Consultation Document on Listing Eligibility and Conservation
Actions
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata (Long-stalked Featherflower)
You are invited to provide your views about:
1)
the eligibility of Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata (Long-stalked Featherflower) for
exclusion from the EPBC Act threatened species list; and
2)
the eligibility of Verticordia densiflora for inclusion on the EPBC Act threatened species list.
The views of experts, stakeholders and the general public are welcome. Responses can be
provided by any interested person.
At the commencement of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act), the list of threatened species under its predecessor, the Endangered Species
Protection Act 1992, was transferred to the list of threatened species under the EPBC Act in
June 2000. This list includes varieties; however, varieties are not considered to be species for
the purpose of the EPBC Act and are not eligible to be listed under section 178 of the EPBC Act.
The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) is reviewing the status of listed
varieties as they are to be removed from the list. Prior to removal, the Committee is considering
the higher taxon to determine its eligibility for listing.
Draft information for your consideration of the eligibility of Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata
for listing starts at page 3 and of the eligibility of V. densiflora for listing starts at page 5. To
assist with the Committee’s assessment, the Committee has identified two specific questions on
which it seeks your guidance at page 7.
Responses to are to be provided in writing either by email to:
species.consultation@environment.gov.au
or by mail to:
The Director
Species Information and Policy Section
Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division
Department of the Environment
PO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Responses are required to be submitted by 30 January 2015.
Contents of this information package
General background information about listing threatened species
Information about this consultation process
Draft information about Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata and its eligibility for listing
Draft information about Verticordia densiflora and its eligibility for listing
References cited
Collective list of questions – your views
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General background information about listing threatened species
The Australian Government helps protect species at risk of extinction by listing them as
threatened under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Once listed under the EPBC Act, the species
becomes a Matter of National Environmental Significance (MNES) and must be protected from
significant impacts through the assessment and approval provisions of the EPBC Act. More
information about threatened species is available on the department’s website at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html.
The listing of species is driven by a public nomination process. Public nominations to list
threatened species under the EPBC Act are received annually by the department. In order to
determine if a species is eligible for listing as threatened under the EPBC Act, the Threatened
Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) undertakes a rigorous scientific assessment of its
status to determine if the species is eligible for listing against a set of criteria. These criteria are
available on the Department’s website at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/pubs/guidelines-species.pdf.
As part of the assessment process, the Committee consults with the public and stakeholders to
obtain specific details about the species, as well as advice on what conservation actions might
be appropriate. Information provided through the consultation process is considered by the
Committee in its assessment. The Committee provides its advice on the assessment (together
with comments received) to the Minister regarding the eligibility of the species for listing under a
particular category and what conservation actions might be appropriate. The Minister decides to
add, or not to add, the species to the list of threatened species under the EPBC Act. More
detailed information about the listing process is at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/nominations.html.
To promote the recovery of listed threatened species and ecological communities, conservation
advices and where required, recovery plans are made or adopted in accordance with Part 13 of
the EPBC Act. Conservation advices provide guidance at the time of listing on known threats
and priority recovery actions that can be undertaken at a local and regional level. Recovery
plans describe key threats and identify specific recovery actions that can be undertaken to
enable recovery activities to occur within a planned and logical national framework. Information
about recovery plans is available on the department’s website at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery.html.
Information about this consultation process
Responses to this consultation can be provided electronically or in hard copy to the contact
addresses provided on Page 1. All responses received will be provided in full to the Committee
and then to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment.
In providing comments, please provide references to published data where possible. Should the
Committee use the information you provide in formulating its advice, the information will be
attributed to you and referenced as a ‘personal communication’ unless you provide references
or otherwise attribute this information (please specify if your organisation requires that this
information is attributed to your organisation instead of yourself). The final advice by the
Committee will be published on the department’s website following the listing decision by the
Minister.
Information provided through consultation may be subject to freedom of information legislation
and court processes. It is also important to note that under the EPBC Act, the deliberations and
recommendations of the Committee are confidential until the Minister has made a final decision
on the nomination, unless otherwise determined by the Minister.
