DAVID HOGG PTY LTD
ABN 35 008 564 047
CONSULTANTS IN
ACN 008 564 047
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ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT
RECREATION STUDIES
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
SUITE 3, BANK BUILDING, JAMISON CENTRE, MACQUARIE, ACT
POSTAL ADDRESS: PO BOX 213, JAMISON CENTRE, ACT 2614
TELEPHONE: (02) 6251 3885 FAX: (02) 6253 1574 E-mail: dhpl@bigpond.com
MULANGGARI NATURE RESERVE GOLDEN SUN MOTH SURVEY 2011
Report to Conservation Planning and Research
David Moore, Kristine Nash and David Hogg
9 February 2012
The survey presented in this report was undertaken for Conservation Planning and
Research as part of a series of surveys undertaken to provide information relevant to
the Gungahlin Accelerated Land Development 2011. The purpose is to provide
information on the distribution of golden sun moth (Synemon plana) within
Mulanggari Nature Reserve to aid future planning for Gungahlin. Very low numbers
of golden sun moth had been observed within this area during surveys in December
2010 (Ref. 1).
Survey Details
Cool, overcast and/or windy conditions during November and December 2011
delayed the emergence of golden sun moth until mid-November, and restricted the
choice of survey dates throughout the survey period.
Three transect surveys were completed within Mulanggari Nature Reserve by two
people on 18 November 2011, 22 December 2011 and 3 January 2012. Weather
conditions on each of the survey days were suitable for the detection of golden sun
moth and details are shown in Table 1. Transects used were consistent with those
in the survey conducted in 2010 (Ref. 1), and GPS co-ordinates were recorded for
the start and finish of each transect (see Figure 1). A total of 19 person-hours were
spent completing transects.
Following the initial survey on 22 November, transects 12 to 16 within the western
part of Mulanggari were not resurveyed on a transect basis, due to the prevalence of
dense phalaris pasture throughout the majority of this area (see Figure 1). A
meandering traverse approach was subsequently taken within that area to ensure
that patches of potential habitat were surveyed for golden sun moth activity.
MULANGGARI GSM SURVEY – FEBRUARY 2012
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Table 1. Survey weather conditions
Survey Date
Time
Temperature
(ºC)*
Wind
(km/h)*
18 November
2011
10:40 – 14:40
22 – 29
9 – 22
22 December
2011
12:15 – 15:00
21 – 24
7 – 15
3 January
2012
10:45 – 13:30
28 – 33
7 - 20
Weather Conditions
Warm, mostly sunny with
cloud increasing. Light
breeze.
Mild and mostly sunny
with patchy cloud.
Occasional light breeze.
Hot and sunny with high
cloud. Occasional light
breeze.
* As recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology at Canberra Airport (station 070351)
Survey Area
Prior to European settlement, the site of Mulanggari Nature Reserve would have
supported yellow box – Blakely’s red gum grassy woodland grading into natural
temperate grasslands on the lower slopes. Subsequent agricultural practices and
tree removal have degraded these ecological communities and, while some remnant
woodland trees remain, identification of the transition between these communities is
problematic.
The current vegetation at Mulanggari Nature Reserve is a mosaic of natural
temperate grassland, yellow box – Blakely’s red gum grassy woodland and
secondary grassland, degraded native pasture and exotic pasture. Natural
temperate grassland persists in low-lying flat areas in the south and south-east, and
much of the central and northern areas of the nature reserve may meet criteria for
classification as box – gum woodland secondary grassland. For the purposes of the
current survey groundcover types within Mulanggari Nature Reserve are classified
as predominantly exotic, predominantly native and mixed native and exotic (see
Figure 2).
Areas of predominantly exotic groundcover are typically dominated by phalaris
(Phalaris aquatica), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), tall fescue (Festuca
arundinacea) and brome grasses (Bromus spp.) with native species such as tall
spear grass (Austrostipa bigeniculata), and wallaby grasses (Austrodanthonia spp.)
forming a minor component. Annual and perennial weeds commonly observed were
fleabane (Conyza sp.), flatweed (Hypochaeris radicata), capeweed (Arctotheca
calendula), plantain (Plantago lanceolata), serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma)
and St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). The locally uncommon native forb emu
foot (Cullen tenax) was observed on the edge of the site within an area of
predominantly phalaris pasture (Coordinates: 0693970 6103125).
The species composition within areas of native groundcover varies across the site,
with some areas supporting both high and low diversity of native species. Mapping
of this variation is not a component of the current brief and detailed flora surveys
were not undertaken. Dominant native grasses include both tall spear grass and
corkscrew spear grass (Austrostipa scabra), wallaby grasses, and kangaroo grass
MULANGGARI GSM SURVEY – FEBRUARY 2012
3
(Themeda australis), which is particularly common on the lower slopes. Other native
grasses such as hairy panic (Panicum effusum), wheat grass (Elymus scaber) and
snow grass (Poa sp.) are also present. Some diversity of native forbs is present in
patches with blue devil (Eryngium ovinum), nodding chocolate lily (Arthropodium
fimbriatum), yellow rush lily (Tricoryne elatior), common everlasting
(Chrysocephalum apiculatum), common woodruff (Asperula conferta), matrushes
(Lomandra spp.), smooth New Holland daisy (Vittadinia muelleri), fuzzy New Holland
daisy (Vittadinia cuneata), native bindweed (Convolvulus erubescens), native
bluebells (Wahlenbergia spp.) and small St John’s wort (Hypericum gramineum)
observed. Exotic grasses and weeds, particularly phalaris, serrated tussock and
fleabane, are scattered.
Areas of mixed native and exotic groundcover support similar species to the
predominantly exotic areas, but with a greater proportion of both tall spear grass and
corkscrew spear grass and wallaby grasses. Additional native grasses such as hairy
panic, wheat grass and windmill grass (Chloris truncata) are also present, along with
common native forbs including native bluebells, small St John’s wort, native
bindweed and fuzzy New Holland daisy.
Based on recent observations of golden sun moth populations within secondary
grassland and degraded native pastures throughout Gungahlin (Ref. 2) golden sun
moths have the potential to be present in most areas mapped as supporting mixed or
native groundcover. Areas mapped as predominantly native are, however, more
likely to represent better quality habitat. Although areas of exotic groundcover are
unlikely to support golden sun moth, moths may persist in isolated pockets of native
pasture or fly over areas of dense exotic pasture after emerging from nearby sites.
Results and Interpretation
Transects followed within Mulanggari Nature Reserve are shown in Figure 1. Grid
references for transect starting and finishing locations are presented in Table 2.
Approximate routes of meandering traverse surveys in western Mulanggari are
shown in Figure 1.
Locations of golden sun moth observations are shown in Figure 2. The number of
moths observed is marked for each 100m of transect, except where no moths were
observed. In general, flying moths were associated with areas of short vegetation.
A total of 24 moths were observed within Mulanggari Nature Reserve during the
survey. 17 moths were observed on 18 November, five moths were observed on 22
December, and 2 moths observed on 3 January. Based on a method of semiquantitative assessment of golden sun moth sites developed by this firm (Ref. 3), two
sites were within the low – moderate range of activity (i.e. four to ten moths sighted
per 100 metres) and the remaining sites were within the range of low activity (i.e.
four or less moths sighted per 100 metres).
The distribution of golden sun moth observations shown in Figure 1 indicates a very
low level of golden sun moth activity dispersed across the majority of suitable habitat
within Mulanggari Nature Reserve. Given the relatively cool flying season, it is
uncertain whether the data obtained accurately represents the distribution or
MULANGGARI GSM SURVEY – FEBRUARY 2012
4
abundance of the moths within Mulanggari. Moths were observed over a
considerably larger area than during the 2010 surveys (Ref. 1), when seasonal
conditions were also poor for the detection of golden sun moth. Golden sun moths
were not observed in the same locations as in 2010. This indicates that the results to
date are unlikely to represent the full extent of the golden sun moth distribution within
Mulanggari Nature Reserve.
Table 2. Transect coordinates
Transect
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
0695126
0695037
0694948
0694865
0694762
0964670
0694567
0694426
0694339
0694260
0694184
0694092
0693997
0693896
0693725
0693723
North
6103682
6103719
6103755
6103799
6103816
6103826
6103851
6103883
6103851
6103937
6103976
6103997
6104017
6104042
6103517
6104061
0695031
0694951
0694845
0964699
0694623
0694531
0694406
0694284
0694183
0694110
0694041
0963975
0693883
0693778
0693820
0693635
South
6103007
6102988
6102961
6102926
6102920
6102921
6102782
6102499
6102513
6102825
6102975
6103109
6103278
6103443
6104050
6103642
Conclusions
The surveys confirm that golden sun moths occur in low numbers throughout parts of
the reserve, although locations of observations were not consistent with those from
the previous year. Generally, moths were observed flying only at low numbers
elsewhere in Canberra during the 2011 flying season. This makes it difficult to
quantify the distribution or abundance of the golden sun moth population within
Mulanggari Nature Reserve or to assess reliably the relative value of the reserve as
golden sun moth habitat.
Because of the low numbers and variable distribution of golden sun moths recorded
in the reserve, the value of undertaking further transect surveys is questionable. If
further surveys are undertaken, it is recommended that these be based on
meandering traverses concentrated in the areas of predominantly native vegetation,
at least until sufficiently high moth counts are recorded to justify a meaningful
quantitative assessment based on transects.
References
1.
Moore, D, McIntosh, J, Nash, K, and Hogg, D.McC. Mulanggari Nature
Reserve golden sun moth survey. Report to Conservation Planning and
Research by David Hogg Pty Ltd, January 2011.
MULANGGARI GSM SURVEY – FEBRUARY 2012
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2.
Hogg, D.McC. A strategic approach to the conservation and environmental
assessment of golden sun moth sites in the Canberra area. Interim revised
report. Prepared by David Hogg Pty Ltd on behalf of Land Development
Agency, December 2010.
3.
Hogg, D.McC. Semi-quantitative assessment of golden sun moth sites. Report
by David Hogg Pty Ltd. Appendix B to Ref. 3.
MULANGGARI GSM SURVEY – FEBRUARY 2012