11 Other public land on which species occurs
Hatters Hill, uncleared vacant crown land to the east of the wheatbelt. Specimen collected in 1953.
12 Other land on which species occurs
None known.
13 Is the knowledge of the species adequate for the objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
Yes. A Recovery Plan has been drafted.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Achieve downlisting from Vulnerable to Secure by 1999.
14.2 Retain the present distribution.
14.3 Maintain or increase abundance in at least three monitoring sites.
15 Management actions completed or planned
A research program has examined the distribution, biology and habitat requirements of the Western Mouse. The effect of feral animal baiting programs and prescribed burning regimes on this species still need to be assessed. A Recovery Plan has been drafted and a Recovery Team will be established.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Continue monitoring populations at Dragon Rocks, Rock View and Anderson Lakes Nature Reserves, and commence monitoring at Fitzgerald River National Park and Ravensthorpe Range.
16.2 Continue fox baiting at Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve and implement cat baiting regimes when suitable techniques become available.
16.3 Determine the impact of fire.
16.4 Confirm the identification of the Pseudomys sp. on Woody Island.
16.5 Undertake surveys of areas where the Western Mouse was previously recorded (Harris, Flat Rocks and Lake Grace Nature Reserves and Nyabing and Ravensthorpe Range) and continue opportunistic surveys of suitable habitat on public and private lands.
17 Organisation/s responsible for conservation of species
WA Department of Conservation and Land Management.
18 Other organisation(s)/individuals involved
World Wide Fund for Nature Australia.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Anderson Lake, Dragon Rocks and Bendering Nature Reserves; Fitzgerald River National Park.
20 Other land affected by recovery Ravensthorpe Range (vacant crown land).
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. The following additional funds are required to implement the recovery plan over the period 1995-99.
21.1 Monitoring (including 0.5 salary) $46,000
21.2 Fox baiting at Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve $22,500
21.3 Fire impacts $17,000
21.4 Woody Islands survey $1,200
21.5 Mainland surveys $12,500
$99,200
Recovery Outline - Hastings River Mouse
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Pseudomys oralis Thomas, 1921
3 English Name Hastings River Mouse
4 Intra-specific Taxa None known.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Endangered: small known population size in habitat subjected to threat from forestry practices, cattle grazing and associated burning.
Mace and Lande Endangered: known from a small number of seemingly small populations in habitats subjected to forestry practices, cattle grazing and associated burning.
6 Former distribution
Known from fossil deposits in several caves in the Great Dividing Range from Buchan, east Gippsland, where it is very common (5000 years ago), to Hirstglen, south-east Queensland. Remains at Marble Arch, New South Wales, and at Hirstglen are mixed with Rattus rattus and may be recent. Also known from coastal sites: Aboriginal middens at Lake Burrill and Bass Point (NSW) (1600-2000 years ago) and an owl pellet deposit at Mangrove Creek (NSW) (800 years ago).
7 Current Distribution
Patchy. Known from 18 sites from Mt Royal (NSW), northwards to sites east of Warwick (Qld). Usually only one or two individuals have been caught at most sites, except at Gambubal State Forest where 17 individuals have now been captured.
8 Habitat
Open forests and in open woodland, between 410 and 1100m elevation. A well-developed layer of shrubs and ferns may or may not be present. Ground cover varies from almost no cover to a dense, rank cover of grasses, herbs and sedges. Sedges, particularly Carex, Juncus and Cyperus spp. are common to most sites. Habitat occurs beside creeks (permanent and ephemeral) and soakages, but also found on ridges and grassy plains. In 1986, skull and mandible fragments of P. oralis were found in a pellet from an owl (Tyto sp.) in coastal wet heath near Wardell (NSW), at a site less than 10m altitude. Subsequent trapping failed to verify presence.
9 Reason for decline
There is insufficient information to estimate the effects of land use since settlement. Most known sites have been grazed by cattle and burnt, some more frequently than others. Populations at Forbes River and Boundary Creek (see King and Mackowski 1986) failed to recover from wildfires in 1986 and 1985, respectively. Some sites have been harvested for timber, or this has occurred nearby.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
New South Wales
· Barrington Tops National Park (Current status requires clarification )
· Oxley Wild Rivers National Park1.
· Werrikimbe National Park.
· Blicks River Flora Reserve.
· Edwards Plain Flora Reserve.
Queensland
· Main Range .( Not recorded for more than five years)
11 Other public land on which species occurs
New South Wales
· Hyland State Forest.
· Forestland State Forest1.
· Marengo State Forest.
· Chaelundi State Forest.
· Dalmorton State Forest1.
· Billilimbra State Forest.
· Mount Royal State Forest.
· Wild Cattle Creek State Forest.
· Clouds Creek State Forest.
· Carrai State Forest.
· Vacant crown land, Carrai Plateau.
Queensland
· Gambubal State Forest2.
12 Other land on which species occurs
New South Wales
Possibly on private land south of Mount Royal1 where bones of P. oralis have been found under an owl roost. Also may be found on private land adjacent to known sites in Marengo State Forest.
Queensland
Private land along Swan Creek (east of Warwick)2.
13 Is the knowledge of the species adequate for the objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
Generally no. Knowledge of current distribution is inadequate. The status of known populations is largely unknown. Knowledge of diet, habitat, reproductive biology, and impacts of fire, grazing and logging on abundance is required so that actions can be determined. Knowledge of ecology, especially dependence on sedge beds and the effects of disturbance of sedge beds, is also required.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Determine the current patterns of distribution and abundance.
14.2 Determine the species' natural history.
14.3 Ascertain the effects of competitors, fire and other potential limiting factors on distribution and abundance.
14.4 On the basis of this knowledge revise Recovery Plan.
15 Management actions completed or planned
15.1 Monitoring of the Forbes River population (Werrikimbe National Park) has been undertaken by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) since 1984. Monitoring to continue and information gathered is being prepared for publication.
15.2 Surveys of the region are being conducted by State Forests of New South Wales, NPWS and Dr David Read, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst.
15.3 A study of diet is being undertaken (Dr David Read).
15.4 A study of the range and status, including GIS modelling, is being undertaken for NPWS by Dr A. Smith, University of New England, Armidale.
15.5 A study of the population dynamics, social organisation and reproductive biology, utilising standard trapping techniques and radio-tracking, is being undertaken at Billilimbra State Forest for NPWS by Dr P. Baverstock and Ms S. Townley, Southern Cross University. This research is shortly to be extended to a second site.
15.6 An analysis of the vegetation at sites of capture is being undertaken by Drs David Yates and David Lamb, University of Queensland.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Known populations must be protected from further disturbance until status is ascertained and management plans are prepared.
16.2 Management of feral predators or competitors is not required at this stage.
16.3 Translocation does not appear to be needed.
16.4 A captive breeding program is not required at this stage
16.5 Studies of the ecology of the plant communities utilised by the Hastings River Mouse, and the effects of cattle grazing on these communities, are required.
16.6 The effects of logging on the habitat of the mouse needs to be ascertained.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service; Qld Department of Environment and Heritage.
18 Other organisation(s)/ individuals involved
State Forests of New South Wales, Queensland Forest Service, Australian Nature Cosnervation Agency,
Prof A. Cockburn (Australian National University), Dr P. Baverstock and Ms S. Townley (Southern Cross University, Lismore), Mr D. Pugh (Nature Conservation Council), Mr M. Taylor (Forest Products Association), Dr D.G. Read (School of Applied Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst), Dr A. Smith (University of New England, Armidale), Drs D. Yates and D. Lamb (University of Queensland).
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
To be defined.
20 Other land affected by recovery
New South Wales: to be defined.
Queensland: Gambubil State Forest.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. The following additional funds are required to implement the research plan.
21.1 Population dynamics and social behaviour (Townley) $90,000
21.2 Microhabitat modelling and mapping (Smith) $105,000
21.3 Ecology of vegetation occupied by P. oralis (Yates) $50,000
21.4 Dietary study $16,000
21.5 Preparation of recovery plan $20,000
$281,000
Remarks The Hastings River Mouse remains one of our least-known rodents. The species has not yet been listed by ANZECC, but was listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Cwlth) on 11 May 1994.
Recovery Outline - Pilliga Mouse
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Pseudomys pilligaensis Fox and Biscoe, 1980
3 English Name Pilliga Mouse
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Vulnerable: habitat disturbance from inappropriate fire regimes and forestry practices may pose serious threat.
Mace and Lande Vulnerable: small geographic range; like other rodents from semi-arid Australia, subjected to periodic population crashes which probably occur more or less synchronously in most if not all populations; habitat subjected to fire management and forestry operations.
6 Former Distribution Uncertain.
7 Current Distribution
Pilliga Scrub (NSW) including Pilliga Nature Reserve and adjacent Pilliga State Forest.
8 Habitat
Mixed Eucalyptus, Acacia and Callitris open forest on sandy soil and sandstone ridges.
9 Reason for decline Not known.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Pilliga Nature Reserve.
11 Other public lands on which species occurs
Pilliga State Forest.
12 Other land on which species occurs
None known.
13 Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No. The taxonomic status requires clarification. Information is needed on precise distribution, response to fire and fire management, response to forestry operations and impact of clearing for rural development.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Establish the taxonomic status of P. pilligaensis.
14.2 Identify habitat requirements, especially dependence on Acacia.
14.3 Determine fire management and forestry operations that are sympathetic to P. pilligaensis.
15 Management actions completed or underway
Not withstanding the above, preliminary assessment of the distribution and effects of fire are being conducted. A fire management plan for Pilliga Nature Reserve is being prepared.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Additional conservation reserves are not required at this stage.
16.2 Habitat has yet to be fully defined but distribution and abundance may be related to seed availability, in particular, the abundance of Acacia seeds. It may be necessary to manage this resource.
16.3 Management of feral predators or competitors does not appear to be required.
16.4 Translocation is not required at this stage.
16.5 A captive breeding program should be established to ascertain taxonomic status by back-crossing experiments.
16.6 Long-term monitoring of known population.
16.7 Establish a captive display/public awareness program.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
18 Other organisation(s)/individuals involved
Dr Leong Lim, Countrywide Ecological Services; Taronga Zoo, Sydney; Dr Michael Mahoney, University of Newcastle; Dr Barry Fox, Department of Zoology, University of NSW.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Pilliga Nature Reserve.
20 Other land affected by recovery
State forest in the Pilliga Management Area controlled by State Forests of New South Wales; freehold land (unknown quantity); crown leases (unknown quantity).
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. Conservation of this species cannot be established until a taxonomic revision of the Pseudomys group - P. novaehollandiae, P. pillagensis and some specimens currently attributed to P. delicatulus and P. hermannsburgensis - is completed.
21.1 Taxonomic review $20,000
21.2 Ecological studies $30,000
21.3 Captive breeding program $10,000
21.4 Monitoring known population $10,000
$70,000
Remarks Status may alter from Vulnerable to Endangered as abundance varies from locally common to rare.
Recovery Outline - Carpentarian Rock-rat
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Zyzomys palatalis Kitchener, 1989
3 English Name Carpentarian Rock-rat
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Endangered: small known populations in habitat subjected to serious threat from fire and damage by grazing cattle.
Mace and Lande Critical: a survey of the Gulf region during 1993 has shown that the habitat of this species is limited in distribution, occurring only in three small, fragmented and isolated pockets. These areas are being degraded by fire and grazing by feral and domestic stock.
6 Former distribution Not known.
7 Current distribution
Known from only three localities on Wollogorang Station (NT). Three specimens were collected in 1987 near Echo Gorge on Wollogorang Station (17°12'S
137°41'E; Kitchener 1989). In 1990, 14 individuals were trapped in a sandstone gorge at the headwaters of McDermotts Creek (17°25'S 137°48'E; Menkhorst and Woinarski 1992a). However, only one specimen was trapped with comparable trapping effort at this site in 1993 (Churchill in prep.). The third locality is Moonlight Spring Gorge (17°25'S 137°43'E) where seven individuals were captured (Churchill in prep.). All localities occur within 30km of each other.
8 Habitat
The species occurs in patches of monsoon vine thicket growing on scree slopes in sandstone gorges. The three localities are all within 100m of permanent spring water. Vine thicket species including Ficus virens, F. platypoda, Gyrocarpus americanus, Owenia vernicosa, Terminalia carpentariae, Pouteria sericea, Celtis philippinensis and Buchanania obovata with an understory of vines Caesalpinea bonduc, Opilia amentacea, Pisonia aculeata and Sarcostemma australe. The surrounding vegetation is predominently Eucalyptus papuana/E. miniata woodland with Plectrachne pungens understorey.
9 Reason for decline
Unknown but probably long-term reduction and fragmentation of habitat due to changes in climate, possibly exacerbated recently by changes in fire regime, and by grazing.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
None known.
11 Other public lands on which species occurs
None known.
12 Other land on which species occurs
Wollogorang Pastoral Lease.
13 Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Further survey of vine thicket areas in the Northern Territory and the Gulf country in Queensland to determine distribution and abundance.
14.2 Detailed ecological research to document basic biology of the species and to determine what, if any, management action is required other than control of fire.
14.3 Prevent decline by control of stock and fire.
15 Management actions completed or underway
A reserve has been proposed for the escarpment areas of Wollogorang Station (Gulf Region Land Use and Development Study 1991). Wollogorang Station was destocked in 1992 as part of the BTEC program. This has reduced damage to the springs and vine thickets by domestic and feral stock, but this is only a short term reprieve.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Prevention of large, hot, uncontrolled wildfires from burning the remnant pockets of vine thicket, especially the areas where Z. palatalis has been recorded on Wollogorang Station.
16.2 Control of feral and domestic stock around rainforest patches, especially near springs by fencing and provision of downstream watering facilities.
16.3 Examination of the need and priorities for land reservation.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory; and Qld Department of Environment and Heritage if future surveys reveal presence of species in Queensland.
18 Other organisation(s)/individuals involved
National Threatened Species Network, NT; lessee of Wollogorang Station.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
None
20 Other land affected by recovery
Wollogorang Station, and possibly other pastoral properties and Aboriginal land in the Gulf region.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. A survey team of a scientist and a technician is required for a further survey of the species distribution. A detailed study of the biology (diet, reproduction, habitat use, movements) of this species is needed. A captive breeding program may be required to replenish natural populations.
21.1 Twelve month detailed study of the species interspersed with further surveys
(costs include vehicle use, helicopter hire and field supplies) $60,000
21.2 Captive breeding program for three years at $4000 per year (Territory Wildlife Park) $12,000
21.3 Preparation of Recovery Plan $5,000
21.4 Management of natural populations (fencing, protective burning) $40,000
$117,000
Recovery Outline - Central Rock-rat
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Zyzomys pedunculatus (Waite, 1896)
3 English Name Central Rock-rat
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Endangered: Not captured since 1960.
Mace and Lande Critical, possibly Extinct: last collected 1960, despite surveys of habitat and former sites of occurrence; inhabits arid land systems and therefore likely to experience marked fluctuations in population size.
CITES listing I.
6 Former Distribution
Central Australian ranges west and north of Alice Springs, as far northwards as the The Granites (20°34'S 130°22'E).
7 Current Distribution
Collected at The Granites in 1952 and at Mt Liebig (23°30'S 131°50'E) in 1960. None collected since despite recent trapping survey of previous sites (except The Granites) by Wurst (1990). Sites at The Granites and in the Davenport Ranges were trapped between 1981-84 without success by the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory. An unconfirmed sighting of the Central Rock-rat was made on the north side of Mt Barkly (21°35'S 132°31'E) in 1962, but subsequent trapping by Begg and Martin (see Wurst 1990) was unsuccessful.
8 Habitat Rocky hills and outcrops.
9 Reason for decline Not known.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
None known.
11 Other public lands on which species occurs
None known.
12 Other land on which species occurs
None known.
13 Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No.
14 Recovery objectives
Definition of objectives requires location of extant population/s. Trapping program specifically targeting this species does not appear warranted at this time in view of failure of recent attempts to locate extant populations.
15 Management actions completed or underway
None immediately.
16 Management actions required
None until extant population is found.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory.
18 Other organisation(s)/individuals involved
None.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
None
20 Other land affected by recovery None.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
Not relevant until an extant population is discovered.
Remarks Recent attempts by Begg and Martin (see Wurst 1990), and by Wurst (1990) to trap this species suggest that it is either extinct or extremely rare.