Threatened Species and threatened ecological communities
Advice to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) on Amendments to the list of Threatened Species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
Dirce aesiodora (Pencil Pine Moth).
Dirce aesiodora (Pencil Pine Moth) is known to occur only in Tasmania, in high altitude alpine and sub-alpine forests above 960m wherever the endemic pencil pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides) occurs. The Pencil Pine Moth was believed to occur at 4 sites in Tasmania until a survey conducted in 1998 more than tripled the known records/localities for this species and greatly expanded the known species distribution.
It is considered that the extent of occurrence of the Pencil Pine Moth is closely related to the distribution of the pencil pine, the moths only food plant. It is therefore likely that the Pencil Pine Moth is found throughout the range of the pencil pine, and at most localities where the pencil pine occurs. The extent of occurrence of the Pencil Pine Moth is estimated to be about 3600km2 and the area of occupancy, that is, the area of suitable habitat containing the pencil pine is estimated at 90km2. The population size of this species is currently unknown.
The species is not listed under the EPBC Act and was previously listed as vulnerable under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 but has recently been removed from this list.
TSSC judges the species to be not eligible for listing under the EPBC Act. The justification against the criteria is as follows:
There is no evidence against this criterion.
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
The Pencil Pine Moth was first collected in 1917 at Cradle Mountain and for many years was known to occur at 4 sites in Tasmania; Cradle Mountain, Mt Doris, Lake Ada and parts of Mt Field National Park. Surveys for this species, undertaken in 1998, more than tripled the known records/localities for this species. The Pencil Pine Moth is now known to occur at several locations in Southwest National Park, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Central Plateau Conservation Area and Protected Area, Mt Field National Park and Wentworth Hills Forest Reserve. The population size of this species is currently unknown.
Pencil Pine Moths are associated with high altitude alpine and sub-alpine forests above 960m wherever the endemic conifer pencil pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides) occurs. The pencil pine is the moths only food source and the Pencil Pine Moth is therefore restricted to the distribution and occurrence of the pencil pine. According to the 1998 survey, it is likely that the moth is found throughout the range of the pencil pine and at most localities where the pencil pine occurs. The extent of occurrence of the Pencil Pine Moth is estimated to be about 3,600km2 and of this only 90km2 is suitable habitat containing the pencil pine. These figures are based on estimates of the area of pencil pine, mapping of pencil pine communities and known site records of the Pencil Pine Moth.
The major threat to the Pencil Pine Moth is its dependence on one tree, the pencil pine, for larval food. Loss of the food plant would result in the extinction of the moth. Around 40% of pencil pine rainforest in Tasmania has been destroyed by fire and will never regenerate. However, this can be considered an unusual occurrence as rainforest tree species are rarely affected by fires. In addition, the pencil pine is well represented within the Tasmanian reserve system and all pencil pine rainforest and over 90% of remaining Arthrotaxis cupressoides - Nothofagus gunnii rainforest is reserved, most within the World Heritage Area.
Another threat to the pencil pine is a cold tolerant Phytophthora related disease which has recently been discovered on pencil pines in the Pine Lake region of the Central Plateau of Cradle Mountain and has killed stands of pencil pines. However, a 92,000ha area has been quarantined to avoid further spread of the disease.
The geographic distribution of the Pencil Pine Moth is restricted to the high altitude montane habitats above 960m in Tasmania. There is evidence that the current known areas in which the species occur are restricted, that is, the extent of occurrence is 3,600km2 and area of occupancy is 90km2. However, the known potential habitat for this species is protected in numerous National Parks, most within World Heritage Areas and while broad threats to this habitat have been identified, that is, fire and disease, no direct threats to the Pencil Pine Moth's survival have been identified.
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
There is no evidence available against this criterion.
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
There is no evidence available against this criterion.
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
There is no evidence available against this criterion.
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
The population size of this species is currently unknown. Surveys of suitable habitat in areas where it is thought likely to occur indicate that the species has a restricted distribution to high altitude montane habitats above 960m. The geographic distribution of the Pencil Pine Moth is limited to Tasmania and the current known areas in which the species occur are restricted, that is, the extent of occurrence is 3,600km2 and area of occupancy is 90km2. The moth is dependant on one tree, the pencil pine, for survival. The known potential habitat for this species is protected in National Parks, most in World Heritage Areas and while broad threats to the species habitat, that is, fire and disease, have been identified, no direct threats to the species survival have been identified.
The species is not eligible for listing.
TSSC recommends that the species Dirce aesiodora (Pencil Pine Moth)is not eligible for inclusion in the list referred to in section 178 of the EPBC Act: