green hills ncr management statement 2005parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0009/... ·...

Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve

Management Statement

Land Stewardship & Biodiversity Department of Sustainability and Environment

December 2005

This Management Statement has been written by Hugh Robertson and James Fitzsimons for the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.

This Statement fulfils obligations by the State of Victoria to the Commonwealth of Australia, which provided financial assistance for the purchase of this reserve under the National Reserve System program of the Natural Heritage Trust.

©The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2005

This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.

ISBN 1 74152 294 3

Disclaimer:This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and itsemployees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

Cover:Montane grassland occurring on basalt caps, Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve (Photo: James Fitzsimons).


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ObjectivesThis Management Statement for the Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserveoutlines the reserve’s natural and cultural values, visitor services and the directions for its management in the short to long term.

The overall operational management objective is:Maintain, and enhance where appropriate, the condition of the reserve while allowing natural processes of regeneration, disturbance and succession to occur and actively initiating these processes where required.

Background and ContextReason for purchaseSince the implementation of the National Reserve System Program (NRS) in 1992, all Australian states and territories have been working toward the development of a comprehensive, adequate and representative (CAR) system of protected areas.

In a systematic process to increase the reservation levels of Victoria’s most threatened ecosystems, particularly native grasslands and grassy woodlands, the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s conservation land purchase program aims to acquire areas of private land containing high quality samples of such ecosystems for addition to the reserve system. Among a number of sites identified as suitable for voluntary purchase and addition to the protected area estate, the Green Hills montane grasslands and associated montane grassy woodland and forest were purchased due to their size, good condition and location in an area of contiguous native forest.

The purchase was assisted with funding from the National Reserve System Program of the Commonwealth Government’s Natural Heritage Trust (Project No. N420 and N441).

LocationThe Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve (Green Hills NCR) of 522.1 ha islocated off Glenmore Road, approximately 5 km north of Gillingal, East Gippsland (Figure 1). It consists of: Crown Allotments (CA) 2001 and 2002 Parish of Murrindal West, CA 4A and 3A, Section A, Parish of Murrindal West, and CA 2001, Parish of Nappa.

The Green Hills property falls within the South East Corner IBRA 5.1 bioregion (Environment Australia 2000), and across two subregions - the East Gippsland Uplands and Highlands–Southern Fall. It also falls within two Local Landscape Zones - the East Gippsland Uplands and Stirling.

Reservation and Management IntentThe land within the Green Hills NCR was purchased in two separate instalments.The purchase of CA 4A and 3A, Section A (comprising 96.75 ha) was completed on 18 August 2000 and the land was transferred to the Crown on 5 September 2000. This section of Green Hills NCR was assigned to


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Parks Victoria for management on 3


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September 2001. The purchase of CA 2001 and 2002, Parish of Murrindal West and CA 2001, Parish of Nappa was completed on 3 May 2002 and the land was transferred to the Crown on 8 May 2002. This section of Green Hills NCR was assigned to Parks Victoria for management on 20 October 2002 (Park Reserve ID 4158).

Two different purposes for reservation apply to the Green Hills NCR under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978. Crown Allotments (CA) 4A and 3A, Section A are temporarily reserved for the “conservation of an area of natural interest”, CA 2001 and 2002 Parish of Murrindal West and CA 2001, Parish of Nappa are temporarily reserved for the “preservation of an area of ecological significance”. Despite the slightly different purposes for reservation, all allotments are managed as a single Nature Conservation Reserve.

The generic management objectives for Nature Conservation Reserves as defined by Parks Victoria (2003) are:Nature conservation reserves a) conserve and protect species, communities andhabitats of indigenous plants, animals and other organisms; b) provide for research and study of the natural environment of the reserve where this is consistent with a) and there is minimal impact on the reserve; c) provide opportunities for appropriate enjoyment and recreation and education by the public where this does not conflict with a); d) protect Aboriginal cultural sites and places; and e) protect historic features in specific reserves where noted.

Nature conservation reserves are consistent with IUCN Protected Area Category Ia: Strict Nature Reserve (NRE 1996).

As the purchased land was originally freehold, no Land Conservation Council (LCC), Environment Conservation Council (ECC) or Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) recommendations apply.

The Crown Land (Reserves) (Nature Conservation Reserve) Regulations 2004 regulate activities in this reserve.

Natural Values and ConditionRefer to Figure 2 for the location of threatened species recorded in the Atlas ofVictorian Wildlife and Flora Information System1.

Vegetation TypesGreen Hills NCR contains a number of different vegetation types. EcologicalVegetation Classes (EVC) that occur in the reserve include Montane Grassland,


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1 Note this does not necessarily represent records for all threatened species on the reserve. Only those recorded in the DSE flora and fauna databases are displayed.


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Montane Grassy Woodland, Damp Forest, Shrubby Dry Forest and Valley Grassy Forest (Figure 2)2.

The Montane Grassland EVC occurs on the basalt caps, which occur along the main ridgelines and on some slopes and gullies in the reserve. At present Montane Grassland is not a recognised EVC in East Gippsland, and therefore depletion and conservation status figures are not available. The grasslands are significant for the high diversity of native grasses and herbs including threatened species, and patches of the size and quality present in Green Hills NCR are of high priority for conservation (Prober & Thiele 1998). Historically, the grassland has been utilised for grazing, although has not been cultivated or fertilised. Cattle currently graze the property, typically over summer and early autumn, through an agreement with Parks Victoria and with advice from the Department of Sustainability and Environment. The grassland areas were also regularly burnt (annually or every few years, mostly in winter) to encourage plant growth for grazing, although this has not occurred since 1990 (Prober & Thiele 1998).

The Montane Grassy Woodland EVC also occurs on the basalt caps in the reserve. Montane Grassy Woodland is considered vulnerable in the East Gippsland Uplands bioregion. Only approximately 33% (958 ha) of the original extent of the vegetation community remains, with approximately 230 ha mapped as occurring within protected areas (DSE 2004). The montane grassland and grassy woodland vegetation types occur on black clay soils and associated outwashed clays developed from the basalt cap. The Damp Forest, Shrubby Dry Forest and Valley Grassy Forest EVCs occur on the non-basalt (granite) areas of Green Hills NCR (LCC 1977), and are not considered threatened in the East Gippsland Uplands and are well represented in protected areas (Figure 2).

Ecological management of montane grasslands and grassy woodlandsEcological management of grasslands and grassy woodlands is often required to maintain the structure and composition of the vegetation. This may include management activities to control biomass accumulation of understorey grasses and herbs, and activities to maintain or enhance habitat for native flora and fauna, including threatened species. For example, control of biomass accumulation of plants, particularly of exotic pasture grass species, may be considered desirable for flora and fauna species requiring inter-tussock spaces for habitat. These objectives may be achieved via a number of management options, including the use of grazing and ecological burning (Barlow 1998, Eddy 2002).

The ecological management options described for Green Hills NCR primarily relate to management of the montane grassland, although montane grassy woodland is also discussed. Active management intervention for the other vegetation

2 Note EVC mapping and descriptions do not follow EVC mapping within the EVC_CMP100 geospatial layer as at July 2005. Vegetation classification and delineation was based on field observations of DSE Flora and Fauna Officers and Prober & Thiele (1998).


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communities in Green Hills NCR is not considered a high priority relative to the maintenance and enhancement of the montane grassland and grassy woodland.

Notably, Prober and Thiele (1998, 2005), in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, have undertaken research into the effects of grazing and fire on the conservation of the nationally vulnerable Austral Toad-flax Thesium australe in the grassland regions of Green Hills NCR. Four experimental plots have been established in the reserve (Figure 1). The management recommendations described for Austral Toad-flax provide important information for the maintenance and enhancement of the species in the reserve (see Appendix 4).

Overall, disturbance of the vegetation by grazing and/or burning was identified as important for maintaining the structure of the vegetation and the conservation of Austral Toad-flax (Prober & Thiele 2005). Notably, grazing, burning, or a combination of grazing and burning were considered to be equally effective for enhancing the abundance of Austral Toad-flax. The impact of grazing versus burning on other elements of the grassland vegetation was not assessed. Autumn to winter burning regimes of approximately 2-4 year intervals, or light intermittent grazing at similar or more frequent intervals were recommended on a preliminary basis for managing Austral Toad-flax in Green Hills NCR (Prober & Thiele 2005).

If grazing is utilised, stocking rates will need to be adjusted depending on the cover abundance of vegetation and with seasonal conditions such as rainfall. Grazing over autumn and winter is preferred to allow native grassland plants to set seed and regenerate during spring and summer (Barlow 1998). The availability of water for stock is a key consideration for implementing grazing programs. Boundary and internal fences may also be required to control the movement of stock, and exclude grazing from specific areas of the reserve. Grazing may also be used as a management tool in areas of montane grassy woodland that are adjacent to grassland.

If ecological burning is used to manage the grassland, a ‘mosaic’ burning regime is recommended since fires of too great intensity may inhibit regeneration of some plant species. A mosaic approach involves burning only part of the vegetation at any one time. Burning may also be used in the montane grassy woodland areas of Green Hills NCR, although the frequency and timing of the burning regime needs to be investigated.

Grazing and burning exclusion plots may also be used to monitor the impacts of alternative management regimes on the grassland and threatened species. A monitoring program utilising the existing experimental plots in the reserve (Figure 1) and a similar study design is recommended to ensure the data collected is consistent with previous research.


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Management objectives and targets (short-long term)- Actively manage the vegetation in Green Hills NCR using some of the

management options described above to maintain species diversity, richness and structural heterogeneity of the vegetation.

- Monitor and research outcomes of management actions and adapt managementregimes as the need arises.

- Encourage ongoing research by universities and other scientific institutions into optimal management techniques for maintaining and enhancing grassland and grassy woodland biodiversity.

FloraGreen Hills NCR supports high quality montane grassland and grassy woodlandand other vegetation types that are structurally and floristically dominated by native species3.

The montane grassland vegetation community in the reserve is dominated by Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra and Fine-leaf Tussock Grass Poa meionectes, and a high diversity of other native herbs and grasses. The montane grassy woodland vegetation community is dominated in parts by Yellow Box Eucalyptus melliodora and in other areas by Snow Gum E. pauciflora, Black Sallee E. stellulata, Mountain Swamp- gum E. camphora subsp. humeana, Candlebark E. rubida and Eurabbie E. globulus subsp. bicostata. There are few midstorey trees or shrubs in the grassy woodland although scattered Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon and Cherry Ballart Exocarpos cuppressiformis occur. The understorey of the grassy woodland is dominated by Tussock Grass Poa spp. and Kangaroo Grass.

The Damp Forest, Shrubby Dry Forest and Valley Grassy Forest EVCs are dominated by a mixture of tree species including Gippsland Peppermint Eucalyptus croajingolensis, Messmate Stringybark E. obliqua, White Stringybark E. globoidea, Mountain Grey-gum E. cypellocarpa and Broad-leaved Peppermint E. dives, Eurabbie and Snow Gum.

Green Hills NCR supports a number of significant plant species4. Notably, the reserve contains the largest known population of the nationally vulnerable Austral Toad-flax Thesium australe in Australia (Prober & Thiele 1998). Green Hills NCR also contains a number of populations of the nationally endangered Maroon Leek-orchid Prasophyllum frenchii. Other significant flora recorded in the reserve include Dwarf Milkwort Polygala japonica, Austral Moonwort Botrychium australe, Spreading Knawel Scleranthus fasciculatus, Forest Geebung Persoonia silvatica, Slender Tick-trefoil Desmodium varians and Blue-leaf Tussock-grass Poa sieberiana var. cyanophylla.

Refer to Appendix 1 for flora records from Green Hills NCR.

3 The description of the flora in Green Hills NCR is largely drawn from Prober & Thiele (1998, 2005).4 Threat status for flora and fauna follows DSE (2003, 2005).


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Management objectives and targets (short-medium term)- Actively monitor and manage the vegetation structure to provide

suitable habitatfor threatened flora, particularly Austral Toad-flax and other significant species, using techniques previously outlined for the management of montane grassland and grassy woodland.

- Record flora in the Parks Victoria Environmental Information System and DSE Flora Information System (FIS), and encourage seasonal surveys.

FaunaGreen Hills NCR contains extensive areas of native vegetation that provide diversehabitat for a range of fauna. The reserve is also likely to support a number ofthreatened species, although no comprehensive survey of the fauna has been undertaken.

Refer to Appendix 2 for fauna records from Green Hills NCR.

Management objectives and targets (short-medium term)- Record fauna in the Parks Victoria Environmental Information System

and Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, and encourage seasonal surveys.

Biosites5

One Biosite is located within Green Hills NCR:- Site # 6995 ‘Green Hills’

Another 3 Biosites have been recorded in close proximity to Green Hills NCR:- Site # 6632 ‘SPZ 814/07 East Gippsland Forest Management Area’

(Locatedapproximately 800 m west of Green Hills NCR)

- Site # 6603 ‘SPZ 811/01 East Gippsland Forest Management Area’ (Located approximately 900 m northwest of Green Hills NCR)

- Site # 6624 ‘SPZ 814/03 East Gippsland Forest Management Area’ (Located approximately 2 km west of Green Hills NCR)

Refer to Appendix 3 for further details.

Landscape contextGreen Hills NCR represents a high quality reserve containing montane grasslandand montane grassy woodland in the East Gippsland Uplands. Green Hills NCR is surrounded by a large contiguous area of native vegetation within State Forest (Figure 4).

Other nearby conservation reserves include the Plum Gully Flora Reserve, Murrindal Flora Reserve, Alpine National Park, Snowy River National Park, Mount Stewart Natural Features and Scenic Reserve and Nunnett Plain Natural Features and Scenic Reserve (Figure 3).


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5 ‘Biosites’ are sites of biological conservation significance and their location and details are maintained on a register by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.


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Threatening ProcessesPest PlantsPest plants are one of the main threats to the conservation values of Green HillsNCR. Pest plants have the ability to alter the structure of the understorey vegetationand pose a threat to species reliant on the ecosystem. Weed cover is generally low in the grassland regions of the reserve, and variable in the forest and woodland vegetation communities. However, in some areas Blackberry Rubus fruticosus and Sweet Briar Rosa rubiginosa occur. Chemical spraying of Blackberry and Sweet Briar has been undertaken in the reserve in the past, and ongoing management is required to limit further invasion using spraying or other appropriate management techniques. Other common pest plant species include thistles (e.g. Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare), introduced pasture grasses (e.g. Vulpia spp., Bromus spp., Holcus lanatus), and other small annual herbs (e.g. Clover Trifolium spp.).

Management objectives and targets (short-long term)- Regularly observe and control the establishment and spread of pest

plants on themontane grassland and grassy woodland sections of Green Hills NCR, particularly introduced pasture grasses, through grazing or burning and encourage the establishment of native grasses in their place (see ‘Ecological management of montane grasslands and grassy woodlands’). Note, spraying of pest plants may also be required for some areas (e.g. areas subject to past disturbance) to control species that do not respond to other management techniques.

- Monitor and control the establishment and spread of Blackberry and Sweet Briar and encourage the establishment of native plant species in their place.

Pest animalsFoxes are present throughout the district, but the impact of predation on native faunain the reserve is unknown. However, they may pose a significant threat to ground nesting or feeding birds, small mammals, and reptiles. Rabbits have also been observed in the local area but their impact on the grassland is undetermined.

Management objectives and targets (short-long term)- Control foxes to maintain habitat values of the reserve for birds, small

mammalsand other ground-dwelling fauna.

- Maintain rabbit numbers at less than 5 per spotlight km.

Other threatsIllegal grazing of stock (i.e. cattle) is also a potential threat to the conservation valuesof Green Hills NCR. Grazing licences are held within sections of the State Forest thatadjoins the reserve. Green Hills NCR currently lacks boundary fencing to


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restrict the entry of stock from adjacent areas. Although the risk of cattle illegally entering the reserve is undetermined, it may be considered low given the terrain and dense vegetation in the reserve.


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Management objectives and targets (short-long term)- Investigate the need for the establishment of boundary fences

around the perimeter of the reserve to limit the entry of stock which may enter from adjoining State Forest.

Physical Assets and BoundariesGreen Hills NCR contains one dam filled by local runoff and accessible to stock. Ashed in moderate condition also occurs on the reserve (Figure 1). Experimental plots (including fenced and unfenced plots) have been established in four areas of Green Hills NCR to monitor the effects of grazing and burning on populations of Austral Toad-flax (Figure 1). A number of internal fences also occur in the reserve (i.e. in grassland regions). However, the capacity of these fences to control stock is undetermined. There is no boundary fencing around the reserve at present and legal boundaries for the NCR are not clear on the ground due to vegetation in the reserve being contiguous with vegetation in the surrounding State Forest.

Crown land in the adjoining State Forest to the east of Green Hills NCR contains a small area of montane grassland (Figures 1, 4). Protection of this grassland within a SPZ and complementary management with the Green Hills NCR may be appropriate.

A number of road reserves which occur within and adjacent to Green Hills NCR and contain contiguous native vegetation will be added to the reserve and assigned to Parks Victoria for management (Figure 1).

Management objectives and targets (short-medium term)- Maintain dam if required for stock water.- Establish the location of boundaries of Green Hills NCR, as a basis for

enforcement of Regulations, and the control of grazing in the reserve.- Investigate the need for additional internal fences to control the

movement of stock grazing within the grassland areas of the reserve.

Heritage Values, Condition and RiskThere are no recorded places of heritage value and there is no evidence of placeswith heritage value in Green Hills NCR.

Management objectives and targets (short-medium term)- If sites of heritage value are identified, assess their condition

and establish management objectives.

Indigenous Values, Condition and RiskThere are no recorded archaeological sites and no identified sites or features in Green Hills NCR, and potential for sites of indigenous value is considered to be low.


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Management objectives and targets (short-long term)- Reflect the Traditional Owners’ cultural lore, and interests and

aspirations in thearea in managing the reserve, and work with them and the scheduled local Aboriginal community in accordance with relevant legislation and Parks Victoria’s operational policies.

- Work with the Traditional Owners and consult the scheduled local Aboriginal community in survey of the reserve to identify the location of significant indigenous sites, places and objects.

- If sites, places and objectives are identified, seek guidance from the Traditional Owners on their future management and assessing their condition.

Visitor Services, Condition and RiskThere is currently no level of visitor services for Green Hills NCR (classified as ‘Very Basic’). The provisional future level of service will be ‘Very Basic’ (no facilities). Access is restricted to Green Hill Track (Figure 1). While there is no data available, visitor numbers to the Green Hills NCR are likely to be low (0-5000 p.a.), because the reserve has been purchased only recently.

Management objectives and targets (short-long term)- Retain ‘Very Basic’ level of service; i.e. do not provide built facilities or

accessroads accessible by the general public.

- Maintain existing internal Management Vehicle Only (MVO) tracks where required. These MVO tracks will not be accessible for public vehicular access.

Signage: Provide locality signage for the reserve within two years and maintain it.

ConsultationThis Management Statement has been prepared in consultation with Matt Holland (Parks Victoria), Mick Bramwell and Emma Roe (DSE), and Kevin Thiele and Suzanne Prober (Ecological Interactions).

References and Further ReadingBarlow, T. (1998) Grassy Guidelines: How to manage native grasslands

and grassy woodlands on your property. Trust for Nature, Melbourne.

DSE (2003) Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 2003. Department of Sustainability & Environment, Melbourne.

DSE (2004) Victorian Bioregional Conservation Status of EVCs Area Statement.

Department of Sustainability and Environment (Revised 28 September 2004).

DSE (2005) Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria - 2005. Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne.

Eddy, D.A. (2002) Managing native grassland: a guide to management


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for conservation, production and landscape protection. World Wide Fund for Nature, Sydney.


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Environment Australia (2000) Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) and Development of Version 5.1 Summary Report. Environment Australia, Canberra. http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/nrs/ibra/version5-1/summary-report/index.html

Fitzsimons J.A & Ashe, C. (2003) Some recent strategic additions to Victoria’s protected area system 1997-2002. Victorian Naturalist 120, 98-108.

LCC (1977) Report on the Alpine Study Area. Land Conservation Council, Victoria, Melbourne.

NRE (1996) IUCN Categories and Other Key Data for Parks and Conservation Reserves in Victoria. National Parks and Reserves Branch, National Parks Service, Department of Natural Resources & Environment, Melbourne.

Parks Victoria (2003) Conservation Reserves Management Strategy. Parks Victoria, Melbourne.

Prober, S.M. & Thiele, K.R. (1998) Ecology and Management of the Austral Toad-flax (Thesium australe) at ‘Open Grounds’. Gillingal Station, East Gippsland. Report prepared for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Ecological Interactions, Victoria.

