National recovery plan for Twenty-five threatened orchid taxa of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales 2003 - 2007
Coates, F., Jeanes, J. and Pritchard, A.
Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne, 2002
Appendix 3
Arachnorchis sp. aff. venusta (Kilsyth South) Kilsyth South Spider-orchid
- Conservation status:
- EPBC Act 1999: CR
- IUCN (2000): CR
- DSE 2000: E
- Distribution:
- Endemic to Victoria - Victorian Gippsland Plain Bioregion (Kilsyth). Specific details of population localities are held on DSE internal files. Considered to be a short-range endemic at present as no records exist to indicate a formerly more widespread distribution. However, searches through Herbarium material may reveal mis-identified specimens placed with Arachnorchis venusta or closely related taxa.
- Abundance:
- Approximately 23 plants in the wild, in 1 population. Former abundance is unknown, but likely to have been at least twice current numbers at the existing site.
- Habitat:
- Occurs in Eucalyptus radiata - E. cephalocarpa open forest with scattered Exocarpos cupressiformis, and a shrubby understorey of Banksia marginata and Leptospermum continentale somewhat modified by slashing. The ground layer is species rich, but mainly consists of Chionochloa pallida, Patersonia fragilis, P. occidentalis, Thelionema caespitosum and Sphaerolobium minus, with patches of exposed ground and a profuse orchid flora. Critical habitat is yet to be determined, but is likely to include an open heathy understorey maintained by suitable disturbance regime.
- Reservation status:
- Not reserved.
- Management:
- Private property.
| Current threats | Perceived risk |
|---|---|
| Ecology/biology | High - conditions for maintenance of pollinator and fungal activity unknown; increased extinction risk due to single population; response to fire unknown; signs of senescence have been recently observed in the population. |
| Weed invasion | Low - relatively weed free with only a few woody species confined to small areas at present (eg. Pittosporum undulatum, Erica quadrangularis) (Carr 1998). |
| Grazing/pest animals | Low - rabbit numbers are low. |
| Site access | High - access is denied to Maroondah Shire and DSE staff at present, so that implementation of in-situ recovery actions is not possible at present. |
| Reservation status | High - unreserved at present. Attempts to purchase the property by the Shire of Maroondah have been rejected. |
| Potential threats | Perceived risk |
| Illegal collection | Low at present - probably highly sought after by collectors, but access to property is difficult. |
| Inappropriate fire regimes | Low- site has not been burnt recently although response to fire is unknown. |
| Deliberate damage | Unknown - landowners are opposed to retention of nature conservation values, but have been informed of its legal status. |
- Recovery objectives:
- Establish a positive relationship with landowners to maintain existing population size and manage habitat
Recovery actions undertaken:
- City of Maroondah have offered to purchase the property, but consider the current asking price too high.
- The site has been assessed for biological significance (Carr 1998).
- The site is included in shire planning overlays.
Issues specific to recovery:
- The site has been assessed as having State conservation significance and A. sp. aff. venusta (Kilsyth South) as being of national conservation significance (Carr 1998; EPBC Act 1999).
- The landowners have been refused permission to remove vegetation by the City of Maroondah and by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (VCAAT).
- VCAAT has recommended that the property should be placed in public ownership.
- An acrimonious relationship has developed between the landowners and council as well as with DSE, and attempts to purchase the land have been unsuccessful.
- Access to the property is denied to Local and State Government staff.
- City of Maroondah is endeavouring to raise additional funds to assist with purchase.
- The property adjacent to the site was visited during preparation of the recovery plan.
- On ground recovery actions may not commence until year 2, pending the successful outcome of mediation.
- There is concern that population condition has deteriorated in 2001 (A. Brown, KES, pers. comm.).
Overall recovery strategy:
Development of a positive relationship with the landowners will be attempted through mediation. If access to the property is allowed, risk management will include protection of the population from accidental damage, and maintenance of site confidentiality. Searches of similar habitat within the Kilsyth area may uncover additional populations. If possible, the taxon will be formally described, and the population will be managed to promote seedling recruitment using fine-scale habitat management techniques. Populations will be re-stocked with seed collected in-situ. Recovery will be jointly managed by DSE and the City of Maroondah in consultation with landowners. Involvement from local naturalists will continue.
Consultation:
City of Maroondah; DSE-BNR PP (Box Hill); Geoff Carr (Ecology Australia Pty Ltd); A. Brown (Knox Environment Centre).
| Action | Kilsyth South |
|---|---|
| 1. Determine current conservation status | |
| 1.1 Clarify taxonomy | L |
| 1.2 Acquire baseline population data | M |
| Responsibility | Ecology Australia P/L, DSE-BNR |
| 2. Investigate population biology | |
| 2.1 Describe life history | M |
| 2.2 Evaluate natural pollination levels and/or causes of pollinator limitation | M |
| 2.3 Determine the effects of artificial pollination on growth survival and reproduction | N/A |
| 2.4 Determine spatial distribution of mycorrhizal fungi | N/A |
| 2.5 Determine optimal conditions for growth of mycorrhizal fungi in-situ | N/A |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR |
| 3. Determine habitat requirements of key populations | |
| 3.1 Identify key populations | Completed |
| 3.2 Conduct surveys | M |
| 3.3 Identify ecological correlates of populations | M |
| 3.4 Prepare habitat descriptions | L |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR |
| 4. Manage risks to populations | |
| 4.1 Identify and implement strategies to control threats | H |
| 4.2 Identify disturbance regimes to promote regeneration and recruitment | H |
| 4.3 Protect key public land populations and habitat | N/A |
| 4.4 Protect key private land populations and habitat | H (including mediation) |
| Responsibility | DSE-PP, City of Maroondah |
| 5. Promote in-situ recruitment | |
| 5.1 Prepare habitat for seedling recruitment | H |
| 5.2 Re-stock populations with seed | H |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR, KES/MEG |
| 6. Measure population trends and responses against recovery actions | |
| 6.1 Conduct annual censusing of populations | M |
| 6.2 Collate, analyse and report on census data | M |
| 6.3 Re-prioritise and adjust recovery actions and/or threat management | H |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR, KES/MEG |
| 7. Increase populations ex-situ | |
| 7.1 Hand pollinate plants | H |
| 7.2 Establish a threatened orchid seed bank and determine seed viability | H |
| 7.3 Establish a mycorrhizal fungi bank | H |
| 7.4 Establish and maintain cultivated populations | H |
| 7.5 Maintain a database of threatened orchid taxa in cultivation | L |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR, KES/MEG, RBG, NOGN |
| 8. Translocate cultivated plants | |
| 8.1 Determine criteria for re-stocking/re-introduction | Completed |
| 8.2 Evaluate site suitability | N/A |
| 8.3 Determine long term cost-benefits and feasibility of translocating plants | N/A |
| 8.4 Prepare and implement translocation plans | N/A |
| 8.5 Maintain translocated populations | N/A |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR |
| 9. Implement an education and communication strategy | |
| 9.1 Prepare technical educational material on in-situ recovery techniques | L |
| 9.2 Undertake community extension | L |
| 9.3 Conduct workshops and symposia on in-situ recovery techniques | L |
| 9.4 Encourage and support research by Higher Education Institutions and existing research partners | N/A |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR |
| 10. Consolidate recovery and extend networks | |
| 10.1 Maintain the Threatened Orchid Recovery Team | L |
| 10.2 Establish and facilitate regional Recovery Teams | L |
| 10.3 Co-ordinate recovery and exchange knowledge with interstate agencies | N/A |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR, KES/MEG, TSN |
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