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 mackibbinii F. Muell.
Brilliant Sun-orchid

Conservation status:
EPBC Act 1999: V
IUCN (2000): CR
NRE (2000): E
Distribution:
Endemic to Victoria - Goldfields Bioregion (Stawell, St Arnaud and Maryborough areas). Formerly known from near Bendigo and also recorded from near Port Elliot, South Australia although the latter is highly likely to have been mis-identified.
Specific details of population localities (including GPS data) are held on DSE internal files.
Present and former range
Abundance:
<30 plants known in the wild, in 3 populations. Likely to be naturally rare, but more common prior to landscape scale disturbance from gold exploration and mining.
Habitat:
Occurs in open forest dominated by Eucalyptus leucoxylon sens. lat. and sometimes with Allocasuarina verticillata, with a heathy understorey typically consisting of Acacia paradoxa, A. montana and Pultenaea largiflorens on well drained light brown silt with quartz and lateritic lag deposits. Critical habitat has not been determined, but likely to require an undisturbed ground layer well covered by leaf litter.
Reservation status:
Reserved at Mt Bolangum Flora and Fauna Reserve, Deep Lead Flora and Fauna Reserve, Paddys Ranges State Park
.
Management:
Parks Victoria (West Victoria Region, Maryborough, Horsham, Inglewood).
Current and potential threats and their risk:
Current threats Perceived risk
Weed invasion Low - weeds are scarce at sites.
Grazing/pest animals Low - Mt Bolangum FFR at present.Moderate - macropods and rabbits at Paddys Ra. SP.
Inappropriate fire regimes Low at present(?) - sites are long unburnt and fire risk is low, but may require fire.
Site disturbance Moderate - sites are subject to disturbance by recreational vehicles.
Reservation status Adequately reserved with implementation of ECC recommendations.
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; response to fire unknown.

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 protection of populations from grazing and vehicle damage, and maintenance of site confidentiality. Populations will be managed to promote seedling recruitment, using fine-scale habitat management techniques and re-stocked using seed from cultivated plants. Recovery will be jointly managed by DSE and PV. Involvement from ANOS conservation group and Stawell Field Naturalists will continue.

Consultation:

Parks Victoria (West Victoria Region, Maryborough, Horsham, Inglewood); ANOS Conservation Group; Stawell Field Naturalists Club.

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