Prober, S.M. & Thiele, K.R. (2005) Management of the Austral Toad-flax (Thesium australe) at ‘Open Grounds’. Gillingal Station, East Gippsland. Preliminary report on experimental trials 1998-2005, prepared for the Department of Sustainability& Environment. Ecological Interactions, Victoria.

Scarlett, N., Bramwell, M. & Earl, G. (1994) Austral Toad Flax Thesium australe. Flora and Fauna Guarantee Action Statement No. 56. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria.


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Appendix 1. Provisional list of vascular flora recorded at Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve.Taxon Common Name

1 2 3

Source

45 6 7

Indigenous speciesAcacia dealbata Silver Wattle +Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood + +Acacia verniciflua Varnish Wattle +Acaena agnipila Hairy Sheep's Burr + +Acaena echinata Sheep's Burr +Acaena novae-zelandiae Bidgee-widgee +Acrotriche serrulata Honey-pots + +Ajuga australis Austral Bugle +Arthropodium milleflorum Pale Vanilla-lily +Asperula conferta Common Woodruff +Asperula scoparia Prickly Woodruff +Asplenium flabellifolium Necklace fern +Astroloma humifusum Cranberry Heath + +Austrodanthonia laevis Smooth Wallaby-grass +Austrodanthonia penicillata Slender Wallaby-grass +Austrodanthonia pilosa Velvet Wallaby-grass +Austrofestuca hookeriana Hooker fescue +Billardiera scandens Common Apple-berry +Bossiaea prostrata Creeping Bossiaea +Botrychium australe Austral Moonwort + v LBrachyloma daphnoides Daphne Heath +Brachyscome aculeata Branching Daisy +Brachyscome scapigera Tufted Daisy +Bursaria spinosa Sweet Bursaria +Bursaria spinosa subsp. spinosa

Sweet Bursaria +Carex breviculmis Common Grass-sedge + +Carex incomitata Hillside Sedge +Carex inversa Knob Sedge +Carex iynx Tussock Sedge +Cassinia aculeata Common Cassinia +Cassinia longifolia Shiny Cassinia + +Comesperma volubile Love Creeper +Coprosma quadrifida Prickly Currant-bush +Crassula sieberiana Sieber Crassula +Cymbonotus preissianus Austral Bear's-ear +Cynoglossum suaveolens Sweet Hound's-tongue +Daviesia latifolia Hop Bitter-pea + +Desmodium varians Slender Tick-trefoil + + kDeyeuxia quadriseta Reed Bent-grass +Dianella tasmanica Tasman Flax-lily + +Dichelachne inaequiglumis Loose Plume-grass +Dichelachne micrantha Small-seed Plume-grass +

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Taxon Common Name

1 2 3

Source

45 6 7

Dichelachne rara Common Plume-grass +Dichondra repens Kidney-weed +Dipodium punctatum Hyacinth Orchid +Echinopogon ovatus Common Hedgehog-grass +Elymus scaber var. scaber Common Wheat-grass + + +Epacris gunnii Ace of Spades +Epacris impressa Common Heath +Epilobium billardierianum subsp.cinereumEucalyptus camphora subsp.humeanaEucalyptus croajingolensis

Grey Willow-herb

Mountain Swamp-

gum Gippsland

Peppermint

+

+

+

Eucalyptus cypellocarpa Mountain Grey-gum +Eucalyptus dives Broad-leaved Peppermint + +Eucalyptus globoidea White Stringybark +Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata

Eurabbie +Eucalyptus globulus subsp.pseudoglobulus Eucalyptus macrorhyncha

Gippsland Blue-gum

Red Stringybark

+

+

+

Eucalyptus mannifera subsp.manniferaEucalyptus melliodora

Brittle Gum

Yellow Box

+

+

+

Eucalyptus pauciflora Snow Gum + + +Eucalyptus rubida Candlebark + + +Eucalyptus sieberi Silvertop Ash +Euchiton involucratus s.s. Star Cudweed +Exocarpos cupressiformis Cherry Ballart +Festuca asperula Graceful Fescue +Galium ciliare Hairy Bedstraw +Galium propinquum Maori Bedstraw +Geranium potentilloides Cinquefoil Cranesbill +Geranium solanderi Austral Cranesbill +Geranium spp. Crane's Bill +Glycine clandestina Twining Glycine + +Gonocarpus tetragynus Common Raspwort + +Haloragis aspera Rough Raspwort +Haloragis heterophylla Varied Raspwort +Hardenbergia violacea Purple Coral-pea + +Helichrysum scorpioides Button Everlasting +Hibbertia obtusifolia Grey Guinea-flower +Hovea heterophylla Common Hovea + +Hydrocotyle hirta Hairy Pennywort + +Hydrocotyle laxiflora Stinking Pennywort +Hypericum gramineum Small St John's Wort + + +Hypericum japonicum Matted St John's Wort +Hypoxis hygrometrica var. Golden Weather-glass +

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Taxon Common Name

1 2 3

Source

45 6 7

hygrometricaIndigofera australis Austral Indigo + +Joycea pallida Silvertop Wallaby-grass +Kunzea ericoides spp. agg. Burgan +Lachnagrostis aemula s.l. Leafy Blown-grass +Lachnagrostis filiformis Common Blown-grass +Lepidosperma laterale Variable Sword-sedge + +Leptorhynchos squamatus Scaly Buttons + +Leptostigma reptans Dwarf Nertera +Linum marginale Native Flax +Lomandra filiformis Wattle Mat-rush +Lomandra longifolia Spiny-headed Mat-rush + +Luzula meridionalis var. flaccida

Common Woodrush +Luzula spp. Woodrush +Mentha diemenica Slender Mint +Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides

Weeping Grass +Microseris scapigera spp. agg.

Yam Daisy +Microtis parviflora Slender Onion-orchid +Oreomyrrhis eriopoda Australian Caraway +Oxalis perennans Grassland Wood-sorrel +Pentapogon quadrifidus var.quadrifidus Persoonia silvatica

Five-awned Spear-grass

Forest Geebung

+

+ rPimelea curviflora Curved Rice-flower +Plantago antarctica Mountain Plantain +Plantago spp. Plantain +Plantago varia Variable Plantain +Poa australis spp. agg. Tussock Grass +Poa labillardieri Common Tussock-grass +Poa meionectes Fine-leaf Tussock-grass + +Poa sieberiana var. cyanophylla

Blue-leaf Tussock-grass + + kPoa spp. Tussock Grass +Poa tenera Slender Tussock-grass +Polygala japonica Dwarf Milkwort + + vPoranthera microphylla Small Poranthera +Prasophyllum frenchii Maroon Leek-orchid + e L EPultenaea juniperina s.l. Prickly Bush-pea + +Ranunculus lappaceus Australian Buttercup +Ranunculus spp. Buttercup +Rumex brownii Slender Dock +Schoenus apogon Common Bog-sedge +Scleranthus biflorus s.l. Twin-flower Knawel + +Scleranthus fasciculatus Spreading Knawel + rSenecio linearifolius Fireweed Groundsel +Senecio quadridentatus Cotton Fireweed +

