Western Australia's Threatened Flora
... Fl.: p. 78 (1998) Illustration. Brown et al. (1998), p. 78. ...
... Illustration. Brown et al. (1998), p. 136. ...
... Illustration. Brown et al. (1998), p. 79. ...
Keighery, G.J. Six new and rare species of Darwinia (Myrtaceae) from Western Australia. Nuytsia 19(1): 37-52 (2009). Darwinia chapmaniana Keighery, D. foetida Keighery, D. ferricola Keighery, D. nubigena Keighery, D. polychroma Keighery and D. whicherensis Keighery are newly described. All of these species are endemic in south-west Western Australia and are considered endangered under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.
... Drakaea elastica is endemic to the Swan Coastal Plain in south-western Western Australia (Brown, CRYPTIC VARIATION IN A RARE ORCHID 125 Thomson-Dans & Marchant, 1998) and is listed as critically endangered under the Australian Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC). The species persists at approximately 42 locations (1–1500 plants), comprising seven major populations (Department of Environment and Conservation, 2008). ...
... The main populations are located in two regions, c. 110 km apart, with four near the town of Mandurah [Carrabungup (Ca), Lakes Road (LR), Paganoni (Pa) and Serpentine River (SR)]; and three near the town of Capel [Capel (C), Lindburg Road (Li) and south Capel (SC)] (Fig. 1). Although most major D. elastica populations are situated in conservation reserves, continued land clearing still threatens the species by reducing and fragmenting suitable habitat (Brown et al., 1998; Department of Environment and Conservation, 2008). Across its range D. elastica forms scattered populations in areas of open, grey sandy soil and fine leaf litter in mixed stands of Kunzea glabrescens Toelken and banksia woodlandFigure 1. A, location of all known populations of Drakaea elastica and place names referred to in the text. ...
... (Brown et al., 1998; Department of Environment and Conservation, 2008; Menz, 2013 ), leading to a naturally patchy distribution (Phillips et al., 2011a). All Drakaea spp. ...
Species with specialized ecological interactions present significant conservation challenges. In plants that attract pollinators with pollinator-specific chemical signals, geographical variation in pollinator species may indicate the presence of cryptic plant taxa. We investigated this phenomenon in the rare sexually deceptive orchid Drakaea elastica using a molecular phylogenetic analysis to resolve pollinator species boundaries, pollinator choice experiments and a population genetic study of the orchid. Pollinator choice experiments demonstrated the existence of two ecotypes within D. elastica, each attracting their own related but phylogenetically distinct pollinator species. Despite the presence of ecotypes, population genetic differentiation was low across populations at six microsatellite loci (FST = 0.026). However, Bayesian STRUCTURE analysis revealed two genetic clusters, broadly congruent with the ecotype distributions. These ecotypes may represent adaptation to regional variation in pollinator availability and perhaps the early stages of speciation, with pronounced morphological and genetic differences yet to evolve. Resolution of the taxonomic status of the D. elastica ecotypes is required as this has implications for conservation efforts and allocation of management funding. Furthermore, any reintroduction programmes must incorporate knowledge of ecotype distribution and pollinator availability to ensure reproductive success in restored populations. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, ●●, ●●–●●.
... Tetratheca is widespread across the southern half of the continent and currently contains 42 described species, 23 of which are restricted to Western Australia (Thompson 1976;Alford 1995;Western Australian Herbarium 1998;Butcher and Sage 2005). In both eastern and western Australia there are a few widespread species of Tetratheca and numerous restricted taxa, many of these appearing to be relicts of once far more widespread species (Thompson 1976;Brown et al. 1998). As a result of the large number of additional collections that have been made since the last revision of Tetratheca (Thompson 1976), it is evident that the number of species in this genus is much higher than is currently recorded, and that many of these new taxa are geographically restricted and may require conservation listing. ...
... Similarly, Alford (1995) suggests that the shared possession of two ovules per loculus by T. chapmanii and T. paynterae indicates that these two taxa may be closely related relictual species. However, the close resemblance between these taxa and T. aphylla also suggests possible convergent evolution in response to habitat, as all three species grow on steep slopes and in rock crevices of exposed, banded ironstone or sandstone massifs in semi-arid areas (Alford 1995;Brown et al. 1998), with T. chapmanii geographically isolated in the Carnarvon Range of the Murchison region and T. aphylla and T. paynterae restricted to single hills or small ranges in the Coolgardie region (Thackway and Cresswell 1995;Brown et al. 1998). ...
... Similarly, Alford (1995) suggests that the shared possession of two ovules per loculus by T. chapmanii and T. paynterae indicates that these two taxa may be closely related relictual species. However, the close resemblance between these taxa and T. aphylla also suggests possible convergent evolution in response to habitat, as all three species grow on steep slopes and in rock crevices of exposed, banded ironstone or sandstone massifs in semi-arid areas (Alford 1995;Brown et al. 1998), with T. chapmanii geographically isolated in the Carnarvon Range of the Murchison region and T. aphylla and T. paynterae restricted to single hills or small ranges in the Coolgardie region (Thackway and Cresswell 1995;Brown et al. 1998). ...
The relationships among rare 'leafless' species of Tetratheca Sm. occurring on banded ironstone ranges near Koolyanobbing, Western Australia, and allied, unclassified, populations from Eneabba, Newdegate and the Die Hardy Range have been assessed by molecular characters. These findings, in conjunction with morphological investigations, have identified a new species and two new subspecies from within the 'T. aphylla group' and these are formally described here. Tetratheca nephelioides R.Butcher, is geographically restricted to the Eneabba area and has close morphological affinity to T. aphylla F.Muell. Tetratheca aphylla subsp. megacarpa R.Butcher, is restricted to the Newdegate area, some 300 km south of the only known populations of T. aphylla subsp. aphylla in the Helena and Aurora Range. Tetratheca paynterae Alford subsp. cremnobata R.Butcher is restricted to the Die Hardy Range, c. 10 km north-east of the only known population of T. paynterae subsp. paynterae at 'Windarling'. All of these taxa are recognised as Declared Rare Flora. In the process of updating the existing key to 'leafless' species of Tetratheca to include these new taxa, two additional new species were identified from within collections of T. nuda Lindl. These are described here as T. angulata R.Butcher and T. applanata R.Butcher. Images and distribution maps for all taxa are provided.
... but are in urgent need of further survey.' (Brown et al. 1998). Such a classification equates to IUCN (2001) category 'DD'—data deficient. ...
... Western Australia (Fig. 13): confined to the Arrowsmith River–Eneabba–Jurien Bay region, growing either in deep sand in open areas beneath dense tall shrubland with scattered emergent banksias, or in shallow sand over laterite in heathland. Reference to a population in the Perth area (Brown et al. 1998) alludes to what we now regard as P. brockmanii. ...
... Although conspicuous the first year after fire, the species continues to flower for many years afterwards and therefore flowering is not fire dependent. Reference to flowering in January (Brown et al. 1998) alludes to what we now regard as P. brockmanii. ...
We uphold the generic rank of Paracaleana on the basis of its divergent pollination syndrome ( sexual deception of male thynnid wasps compared with pollination of Caleana by male sawflies), recent DNA sequence data demonstrating monophyly, and nomenclatural stability. Ten of the 13 species recognised herein are new, all endemic to the South-west Australian Floristic Region: Paracaleana alcockii, P. brockmanii, P. dixonii, P. gracilicordata, P. granitica, P. hortiorum, P. lyonsii, P. parvula, P. terminalis and P. triens. Although some of these taxa have subtle morphological differences, primarily of labellum morphology, evidence from other Australian orchid genera whose flowers sexually deceive wasp pollinators indicates that reproductive isolation is probable among close sister taxa in Paracaleana. Moreover, phenological, ecological and geographical differences help separate morphologically close sister taxa. P. disjuncta D. L. Jones is considered to extend from Victoria and South Australia west into the Southwest Australian Floristic Region, where James Drummond first collected the species, probably in 1838. Additional research is needed on pollinators, molecular phylogeny, possibly undescribed taxa within P. nigrita and on the few putative hybrids identified in the genus.
... Occurs on sandplains, sandy flats, sands overlying Typification. Neotypification is required since the holotype of O. acolytantha at B is presumed destroyed in the fire that followed a wartime bombing raid (Brown et al. 1998;Orchard 1999;Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem 2010) and no duplicate material has emerged to date. The neotype corresponds with the original description of the species and was collected close to the original locality. ...
... Prior to this current investigation PERTH had no collections identified as O. acolytantha. As the species was known from a single specimen (the type), the species has been listed as presumed extinct by both Western Australian and Federal authorities (Brown et al. 1998;Walter & Gillet 1998;Hopper et al. 1990;Craig & Coates 2001; Department of the Environment and Energy 2018). Despite five collections at either CANB or MEL being redetermined or confirmed as O. acolytantha within the past 40 years, neither typification nor reassessment of the conservation status of this species had been attempted before this current study. ...
Markey, A.S. By their fruit you will recognise them: species notes and typifications in Western Australian species of Opercularia (Rubiaceae: Anthosperminae). Nuytsia 29: 119-140 (2018). An examination of herbarium collections, type material and reference to original species descriptions has found that several species names of Opercularia Gaertn. have been misapplied in Western Australia. This nomenclatural confusion stems from a combination of missing types, a lack of reference to either types or correctly identified specimens, and no recent revisions of the genus. Previously presumed to be extinct, O. acolytantha Diels is neotypified and discussed here as an extant species endemic to the Mallee and Esperance bioregions of Western Australia. Opercularia hirsuta Benth. is found to be a far rarer species than previously thought, with no material matching the type collected since the 1860s. Opercularia nubicola A.S.Markey is described as a new species with affinities to O. aspera Gaertn. Opercularia rubioides Juss. is reduced to synonymy with O. aspera,which is excluded from Western Australia. Opercularia scabrida Schltdl. is also excluded from Western Australia. This paper provides updated notes, illustrations and a key to Western Australian species of Opercularia. Characteristics of the infructescence, fruits and seed are diagnostic for these species and are illustrated here for this purpose. © Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions 2018.
... Several threatened ecological communities and declared rare flora occur on the GGS (Valentine et al. 2009a). Interim Recovery Plans have been written for five of the ten declared rare flora that occur on the GGS (Brown et al. 1998; Evans et al. 2003). Known responses to fire of the ten species of declared rare flora are summarised in @BULLET Fire is considered detrimental if fire occurs between April/July to November (during vegetative and flowering stages). ...
... @BULLET Stack et al. (2000). @BULLET Evans et al. (2003@BULLET Brown et al. (1998) Eucalyptus argutifolia @BULLET Fire is considered to be detrimental if fire frequency is less than every 5-8 years (the species flowers 3-4 years after regenerating from rootstock). ...
... is known from two areas some 260 km apart: The Munglinup -Oldfield River area in the south-eastern Wheatbelt and the Corrigin -Babakin area in the Central Wheatbelt (Brown et al. 1998). In the Corrigin -Babakin area R. gardneri grows in association with Melaleuca scalena while in the Munglinup -Oldfield River area it grows with M. uncinata and M. hamata. ...
... John Trott discovered Rhizanthella gardneri on his farm near Corrigin on the 23rd of May 1928 when he uncovered a plant during ploughing. Richard Rogers described the species in August of the same year, naming it in honour of Charles Gardner, then the assistant to the Economic Botanist and Plant Pathologist in Department of Agriculture, and later (1929) Government Botanist and Curator of the State Herbarium (George 1980George /1981 Dixon et al. 1984 Dixon et al. /1990 Brown et al. 1998). Between 1928 and 1959 Rhizanthella gardneri was found six more times, on each occasion, by chance during ploughing of recently rolled and burnt bushland. ...
... In the SWAFR several granite endemics are among the rarest vascular plant species in the region. They are ranked as Critically Endangered and occur as single or several geographically disjunct populations (Hopper et al. 1997;Brown et al. 1998). Yet little is known about their biology and the reasons for their extreme restriction remain largely unexplored. ...
... (e.g. Banksia cuneata, Daviesia euphorbiodes, Brown et al. 1998). Unlike many other parts of the south-western Australian landscape, granite outcrops have been spared direct clearing because of their unsuitability for agriculture. ...
Verticordia staminosa C.Gardner & A.C.George subsp. staminosa is an extremely rare shrub occurring as an isolated population of similar to 1200 plants on a granite outcrop in the semi-arid agricultural region of Western Australia, separated from its closest relative V. staminosa subsp. cylindracea by 400 km. We aimed to determine a hierarchy of causes for explaining the extremely restricted distribution of subsp. staminosa, and to determine the genetic relationships among populations within both subspecies. We measured allozyme variation in all known populations of the two subspecies. There were exceptionally high levels of genetic divergence between subsp. staminosa and subsp. cylindracea, including an apparent duplication of the gene encoding phosphoglucomutase, leading to an additional gene in subsp. cylindracea. These findings combined with UPGMA analysis indicate a very long period of historical separation, perhaps originating in the early Pleistocene. Genetic variation was partitioned mostly between rather than within populations, with very low levels of genetic variation within populations of both subspecies. For subsp. staminosa we quantified seed production for three consecutive years and demography for five consecutive years. We used transition matrix models to describe the shrub's population dynamics and stochastic simulations to explicitly compare the effects of low rainfall and disturbance on population viability. Verticordia staminosa subsp. staminosa produces large numbers of seeds each year and has flower to fruit ratios greater than reported for related rare and common congeners. Seedling recruitment occurs in most years, with pulses in the wettest years. The mean finite population growth rate was 1.031. Elasticity analyses showed that population growth rate was more sensitive to stasis of established plants than to seedling recruitment. Population viability declined with lower rainfall and increased fire-related mortality of adult plants. Rarity in subsp. staminosa is best explained by evolutionary history and the interaction of climate change and disturbances such as fire that kill plants. Climatic fluctuations since the late Pliocene might have led to stochastic extinction episodes of populations on other granite outcrops, resulting in the currently restricted distribution. We discuss the implications of our findings for management of the species.
... Most WA orchids occur in the SWAFR, which has a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters, followed by 5–8 months of summer drought when most orchids aestivate as dormant tubers. Unfortunately, this region has sustained some of the highest levels of land clearing and fragmentation in Australia (Brown et al. 1998; Commonwealth of Australia 2002). The SWAFR is a living biological laboratory where it is possible to contrast closely related orchids that are common or rare, widespread or highly localised, have general or highly specific habitat requirements or have geographically disjunct populations. ...
... Unfortunately, disturbance or high fire frequency most often seems to result in the dominance of alien weeds at the expense of orchids and other native plants in most habitats in the SWAFR. In WA, major threats to orchids and other Declared Rare Flora include (i) habitat factors including altered hydrology, salinity and drought, (ii) various types of disturbance, such as land clearing or altered fire regimes and (iii) biotic factors, such as grazing by feral animals and competition by weeds (Brown et al. 1998; Coates and Atkins 2001; and other papers in this volume). Clark et al. (2004) found the habitat of the rare eastern Australian species Cryptostylis hunteriana was defined by climate, soils and vegetation types. ...
This review summarises scientific knowledge concerning the mycorrhizal associations, pollination, demographics, genetics and evolution of Australian terrestrial orchids relevant to conservation. The orchid family is highly diverse in Western Australia (WA), with over 400 recognised taxa of which 76 are Declared Rare or Priority Flora. Major threats to rare orchids in WA include habitat loss, salinity, feral animals and drought. These threats require science-based recovery actions resulting from collaborations between universities, government agencies and community groups. Fungal identification by DNA-based methods in combination with compatibility testing by germination assays has revealed a complex picture of orchid-fungus diversity and specificity. The majority of rare and common WA orchids studied have highly specific mycorrhizal associations with fungi in the Rhizoctonia alliance, but some associate with a wider diversity of fungi. These fungi may be a key factor influencing the distribution of orchids and their presence can be tested by orchid seed bait bioassays. These bioassays show that mycorrhizal fungi are concentrated in coarse organic matter that may be depleted in some habitats (e.g. by frequent fire). Mycorrhizal fungi also allow efficient propagation of terrestrial orchids for reintroduction into natural habitats and for bioassays to test habitat quality. Four categories of WA orchids are defined by the following pollination strategies: (i) nectar-producing flowers with diverse pollinators, (ii) non-rewarding flowers that mimic other plants, (iii) winter-flowering orchids that attract fungus-feeding insects and (iv) sexually deceptive orchids with relatively specific pollinators. An exceptionally high proportion of WA orchids have specific insect pollinators. Bioassays testing orchid-pollinator specificity can define habitats and separate closely related species. Other research has revealed the chemical basis for insect attraction to orchids and the ecological consequences of deceptive pollination. Genetic studies have revealed that the structure of orchid populations is influenced by pollination, seed dispersal, reproductive isolation and hybridisation. Long-term demographic studies determine the viability of orchid populations, estimate rates of transition between seedling, flowering, non-flowering and dormant states and reveal factors, such as grazing and competition, that result in declining populations. It is difficult to define potential new habitats for rare orchids because of their specific relationships with fungi and insects. An understanding of all three dimensions of orchid habitat requirements can be provided by bioassays with seed baits for fungi, flowers for insects and transplanted seedlings for orchid demography. The majority of both rare and common WA orchids have highly specific associations with pollinating insects and mycorrhizal fungi, suggesting that evolution has favoured increasing specificity in these relationships in the ancient landscapes of WA.
... Threatened Flora protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 with a ranking of Vulnerable. Due to its small stature, succulent leaves and occurrence on open herbfields, it is under threat from grazing by rabbits (Brown et al. 1998;Smith & Jones 2018). Its ability to regenerate after grazing is unknown. ...
... a. Stylidium coroniforme F.L.Erickson & J.H.Willis subsp. coroniformeIllustrations.Erickson & Willis (1966) p. 109, Plate 1;Grieve & Blackall (1982) p. 55 of supplement, No. 48b;Brown et al. (1998) p. 106.Leaves oblanceolate, 1.5-4 cm long, 1.2-2.5 mm wide, apex conspicuously mucronate, mucro 0.5-2.5 mm long.Floral bracts conspicuously mucronate. (Figures 2A, i & ii; 3) Other specimens examined. ...
... Conservation status. Eucalyptus mooreana has been considered a rare species for several decades (Hopper et al. 1990;Briggs & Leigh 1996;Brown et al. 1998;Smith 2018). It is Declared Rare Flora, specially protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and is listed as Vulnerable under Schedule 3 of the Wildlife Conservation (Rare Flora) Notice 2016, meaning that it is likely to become extinct or rare. ...
... Also, extreme events like heat waves, hurricanes, etc, are expected to occur more frequently as a result of climate change [122], which could substantially affect orchid populations. According to Brown [123] apart from the factors listed above, inappropriate fire regimes, groundwater extraction, spread of exotic plants and grazing should be considered as potential threats to the survival of Australian orchids. Unfortunately, because it is not possible to predict how the variables listed above will change in various scenarios of climate change we could not incorporate these factors in our analyses. ...
Ecological stability together with the suitability of abiotic conditions are crucial for long-term survival of any organism and the maintenance of biodiversity and self-sustainable ecosystems relies on species interactions. By influencing resource availability plants affect the composition of plant communities and ultimately ecosystem functioning. Plant-animal interactions are very complex and include a variety of exploitative and mutualistic relationships. One of the most important mutualistic interactions is that between plants and their pollinators. Coevolution generates clustered links between plants and their pollen vectors, but the pollination and reproductive success of plants is reduced by increase in the specialization of plant-animal interactions. One of the most specialized types of pollination is sexual deception, which occurs almost exclusively in Orchidaceae. In this form of mimicry, male insects are attracted to orchid flowers by chemical compounds that resemble insect female sex pheromones and pollinate the flowers during attempted copulations. These interactions are often species-specific with each species of orchid attracting only males of one or very few closely related species of insects. For sexually deceptive orchids the presence of a particular pollen vector is crucial for reproductive success and any reduction in pollinator availability constitutes a threat to the orchid. Because global warming is rapidly becoming the greatest threat to all organisms by re-shaping the geographical ranges of plants, animals and fungi, this paper focuses on predicting the effect of global warming on Cryptostylis leptochila, a terrestrial endemic in eastern Australia that is pollinated exclusively via pseudo copulation with Lissopimpla excelsa. As a species with a single pollinator this orchid is a perfect model for studies on the effect of global warming on plants and their pollen vectors. According to our predictions, global warming will cause a significant loss of suitable niches for C. leptochila. The potential range of this orchid will be 36%-75% smaller than currently and as a result the Eastern Highlands will become unsuitable for C. leptochila. On the other hand, some new niches will become available for this species in Tasmania. Simultaneously, climate change will result in a substantial expansion of niches suitable for the pollinator (44-82%). Currently ca. 71% of the geographical range of the orchid is also suitable for L. excelsa, therefore, almost 30% of the areas occupied by C. leptochila already lack the pollen vector. The predicted availability of the pollen vector increased under three of the climate change scenarios analysed. The predicted habitat loss is a serious threat to this orchid even with the potential colonization of Tasmania by this plant. In the reduced range of C. leptochila the pollen vector will also be present assuring fruit set in populations of this orchid. The genetic pool of the populations in New South Wales and Queensland will probably be lost.
... Two closely related species of Ornduffia are endemic to a single mountain range in south-western Australia. Ornduffia calthifolia is declared rare flora under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 18 and is found exclusively on the summits of the Porongurup Range 19 . Ornduffia marchantii is found at lower elevations but is not considered threatened. ...
Hybridization has an important and often positive role in plant evolution. However, it can also have negative consequences for species. Two closely related species of Ornduffia are endemic to the Porongurup Range in the South West Australian Global Biodiversity Hotspot. The rare Ornduffia calthifolia is found exclusively on the summits, while O. marchantii is more widely dispersed across a greater range of elevation and is not considered threatened. Hybridisation in suitable overlapping habitat has been suspected between them for decades. Here we combine genotyping by sequencing to verify hybridisation genetically, and fine scale (2 m resolution) species distribution modelling (SDM) to test if hybrids occur in suitable intersecting habitat. From a study area of c. 4700 ha, SDM identified c. 275 ha and c. 322 ha of suitable habitat for O. calthifolia and O. marchantii, respectively. We identified range overlap between species of c. 59 ha), which enveloped 32 individuals confirmed to be hybrids. While the hybrids were at the margin of suitable habitat for O. marchantii, their preference for elevated habitat was closer to the more narrowly distributed O. calthifolia. The combination of genetic data and fine scale spatial modelling approaches enabled a better understanding of hybridisation among taxa of conservation significance. However, the level to which hybrid proliferation and competition for habitat presents as a threat to O. calthifolia is currently unknown and requires priority in conservation management given the threats from global warming and disturbance by tourism.
... Orchids in the present study are listed as Critically Endangered (the most threatened category of Declared Rare Flora in WA) because they are likely to become extinct in the wild without intervention. The main threats to these orchids result from the scarcity and fragmentation of suitable new habitats and the impacts of factors such as weeds, herbivores, infrequent pollination, salinity, drought and fire (Brown et al. 1998). ...
Vital-statistics data concerning population viability were gathered for four of the rarest orchids in Western Australia using surveys to define population sizes and habitat areas and annual measurements of plant demographics. These orchids were Caladenia melanema, C. graniticola, C. williamsiae and Drakaea isolata from the wheatbelt of Western Australia. This agricultural area has a Mediterranean climate with unreliable rainfall, and is >80% cleared of native vegetation. Surveys with 10–30 volunteers increased population-size estimates by up to 10 times and provided spatial data to define core habitat areas. These areas included most of the individuals of a species, but were only 2–10 ha in size. Within these areas, orchids were often highly aggregated in patches a few metres wide, potentially resulting in a high degree of intraspecific competition. Vital statistics were obtained using 4-m wide and 30–50-m-long transects to measure rates of emergence, flowering, grazing and seed-set for each orchid. Plants emerging at the same position in different years were considered to be the same individual, but most emerged in new positions. Many plants emerged just once in 4 years, and 2–3 years of dormancy was common. Emergence frequencies were used to provide estimates of population sizes that were two or three times larger than suggested by data from a single year. Seed production was typically very low. Grazing by kangaroos and rabbits was most severe for C. melanema, but was greatly reduced by fencing. Severe drought prevented flowering of C. graniticola in the driest year, whereas other species were more resilient. These orchids are likely to persist as long as there are some years where rainfall is sufficient for flowering and seed set followed by a year with adequate rain for seed germination. Populations of all these orchids were stable or increasing, but they are still at high risk of extinction because of the impacts of increasing soil salinity or fire on their habitats. These species are unlikely to spread elsewhere in the highly cleared and fragmented wheatbelt. Intervention by hand-pollination, grazing protection and translocation to new locations is required to mitigate these risks. Results were summarised in vital statistics report cards with thresholds set to inform conservation management for these species. Core habitat maps and vital-statistics report cards should also be valuable new tools for terrestrial-orchid conservation in other biomes.
... Information on post-fire responses was obtained from the Vegetation Species List and Response Database (DEC, 2008), FloraBase (Western Australian Herbarium, 1998), from recovery plans for threatened species and Threatened Ecological Communities of the area that are covered by State and Commonwealth legislation and require specific fire regimes for protection (Brown et al., 1998; Evans et al., 2003). As species responses vary from site to site (Vivian et al., 2010) and as most of the plant post-fire responses were obtained from the northern Jarrah forest, we supplemented this data by recording the post-fire responses of a number of flora species during post-fire and chronosequence floristic surveys conducted in the Banksia woodlands (Mickle et al., 2010aMickle et al., , 2010bMickle et al., , 2009 Valentine et al., 2009a; Wilson et al., 2010a). ...
In Mediterranean ecosystems prescribed burning is commonly employed to reduce the risk or intensity of wildfires. As a consequence, a major challenge for conservation land managers is the development of fire regimes that reduce damaging wildfires and are optimal for biodiversity. The aim of this paper was to develop guidelines for ecological fire regimes using the Banksia woodland on the Gnangara Groundwater System in Western Australia as a case study. Development of the guidelines involved the determination of maximum and minimum fire intervals of key fire response species, analyses of fire history records and estimation of ideal age class distributions at the landscape level. Recommendations included a) adoption of a minimum fire interval of 8–16 years, b) implementation of a burning regime to redress the current skewed distribution (60%: 1–7 years since last fire), c) retention of long-unburnt habitats that are significant for species such as the critically endangered Calyptorhynchus latirostris (Carnaby's black-cockatoo), and Tarsipes rostratus (honey possum), and d) protection for wetlands that can serve as fire 'refugia' for associated species, such as Isoodon obesulus fusciventer (southern brown bandicoot or quenda). The guidelines developed provide a model for the development of ecological burning regimes in other similar ecosystems. The implementation of ecological guidelines normally involves incorporation into fire management planning by fire agencies and often entails complex solutions to conflicting aims. The guidelines are thus valuable for ecologists and land managers, especially in light of an expected significant increase in global fire activity as a consequence of predicted climate change.
... The objective of this 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. 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 8 East Bluff 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Populations of Leucopogon gnaphalioides are regularly monitored in relation to the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi and the effectiveness of phosphite application. Six control and six spray plots were set up on Bluff Knoll in 1997 and survival of other members of the Ericaceae was found to be significantly higher in sprayed quadrats three years later (Barrett 2003). ...
... Information on post-fire responses was obtained from the Vegetation Species List and Response Database (DEC, 2008), FloraBase (Western Australian Herbarium, 1998, from recovery plans for threatened species and Threatened Ecological Communities of the area that are covered by State and Commonwealth legislation and require specific fire regimes for protection (Brown et al., 1998;Evans et al., 2003). As species responses vary from site to site (Vivian et al., 2010) and as most of the plant post-fire responses were obtained from the northern Jarrah forest, we supplemented this data by recording the post-fire responses of a number of flora species during post-fire and chronosequence floristic surveys conducted in the Banksia woodlands (Mickle et al., 2010a(Mickle et al., , 2010b(Mickle et al., , 2009Valentine et al., 2009a;Wilson et al., 2010a). ...
In Mediterranean ecosystems prescribed burning is commonly employed to reduce the risk or intensity of wildfires. As a consequence, a major challenge for conservation land managers is the development of fire regimes that reduce damaging wildfires and are optimal for biodiversity. The aim of this paper was to develop guidelines for ecological fire regimes using the Banksia woodland on the Gnangara Groundwater System in Western Australia as a case study. Development of the guidelines involved the determination of maximum and minimum fire intervals of key fire response species, analyses of fire history records and estimation of ideal age class distributions at the landscape level. Recommendations included a) adoption of a minimum fire interval of 8–16 years, b) implementation of a burning regime to redress the current skewed distribution (60%: 1–7 years since last fire), c) retention of long-unburnt habitats that are significant for species such as the critically endangered Calyptorhynchus latirostris (Carnaby's black-cockatoo), and Tarsipes rostratus (honey possum), and d) protection for wetlands that can serve as fire 'refugia' for associated species, such as Isoodon obesulus fusciventer (southern brown bandicoot or quenda). The guidelines developed provide a model for the development of ecological burning regimes in other similar ecosystems. The implementation of ecological guidelines normally involves incorporation into fire management planning by fire agencies and often entails complex solutions to conflicting aims. The guidelines are thus valuable for ecologists and land managers, especially in light of an expected significant increase in global fire activity as a consequence of predicted climate change.
... CN criteria), where 65% of 372 taxa are of conservation concern (Backhouse and Cameron 2005). Key threats to rare orchids in both Western Australia and Victoria include habitat loss or modification from disturbance, salinity, weed invasion, grazing by feral and non-feral invertebrate or vertebrate animals, small fragmented populations and drought (Brown et. al. 1998). Factors that are likely to contribute to the rarity of orchids are summarised inFigure 1. ...
... Drakaea isolata is declared as Rare Flora under the Wildlife Conservation Act Brown et al. 1998), being known from only the type location. It is related to D. confluens, differing in its smaller flowers and its usually uniformly-coloured labellum lamina with a narrow main body in side view gradually curving up to the tail-like apex. ...
... Macropidia (black kangaroo paw), Anigozanthos (kangaroo paws), Blancoa, Conostylis, Phlebocarya and Tribonanthes are endemic to this region (Hopper, 1993). Amongst the endemic species of WA Haemodoraceae, many are classi®ed as rare and endangered, including seven species of Conostylis and three subspecies of Anigozanthos (Brown et al., 1998). Cryopreservation is currently being developed by agencies such as Kings Park and Botanic Garden (West Perth, Australia) to conserve threatened species. ...
