Publications
Emma Holland, Andrew Brown and Kim Kershaw
Department of Conservation and Land Management
Western Australian Threatened Species and Communities Unit, June 1999
Interim Recovery Plans (IRPs) are developed within the framework laid down in Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) Policy Statements Nos. 44 and 50.
IRPs outline the recovery actions that are required to urgently address those threatening processes most affecting the ongoing survival of threatened taxa or ecological communities, and begin the recovery process.
CALM is committed to ensuring that Critically Endangered taxa are conserved through the preparation and implementation of Recovery Plans or Interim Recovery Plans and by ensuring that conservation action commences as soon as possible and always within one year of endorsement of that rank by the Minister.
This Interim Recovery Plan will operate from June 1999 to May 2002 but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced. It is intended that, unless the taxon is no longer ranked as Critically Endangered, this IRP will be replaced by a full Recovery Plan after three years.
This IRP was approved by the Director of Nature Conservation on 1 September 1999. The provision of funds identified in this Interim Recovery Plan is dependent on budgetary and other constraints affecting CALM, as well as the need to address other priorities.
Information in this IRP was accurate at June 1999.
Scientific Name:Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms
Common Name:Dwarf Spider Orchid
Family:Orchidaceae
Flowering Period:August-mid September
CALM Region:South Coast and Central Forest
CALM District:Albany and Mornington
Shire:Jerramungup, Gnowangerup and West Arthur
Recovery Team:Albany District and Central Forest Region Threatened Flora Recovery Teams (ADTFRT, CFRTFRT)
Illustrations and/or further information: Brown, A., Thomson-Dans, C. and Marchant, N. (Eds). (1998). Western Australia's Threatened Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia; Hoffman, N. and Brown, A. (1992) Orchids of South West Australia. 2nd Edition. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands; Robinson C.J. and Coates D.J. (1995). Declared Rare and Poorly Known Flora in the Albany District. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
Current status: Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms was Declared as Rare Flora in March 1992 and ranked as Critically Endangered in September 1995. It currently meets World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List Criteria C2a and B1+2c-e (IUCN 1994). The main threats are small population sizes, severe fragmentation, limited habitat and a continuing decline in quality of habitat, number of subpopulations and mature individuals. The subspecies is known from seven populations over a range of approximately 190 km between Boyup Brook and Boxwood Hills.
Habitat requirements: Habitat varies over the range of the subspecies and includes Eucalyptus wandoo over Allocasuarina huegeliana, Eucalyptus rudis over Acacia acuminata, Xanthorrhoea preissii and Macrozamia riedlei, Eucalyptus wandoo over E. tetragona and Eucalyptus occidentalis over Acacia acuminata. Soils vary from sandy clays to red loam over granite.
Existing Recovery Actions: The following recovery actions have been or are currently being implemented -
IRP Objective: The objective of this Interim Recovery Plan is to abate identified threats and maintain viable in situ populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the subspecies in the wild.
Recovery criteria
Criterion for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased.
Criterion for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased.
Recovery actions
|
1. Implement weed control |
6. Promote awareness |
|
2. Develop a fire management strategy |
7. Obtain biological and ecological information |
|
3. Collect seed |
8. Relocate the information bay at population 3 |
|
4. Conduct further surveys |
9. Develop a translocation proposal |
|
5. Monitor populations |
10. Write a full Recovery Plan |
Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms was first found at Gnowangerup in September 1914 by Miss Bryce MacIntyre, after whom the species is named. It was reported to be growing in sandy soil near the bank of a salt pool. The species was described by R. S. Rogers in 1914, a copy of which is included under the heading Taxonomic description.
Caladenia bryceana is found in two widely separated areas (Kalbarri and Boyup Brook-Boxwood Hill) approximately 700 km apart. The orchid appears to be undergoing rapid evolution in these two areas and two subspecies are now recognised. C. bryceana subsp. cracens ms is found in the Kalbarri region and differs from C. bryceana subsp. bryceana in its larger leaf, slightly smaller flowers, taller, less globular labellum calli, and petals and lateral sepals that are curled at the margins.