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Taxon Common Name

1 2 3

Source

45 6 7

Senecio sp. E (sensu NSW Flora)

+Solenogyne gunnii Hairy Solenogyne +Stellaria pungens Prickly Starwort + +Stylidium graminifolium Grass Triggerplant +Tetratheca bauerifolia Heath Pink-bells +Themeda triandra Kangaroo Grass + + + +Thesium australe Austral Toad-flax + + + v L VTricoryne elatior Yellow Rush-lily +Veronica calycina Hairy Speedwell +Veronica gracilis Slender Speedwell + +Viola betonicifolia Showy Violet + +Wahlenbergia multicaulis s.l. Branching Bluebell +Wahlenbergia stricta subsp. stricta

Tall Bluebell +Wurmbea dioica Common Early Nancy +

Introduced speciesAcetosella vulgaris Sheep Sorrel +Aira elegantissima Delicate Hair-grass +Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal-grass +Arenaria serpyllifolia subsp.serpyllifoliaBriza minor

Thyme-leaved Sandwort

Lesser Quaking-grass

+

+Bromus hordeaceus subsp.hordeaceus Centaurium erythraea

Soft Brome

Common Centaury

+

+Centaurium tenuiflorum Slender Centaury +Cerastium glomeratum Common Mouse-ear

Chickweed+

Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle +Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog +Hypochoeris radicata Cat's Ear + + +Lotus corniculatus Bird's-foot Trefoil +Medicago lupulina Black Medic +Oxalis corniculata s.s. Creeping Wood-sorrel +Petrorhagia nanteulii Childling Pink +Plantago lanceolata Ribwort +Prunella vulgaris Self-heal +Rosa rubiginosa Sweet Briar + +Rubus fruticosus spp. agg. Blackberry + +Sisyrinchium sp. A Scour-weed +Sonchus asper s.l. Rough Sow-thistle +Trifolium arvense var. arvense

Hare's-foot Clover +Trifolium glomeratum Cluster Clover +Trifolium repens var. repens White Clover + +Trifolium striatum Knotted Clover +Veronica persica Persian Speedwell +


15

Taxon Common Name Source

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vic

St

atus

FF

GEP

BC

Vulpia bromoidesVulpia myuros

Squirrel-tail FescueRat's-tail Fescue

++

Key: v (vulnerable in Victoria), r (rare in Victoria), e (endangered in Victoria), k (poorly known in Victoria), L (listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988), V (nationally vulnerable), V (nationally endangered). Threat status follows DSE (2005).

Source:1 - Site observations and vegetation survey, Green Hills NCR (Prober & Thiele 1998) 2 - Site observations, Green Hills NCR between 1995-2005 (E. Roe pers. comm. 2005)3 - Victorian Flora Site Database (FIS) Ref: P00374, Date: 12 March 1980, Collector: N.H. Scarlett 4 - Victorian Flora Site Database Ref: P02625, Date: 26 February 1997, Collector: M. Bramwell5- Victorian Flora Site Database Ref: W07735, Date: 14 December 1997, Collector: K.R. Thiele6- Victorian Flora Site Database Ref: X31606, Date: 14 December 1997, Collector: K.R. Thiele7- Victorian Flora Site Database Ref: C18018, Date: 1 February 1980, Collectors: SJF, NGW, PKG,

HVR

All FIS sites are located in Green Hills NCR, except FIS site C18018, which is located approximately 75 m north of the reserve. Refer to Figure 2 for location of threatened flora observations.


16

Appendix 2. Provisional list of fauna recorded at Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve.

Common Name Scientific Name SourceVict.

FFG EPBC

Status Indigenous SpeciesBlack Wallaby Wallabia bicolor 1Common Wombat Vombatus ursinus 1Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus 1Tussock Skink Pseudemoia

pagenstecheri2

Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 1Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 1Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla 1Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans 1Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus 1Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis 1Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum 1Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 1Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa 1Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 1Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 1Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 1Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 1Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata 1Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 1Superb Lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae 1Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 1White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 1White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaeus 1Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 1Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo

Calyptorhynchus funereus

1

Introduced SpeciesEuropean Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus 3 Feral Dog Canis familiaris 3 Threat status follows DSE (2003).

Source:1 - Green Hills NCR site inspection 1 June 2005. Observer: J. Fitzsimons, DSE 2 - Green Hills NCR site inspection 1 June 2005. Observer: E. Roe, DSE3 – Mick Bramwell, DSE, 1990s-2000s.


17

Appendix 3. Biosites identified on or near the Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve. (Database accessed 6 May 2005)

Site # 6995 Green Hills (site located on NCR)· Significance Level: Yet to be determined· Bioregion: East Gippsland Uplands· Boundary Derivation: Site boundary not mapped on DSE GIS· Longitude: 37° 16' 24", Latitude: 148° 08' 13"· Species assets: Austral Toad-flax Thesium australe

Site # 6632 SPZ 814/07 East Gippsland Forest Management Area (Located approximately 800 m west of Green Hills NCR)· Significance Level: Regional· Bioregion: Highlands - Southern Fall· Habitat: Special Protection Zone- Nowa Nowa Forest District· Boundary Derivation: Existing GIS point, line and polygon data plotted at

1:100,000· Area (Ha): 46· Longitude: 37° 16' 38", Latitude: 148° 06' 07"· Forest Management Area: East Gippsland; Block: 814· Floristic Community: Wet Forest· EVC Description: Wet Forest

Site # 6603 SPZ 811/01 East Gippsland Forest Management Area (Located approximately 900 m northwest of Green Hills NCR)· Significance Level: Local· Bioregion: Highlands - Northern Fall· Habitat: Special Protection Zone- Nowa Nowa Forest District· Boundary Derivation: Existing GIS point, line and polygon data plotted at

1:100,000· Area (Ha): 69· Longitude: 37° 15' 29", Latitude: 148° 06' 29"· Forest Management Area: East Gippsland; Block: 811· Other Asset: Wildlife corridor

Site # 6624 SPZ 814/03 East Gippsland Forest Management Area (Located approximately 2 km west of Green Hills NCR)· Significance Level: Local· Bioregion: Highlands - Northern Fall· Habitat: Special Protection Zone- Nowa Nowa Forest District· Boundary Derivation: Existing GIS point, line and polygon data plotted at

1:100,000· Area (Ha): 86· Longitude: 37° 16' 54", Latitude: 148° 05' 15"· Forest Management Area: East Gippsland; Block: 814· Other Asset: Wildlife corridor


18

Appendix 4. Report by Prober & Thiele (2005) on the Management of Austral Toad-flax (Thesium australe) at Green Hills NCR.

Management of the Austral Toad-flax (Thesium australe) at Green Hills Nature

Conservation Reserve, East Gippsland

Preliminary report on experimental trials 1998-2005, prepared for the Department of Sustainability and Environment

June 2005

S.M.Prober & K.R.Thiele

ecological inte r actions


19

Summary

Thesium australe is a rare, semi-parasitic herb, once widespread in grassy vegetation of south-eastern Australia. The species has become rare since European settlement, and is listed as Endangered in Victoria, where it is currently known only from a few montane sites between Benambra and Wulgulmerang. The largest known population in Victoria is in Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve, formerly the ‘Open Grounds’ portion of Gillingal Station north of Buchan. This site has recently been acquired by the Department of Sustainability and Environment as a means of conserving the species, and will be managed by Parks Victoria.

Managing sites supporting Thesium is difficult due to a lack of information on the effects of common management practices, particularly burning and grazing, on Thesium populations. Consequently, a replicated trial using grazing/no grazing and burning/no burning treatments was established at Green Hills NCR in 1998 to help determine optimal management regimes for this species. This report describes preliminary outcomes of the management trial from 1998 to 2005.

Results confirm that Thesium numbers fluctuate widely between years, and that regular disturbance is important for maintaining Thesium populations. Thesium numbers were very high in 2002 and 2005, and very low in 2000-1 and 2003-4. In the high-population years, numbers on undisturbed (fenced, unburnt) plots remained relatively low, while they increased dramatically on recently disturbed plots.

Burning and/or grazing were equally effective for enhancing Thesium numbers where disturbance was recent (within 1 year). However, no response of Thesium to burning was detected in 2002, 3 years after the last fire. These results imply that disturbances >2 years ago may no longer be effective for enhancing Thesium numbers. Conversely, a fire interval of 5 years still successfully enhanced Thesium populations in the year following the fire, suggesting that seed bank longevity is sufficient to span this period.

Autumn to winter burning regimes of approximately 2-4 year intervals, or light, intermittent grazing at similar or more frequent intervals, are thus recommended on a preliminary basis for managing Thesium populations at Green Hills NCR.

It is important to note that these results apply to Thesium numbers only. The native grasslands at Green Hills NCR have other important conservation values that may be affected by burning and grazing treatments, and these effects should be assessed as a matter of priority before a final management plan is determined.


20

Introduction

Thesium australe is a rare, semi-parasitic herb or subshrub found in grasslands, grassy woodlands and grassy heathlands in south-eastern Australia. Before European settlement it was widespread, though perhaps never common, extending from south- east Queensland through eastern New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania. The species has declined markedly both in abundance and distribution since settlement, probably as a result of the widespread clearing or degradation of native grassy understoreys through agricultural activities. It is listed as Endangered in Victoria, Vulnerable in New South Wales and Queensland and possibly extinct in Tasmania (Leigh et al. 1984, Griffith 1991, Scarlett et al. 1994).

In Victoria Thesium is currently known from only a few montane sites between Benambra and Wulgulmerang, although historical records indicate a prior range extending from Casterton in the far west to Bendoc in the far east and from the lowlands to the subalps. The most important extant site is at Green Hills NCR, previously part of Gillingal Station north of Buchan. This site has been acquired by the Department of Sustainability and Environment for conservation purposes.

Little is known of the biology or management requirements of Thesium australe. Published observations suggest that it is sensitive to regular grazing by livestock and other herbivores. Conversely, intermittent burning or grazing of grasslands may be critical for promoting recruitment and establishment (Archer 1984, 1987). However, few detailed studies are available to guide management of Thesium sites. This report describes preliminary findings from an experimental trial conducted at Green Hills NCR during summer 1998-2005, comparing a range of management treatments on Thesium numbers. The reader is referred to our earlier report (Prober & Thiele 1998) for more detailed background information on Thesium populations at Green Hills NCR and the establishment of the trial.

Methods

Experimental designA 4 treatment x 4 replicate trial was established in December 1997, using a randomizedcomplete block design. Treatments included combinations of burning and grazing, i.e.unburnt + ungrazed; unburnt + grazed; burnt + ungrazed; burnt + grazed. Four blocks (replicates) were sited on different parts of Green Hills NCR in moderate to dense patches of Thesium in Themeda grassland (see Map 1). Within each block, four 5x5 m plots were marked, with treatments allocated randomly to plots within a block. Allocations were checked for any initial biases in Thesium numbers by ensuring that there were no chance significant pre-treatment effects on initial counts.

Two plots in each block were fenced with barbed and plain wire to about 1.4m before cattle grazing began in early February 1998. The fences allowed free entry of rabbits but prevented grazing by cattle and probably also kangaroos. The historical grazing regime, characterised by spell-grazing mainly in summer, has allowed Thesium to survive and flourish at the site in the past, so this grazing regime was repeated where


21

possible throughout the trial. In practice, grazing was variable, with no grazing in 1999, 120 head of cattle during summer in 2001 and 2002, and similar but unrecorded regimes in other years.

One fenced and one unfenced plot within each block was burnt during August 1999 and May 2004. The burns were light and patchy, with incomplete consumption of the Themeda litter.

Monitoring methodology and data analysisThe number of Thesium individuals in each plot was estimated by dividing the plotinto four 1.25m wide strips and carefully counting the number of plants in each strip.Thesium counts were repeated annually, in March or April.

Data for each year were log transformed (ln (x+1)) and analysed using analysis of variance of the randomized complete block design, using Genstat (Genstat 2003). To account for differences in initial numbers of Thesium individuals between plots within blocks, we assessed the use of initial counts of Thesium as covariates in these analyses. Covariates were generally not significant and thus were excluded from final analyses. Fischer’s protected least significant differences were used to compare among treatment means.

As well as the number of Thesium individuals, the average height of the grass layer was recorded as an estimate of above-ground biomass. Projected covers (Braun- Blanquet) for all higher plant species present in each plot were recorded in 1998 to allow assessment of overall floristic changes. Floristic monitoring has not yet been repeated; floristic results will be reported at a later date.

Rainfall dataMonthly rainfall totals for two recording stations (84005 Buchan Post Office and 84142Gelantipy) for the years 1995-2005 were obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology. Buchan Post Office is c. 10.5 km S of Green Hills NCR and 500 m lower; Gelantipy is c.5.5 km NE of Green Hills NCR and 30 m higher. Monthly and yearly totals for the twosites were generally similar (Buchan mean annual rainfall over the period = 752 mm; Gelantipy = 697 mm). To help smooth local variation, the monthly means were averaged between the two sites, Seasonal (summer = December-February; autumn= March-May; winter = June-August; spring = September-November) and annual totals for each year were calculated for comparison with the Thesium counts.

Results

Counts for all plots, and untransformed treatment means, are given in Table 1. Summary rainfall data are given in Table 2.


22

Table 1. Counts of Thesium plants for experimental plots, 1998 – 2005. Burns were conducted in August 1999 and May 2004.Plot Treatment

1998

1999Year of

Monitorin 20002001 2002

g2003

2004

20051A Unfenced Burnt 261 395 0 1

1135 1 3

5270

1B Unfenced Unburnt 584 1044 0 0 141 0 22

2041C Fenced Burnt 448 803 6 1 1 0 1

3102

1D Fenced Unburnt 168 236 11

0 0 0 77

1192A Fenced Burnt 384 604 439 8 7 0 3 20412B Unfenced Burnt 825 1313 378 8

8715 0 1

0455

2C Fenced Unburnt 480 831 101 0 0 0 17

642D Unfenced Unburnt 423 413 3

110

59

0 35

2753A Fenced Burnt 1053 3796 1

3130 8 0 0 1010

3B Unfenced Burnt 883 3051 10

52

481 0 16

10093C Fenced Unburnt 1488 2026 3 0 0 0 1

4883D Unfenced Unburnt 663 2173 2 8

9908 8 7

32023

4A Fenced Unburnt 67

358 330 662 9 0 0 274B Unfenced Burnt 9

3915 206 107 1

80 7 648

4C Fenced Burnt 106 438 278 282 23

0 4 4574D Unfenced Unburnt 6

7161 292 131 262 1 8 524

All treatments 7993 18557

2100 1571 2767 10

334 9316Fenced Burnt 1991 5641 736 421 3

90 2

03610

Sums Fenced Unburnt 2203 3451 445 662 9 0 108 298Unfenced Burnt 2062 5674 594 258 1349 1 6

82382

Unfenced Unburnt 1737 3791 325 230 1370 9 138 3026

Table 2. Summary rainfall data, means of values for Buchan Post Office and Gelantipy

Summer

Autumn

Winter Spring Annual1995 129.4 138.1 293 820.71996 249.6 209.3 151.8 229.8 824.21997 140.2 148.7 86 165.1 510.21998 114.3 59.9 332 229.5 751.51999 188.7 169.1 112.9 155.5 648.92000 182.2 23

6169.7 274.8 826

2001 204.9 183.3 242.9 264.2 9162002 282.7 223.6 120.8 154.1 7732003 100.2 15

9108.95 211.2 596.75

2004 153.8 170.1 130.5 211.7 685.252005 275.85 98.1

Rainfall effectsThesium numbers varied dramatically from year to year, consistent with earlierobservations (Fig. 1). Most correlations of total Thesium numbers with rainfall data(totals for the previous 12 months, previous summer, spring, and winter) were not significant (Table 3). There was a high and significant negative correlation with rainfall in the autumn 12 months prior to measurement (R=-0.85, P=0.008).


23

Table 3. Pearson’s correlations (R) between Thesium numbers and rainfall totals in the 12 months prior to the April measurements. Figures in bold text are significant at P<0.05.

Mean for R P12 months 0.15 0.727summerspring winter

0.17 0.6820.11 0.8000.62 0.100

autumn -0.85 0.00

Management effectsManagement treatments significantly influenced Thesium numbers in years where high overall numbers of individuals were detected (2002 and 2005). In other post-treatment years (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004), Thesium numbers were generally too low to detect any treatment effects (Fig. 1).

Grazed treatments (unburnt and burnt) significantly and considerably enhanced Thesium numbers in both 2002 and 2005. Effects of burning varied according to time since the last fire. In 2002, 3 years since the last fire, no effects of burning on Thesium numbers were detectable. In 2005, a year after the 2004 fire, burning significantly enhanced Thesium numbers. At this date, all disturbance treatments (burning and grazing combinations) led to similar (approximately 700%) increases in Thesium numbers compared with undisturbed plots.

Analysis of variance indicated significant treatment effects on grass height in 2001 to 2003 (no data were available for 1998, 2000 or 2005). Mean grass height was significantly lower on grazed (unburnt and burnt) plots than on ungrazed (unburnt and burnt) plots in these years, consistent with expected treatment outcomes (in the absence of recent burning, Fig. 2). There was no significant effect in 1999 or 2004, suggesting that grazing levels may have been low in these years. Thesium numbers correlated significantly with estimates of (ln) grass height in 2001 (R=0.64, P=0.007) and 2002 (R=0.76, P<0.001), but there was no overall correlation (across years) between grass height and Thesium numbers (R=-0.007).

Thes

ium

ind

ivid

uals

/plo

t (ba

cktr

ansf

orm

ed m

eans

)


24

1200

p=0.001 p=0.013

1000

800

600 aaa

400

Fire

200

0

Fire a

ab

b

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

ungrazed unburnt ungrazed burnt grazed unburnt grazed burnt

Figure 1. Mean Thesium numbers per 5x5 m plot for each of the management treatments. Significance levels (p; not shown – not significant) refer to comparisons within measurement dates; different letters indicate significant differences between plot treatment means within measurement dates (P<0.05). Note that data were log-transformed (ln x+1) for analysis, and backtransformed means are presented.

Gra

ss h

eigh

t (cm

)


25

50p=0.002 p=0.001 p=0.003

45

40

35a

30 a

a aa

25a

20b

15 b b b

10 Fire Fire

b b5

01998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

ungrazed unburnt ungrazed burnt grazed unburnt grazed burnt

Figure 2. Estimated grass height for each 5x5 m plot for each of the management treatments. Significance levels (p; not shown – not significant) refer to comparisons within measurement dates; different letters indicate significant differences between plot treatment means within measurement dates (P<0.05).

Discussion

Annual fluctuations in Thesium populationsAs expected from earlier observations (Archer 1984, 1987, Leigh & Briggs 1989,Prober & Thiele 1998), Thesium numbers fluctuated dramatically from year to year. Low correlations with grass height suggested that annual fluctuations were not related to vegetation biomass alone.

The significant negative correlation with rainfall in the autumn prior to measurement may result from poor Themeda growth in a drought season being associated with high recruitment of Thesium in the following season. However, the grass height data did not indicate reduced Themeda vigour in the high-Thesium years, and the result may simply be a chance correlation. Longer term data are needed, and causes of annual fluctuations in Thesium numbers remain unclear.


26

Only in two years of the six year study were Thesium numbers high enough to determine whether treatments were influencing Thesium populations. The infrequency and variability of population flushes in this species increases the difficulty of detecting long term trends in Thesium populations; thus results to date must still be considered preliminary, and the experimental treatments and monitoring should be continued if possible.

Importance of disturbance for maintaining Thesium populationsThis trial provides direct evidence for the importance of occasional grassland disturbance for maintaining Thesium populations, supporting earlier observations by Archer (1984, 1987), but contrasting with observations of J. Briggs (pers. comm.), who found little effect of prescribed burns on a Thesium population near Canberra.

Effects of disturbance may also depend on season. Scarlett and Parsons (1993) noted the absence of Thesium from annually burnt railway reserves on the lowland basalt plains of Victoria, and suggested that spring-summer burning regimes may have eliminated the species from these sites. This contrasts with the positive response to cool-season burning recorded in the present study.

Experimental results also provide a preliminary indication of appropriate disturbance frequencies for maintaining Thesium populations. Data for 2002 suggest that the influence of burning on Thesium establishment at Green Hills NCR lasts only 1-2 years post-fire; thus to maintain high numbers of individuals in all favourable years, burning intervals would need to be relatively short. Conversely, the 2004 fire promoted high numbers in 2005, despite the five year interval between fires. Assuming that most Thesium individuals established from seed banks within the plots (rather than from seeds broadcast from outside the plots), this result suggests that soil seed banks can persist for at least five years, and that 2005 Thesium numbers were not negatively influenced by 5 years of very low population numbers.

Appropriate fire intervals for maintaining Thesium populations will depend on the balance between seed bank longevity and the frequency of seasons favourable for Thesium. It is not essential that Thesium numbers remain high in every season, but because not all years are suitable for successful Thesium establishment, a closer rather than wider fire interval would be the more conservative approach. A preliminary recommendation might thus be to maintain fire intervals of around 2-4 years, or perhaps greater during drought periods. This is consistent with historical burning regimes at Green Hills NCR, where records suggest regular winter burning (Prober & Thiele 1998). Further information on the longevity of seed banks and the factors leading to favourable Thesium years would be valuable for refining this strategy.

Grazing vs burningWhere burning was recent (2005), disturbance treatments (combinations of grazingand burning) were all equally effective for promoting Thesium. In other years, grazingwas more effective than burning, but only because the grazing treatment was more recent. While the data do not directly indicate appropriate


27

intervals between grazing


28

events, it would be reasonable to assume that grazing intervals similar to (or less than) those indicated for burning would be necessary for maintaining Thesium populations.

Comparisons of the effects of burning versus grazing on other floristic values at Green Hills NCR are still needed before the relative values of these management options can be fully assessed. For example, Thesium is a parasitic species dependent on hosts such as the dominant native grass Themeda triandra. Themeda is likely to be promoted by fire, but may suffer under some grazing regimes, potentially influencing Thesium in the longer term.

Further, it is important to note that these results apply to Thesium numbers only. The native grasslands at Green Hills NCR have other important conservation values. They support populations of the rare orchid Prasophyllum frenchii and the rare herb Polygala japonica, are an excellent example of mid-elevation basalt grasslands and are rich in other native grassland plants. Burning and grazing treatments may affect these values in different ways, and these effects should be assessed as a matter of priority before a final management plan is determined.

ReferencesArcher, W. R. (1984) Austral Toad-flax R. Brown (Santalaceae) – field notes

and observations. Victorian Naturalist 101, 81-85.Archer, W. R. (1987) Additional field notes and observations of Austral Toad-flax R.

Brown (Santalaceae). Victorian Naturalist 104, 46-49.

GenStat (2003) GenStat Release 7.1 Guide to GenStat Part 2: Statistics. VSN International Limited, Oxford, UK.

Griffith, S. J. (1991) The Biology and Management of Austral Toadflax (Thesium australe) in New South Wales. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Leigh, J. & Briggs, J. D. (1989) Research relating to the conservation of rare or

threatened plant species and their habitats in eastern Australia. In M. Hicks and P. Eiser (eds.) The Conservation of Threatened Species and their Habitats. Australian Committee for IUCN, Canberra.

Leigh, J., Boden, R. & Briggs, J. (1984) Extinct and Endangered Plants of Australia.

MacMillan, Melbourne.

Prober, S. & Thiele, K. (1998) Ecology and management of the Austral Toad-flax (Thesium australe) at ‘Open Grounds’, Gillingal Station, East Gippsland. Report to Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria.

Scarlett, N., Bramwell, M. & Earl, G. (1994) Action Statement No. 56. Austral Toad Flax

Thesium australe. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Victoria.

Scarlett, N. H. & Parsons, R. F. (1993) Rare or threatened plants in Victoria. In D. B. Foreman and N. G. Walsh (eds.), Flora of Victoria, Volume I. Inkata Press, Melbourne.


29

AcknowledgementsWork for this project was funded by the Dept. Sustainability and Environment,Victoria and the Department of Environment and Heritage. Mick Bramwell, Emma Roe, members of the Bairnsdale Field Naturalists, Green Corp members and other volunteers conducted annual counts of Thesium.

© Department of Sustainability and Environment The State of Victoria, 2005. of error and do not accept liability for loss arising

from use of this product beyond its original purpose.

Figure 1. Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve - Boundaries, Hydrology and Physical Assets

Green Hills NCR

● Government road reserves

Dam#

■ Shed#

##

State Forest Zones

General Management

Zone Special Protection

Zone

Hydrology (1:100,000)

Perennial stream

Intermittent

stream

Roads (1:100,000)

Major road

unsealed Vehicular

track Minor road

unsealed

● Experimental plots

LOCALITY

#



June 2005Base Data from DSE GIS Corporate Library

Disclaimer:This map is made using the best available information. The creators of this map do not warrant that it is free

N1.2 0 0.2 0.4 Kilometres



Figure 2. Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve- Threatened Species, Biosites and Ecological Vegetation Classes

%# 6603

Green Hills NCR

● Threatened species

■ Biosites

Hydrology (1:100,000)

#Austral Toad-flax

Blue-leaf Tussock-grass #

Austral Toad-flax

P e rennial stream

Intermittent

stream

Austral Toad-flax# Austral Toad-flax

Dwarf Brooklime #

#

#

# # 6995

Austral Toad-flax Dwarf Brooklime Slender Tick-trefoil

#

Ecological Vegetation Classes(29) Damp Forest

(702) Montane Grassland

(37) Montane Grassy Woodland

(21) Shrubby Dry Forest

(47) Valley Grassy Forest

(30)Wet Forest

■ # (22) Grassy Dry Forest

%# 6632

Austral Toad-flax

##

● #Austral Toad-flax Austral Toad-flax

(33) Cool/Temperate Rainforest Overlap

(36) Montane Dry Woodland

Note: EVC mapping within Green Hills NCR based on that by Mick Bramwell 2005. Mapping outside of Green Hills NCR current in the EVC_CMP layer in the GCDL July 2005

LOCALITY

#



April 2005Base Data from DSE GIS Corporate Library

Disclaimer:This map is made using the best available information. The creators of this map do not warrant that it is free 1.5 0 0.5 Kilometres

N



Figure 3. Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve - Landscape Context

Nunnalong Plain Natural Features

and Scenic Reserve

Alpine National Park

Nunnett Plain Natural Features

and Scenic Reserve

Parks, Reserves & Other Public Land

National Parks

Mount Stewart Natural Features

and Scenic Reserve

● GELANTIPYNature Conservation Reserve

Natural Features Reserve

Other Public Land

● BUTCHERS RIDGE

State Forest Zones

General Management

Zone Special Management

Zone

Special Protection Zone


Roads (1:100,000)

Major road sealed

Major road unsealed

GILLINGAL#

● W TREE

Snowy River National Park

LOCALITY

Plum Gully Flora Reserve

Murrindal Flora

Reserve#



June 2005Base Data from DSE GIS Corporate Library

Disclaimer:This map is made using the best available information. The creators of this map do not warrant that it is free

N3 0 3 Kilometres

Figure 4. Aerial photograph of Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve. Note: the red line indicates the approximate boundary of the reserve.

green hills ncr management statement 2005parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0009/... ·...

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