Threatened species & ecological communities

Giant Andersonia (Andersonia axilliflora) Interim Recovery Plan 2003-2008

Interim Recovery Plan No. 147
Rebecca Evans, Sarah Barrett, Gillian Stack and Andrew Brown
Department of Conservation and Land Management, WA, 2003

Objectives

The objective of this Interim Recovery Plan is to abate identified threats and maintain or enhance in situ populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the species in the wild.

Criteria for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased by 10% or more.

Criteria for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased by 10% or more.

3. Recovery actions

Existing recovery actions

Stirling Range National Park Rangers are aware of the threatened nature of the species and of its location.

To control dieback in the eastern Stirling Range, aerial spraying of phosphite commenced in Autumn 1997 and Populations 1, 3, 4 and 10 were sprayed that year. This appears to have had a positive impact and phosphite applications have taken place regularly since then. Survival of juvenile plants in infested areas in Population 1 from 1997 to 2000 was approximately 59% for plants sprayed with phosphite compared with 14% in those excluded from phosphite (unpublished data S Barrett).

The above action also benefits the Critically endangered Eastern Stirling Range Montane Heath and Thicket Community and many other Declared Rare and Priority species that occur there. Due to the continuing threat from dieback these areas will be sprayed at regular intervals as part of DCLM's phosphite program.

Between October 1996 and February 1997 staff from DCLM's Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC) collected over 8,500 Andersonia axilliflora seeds from Populations 4, 6, 7, and 8. Initial germination tests resulted in no more than 20% germination (unpublished data A. Cochrane ² ). Further tests are being conducted in order to understand more about the germination requirements of the species.

The Botanic Garden and Parks Authority (BGPA) currently have a single Andersonia axilliflora plant that was grown from seed in 1995. Twelve plants were held in the nursery in 1999 but all but one rapidly died after appearing to grow well initially. The cause of their deaths is unknown but could be due to fungal infection (although no seedlings of other native species growing nearby were affected), intolerance of soil media, dislike of humidity, over watering or some other factor (personal communication A. Shade).

Tissue culture trials have also been conducted by BGPA staff but were unsuccessful.

Staff from Albany Work Centre regularly monitor populations, taking particular note of the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi and the effectiveness of phosphite application. Six control and six spray plots were in place on Bluff Knoll and plant decline within the plots was assessed in order to determine the effectiveness of the spray treatment (Barrett 1998). New control and spray plots are monitoring survival in vegetation burnt in 2000. Additional monitoring plots are in place for other populations (2, 6 and 9). However, follow up assessments are sometimes limited as access is difficult and time consuming (Hickman 1997). Monitoring in 2002 suggests populations are stable or in decline with Populations 5 and 10 in particular having poor post-fire recruitment.

Demographic monitoring commenced in 2001 as part of a larger study of the fire ecology of the Montane Heath and Thicket TEC (C. Yates and S. Barrett)

An Interim Recovery Plan for the ‘Eastern Stirling Range Montane Heath and Thicket Community’ has been written by S. Barrett. Many of the recovery actions outlined in the IRP can be applied to A. axilliflora and implementation of the two plans will be integrated.

The Albany District Threatened Flora Recovery Team (ADTFRT) has overseen the implementation of the previous IRP and included information on progress in its annual report to DCLM's Corporate Executive and funding bodies.

² Anne Cochrane, Manager, DCLM's Threatened Flora Seed Centre

Future recovery actions

1. Coordination

The Albany District Threatened Flora Recovery Team (ADTFRT) will continue to coordinate recovery actions for Andersonia axilliflora and include information on progress in their annual report to DCLM's Corporate Executive and funding bodies.