The tiny size of Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms (one of the smallest spider orchids known in WA) and its pale green and apricot colour make it extremely difficult to see. The leaf is 4-6 cm long, broadly lanceolate and semi-prostrate, and the flowering stem rarely exceeds 5 cm high. The flowers are borne singly (rarely two) on erect stems and are only about 1-1.5 cm across. The petals, labellum and sepals are usually green, occasionally apricot in colour. A distinctive band of glossy, dark globular calli run down the centre of the labellum. The two yellow glands that are commonly found at the base of the column in most 'spider' caladenias are not present in C. bryceana subsp. bryceana.
Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms is known from five populations over a range of approximately 190 km between Boyup Brook and Boxwood Hills. Surveys of these populations in the past have been ad hoc and the number of plants recorded within each has fluctuated over the years. The greatest number of plants recorded for any single population was 500+. This was for population 4 in 1992, but only 30 were seen in 1997.
Habitat varies over the subspecies range. Population 1 at Boxwood Hill grows in open woodland of Eucalyptus wandoo and Allocasuarina huegeliana, while population 2 at Wild Horse Swamp grows in open woodland of E. rudis over Acacia acuminata, Xanthorrhoea preissii and Macrozamia riedlei and population 3 in the Stirling Range National Park grows in an open woodland of E. wandoo with E. tetragona over very open low shrubs and grasses. Populations 4 and 5 at Toompup grow in open woodland of E. occidentalis over A. acuminata and low shrubs, sedges and herbs. The soils are sandy clays to red loam over granite.
The genus Caladenia (spider orchids, fairy orchids) is comprised of approximately 160 species, distributed widely over southern Australia and extending to New Zealand, New Caledonia and Java (Hoffman and Brown 1992). The genus appears to be rapidly speciating in parts of Australia and this is illustrated in particular by the presence of many species complexes in the south-west of Western Australia. Pollination studies of orchids show that intimate relationships exist between the flowers of some species of spider orchid and species of male thynnid wasp which attempt copulation with the labellum of the flower and in doing so remove or deposit pollinia (Stoutamire 1975).
Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms belongs to a section of Caladenia that includes species such as C. doutchiae, C. roei, C. incrassata ms, C. cristata, C. voigtii ms and C. brevisura ms. It is readily distinguished from these by its extremely small flower size and generally more south-western range of distribution. Like these species it is pollinated by male thynnid wasps.
The response Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms to summer fire (December-early May) is unknown, but, as it is so small and mostly occurs near cleared farmland, summer fire is likely to be followed by loss of habitat due to invasive weeds (Robinson and Coates, 1995). It is also likely that the orchid would be killed by fire during its active growing period (late May-early November).
Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms was Declared as Rare Flora in March 1992 and ranked as Critically Endangered in September 1995. It currently meets World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List Criteria C2a and B1+2c-e (IUCN 1994). The main threats are small population sizes, severe fragmentation, limited habitat and a continuing decline in quality of habitat, number of subpopulations and mature individuals. Other threats include inappropriate fire, weed invasion, grazing by rabbits and trampling. The wide scale clearing for agriculture throughout the southern Wheatbelt has probably resulted in the loss of much of its former habitat.
|
Pop. No. & Location |
Land Status |
Year/No. plants |
Condition |
Threats |
|
1A. Boxwood Hill |
Private |
1979 30 |
Moderate |
Inappropriate fire, weeds |
|
1B. Boxwood Hill |
Class C Reserve 818 |
1979 5 |
Moderate |
Inappropriate fire, weeds |
|
1C. Boxwood Hill |
Private |
1983 0 |
Cleared |
Cleared |
|
1D. Boxwood Hill |
Class A Nature Reserve 28687 |
1984 0 |
Moderate |
Inappropriate fire, weeds |
|
1E. Boxwood Hill |
Private |
1984 12 |
Moderate |
Grazing, inappropriate fire weeds, |
|
1F. Boxwood Hill |
DOLA Location 120 |
1991 0 |
Moderate |
Inappropriate fire, weeds |
|
1G. Boxwood Hill |
Class C Reserve 33257 |
1991 0 |
Moderate |
Inappropriate fire, weeds |
|
2. SW of Moodiarrup |
Class A Nature Reserve 1740 |
1979 30 1998 25 |
Poor |
Weeds, rabbits, inappropriate fire |
|
3A. Stirling Range |
National Park 14792 |
1985 30 1998 5 |
Good |
Trampling, inappropriate fire |
|
3B. Stirling Range |
National Park 14792 |
1998 0 |
? |
Trampling, inappropriate fire |
|
3C. Stirling Range |
National Park 14792 |
1989 15 1998 0 |
Good |
Trampling, inappropriate fire |
|
3D. Stirling Range |
National Park 14792 |
1993 8 1998 0 |
Good |
Trampling, inappropriate fire |
|
3E. Stirling Range |
National Park 14792 |
1993 1 1998 0 |
Good |
Trampling, inappropriate fire |
|
4. SW of Ongerup |
Private |
1992 500 1997 30 |
Good |
Weeds, inappropriate fire |
|
5. SW of Ongerup |
Class A Nature Reserve 15756 |
1992 64 1997 23 |
Good |
Inappropriate fire |
|
6. Peniup Creek |
Road Reserve |
1998 4 |
Good |
Inappropriate fire |
|
7. Pallinup River |
Recreation & Parklands Reserve |
1997 50+ |
Good |
Inappropriate fire, weeds |
The objective of this Interim Recovery Plan is to abate identified threats and maintain viable in situ populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the species in the wild.
