Recovery Plan for the Endangered Jumping-Jack Wattle
Acacia enterocarpa
(2011)
A Recovery Plan prepared under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC, 1999).
Cite as:
Moritz, K.N. and Bickerton, D.C. (2011). Recovery Plan for the Nationally Endangered Jumping-Jack Wattle Acacia enterocarpa. Report to the Recovery Planning and Implementation Section, Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. Department for Environment and Natural Resources, South Australia.
ISBN 978-0-9806503-8-9
© Department for Environment and Natural Resources. SA
This publication is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Government of South Australia. Requests and inquiries regarding reproduction should be addressed to:
Department for Environment and Natural Resources
GPO Box 1047
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Note: This recovery plan sets out the actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, the listed threatened species or ecological community. The Australian Government is committed to acting in accordance with the plan and to implementing the plan as it applies to Commonwealth areas.
The plan has been developed with the involvement and cooperation of a broad range of stakeholders, but individual stakeholders have not necessarily committed to undertaking specific actions. The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds may be subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved. Proposed actions may be subject to modification over the life of the plan due to changes in knowledge.
Copies of this Recovery Plan are available at:
and from:
Senior Ecologist, Threatened Species and Ecological Communities
Nature Conservation Branch
Department for Environment and Natural Resources
PO Box 1047
Adelaide SA 5000
Cover photograph: Acacia enterocarpa in flower at Aberdour Conservation Park.
By Tim Croft (Department for Environment and Natural Resources, SA).
Table of Contents
Part 1.Species Information and General Requirements
1.1Species Conservation Status and Taxonomy
1.2.Objects of the EPBC Act
1.3.International Obligations
1.4.Affected Interests
1.5.Roles and Interests of Indigenous People
1.6.Benefits to other Species/Ecological Communities
1.7.Social and Economic Impacts
Part 2.Distribution and Location
2.1.Current Distribution and Important Sub-populations
Past Distribution
2.2.Habitat Critical to the Survival of the Species
Part 3.Threats and Impediments to Recovery
3.1Biology and Ecology Relevant to Threatening Processes
3.2Identification of Threats
3.3Areas under Threat
Part 4.Objectives, Recovery Actions and Performance Criteria
4.1Previous Recovery Actions
4.2Objectives
4.3Actions Required
4.4Evaluation of Success or Failure
4.5Performance Criteria
Part 5:Management Practices
Part 6:Duration of Recovery Plan and Estimated Costs
Table 4 Duration and Indicative Costs
References
Appendices
Appendix IList of current and potential Regional, State and National stakeholders in the management of Acacia enterocarpa.
Appendix II Plant associations in which Acacia enterocarpa has been recorded in Australia
Abbreviations
ARCAgricultural Research Council, South Africa
CITESConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species
CPConservation Park
DEHDepartment for Environment and Heritage, South Australia (now DENR)
DENRDepartment for Environment and Natural Resources, South Australia (previously DEH)
DSEDepartment of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria
DSEWPaCAustralian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
DTEIDepartment for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, South Australia
EPEyre Peninsula
EPBC ActEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
F&FG ActFlora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
IUCNInternational Union for the Conservation of Nature
NPW ActNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1972
NRM Natural Resource Management
RTRecovery Team for Acacia enterocarpa**
SASouth Australia
SESouth East of South Australia
SENRMSouth East Natural Resource Management Board
sppspecies (plural)
sspsubspecies
synsynonym
TFOThreatened Flora Officer
TPAGThreatened Plant Action Group
VicVictoria
** An Acacia enterocarpa Recovery Team will be established through this recovery planning process.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the following people who greatly assisted in the development of this National Recovery Plan: Peter Copley, Jody Gates, David Hinchliffe, Randall Johnson, Philip Keane, Glenn Rudolph, Yvonne Steed, Wendy Stubbs, David Thompson, Dale Tonkinson and Roman Urban. Funding for the preparation of this plan was provided by the Australian Government.