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Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata
Taxonomy
Conventionally accepted as Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata S.George (CHAH, 2014a).
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata is distinguished from varieties of V. densiflora by the
length of its longest flower stalks (5–9 mm long) and its slightly larger flowers, with fringed
sepals up to 4 mm long and fringed petals up to 2 mm long (Department of the
Environment, 2014).
Reason for conservation assessment by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata was listed as endangered under the predecessor to the
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the Endangered
Species Protection Act 1992, and transferred to the EPBC Act in June 2000. It is also listed as
endangered under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (Western Australia).
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata is conventionally accepted as a variety. Varieties are not
considered to be species for the purpose of the EPBC Act and are not eligible to be listed under
section 178 of the EPBC Act. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) is
reviewing the status of listed varieties as they are to be removed from the list. Prior to removal,
the Committee is considering the higher taxon (Verticordia densiflora) to determine its eligibility
for listing (see page 5).
This assessment is a result of advice provided for the eligibility of varieties to be listed.
Distribution
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata is endemic to the Busselton area of south-west Western
Australia, where it is known from nine subpopulations. The majority of the subpopulations are in
road and rail reserves; with the largest subpopulation (comprising two-thirds of the recorded
individuals) in a local government gravel reserve used for gravel extraction. A subpopulation
occurs in Ruabon Nature Reserve and one occurs in Ambergate Reserve (DEC, 2014). The
variety has an extent of occurrence at 85 km2 and an area of occupancy of less than 20 km2
(CHAH, 2014b).
In 1998 there were eight known subpopulations of V. d. var. pedunculata comprising
approximately 500 individuals (Brown et al., 1998). In 2007 a ninth subpopulation was
discovered; bringing the total population estimate to approximately 1500 (DEC, 2014).
Relevant Biology/Ecology
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata occurs on shallow sandy or gravel soils over exposed
outcrops of gneissic rock or in winter wet swamps (Hearn et al., 2006). The variety flowers from
December to January (George, 1991). Plants are killed by fire and soil-stored seed germinates
following fire or after soil disturbance (Brown et al., 1998).
Threats
Threats to Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata include disturbance associated with activity in
road and rail reserves and the gravel pit where subpopulations occur, invasive weeds and
inappropriate fire regimes (Hearn et al., 2006). The variety is also at risk of plant damage or
mortality caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi (Podger, 1972, Shearer et al., 2013) and myrtle
rust (Puccinia psidii) (Kriticos et al., 2013), the latter of which is yet to be recorded in Western
Australia.
Assessment of available information in relation to the EPBC Act Criteria and Regulations
and Consideration for delisting
As identified in the “Reason for conservation assessment” discussion provided above,
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata is not considered a species for the purpose of the EPBC
Act and is not eligible for listing in any category. Delisting is not expected to have any
negative impacts as the species, Verticordia densiflora, is abundant and widely distributed.
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Verticordia densiflora
Taxonomy
Conventionally accepted as Verticordia densiflora Lindl. (CHAH, 2014a).
Five varieties of Verticordia densiflora have been described (CHAH, 2014a) of which, only
V. d. var. pedunculata has a restricted distribution.
Reason for conservation assessment by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee
This assessment is the result of Verticordia densiflora being the closest higher order taxon to
V. d. var. pedunculata that is eligible for assessment. This variety is listed as extinct under the
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, however, varieties are not
considered to be species for the purpose of the EPBC Act and are not eligible to be included on
the list of threatened species. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) is
reviewing the status of listed varieties as they are to be removed from the list. Prior to removal,
the Committee is considering the higher taxon (Verticordia densiflora) to determine its eligibility
for listing.
Distribution
Verticordia densiflora is common and widely distributed across south-western Western Australia
from Kalbarri National Park, south to Albany and approximately 60 km east of Esperance.
Subpopulations have been recorded in Stokes National Park, Frank Hann National Park,
Fitzgerald River National Park and Watheroo National Park (CHAH, 2014b).
