Threatened Species Management Plan for Kinglake National Park

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Threatened Species Management Plan for Kinglake National Park, – V 1.0, September 2001 6 Management guidelines Management guidelines have been formulated following extensive survey of the Park area over many years. The guidelines fall into three broad categories: additional biodiversity surveys; biodiversity management and land protection; and research guidelines. 6.1 Additional flora and fauna survey There is currently uncertainty regarding the post-fire distribution of many rare fauna and flora species within the Park. Further surveys should be undertaken to establish core areas for management. These should include targeted survey for fauna and additional spring surveys for flora. Some of the surveys could be implemented by TAFE or university groups with assistance from Parks Victoria staff and regional experts, while other surveys will require the assistance of professional ecologists. 6.1.1 Additional flora surveys – conduct flora surveys Further surveys should be undertaken throughout the Park to search for significant plant species. Surveys should include particular effort in areas of high plant diversity such as at Broad Gully, Stuart’s Spur, Yea River, Mason’s Falls and Captains Creek. They should include targeted searches for taxa that have previously been recorded within the Park but that were not located during the current survey, including the Green Leek-orchid, Tangled Pseudanthus, Cockspur Flower, Fairy Lanterns, Summer Spider-orchid, Purple Eyebright, Slender Beard-orchid, Dainty Bird-orchid, Midget Greenhood and Tree Geebung. These species may be at risk from grazing pressure, competition with weeds and other factors, and must be located so they can be subject to recovery management if required. Although the recently burnt areas of the Park are currently the highest priority, several of the unburnt reserves managed by Parks Victoria have received only limited survey and would greatly benefit from further study. Many of these reserves were assessed during the current project, but mostly during summer when many plant species are not detectable. The unburnt reserves of highest priority include the Coolabah, Mt Piper and Mangalore Reserves. It is likely that one day spent within each reserve would be sufficient to add a variety of significant species to the current park list. Experienced botanists should be engaged to complete these works. 6.1.2 Small mammal trapping Small mammal trapping should be conducted throughout the Park to determine the impacts of the fire on several rare fauna species, including the Broad-tooth Rat, Southern Brown Bandicoot and Dusky Antechinus. The early to mid succession stages offer a valuable opportunity to conduct fauna survey, as some fauna species reach their highest population numbers during this time. One individual Broad-tooth Rat was recorded in the Mt Disappointment Reference Area by Parks Victoria staff in the early 2000’s. This is the only sighting of this threatened species within the Park, and further survey for this species is of high priority. The survey should include up to a week of trapping using steel Elliot Traps at several locations throughout the Park. These locations should include sites on Road 3 where the previous animal was recorded, in sedgelands adjacent to the Yea River and at the Poley Creek Tea-tree Swamp on Road 4. 20
Threatened Species Management Plan for Kinglake National Park, – V 1.0, September 2001 The Swamp Rat was previously recorded in the Park in the 1990’s in sedgelands along the Plenty River upstream of Toorourrong Resevoir. Trapping shoud be conducted within this area to determine the post-fire status of this species. Trapping should also be conducted at Broad Gully where the White-footed Dunnart and Southern Brown Bandicoot have previously been recorded and at Captain’s Creek where the Southern Brown Bandicoot has been recorded. The results of any trapping are likely to be critical for determining post-fire refuges and core areas for these threatened species within the Park. This project could possibly be undertaken by an educational group with assistance from Parks Victoria staff and regional experts. 6.1.3 Targeted survey for Dunnart species The White-footed Dunnart has previously been recorded within the Park at Broad Gully. The Common Dunnart has not been recorded from the Park but is predicted to occur in areas of Grassy Dry Forest in the southern section of the Everard block. During 2009, grids of concrete pavers were set out at several locations to provide habitat and allow survey for Dunnart species. This included in Damp Heathy Woodland at Broad Gully and in Grassy Dry Forest near the Watsons Creek Track. In 2010, an additional paver grid was set out in Grassy Dry Forest off Dinsdale Road in the far southern section of the Park by Parks Victoria staff. Continued monitoring of these paver grids should be undertaken to search for Dunnart species. 6.1.4 Targeted survey for arboreal mammals – conduct spot-lighting surveys across the Park Prior to the 2009 fire, the Greater Glider was widespread and relatively common within the Park. The Yellow-bellied Glider was rare and in recent years had only been recorded once in the Mt Disappointment Reference area and occasionally along the Island Creek. Feed trees were also observed in the 1990’s along the Hirt’s and Captains Creek. Both of these arboreal species were probably badly affected by the 2009 bushfire. The fire left minimal refuge areas and burnt out many hollow bearing trees. If animals did survive the immediate fire event, there is likely to have been a high mortality in following months due to lack of refugia and food resources. Beside some recent sightings of Greater Glider in the Kinglake East reserve and elsewhere, there is no firm data to determine what kind of impact the fire has had on these species. A spotlighting survey should be undertaken throughout the Park targeting arboreal species. The Captains, Hirts and Island Creeks and Yea River should be targeted for Yellow-bellied Glider whilst suitable tall forest should be targeted for Greater Glider. The project should involve several weeks of survey time and the results should be presented to Parks Victoria upon completion. This project could possibly be undertaken by an educational group with assistance from Parks Victoria staff and regional experts. 6.1.5 Targeted survey for Brush-tailed Phascogale – increase survey efforts There is particular concern that the Brush-tailed Phascogale has declined substantially within the study area since the 2009 bushfire. During trapping surveys conducted within the Everard Block by DSE and Parks Victoria since that time, no individuals have been recorded. This is likely due to the intensity of the fire (which could have killed many animals) and the reduction in habitat values that has occurred. Many of the few hollow-bearing trees remaining were consumed by the fire, severely reducing habitat. In combination with reduction in cover, this has made animals more vulnerable to 21
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