Dryandra Woodland - Department of Environment and Conservation ...

Twenty-four species of native mammal are found in the Woodland, including five - the Numbat,
Woylie, Tammar Wallaby (Macropus eugenii), Chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii) and Red-tailed
Phascogale - which are threatened (Table 3). The Southern Brown Bandicoot was last recorded in
Dryandra in 1971 (Burbidge 1977). The Woodland also has populations of rarely seen species such
as Honey Possums (Tarsipes rostratus), Western Pygmy Possums (Cercartetus concinnus), and
Mardos (Antechinus flavipes).
CALM prepares and implements recovery plans and wildlife management programs for threatened
fauna according to priorities laid down by CALM, in consultation with the National Parks and Nature
Conservation Authority and relevant consultative committees. Recovery Plans for the Numbat and
Woylie have recently been completed and are being implemented.
Ninety-eight species of birds are recorded from Dryandra Woodland, including two species that are
threatened and two others that are gazetted as specially protected (Table 3). Overall, the diversity of
birds is probably a reflection of the wide range of habitats found in the Woodland.
Of the 51 species of reptiles recorded at Dryandra only one, the Carpet Python (Morelia spilota
imbricata), is gazetted as specially protected (Table 3).
There are eight frog species recorded from Dryandra Woodland, including the Golden-flecked
Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus barycragus) which is largely restricted to the western Darling Range
(Burbidge 1977). Dams and drainage lines support the greatest number of frog species.
Further vertebrate surveys of Dryandra are likely to record additional species of reptiles and frogs.
Invertebrates
Little is known of the invertebrates of the Woodland; studies have been restricted to termites (J. A.
Friend pers comm.), litter and ground-surface arthropods (Majer 1985), and arboreal spider
communities (L. Thomas pers comm.).
Termites are an important component of the fauna of Dryandra, performing a crucial role in nutrient
cycling and maintaining soil structure. Termites comprise the whole diet of Numbats and one species,
Coptotermes acinaciformis raffrayi, is the only species of termite that forms hollows in Wandoo and
Powderbark Wandoo and, as such, may be considered a keystone species.
Mallet Plantations
The use of mallet plantations by at least native vertebrate animals is influenced by the age of the
plantation, the amount of regrowth other than mallet, and the inclusion of natural vegetation isolates
or rocky outcrops (Ninox 1991). Older mallet stands with a relatively large number of natural
regrowth eucalypts support a greater diversity than young, uniform stands.
21