An efficient vitrification procedure was developed and successfully applied to cryopreserve six endangered West Australian species (family Haemodoraceae: Anigozanthos humilis ssp. chrysanthus Hopper;A. kalbarriensis Hopper;A. viridis ssp. terraspectans Hopper;Conostylis dielsia ssp.teres Hopper;C. micrantha Hopper and C. wonganensis Hopper). Species were initially evaluated for cryostorage using a basic vitrification protocol involving: culturing plantlets in vitro for 21d; excision of shoot apices; preculture of apical tips on 0.4M sorbitol for 2d, followed by incubation in PVS2 (plant vitrification solution 2) for 25min at 0°C, then direct immersion in liquid nitrogen (LN). Warming of retrieved material was for 1min in a 40°C water bath. Using this protocol five of the six species exhibited low post-storage survival, while the sixth species, A. viridis ssp. terraspectans posted higher survival (61.1%). Using A. viridis ssp. terraspectans as an indicator species, the initial protocol was modified to include: 3d preculture on 0.80M glycerol, loading treatment with 2.0M glycerol plus 0.4M sucrose solution for 20min, followed by 25min exposure to a modified PVS2. Survival was significantly improved in the test species, and in further experiments three other species also showed significant improvements with the new protocol. Key findings include: effectiveness of glycerol in the preculture medium; the effect of preculture duration; the importance of a loading stage for these species; and the successful use of modified PVS2 solutions with reduced or zero dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
... Drakaea isolata is declared as Rare Flora under the Wildlife Conservation Act Brown et al. 1998), being known from only the type location. It is related to D. confluens, differing in its smaller flowers and its usually uniformly-coloured labellum lamina with a narrow main body in side view gradually curving up to the tail-like apex. ...
Drakaea Lindley, 1840 is a genus of 10 species of geophytic orchids endemic to the South-west Australian Floristic Region. The genus is renowned for its morphological and chemical adaptations, achieving pollination by sexual deception of male thynnid wasps. The history of taxa in Drakaea has been one of dispute and confusion right to the present day. Here we provide a revision of the genus, the first made by using modern collections and field data, formalising names for undescribed taxa featured by Hoffman and Brown ( 1992, 1998), several of which are threatened with extinction. We describe six new species: D. andrewsiae, D. concolor, D. con. uens, D. gracilis, D. isolata and D. micrantha. Experimental baiting of male wasps has helped show the speci. c status of some of these new taxa. Molecular phylogenetic research is needed to clarify relationships and patterns of speciation in the genus. Five of the 10 Drakaea species are legally protected under theWestern Australian Wildlife Conservation Act and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, signalling the ongoing need for research and management to ensure the conservation of this unique part of Australia's orchid heritage. D. andrewsiae has been recorded only three times from the Gnowangerup-Tunney district. Urgent surveys are needed to establish its conservation status.
... Jones 1988), a clear understanding of underlying pattern and process has been difficult to assimilate, given the pace of collecting and rate of discovery, and the regular description of new taxa during the past three decades. Here, we summarise a generic overview on the basis of contemporary data for Australia as a whole, and then focus on the South-west Australian Floristic Region (SWAFRsensu Hopper and Gioia 2004) where biogeographic work has been the most active, stimulated by the need to secure data underpinning conservation assessment and management (Hopper et al. 1990;Brown et al. 1998). ...
Caladenia contains 376 species and subspecies, of which almost all are endemic to temperate and southern semiarid Australia. Eleven species occur in New Zealand, 10 of which are endemic, and one species is widely distributed in eastern Australia and the western Pacific. Only three species occur in both south-western and south-eastern Australia. At subgeneric level, Drakonorchis is endemic to the South-west Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR), Stegostyla to eastern Australia and New Zealand, whereas three subgenera, Calonema, Phlebochilus and Elevatae occur on both sides of the Nullarbor Plain. Subgenus Caladenia is primarily eastern Australian but also extends to the western Pacific. The largest subgenera (Calonema and Phlebochilus) have radiated extensively, with Calonema exhibiting a greater concentration of species in more mesic parts of the SWAFR than Phlebochilus. Within the SWAFR, the major biogeographic division within Caladenia follows the 600-mm isohyet. Within rainfall zones, biogeographic districts for Caladenia correlate with a combination of underlying geology and surface soils. Areas of high endemism contain diverse edaphic environments. Climatic and edaphic requirements are likely to be key drivers of rarity in Caladenia, although these parameters may be acting in concert with mycorrhizal and pollinator specificity.
... Each bell is in fact a cluster of drooping flowers with white petals and stigmas up to 2 cm long that are enclosed by broad, lemon-yellow petal-like leaf bracts. This species is known to hybridise with the common mountain bell (Darwnia leiostyla) (Brown et al. 1998) ...
... Each cream flower, about 1 cm long, is enclosed in stiff calyx lobes, which also taper to a point. (Brown et al. 1998). ...
... Large red flowers are produced in August and September, and are borne at the end of branchlets that usually curve downwards. The flowers are often found sheltered beneath the foliage giving the plant an attractive layered appearance (Brown et al. 1998). ...
... The solitary flowers have yellow very feathery sepals, with protruding red stamens which have yellow tips. Below these are two shiny red persistent bracts (Brown et al. 1998). The flowers fade to brown-white with age. ...
