Threatened species & ecological communities

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

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Appendix 3

Thelymitra hiemalis D.L. Jones & M.A. Clem.
Winter Sun-orchid

Conservation status:
EPBC Act 1999: Not listed
IUCN (2000): CR
NRE (2000): E
Distribution:
Endemic to Victoria - Glenelg Plain Bioregion (Portland-Nelson area) to Otway Plain (Anglesea). Possibly occurs in South Australia, but no populations have been recorded to date. There are old, unconfirmed records from Blackburn, east of Melbourne and at the Port Campbell Rifle Range.
Specific details of population localities (including GPS data) are held on DSE internal files.
Present and former range
Abundance:
<10 plants known in the wild, in 5 populations.
Habitat:
Occurs in Eucalyptus baxteri or E. willisii woodland with an understorey typically dominated by heath species such as Xanthorrhoea australis, Leptospermum myrsinoides, L. continentale, Acacia oxycedrus, Banksia marginata or Pteridium esculentum on well drained dark grey loamy sand. Critical habitat has not been determined, but fire or other disturbance such as slashing is highly likely to promote flowering in T. hiemalis.
Reservation status:
Reserved at Mt Richmond National Park, Lower Glenelg National Park, Angahook - Lorne State Park.
Management:
Parks Victoria (Victoria West Region, Portland, Nelson, Lorne); Private Property
Current and potential threats and their risk:
Current threats Perceived risk
Weed invasion Low - Pinus wildings and Coast wattle invasion will occur without management; weeds are absent from other sites.
Grazing/pest animals Low in parks at present, although individual plants would benefit from protection.
High - private property.
Inappropriate fire regimes High at present - sites are long unburnt (species is known to flower after fire).
Site disturbance Moderate to High - one site is on private property and one other occurs adjacent to a fire break. The site and population at Anglesea is extremely vulnerable to trampling by enthusiasts
Reservation status Adequately reserved.
Potential threats Perceived risk
Illegal collection Moderate - no evidence of collection in the past; but may be sought by collectors.
Ecology/biology High - conditions for maintenance of pollinator and fungal activity unknown; increased extinction risk due to small population sizes.

Recovery objectives:

Maintain and/or increase existing population sizes; protect and manage habitat.

Recovery actions undertaken:

Issues specific to recovery:

Overall recovery strategy:

Known populations will be monitored and searches will be conducted at similar sites in the region. Risk management in the short term will include reduction of biomass by slashing, protection of individual plants from grazing, and maintenance of site confidentiality. Ecological burn plans for existing and potential vegetation communities where T. hiemalis occurs on public land should be prepared and implemented, and post-fire searches conducted. The population will be managed to promote seedling recruitment, using fine-scale habitat management techniques. Populations will be re-stocked using seed from cultivated plants. Recovery will be jointly managed by DSE and PV. Involvement from ANOS conservation group and Portland Field Naturalists will continue.

Consultation:

Parks Victoria (West Victoria Region, Portland, Nelson, Lorne); DSE SW (Warrnambool); Landowner (Mr Ken Clark); ANOS Conservation Group; Portland Field Naturalists Club.

Actions:
Action Portland (L) Mt Richmond (H) Lower Glenelg NP (M) Anglesea
1. Determine current conservation status        
1.1 Clarify taxonomy N/A N/A N/A N/A
1.2 Acquire baseline population data N/A N/A N/A N/A
Responsibility DSE-BNR DSE-BNR DSE-BNR DSE-BNR
2. Investigate population biology        
2.1 Describe life history M M M M
2.2 Evaluate natural pollination levels and/or causes of pollinator limitation M M M M
2.3 Determine the effects of artificial pollination on growth survival and reproduction N/A N/A N/A N/A
2.4 Determine spatial distribution of mycorrhizal fungi N/A N/A N/A N/A
2.5 Determine optimal conditions for growth of mycorrhizal fungi in-situ N/A N/A N/A N/A
Responsibility DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW
3. Determine habitat requirements of key populations        
3.1 Identify key populations N/A N/A N/A N/A
3.2 Conduct surveys N/A H H H
3.3 Identify ecological correlates of populations N/A H H H
3.4 Prepare habitat descriptions N/A M M M
Responsibility DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW
4. Manage risks to populations        
4.1 Identify and implement strategies to control threats Completed H H H
4.2 Identify disturbance regimes to promote regeneration and recruitment M M M M
4.3 Protect key public land populations and habitat N/A H H H
4.4 Protect key private land populations and habitat H N/A N/A N/A
Responsibility DSE-BNR SW PV (Portland) PV (Nelson) PV (Lorne)
5. Promote in-situ recruitment        
5.1 Prepare habitat for seedling recruitment H H H H
5.2 Re-stock populations with seed H H H H
Responsibility DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW
6. Measure population trends and responses against recovery actions        
6.1 Conduct annual censusing of populations M M M M
6.2 Collate, analyse and report on census data M M M M
6.3 Re-prioritise and adjust recovery actions and/or threat management H H H H
Responsibility DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW,PV (Portland), PFN DSE-BNR SW,PV(Nelson),PFN DSE-BNR SW,PV(Lorne)
7. Increase populations ex-situ        
7.1 Hand pollinate plants H H H H
7.2 Establish a threatened orchid seed bank and determine seed viability N/A M M M
7.3 Establish a mycorrhizal fungi bank N/A M M M
7.4 Establish and maintain cultivated populations N/A M M M
7.5 Maintain a database of threatened orchid taxa in cultivation N/A L L L
Responsibility DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW, RBG DSE-BNR SW, RBG DSE-BNR SW, RBG
8. Translocate cultivated plants        
8.1 Determine criteria for re-stocking/re-introduction N/A N/A N/A N/A
8.2 Evaluate site suitability N/A N/A N/A N/A
8.3 Determine long term cost-benefits and feasibility of translocating plants N/A N/A N/A N/A
8.4 Prepare and implement translocation plans N/A N/A N/A N/A
8.5 Maintain translocated populations N/A N/A N/A N/A
Responsibility DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW
9. Implement an education and communication strategy        
9.1 Prepare technical educational material on in-situ recovery techniques L L L L
9.2 Undertake community extension L L L L
9.3 Conduct workshops and symposia on in-situ recovery techniques M M M M
9.4 Encourage and support research by Higher Education Institutions and existing research partners N/A N/A N/A N/A
Responsibility DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW
10. Consolidate recovery and extend networks        
10.1 Maintain the Threatened Orchid Recovery Team L L L L
10.2 Establish and facilitate regional Recovery Teams L L L L
10.3 Co-ordinate recovery and exchange knowledge with interstate agencies N/A N/A N/A N/A
Responsibility DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW DSE-BNR SW
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