Part 1.Species Information and General Requirements
1.1Species Conservation Status and Taxonomy
1.1.1Current Conservation Status:
Acacia enterocarpa (R.V. Smith) is listed as nationally Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity ConservationAct, 1999 (EPBC Act). It is listed as Endangered in South Australia on Schedule 7 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (NPW Act), and Endangered in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna GuaranteeAct, 1988 (F&FG Act).
It should be noted that listings under the NPW Act are advised by the status of a taxon according to criteria set by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). According to currently available data Acacia enterocarpa warrants listing under criteria EN B2a and b(v), since the area of occupancy remains less than 500 km2 and there has been observed population decline at known sites.
1.1.2Taxonomy:
Family name:Leguminosae
Scientific name:Acacia enterocarpa
Common Name:Jumping-Jack wattle
Acacia enterocarpa is a small dense prickly much-branched spreading shrub to 1.5 m high and 1.5 m wide (Whibley 1980; Jessop and Toelken 1986). Branchlets are asperulate, reddish brown and ribbed (Cowan & Maslin, 2001). Phyllodes are linear 2 – 4.5 cm long, 1- 1.3 cm wide and straight or slightly curved, with 10-12 distinct raised asperulate nerves. Phyllodes have a sharp reddish-brown rigid tip. Flowers are bright yellow globular balls, axillary and generally occur in pairs. Flowers occur as 20 together on peduncles approximately 5 mm long (Whibley, 1980). Flowering occurs between May and October (winter – spring) (Whibley, 1980). Pods are typically a zigzag shape, undulate to +/-2 cm long and 2 mm wide, conaceous, brown with thickened yellow margins and sparsely appressed, puberulous (Whibley 1980; Cowan & Maslin 2001). The common name, jumping-Jack wattle, is derived from the pod resembling a jumping jack cracker. Seeds are longitudinal, oblong to elliptic +/- 3 mm long (Whibley, 1980).
Acacia enterocarpa is closely related to A. hexaneura, which has persistent, spinose stipules, longer, 6-nerved phyllodes and less contorted pods (Cowan & Maslin, 2001). It is also similar in appearance to A. nyssophylla and A. colletioides, but differs from both by its asperulate-ribbed branchlets and phyllodes, as well as by its strongly plicate pods having seeds with smaller, whitish arils (Cowan & Maslin, 2001).
1.2.Objects of the EPBC Act
d)Promoting a co-operative approach to the protection and management of the environment involving governments, the community, landholders and indigenous peoples.
Successful implementation of this recovery plan is dependent on the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders (see Section 1.4).
e)Assisting in the co-operative implementation of Australia’s international environmental responsibilities.
Implementation of this recovery plan will meet policy and legislative objectives at a national, state and regional level. It is expected that the involvement of a diverse range of stakeholders (see Section 1.4) in this implementation process will also ensure that this is done using a co-operative approach that embraces Australia’s international environmental obligations. This is also outlined in Section 1.3.
1.3.International Obligations
Acacia enterocarpa is not listed under any relevant international agreements and the implementation of Australia’s international environmental responsibilities will not be affected by this plan. The actions identified in the plan are fully consistent with Australia’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by Australia in 1993 and the proceeding National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity. The plan does not impact on obligations made under the Convention on Wetlands or the Convention on Migratory Species. The species is not listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
1.4.Affected Interests
Approximately 55 community groups, private landowners, land managers and statutory organisations have been identified as current and potential stakeholders in the management of Acacia enterocarpa within South Australia and Victoria (Appendix I).
Nineteen of these stakeholder groups/individuals currently directly own or manage habitat critical for this species. During the development of this recovery plan many regional and state listed stakeholders were contacted and informed of the planning process. Each was invited to provide input into and/or comment on the plan’s development. Significant information contained within this plan, including information about new sites and threats to species, is the direct result of this consultation. Opportunities for the involvement of all potential stakeholders in the proposed recovery actions are extensive and outlined in full in the Actions section of this plan (Section 4.3).
1.5.Roles and Interests of Indigenous People
In Victoria, the Indigenous communities involved in the regions affected by this plan have not yet been identified. Implementation of recovery actions under this plan will include consideration of the role and interests of indigenous communities in the region.
The Aboriginal Partnerships Section (APS) of DENR has been contacted regarding the development of this recovery plan. The locations of Acacia enterocarpa populations have been provided to APS and forwarded to the Department of Aboriginal and Indigenous Services. This consultation was an initial approach to identifying the relevant indigenous people that may have an interest in A. enterocarpa and the area in which it occurs. The Aboriginal heritage organisations that were identified as being potentially interested were then contacted and a fact sheet summary of this plan was made available to them, but to date no comments have been received from these organisations.
The requirements of the Native Title Act 1993 apply to land where Native Title rights and interests may exist. When implementing any recovery actions in this threatened species plan where there has been no Native Title determination, or where there has been no clear extinguishment of Native Title, there needs to be consideration of the possibility that Native Title may continue to exist.
Generally the Native Title Act 1993 requires certain procedures to be followed prior to undertaking activities, known as future acts, which may affect Native Title rights and interests. These procedures are additional to those required to comply with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1998. Nothing in this threatened species plan is intended to affect Native Title, and the plan will only be adopted subject to any Native Title rights and interests that may continue in relation to any land on which A. enterocarpa is found.
1.6.Benefits to other Species/Ecological Communities
Through the implementation of this plan broader biodiversity benefits will include the protection and management of ecological communities and individual species that occur within the habitat critical to Acacia enterocarpa.
The range of Acacia enterocarpa overlaps a number of floral species of conservation significance at the national level. There are eight floral species of national listing and two of state listing known to occur in areas where A. enterocarpa has been recorded. On Yorke Peninsula one nationally endangered species Euphrasia collina ssp. osbornii (Osborn’s eyebright) and three nationally vulnerable species Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa (silver-leafed daisy), Caladenia brumalis (winter white spider-orchid) and A. rhetinocarpa (resin wattle) occur with A. enterocarpa. On Eyre Peninsula preliminary surveys record A. enterocarpa near sites containing the nationally endangered Thelymitra epipactoides (metallic sun-orchid) and Haloragis eyreana (prickly raspwort) and the nationally vulnerable A. imbricata (feathery wattle). In the Wimmera it shares habitat with A.glandulicarpa (hairy-pod wattle), which is nationallyvulnerable. In the South East of South Australia it is recorded from areas containing the State-listed rare plants Leionema microphyllum syn. Phebalium brachyphyllum (limestone phebalium) and H. eichleri (Eichler’s raspwort). The nationally vulnerable O. pannosa ssp. pannosa has also been recorded from Aberdour Conservation Park.
In Victoria Acacia enterocarpa is associated with Allocasuarina luehmannii (buloke) Woodland; a Nationally-listed Endangered Ecological Community (EPBC Act) and also listed under the F&FG Act (Overman & Venn, 1999). In addition, many sites occur within remnant vegetation and roadside reserves which are important corridors and wildlife refuges. It has been suggested that the decline of Acacia enterocarpa from many sites may indicate a decline in the general health of its ecological community. Recovery actions are therefore aimed at restoration of the ecological community in which this species lives and it is considered that there would be no negative impacts or perceived negative impacts on other species or ecological communities through the implementation of this plan.
1.7.Social and Economic Impacts
This recovery plan is unlikely to cause overall adverse social or economic impacts on the community. A number of beneficial social and economic impacts are however likely to result from the implementation of many of the recovery plan actions. Amongst the social benefits are the education of the community about natural resource management, enhanced skills of community members for undertaking threatened plant management, employment of one or more Threatened Flora Officers and communication between regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) boards. Identified economic benefits include managing weeds that may have potential to impact on productive land and local employment opportunities created through provision of fencing to landholders. Contractors have already been brought to the South East region for the maintenance of Acacia enterocarpa sites on a number of occasions and have contributed to the local economy through the purchase of fuel, accommodation and food.
Local Government may benefit from financial assistance for the management of roadside reserves. Protecting existing sub-populations on road reserves may however affect the manner in which road works, maintenance or service installations are conducted and a cost may be incurred. The cost of redirecting services such as powerlines or optical fibre cables or road realignment may be prohibitive and in such cases, alternative strategies for conserving sub-populations might need to be canvassed (Overman & Venn, 1999).
Certain management may need to be altered to better manage this species, such as grazing regimes, use of fire and other disturbance methods. These activities could create an economic or resource impact on some landowners. Landowners may potentially experience loss of income through, for example, reduced grazing area or grazing time. Landholders in the Ironstone Ridge area of Victoria may lose potential income from gravel extraction if remnant stands on freehold land are set aside for conservation (Overman & Venn, 1999). Actions are outlined in Section 4.2 to consult and work with landholders to minimise any potential economic impact of implementing this recovery plan.
Part 2.Distribution and Location
2.1.Current Distribution and Important Sub-populations
2.1.1Current Distribution
Acacia enterocarpa occurs in South Australia and Victoria. In South Australia it is found in several disjunct sub-populations on Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and in the South East. In Victoria it is restricted to a small area in the State’s west, in the Diapur-Kaniva area of the Wimmera. The stronghold for the species is on Yorke Peninsula and in Victoria.
For the preparation of this recovery plan data was collated from the Biological Databases of SA (DEH, 2007); Threatened Species Database, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria (DSE, 2004) and personal communications with individuals that have undertaken work on the species. A total of 77 distinct extant sites have been identified in this recovery plan, totalling between 5,680 and 6,900 individual plants across the species range (Table 1; Figures 1 and 4). Data collected since 1990 has been included as the current distribution of this species. Data older than this was deemed historical and is dealt with in Section 2.2. Current sub-populations are recorded as containing between 1 and 940 individual plants. In South Australia there are 34 known sub-populations with a total of approximately 3,886 individual plants (Table 1). Victoria has 43 current sites and between 1,795 and 3,000 individual plants (Overman and Venn, 1999).
In South Australia the species is conserved in Aberdour Conservation Park (CP) in the South East and in Ramsay CP on Yorke Peninsula. In Victoria it is reserved in Sandsmere Flora Reserve and Diapur Flora Reserve; however it was planted into the latter in 1977 where it is believed to have once occurred naturally (Stuwe, 1980). It was also planted into Lonsdale Forest Block near Stawell in 1976. Most of the other sub-populations are restricted to roadside or rail reserves, with a few sub-populations occurring on private land, mostly on Yorke Peninsula and in the South East.
This species is reported to be growing in cultivation in the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney (Meredith and Richardson, 1992, cited in Green, 1993).
Table 1Known sub-populations of Acacia enterocarpa
Location / Current sub-populations / Extent of occurrence (km2) / Area of occupancy (km2) / No. of plants (approximate)Eyre Peninsula / 18 / 5700 / 0.065 / 786
Yorke Peninsula / 7 / 290 / <0.500 / 2,850
South East of SA / 9 / 1240 / <0.090 / 1100
Wimmera / 43 / - / - / 1,795
Total / 77 / 7230 / 6,531
2.1.2Important Sub-populations
South Australia
Eyre Peninsula
Acacia enterocarpa has a distribution of approximately 5700 km2 on Eyre Peninsula, occurring across Lower Eyre Peninsula from Edillilie in the south to Kapinnie, Butler Tanks and Port Neill to the north (Figure 2) (Pobke, 2007). Several records also exist for northern Eyre Peninsula between Cowell and Whyalla; however only one record has been validated recently. Further work is required to assess the validity of other northern records as they may actually refer to a similar species of Acacia (Pobke 2007; Lang pers. comm. 2004). The total number of plants is estimated to be 786, with the number of plants per site ranging from 1 to more than 200. The majority of sub-populations on Eyre Peninsula are small and occur in highly fragmented vegetation on road and rail reserves (Pobke, 2007). The larger sub-populations include Moonlight Bay Rd (>200 plants on private properties and roadsides), private property on Hannaford Rd near Peake Point (>200 plants). Other important sub-populations for connectivity include the roadsides surrounding the settlement of Ungarra, the verges of Ungarra–Yeelana Rd (east of Ungarra), the Lincoln Highway verges south-west of Pt Neill and the Tod Highway between Edilillie and Cummins.