... The perianth is 6 to7 millimetres long and the pistil 17 to 18 millimetres long (). Flowers occur from September to March (Brown et al., 1998). @BULLET @BULLET @BULLET ...
... TAXONOMIC DESCRIPTION (Brown, A. et al (1998)) Sphenotoma drummondii is a small shrub to 50 cm tall with spreading 4-8 cm long lanceolate leaves that taper to a pungent point, the margins softly ciliate, at least when young. The upper leaves are small and appressed, giving the last 3-5 cm of the flowering branch the appearance of a peduncle. ...
Subspecies are traditionally defined using phenotypic differences associated with different geographical areas. Yet patterns of morphological and genetic variation may not coincide and thereby fail to reflect species’ evolutionary history. The division of the shrub Banksia nivea Labill. into one widespread (B. nivea subsp. nivea) and two geographically localized subspecies (B. nivea subsp. uliginosa (A.S. George) A.R. Mast & K.R. Thiele and B. nivea subsp. Morangup (M. Pieroni 94/2)) in south-west Australia has been based mainly on variation in leaf shape and pistil length, although flowering time and habitat differences are also evident, and subsp. uliginosa occurs on a different substrate. To assess the genetic divergence of B. nivea subspecies, we genotyped representatives from each subspecies for nuclear microsatellite and non-coding chloroplast sequence variation. We used distance and parsimony-based methods to assess genetic relatedness. Patterns were consistent with the existing taxonomy of subsp. nivea and uliginosa but not subsp. Morangup. Phylogenetic analyses revealed evidence for a more recent divergence of subsp. uliginosa associated with expansion from dryer sandy soils into the winter-wet ironstone soils in the southwest of Western Australia, consistent with progressive long-term climatic drying. Nuclear microsatellites showed low to moderate diversity, high population differentiation overall, and genetic structuring of subspecies in different biogeographical areas. We propose this pattern reflects the predicted impact of a patchy distribution, small populations, and restrictions to gene flow driven by both distance and biogeographic differences in subspecies’ habitats.
The Tricostularia Nees ex Lehm. group of genera is reviewed and formally recognised as Cyperaceae tribe Schoeneae subtribe Tricostulariinae R.L.Barrett, K.L.Wilson & J.J.Bruhl. Molecular data from plastid rbcL and trnL-F and nuclear ITS and ETS regions are combined with a novel assessment of morphological characters to support our new classification. Six genera are included: a new genus, Ammothryon
An increasing diversity of highly specialized pollination systems are being discovered, many of which are likely to be vulnerable to anthropogenic landscape modification. Here, we investigate if a specialized pollination system limits the persistence of Caladenia huegelii (Orchidaceae), an endangered species pollinated by sexual deception of thynnine wasps. Once locally common in part of its geographical range, C. huegelii is now largely restricted to small habitat remnants in urban areas. Pollinator surveys coupled with DNA barcoding detected a single pollinator taxon, a small form of Macrothynnus insignis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that small M. insignis from within the range of C. huegelii are strongly divergent from other wasp populations, suggesting that some reproductive isolation may exist. Although common in intact landscapes outside the range of C. huegelli, small M. insignis individuals were recorded at only 4% of sites in suitable C. huegelii habitat. Accordingly, reproductive success in C. huegelii was low compared with related Caladenia spp., with 33–60% of populations failing to set fruit in any given year. As such, populations are likely to now persist primarily through individual plant longevity rather than reproduction. Due to the low reproductive success of C. huegelii, ongoing human intervention will almost certainly be needed to sustain the species. Future research will need to focus on optimizing hand pollination to maintain reproduction and high seed fitness. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, ●●, ●●–●●.
Acacia species 'Dandaragan' is known from
one population confined to the Dandaragan–Badgingarra area in
south-western Western Australia and is classified as critically endangered.
Morphological and allozyme studies show that A. sp.
'Dandaragan' has close affinities with
Acacia microbotrya Benth.
sens. lat. and warrants taxonomic recognition at
subspecies rank. A combination of floral and phyllode characters clearly
separated A. sp. 'Dandaragan' and
A. microbotrya s. l. by the presence of a discrete
morphological boundary in the canonical variates plot and the high percentage
of correct re-substitution classifications of individuals into pre-defined
taxa. UPGMA and maximum likelihood analyses of allozyme data distinguished
A. sp. 'Dandaragan' and
A. microbotrya s. l. Levels of genetic diversity were
lower in A. sp. 'Dandaragan' than in
A. microbotrya s. l. The size-class and lifestage
structure of the A. sp. 'Dandaragan'
suggests that the population is stable and possibly increasing in size
predominantly by vegetative spread. The presence of a soil seed reserve and
the ability to reproduce from root suckers suggests that
A. sp. 'Dandaragan' is resilient to fire.
Levels of innate seed dormancy were lower and tolerance to thermal shock
higher in A. sp. 'Dandaragan' compared with
A. microbotrya s. l. The population size, structure and
germination ecology suggest that A. sp.
'Dandaragan' does not appear to have any immediate management
requirements, apart from continued monitoring of adult plant health and
recruitment. The study confirms that A. sp. Dandaragan
should be recognised as Declared Rare (threatened) Flora and we recommend that
the taxon's conservation status be reviewed.
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