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)
Nothomyrmecia macrops (Dinosaur Ant, Fossil Ant).
Nothomyrmecia macrops (Dinosaur Ant) was first discovered near Esperance, Western Australia in 1931 but there is doubt surrounding the validity of the original collection, due to poor labelling of the initial specimens. The Dinosaur Ant has not been found again in Western Australia despite numerous concentrated surveys for this species around the Esperance, Norseman and Balladonia areas of Western Australia. The species was not recorded again until it was rediscovered near Poochera on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia in 1977.
The Dinosaur Ant is now known to occur at 18 locations along the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. The species is known to occupy 'old growth' mallee woodland dominated by Eucalyptus oleosa, Eucalyptus brachycalyx and Eucalyptus gracilis. There is little information on the number and size of individual populations or their rates of change.
The species is not listed under the EPBC Act and is not protected under South Australian legislation. However, the species is listed as Protected Fauna under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.
TSSC judges the species not eligible for listing under the EPBC Act. The justification against the criteria is as follows:
Criterion 1 - Decline in numbers
There is no evidence available against this criterion.
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
Criterion 2 - Geographic distribution
The Dinosaur Ant is known to occur at 18 locations along the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. The location at Poochera, where the Dinosaur Ant was first found in South Australia, was bulldozed and burnt during the installation of an underground telephone line and the species is no longer there. However, the ant was found at a nearby site which has been fenced and protected by the landowner. A four year study of the Dinosaur Ant has been undertaken in this fenced area and 80 colonies have been mapped. Colony size was found to be small, ranging from 30 to 100 individuals.
In 1995, 74 locations were surveyed for the Dinosaur Ant between Lake Gilles and Nundroo along the Eyre Peninsula, a distance of around 400km. The Dinosaur Ant was found at 17 of these locations in addition to the fenced area at Poochera. It is possible that if a more extensive survey was carried out more locations of this species would be found. Two of the 17 locations at which the species was found are in conservation areas, the Lake Gilles Conservation Park and the Chadinga Conservation Reserve. The remainder of the sites are on private land and roadsides.
The Dinosaur Ant has not been found again in Western Australia since its original discovery, despite numerous concentrated surveys around the Esperance, Norseman and Balladonia areas of Western Australia.
The Dinosaur Ant is known to occupy 'old growth' mallee woodland dominated by Eucalyptus oleosa, Eucalyptus brachycalyx and Eucalyptus gracilis. If this species is associated with 'old growth' mallee woodland, this would suggest potential for wider distribution. The area of occupancy of the species is not clearly known. It has been reported in the literature that the species could be widespread in areas of mallee vegetation across southern Australia.
Threats to the species may include fragmentation of its habitat by wheat fields, roads, railway lines and other similar developments. Remnant roadside mallee vegetation represents a significant proportion of the species remaining potential habitat. While the South Australian Native Vegetation Act 1991 provides some protection for mallee vegetation, threats include incremental clearance and weed invasion. However, it is not clear that any of these activities are having a direct impact on colonies of the Dinosaur Ant.
The full geographical distribution of this species has not been determined and it is not clear how widespread the species is. The population figures are not clear nor is it certain whether the threats are impacting on the species.
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
Criterion 3 - Population size and decline in numbers or distribution
There is no evidence available against this criterion.
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
Criterion 4 - Population size
There is no evidence available against this criterion.
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
Criterion 5 - Probability of extinction in the wild
There is no evidence available against this criterion
Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.
There is little information on the number and size of individual populations or their rates of change. Although surveys have been conducted in some areas of suitable habitat in both Western Australia and South Australia where it is thought likely to occur, the full geographical distribution of this species has not been determined. It is not clear how widespread the species is and it is not certain whether any threats are impacting on the species. The species is therefore not eligible for listing under the EPBC Act.
TSSC recommends that the species Nothomyrmecia macrops (Dinosaur Ant, Fossil Ant)is not eligible for inclusion in the list referred to in section 178 of the EPBC Act: