Threatened species & ecological communities

Dwarf Spider Orchid (Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana) recovery plan

Government of Western Australia, Department of Environment and Conservation 2009

Download

Summary

The criteria for success in the previous plan (the number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased) has been met, as follows:
The number of individuals has increased from approximately 184 to over 900, and the number of populations has increased from 7 to 13. In 2003, it was recommended that the status of Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana be changed from Critically Endangered to Endangered.

Actions carried out in the previous plan include:

Other recovery actions included in the previous plan are ongoing and are included in this revised plan.

New recovery actions included in this plan are:

Current status: Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana was declared as Rare Flora under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 in March 1992 and is currently ranked as Endangered under World Conservation Union (IUCN 2001) Red List criteria C2a(i). There are 13 populations and over 900 plants known. The main threats are weed invasion, fauna and inappropriate fire regimes. The subspecies is listed as Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment and Biodiversity Protection Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Description: The petals, labellum (lip) and sepals are usually green but occasionally apricot. A distinctive band of glossy, dark globular calli (glands) runs down the centre of the labellum. The petals and sepals are not much larger than the column. The flower stem and leaf rarely exceed 5 cm.

Habitat requirements: Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana grows in open woodland of Wandoo, Yate, Flooded Gum or Sheoak with a sparse associate of low shrubs, sedges and herbs. Soils are sandy clays to red loam over granite. Currently, the subspecies is known from the Boyup Brook area, eastwards to Boxwood Hill. Associated species include Allocasuarina huegeliana, Eucalyptus occidentalis, E. wandoo, Acacia dictyoneura, Hakea lissocarpha, Boronia scabra, Neurachne alopecuroidea, Lagenifera huegellii, Caladenia flava and Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia.

Habitat critical to the survival of the subspecies, and important populations: The habitat critical to the survival of Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana comprises the area of occupancy of the known populations; similar habitat surrounding known populations; remnant vegetation that links populations; and additional nearby occurrences of similar habitat that do not currently contain the subspecies but may have done so in the past and may be suitable for translocations. Given that the taxon is listed as Endangered it is considered that all populations are important populations.

Benefits to other species/ecological communities: Five Declared Rare and three Priority flora, and five threatened and seven Priority fauna species occur in the vicinity of Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana populations. Recovery actions implemented to improve the quality or security of the habitat of the habitat of C. bryceana subsp. bryceana will benefit these species and reciprocally, recovery actions put in place for these species will benefit C. bryceana subsp. bryceana.

International obligations: This plan is fully consistent with the aims and recommendations of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The subspecies is listed under the United Nations Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). However, it is not listed under any other specific international treaty and this recovery plan does not affect Australia’s obligations under those international agreements.

Role and interests of Indigenous people: According to the Department of Indigenous Affairs Aboriginal Heritage Sites Register, some forty-six registered sites occur in close proximity to Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana populations. The involvement of the Indigenous community is currently being sought to determine whether there are any issues or interests identified in the Plan. If no role is identified for Indigenous communities in the recovery of this subspecies, opportunities may exist through cultural interpretation and awareness of the subspecies.

The advice of the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC) and Department of Indigenous Affairs is being sought to assist in the identification of potential Indigenous management responsibilities for land occupied by threatened species, or groups with a cultural connection to land that is important for the subspecies' conservation.

Continued liaison between DEC and the Indigenous community will identify areas in which collaboration will assist implementation of recovery actions.

Social and economic impacts: The implementation of this recovery plan has the potential to have some minimal social and economic impact as some subpopulations are located on private property, Shire Reserves, a Water Corporation Reserve, a Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) Reserve and a Main Roads Department Reserve, as well as DEC-managed land. However, recovery actions refer to continued negotiations between stakeholders with regard to these areas.

Affected interests: Seven populations and twelve subpopulations occur on land managed by government departments including local government, DEC, Main Roads WA and DPI. One population and seven subpopulations occur on private property and three subpopulations in a reserve managed by the Water Corporation.

Evaluation of the plan’s performance: The DEC will evaluate the performance of this recovery plan in conjunction with the Albany and Wellington Districts Threatened Flora Recovery Teams. In addition to annual reporting on progress and evaluation against the criteria for success and failure, the plan will be reviewed following five years of implementation.

Completed recovery actions

  1. All land managers have been notified of the location and threatened status of the subspecies.
  2. A rabbit-proof fence was erected around Populations 2 to protect the subspecies and its habitat.
  3. A leaflet drop to all landowners within the area of the subspecies was undertaken.
  4. An information sheet on the subspecies was produced and distributed.
  5. A newspaper article on the subspecies was published in the Albany Extra.
  6. Survey has located new populations.

Ongoing and future recovery actions

  1. Staff and volunteers from the DEC Albany and Collie Work Centres monitor populations.
  2. A grant application has been recently submitted for further research on seven orchid species including Caladenia bryceana subsp. bryceana and is currently pending approval.

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 subspecies in the wild.

Criteria for success: The number of populations and individuals within populations remains stable or increases over the five years of the plan.

Criteria for failure: The number of populations or the number of individuals within populations decreases over the five years of the plan.

Recovery actions

  1. Coordinate recovery actions.
  2. Monitor populations.
  3. Liaise with stakeholders.
  4. Minimise recreational impacts.
  5. Implement weed control.
  6. Collect seed.
  7. Obtain biological and ecological information.
  8. Investigate the methodology for future translocation(s).
  9. Conduct further surveys.
  10. Promote awareness.
  11. Map habitat critical to the survival of the subspecies.
  12. Review the recovery plan and assess the need for further recovery actions.
Cover page of recovery plan

Before you download

Some documents are available as PDF files. You will need a PDF reader to view PDF files.
List of PDF readers 

If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.

Key

   Links to another web site
   Opens a pop-up window