Criterion for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased.
Criterion for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased.
The landowners of properties containing subpopulations 1c and 1e, and population 4 have been notified of the presence of Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms.
A rabbit proof fence has recently been erected around population 2 (Wild Horse Swamp) to protect Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms and its habitat.
The Department of Land Administration (DOLA) has been notified of the presence of subpopulation 1b on land managed by them. CALM is currently discussing with DOLA the possibility of including the site into adjoining Class A nature reserve.
A leaflet drop to all landowners in the area of known Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms populations has been undertaken.
The Threatened Flora Recovery Teams for CALM's Albany District and Central Forest Region will oversee the implementation of this IRP and report annually to CALM's Corporative Executive.
Where populations occur on lands other than those managed by CALM, permission has been or will be sought from the appropriate land managers prior to recovery actions being undertaken.
Habitat of subpopulations 1a and 1g at Boxwood Hill, and population 2 at Wild Horse Swamp is weed infested. A weed control program will involve:
Action:Implement weed control for subpopulations 1a, 1g and population 2
Responsibility:CALM (Albany and Mornington Districts, Science and Information Division (SID)) through the ADTFRT, CFRTFRT
Cost:$950 p.a.
It is likely that Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana msis not harmed by fire between December and April but fires during the growing, flowering and seeding phase (July-October) may affect the long term survival of the orchid. Fires also promote the introduction and proliferation of weed species. Fire management for population 3 is covered in the Stirling Range and Porongurup National Parks Draft Management Plan.
Action:Develop a fire management strategy
Responsibility:CALM (Albany and Mornington Districts) through the ADTFRT, CFRTFRT, relevant authorities and land managers
Cost:$900 in year 1.
Preservation of germplasm is essential to guard against extinction if wild populations are lost. Seed collections are needed to propagate plants for translocations (see 9).
Action:Collect seed
Responsibility:CALM (Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC), Albany and Mornington Districts) through the ADTFRT, CFRTFRT, Kings Park and Botanic Garden (KPBG)
Cost:$1,600 in year 1.
Further surveys supervised by CALM staff, and with the assistance of West Australian Native Orchid Study and Conservation Group, wildflower societies and naturalist clubs, will be conducted for Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms during its flowering period (August to mid September).
Action:Conduct further surveys
Responsibility:CALM (Albany and Mornington Districts) through the ADTFRT, CFRTFRT
Cost:$1,100 p.a.
Monitoring of factors such as weed encroachment, habitat degradation, population stability (expanding or declining), pollination activity, seed production, recruitment and longevity is essential.
Action:Monitor populations
Responsibility:CALM (Albany and Mornington Districts) through the ADTFRT, CFRTFRT
Cost:$1,100 p.a.
The importance of biodiversity conservation and the protection of Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms will be promoted to the public. This will be achieved through an information campaign using the local print and electronic media and by setting up poster displays. This is especially important as most populations of the species are small and many are highly threatened, and an increased awareness may result in the discovery of others.
An information sheet, which includes a description of the plant, its habitat type, threats and management actions has been produced. The preparation of a poster illustrating all Critically Endangered flora species in the District is recommended. Formal links with local naturalist groups and interested individuals will be encouraged.
Action:Promote awareness
Responsibility:CALM (Albany and Mornington Districts, WATSCU, Corporate Relations Division) through the ADTFRT, CFRTFRT
Cost:$500 in year 1 and $2,100 in year 2.
Research designed to increase an understanding of the biology of the species will provide a scientific base for management of Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms in the wild. Research will include:
Action:Obtain biological and ecological information
Responsibility:CALM (SID, Albany and Mornington Districts) through the ADTFRT, CFRTFRT
Cost:$15,000 p.a.
Population 3 is adjacent to an information bay which should be moved to reduce the chance of inadvertent picking and trampling of the orchid by visitors. Surveys should be conducted for Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana ms in habitat adjacent to population 3 before the relocation of the information bay.
Action:Relocate the information bay
Responsibility:CALM (Albany District) through the ADTFRT
Cost:$1,000 in year 1.
Background information on the translocation of threatened animals and plants in the wild is provided in CALM Policy Statement No 29 Translocation of Threatened Flora and Fauna. Translocation is considered as desirable for the conservation of a species if populations are in rapid decline. Although translocations are generally undertaken under full Recovery Plans it is possible to develop a translocation proposal, search for suitable translocation sites and start growing plants within the timeframe of an IRP. All translocation proposals require endorsement by the Director of Nature Conservation.
Action:Develop a translocation proposal
Responsibility:CALM (Albany and Mornington Districts) through the ADTFRT, CFRTFRT
Cost:$4,000 in year 3.
At the end of the three-year term of this Interim Recovery Plan, the need for further recovery will be assessed. If the species is still ranked Critically Endangered a full Recovery Plan will be prepared with the benefit of knowledge gained over the period of this Interim Recovery Plan.
Action:Write a full Recovery Plan
Responsibility:CALM (Albany and Mornington Districts) through the ADTFRT, CFRTFRT
Cost:$17,500 in year 3.
This Interim Recovery Plan will operate from June 1999 to May 2001 but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced. It is intended that, unless the taxon is longer ranked as Critically Endangered, this IRP will be replaced by a full Recovery Plan after three years.
The following people have provided assistance and advice in the preparation of this Interim Recovery Plan:
Ellen HickmanFormer Conservation Officer, CALM Albany District
Val EnglishEcologist CALM WATSCU
Wendy and Jody CusackFlora volunteers, Moodiarrup
We would like to thank the staff of the W.A. Herbarium for providing access to Herbarium databases and specimen information, and CALM's Wildlife Branch for their extensive assistance.
Brown, A., Thomson-Dans, C. and Marchant, N. (Eds). (1998). Western Australia's Threatened Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
CALM (1992). Policy Statement No. 44 Wildlife Management Programs Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
CALM (1994). Policy Statement No. 50 Setting Priorities for the Conservation of Western Australia's Threatened Flora and Fauna. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
CALM (1995). Policy Statement No. 29 Translocation of Threatened Flora and Fauna Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
CALM (1997) Stirling Range and Porongurup National Parks Draft Management Plan. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
Hoffman, N. and Brown, A. (1992) Orchids of South West Australia. 2nd Edition. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands.
Hopper, S.D., van Leeuwen, S., Brown, A.P. and Patrick, S.J. (1990) Western Australia's Endangered Flora. Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
Leigh, J., Boden, R. and Briggs, J. (1984) Extinct and Endangered Plants of Australia The Macmillan Company of Australia, p 282.
Panetta, F.D. and Hopkins, A.J.M. (1991). Weeds in Corridors: Invasion and Management. Pp 341-351 in Nature Conservation 2 The Role of Corridors ed by D.A. Saunders and R.J. Hobbs. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty Limited, Chipping Norton, NSW.
Robinson C.J. and Coates D.J. (1995). Declared Rare and Poorly Known Flora in the Albany District. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
Rogers R.S. (1914) Additions to Australian Orchidaceous Plants. Transactions of the Royal Society South Australia, 34, 359.
Stoutamire, W.P. (1975). Australian Terrestrial Orchids, Thynnid Wasps and Pseudocopulation. American Orchid Society Bulletin, 43:13-18.
World Conservation Union (1994). IUCN red list categories prepared by the IUCN Species Survival Commission, as approved by the 40th meeting of the IUCN Council. Gland. Switzerland.
Differs from Caladenia bryceana subsp. cracens in its larger, more colourful flowers with petals and lateral sepals flattened at the margins and spreading just below the horizontal when fully open; its column with prominently rounded lobes; its labellum with dark-purplish broadly globular calli present in the middle of the lamina; its somewhat smaller leaf; its southern distribution between Boyup Brook and Boxwood Hills; and its later flowering period.