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
Diuris ochroma D.L. Jones
Pale Golden Moths
- Conservation status:
- EPBC Act 1999: V
- IUCN (2000): V
- NRE (2000): V
- NSW TSC Act 1995: Not listed
- Distribution:
- Disjunct between Victoria and new South Wales
- In Victoria - Highlands - Southern Fall Bioregion. Confined to a single site in the Wonnangatta Valley.
- In New South Wales - South eastern Highlands (Wadbilliga, Kybean areas)
- Specific details of population localities are held on DSE and PV internal files.
- Abundance:
- In Victoria - Thousands of plants known from approximately 6 populations. Former abundance is unknown but likely to have been naturally rare with a fluctuating population size.
- In NSW - Estimated total population size of fewer than 500 plants known from 3 populations. Former abundance unknown.
- Habitat:
- In Victoria - Montane herbfield in silty clay to peaty soils (Jones 1994). Grows either on flats just above the river flood plain in grassland/herbfield or on lower slopes in woodland with a herbaceous understorey.
- In NSW - Moist areas in sub-alpine woodland above 1000 m asl. Critical habitat has not been determined but may be require open herbaceous vegetation maintained by regular burning.
- Reservation status:
- Reserved in the Alpine National Park (Victoria). Possibly reserved in Wadbilliga NP (NSW).
- Management:
- Parks Victoria (Victoria East Region, Heyfield); NSW NPWS; Cooma - Monaro Shire Council.
| Current threats | Perceived risk |
|---|---|
| Weed invasion | Moderate - St Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum) has been controlled by strategic burning but readily invades in the absence of fire.Unknown in NSW. |
| Grazing/pest animals | Low - some native animals but orchid populations are large enough to withstand current grazing pressure.Unknown in NSW. |
| Inappropriate fire regimes | Moderate - fires lit by vandals occur occasionally, but have not damaged populations to date.Unknown in NSW. |
| Site disturbance | Low - Wonnangatta Valley is accessible to off road vehicles but strategies to control visitors have been implemented with success.Probably high in NSW - grows in close proximity to narrow fire trails and public roads. |
| Reservation status | Reserved in Victoria.Reservation status uncertain in NSW. |
| Potential threats | Perceived risk |
| Illegal collection | Low - no evidence of collection in the past |
| Ecology/biology | Low in Victoria - Populations appear to be responding well to current management.Unknown in NSW. |
- Recovery objectives:
- Maintain existing populations; protect and manage habitat.
Recovery actions undertaken in Victoria:
- The site is regularly visited by PV staff.
- All sub-populations are monitored annually.
- Strategic ecological burning has restored Themeda triandra grassland in the general area and reduced the risk of weed invasion.
Issues specific to recovery in Victoria:
- The site in Victoria is not readily accessible during winter.
- In Victoria, the existing monitoring method should continue, populations mapped and included on PV GIS layers.
- Winter burns appear to be destroying soil stored Hypericum perforatum seed and seedlings, and hence appear to be an effective (requires confirmation).
- D. ochroma leaves probably sustain some damage from winter burns but maximum flowering tends to occur in the year following fire. A better understanding of its life history will clarify this.
- Grazing pressure may need to be assessed at the Victorian site.
Issues specific to recovery in NSW
- The status and distribution of NSW populations is poorly known. Recovery priorities, and feasibility of actions require further clarification in consultation with NSW NPWS, and are provisional until relevant information becomes available.
- Until the status of NSW populations are better understood, responsibilities for actions (other than those for which there is a statutory responsibility) rest primarily with DSE. DSE will consult with NPWS before undertaking any actions for this species in NSW. Once the status of NSW populations is adequately known and the species is listed under the NSW TSC Act, responsibility for recovery actions in NSW will be reviewed.
Overall recovery strategy:
Habitat will be managed at known sites to prevent accidental damage by vehicles and suppression of plants by over-abundant introduced herbs or native grasses; the response of the populations and their habitat will be monitored. Recovery will be jointly managed by DSE and PV. Community involvement will be sought.