Action: Coordinate recovery actions
Responsibility: DCLM (Albany Work Centre) through the ADTFRT
Cost: $400 per year

2. Phytophthora

Andersonia axilliflora and the ecological community in which it grows are both severely impacted by dieback (Phytophthora cinnamomi). DCLM will continue the application of phosphite, an action that will have the added benefit of protecting a number of other threatened plant species. Following the application of phosphite, monitoring is required; particularly its impact on native species and the control of P. cinnamomi achieved

Action: Apply phosphite and monitor its effect
Responsibility: DCLM (Albany Work Centre, Dieback Disease Coordinator) through the ADTFRT
Cost: $31,000 per year for the first, third and fifth years for phosphite application and $6,600 per year for monitoring

3. Fire management strategy

Fire kills adult plants of this species and regeneration is from seed. The species has been observed to take between 9 and 10 years to mature, flower and set fruit. Fires that occur in less than 10 year intervals may result in this species setting insufficient seed for regeneration. Fire should therefore if possible be prevented from occurring in the area of populations, except where it is being used experimentally as a recovery tool. A fire management strategy will be developed to determine fire control measures and fire frequency.

Action: Develop and implement a fire management strategy
Responsibility: DCLM (Albany Work Centre) through the ADTFRT
Cost: $1,600 in the first year and $300 in subsequent years

4. Seed and cutting material

Preservation of germplasm is essential to guard against extinction if wild populations are lost. Such collections are also needed to propagate plants for translocations. The collections made by the TFSC in 1996 and 1997 are quite large. However, as only 20% of the seed collected germinated in the initial tests further collections should be made, particularly from other populations. At this time cuttings will also be obtained to enhance the living collection at the BGPA.

Action: Collect seed and cutting material
Responsibility: DCLM (TFSC, Albany Work Centre) through the ADTFRT
Cost: $5,000 per year

5. Monitoring

Annual monitoring of factors such as habitat degradation (including weed invasion and plant diseases such as Phytophthora cinnamomi), population stability (expansion or decline), pollination activity, seed production, recruitment and longevity is essential. Herbivores are also having a minor impact on some populations of Andersonia axilliflora and monitoring is needed in order to assess if action will be required in the future.

Action: Monitor populations
Responsibility: DCLM (Albany Work Centre) through the ADTFRT
Cost: $1,600 per year

6. Surveys

Further surveys by Departmental staff and community volunteers will be conducted during flowering period of the species (October to November) to attempt to find additional populations.

Action: Conduct further surveys
Responsibility: DCLM (Albany Work Centre) through the ADTFRT
Cost: $2,500 per year in the first, third and fifth years

7. Biology and ecology

Improved knowledge of the biology and ecology of Andersonia axilliflora will provide a better scientific basis for its management in the wild. An understanding of the following is particularly necessary for effective management:

Action: Obtain biological and ecological information
Responsibility: DCLM (Science Division, Albany Work Centre) through the ADTFRT
Cost: $14,200 per year in the second, third and fourth years

8. Community awareness

Bushwalkers, researchers and other visitors may inadvertently damage plants of Andersonia axilliflora that are close to the Ridge track through trampling or the introduction of disease. This may be minimized by providing all visitors with information on the need to protect the habitat. A review of the 'code of conduct' for backpacking in the Stirling Range National Park is provided in the IRP for the Stirling Range Montane Heath and Thicket Community.

It is important that biodiversity conservation and the need for the long-term protection of wild populations of Andersonia axilliflora be promoted to the community through appropriate media. Formal links with local naturalist groups and interested individuals will also be encouraged. An information sheet, which includes a description of the plant, its habitat type, threats and management actions will be produced.

Action: Promote community awareness
Responsibility: DCLM (Albany Work Centre) through the ADTFRT
Cost: $1,000 in the first year and $400 in subsequent years

9. Review this IRP and revise it or prepare a full Recovery Plan if necessary

If the taxon is still ranked as Critically Endangered at the end of the fourth year of the five-year term of this Interim Recovery Plan the need to rewrite this IRP or to replace it with a full Recovery Plan (RP) will be determined.

Action: Review this IRP and revise it or prepare a full Recovery Plan if necessary
Responsibility: DCLM (WATSCU, Albany Work Centre) through the ADTFRT
Cost: $20,300 in the fifth year (if full a Recovery Plan is required)

Cover page of the Giant Andersonia (Andersonia axilliflora) Interim Recovery Plan

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