Relevant Biology/Ecology
Verticordia densiflora occurs on sand, clay, loam and gravelly soils on low-lying flats and winterwet areas (Western Australian Herbarium, 2014).
Threats
Threats to Verticordia densiflora are undocumented however there is no evidence of a
substantial decline in this common species. The species is at risk of plant damage or mortality
caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi (Podger, 1972, Shearer et al., 2013) and myrtle rust
(Puccinia psidii) (Kriticos et al., 2013), the latter of which is yet to be recorded in Western
Australia.
Assessment of available information in relation to the EPBC Act Criteria and Regulations
Criterion 1. Population size reduction (reduction in total numbers)
Population reduction (measured over the longer of 10 years or 3 generations) based on any of A1 to
A4
Critically Endangered
Very severe reduction
Endangered
Severe reduction
Vulnerable
Substantial reduction
A1
≥ 90%
≥ 70%
≥ 50%
A2, A3, A4
≥ 80%
≥ 50%
≥ 30%
A1
A2
Population reduction observed, estimated, inferred or
suspected in the past and the causes of the reduction
are clearly reversible AND understood AND ceased.
Population reduction observed, estimated, inferred
or suspected in the past where the causes of the
reduction may not have ceased OR may not be
understood OR may not be reversible.
A3
Population reduction, projected or suspected to be
met in the future (up to a maximum of 100 years) [(a)
cannot be used for A3]
A4
An observed, estimated, inferred, projected or
suspected population reduction where the time period
must include both the past and the future (up to a
max. of 100 years in future), and where the causes of
reduction may not have ceased OR may not be
understood OR may not be reversible.
(a)
direct observation [except A3]
(b)
an index of abundance appropriate to
the taxon
based
(c)
on any
of the
following
:
(d)
a decline in area of occupancy,
extent of occurrence and/or quality of
habitat
(e)
actual or potential levels of
exploitation
the effects of introduced taxa,
hybridization, pathogens, pollutants,
competitors or parasites
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata and Verticordia densiflora consultation
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Evidence:
Verticordia densiflora is widespread and not considered threatened and there is no evidence of
decline.
The data presented above appear to demonstrate that the species Verticordia densiflora is not
eligible for listing in any category under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation
document is to elicit additional information to better understand the species status. This
conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as
a result of responses to this consultation process.
Criterion 2. Geographic distribution is precarious for either extent of occurrence
AND/OR area of occupancy
Critically Endangered
Very restricted
Endangered
Restricted
Vulnerable
Limited
B1. Extent of occurrence (EOO)
< 100 km2
< 5,000 km2
< 20,000 km2
B2. Area of occupancy (AOO)
< 10 km2
< 500 km2
< 2,000 km2
=1
≤5
≤ 10
AND at least 2 of the following 3 conditions:
(a)
Severely fragmented OR Number of
locations
(b)
Continuing decline observed, estimated, inferred or projected in any of: (i) extent of occurrence; (ii) area of
occupancy; (iii) area, extent and/or quality of habitat; (iv) number of locations or subpopulations; (v) number of
mature individuals
(c)
Extreme fluctuations in any of: (i) extent of occurrence; (ii) area of occupancy; (iii) number of locations or
subpopulations; (number of mature individuals
Evidence:
The geographic distribution of Verticordia densiflora is not considered to be very restricted,
restricted or limited and no specific threats have been identified that are operating that would
make the species’ geographic distribution precarious for its survival.
The data presented above appear to demonstrate that the species Verticordia densiflora is not
eligible for listing in any category under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation
document is to elicit additional information to better understand the species status. This
conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as
a result of responses to this consultation process.
Criterion 3.
Small population size and decline
Estimated number of mature individuals
Critically
Endangered
Very low
Endangered
Low
Vulnerable
Limited
< 250
< 2,500
< 10,000
Very high rate
25% in 3 years or 1
generation
(whichever is longer)
High rate
20% in 3 years or 1
generation
(whichever is
longer)
Substantial rate
10% in 10 years or 3
generations
(whichever is longer)
≤ 50
≤ 250
≤ 1,000
90 – 100%
95 – 100%
100%
AND either (C1) or (C2) is true
C1
An observed, estimated or projected
continuing decline of at least (up to a
max. of 100 years in future
C2
An observed, estimated, projected or
inferred continuing decline AND its
geographic distribution is precarious
for its survival based on at least 1 of
the following 3 conditions:
(a)
(b)
(i) Number of mature individuals in
each subpopulation
(ii) % of mature individuals in one
subpopulation =
Extreme fluctuations in the number of
mature individuals
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata and Verticordia densiflora consultation
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Evidence:
The estimated total numbers of mature individuals of Verticordia densiflora is not known,
however the species is widespread and the total number of mature individuals is considered to
be greater than 10 000.
The data presented above appear to demonstrate that the species Verticordia densiflora is not
eligible for listing in any category under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation
document is to elicit additional information to better understand the species status. This
conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as
a result of responses to this consultation process.
Criterion 4.
Very small population
Critically Endangered
Extremely low
Endangered
Very Low
Vulnerable
Low
< 50
< 250
< 1,000
Number of mature individuals
Evidence:
The estimated total numbers of mature individuals of Verticordia densiflora is not known,
however the species is widespread and the total number of mature individuals is considered to
be greater than 1000.
The data presented above appear to demonstrate that the species Verticordia densiflora is not
eligible for listing in any category under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation
document is to elicit additional information to better understand the species status. This
conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as
a result of responses to this consultation process.
Criterion 5.
Quantitative Analysis
Indicating the probability of extinction in
the wild to be:
Critically Endangered
Immediate future
Endangered
Near future
Vulnerable
Medium-term future
≥ 50% in 10 years or 3
generations,
whichever is longer
(100 years max.)
≥ 20% in 20 years or
5 generations,
whichever is longer
(100 years max.)
≥ 10% in 100 years
Evidence:
There is no quantitative data available to assess against this criterion.
References cited in the advice
Brown A, Thomson-Dans C and Marchant N (Eds) (1998). Western Australia’s Threatened
Flora. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Como, Western Australia.
Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria (CHAH) (2014a). Australian Plant Name Index.
Integrated Biodiversity Information System, Australian National Botanic Gardens,
Australian National Herbarium
Viewed: 15 October 2014
Available on the Internet:
http://www.cpbr.gov.au/cpbr/databases/apni-search-full.html
Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria (CHAH) (2014b). Australia’s Virtual Herbarium.
Viewed: 15 October 2014
Available on the Internet:
http://avh.chah.org.au/index.php/about/
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (2014). Extract from the Threatened and
Priority Flora Database, 6 May 2014.
Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata and Verticordia densiflora consultation
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Department of the Environment (2014). Verticordia densiflora var. pedunculata in Species
Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment, Canberra.
Viewed: 15 October 2014
Available on the Internet:
http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat
Hearn RW, Meissner R, Brown A, Macfarland T and Annels T (2006). Declared Rare and Poorly
Known Flora in the Warren District. Department of Conservation and Land Management,
Perth, Western Australia.
Kriticos DJ, Morin L, Leriche A, Anderson RC and Caley P (2013). Combining a Climatic Niche
Model of an Invasive Fungus with Its Host Species Distributions to Identify Risks to
Natural Assets: Puccinia psidii Sensu Lato in Australia. PLoS ONE 8(5): e64479.
Podger F (1972). Phytophthora cinnamomi, a cause of lethal disease in indigenous plant
communities in Western Australia. Phytopathology 62: 972–981.
Shearer BL, Crane CE, Cochrane JA and Dunne CP (2013). Variation in susceptibility of
threatened flora to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Australasian Plant Pathology 42(4): 491–
502.
Western Australian Herbarium (2014). Descriptions by the Western Australian Herbarium,
Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Viewed: 8 May 2014
Available on the Internet:
http://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/
Collective list of questions
1. Can you provide evidence that would change the outcome of the assessment of
Verticordia densiflora?
2. Can you provide evidence that V. d. var. pedunculata is considered a species or a
subspecies?
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