Consultation:
Parks Victoria (East Victoria Region: Heyfield and Bairnsdale); DSE SE (Heyfield); D. Rouse (Centre for Plant Conservation Biology, Canberra).
| Action | Wonnangatta | NSW |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Determine current conservation status | ||
| 1.1 Clarify taxonomy | N/A | N/A |
| 1.2 Acquire baseline population data | M | M |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR, PV (Heyfield) | DSE-BNR, NPWS (pending negotiation) |
| 2. Investigate population biology | ||
| 2.1 Describe life history | M | M |
| 2.2 Evaluate natural pollination levels and/or causes of pollinator limitation | N/A | L |
| 2.3 Determine the effects of artificial pollination on growth survival and reproduction | N/A | N/A |
| 2.4 Determine spatial distribution of mycorrhizal fungi | N/A | N/A |
| 2.5 Determine optimal conditions for growth of mycorrhizal fungi in-situ | N/A | N/A |
| Responsibility | DSE - BNR PV (Heyfield) | DSE-BNR, NPWS (pending negotiation) |
| 3. Determine habitat requirements of key populations | ||
| 3.1 Identify key populations | N/A | H |
| 3.2 Conduct surveys | M | M |
| 3.3 Identify ecological correlates of populations | M | M |
| 3.4 Prepare habitat descriptions | L | L |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR, PV (Heyfield) | DSE-BNR, NPWS (pending negotiation) |
| 4. Manage risks to populations | ||
| 4.1 Identify and implement strategies to control threats | H | M |
| 4.2 Identify disturbance regimes to promote regeneration and recruitment | H | N/A |
| 4.3 Protect key public land populations and habitat | N/A | M |
| 4.4 Protect key private land populations and habitat | N/A | N/A |
| Responsibility | PV (Heyfield) | NPWS |
| 5. Promote in-situ recruitment | ||
| 5.1 Prepare habitat for seedling recruitment | N/A | N/A |
| 5.2 Re-stock populations with seed | N/A | N/A |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR | N/A |
| 6. Measure population trends and responses against recovery actions | ||
| 6.1 Conduct annual censusing of populations | M | M |
| 6.2 Collate, analyse and report on census data | M | M |
| 6.3 Re-prioritise and adjust recovery actions and/or threat management | H | H |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR, PV (Heyfield) | DSE-BNR, NPWS (pending negotiation) |
| 7. Increase populations ex-situ | ||
| 7.1 Hand pollinate plants | N/A | N/A |
| 7.2 Establish a threatened orchid seed bank and determine seed viability | N/A | N/A |
| 7.3 Establish a mycorrhizal fungi bank | N/A | N/A |
| 7.4 Establish and maintain cultivated populations | N/A | N/A |
| 7.5 Maintain a database of threatened orchid taxa in cultivation | N/A | N/A |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR, PV (Heyfield), RBG | N/A |
| 8. Translocate cultivated plants | ||
| 8.1 Determine criteria for re-stocking/re-introduction | N/A | N/A |
| 8.2 Evaluate site suitability | N/A | N/A |
| 8.3 Determine long term cost-benefits and feasibility of translocating plants | N/A | N/A |
| 8.4 Prepare and implement translocation plans | N/A | N/A |
| 8.5 Maintain translocated populations | N/A | N/A |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR | N/A |
| 9. Implement an education and communication strategy | ||
| 9.1 Prepare technical educational material on in-situ recovery techniques | L | N/A |
| 9.2 Undertake community extension | L | L |
| 9.3 Conduct workshops and symposia on in-situ recovery techniques | L | N/A |
| 9.4 Encourage and support research by Higher Education Institutions and existing research partners | N/A | N/A |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR | NPWS DSE |
| 10. Consolidate recovery and extend networks | ||
| 10.1 Maintain the Threatened Orchid Recovery Team | L | N/A |
| 10.2 Establish and facilitate regional Recovery Teams | L | L |
| 10.3 Co-ordinate recovery and exchange knowledge with interstate agencies | L | L |
| Responsibility | DSE-BNR, TSN | DSE-BNR |
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