Fitzgerald biosphere recovery plan

• 
  IUCN Red List 2010: Vulnerable
  
• 
  Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Vulnerable
  
• 
  Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950: Vulnerable
  

Photo: © Ray Smith

Medium-sized (c.17cm) ground-dwelling bird with short wings and long, graduated tail. Colouration is generally rufous-brown with fine dark-brown scalloping. The underparts brownish-grey. An elusive species and often difficult to observe.

Endemic to south-west WA and occurs in two disjunct areas: from Two Peoples’ Bay NR to Cheynes Beach and in the FRNP as far east as East Mt Barren. Not recorded between these populations, which are themselves fragmented.

Favours diverse areas of closed coastal heathland, usually with abundant sedges and low sparse eucalypt thickets. May reoccupy burnt areas 2-3 yrs post-fire but in drier areas it may take 11-14 yrs.
Important Populations

The FRNP is one of the two secure populations of this species.

• 
  That area of current occupancy of known populations; and
  
• 
  Nearby similar habitat nearby used as dispersal corridors; and
  
• 
  Potential habitat into which the species could disperse or be translocated.
  

Ground-foraging species with diet consisting mainly of seeds and invertebrates. Weak flier and generally terrestrial but will occasionally make short flights.

Song is distinctive and antiphonal, i.e. ‘male’ call is answered by ‘female’ call. Little is known of breeding biology but pairs appear to hold territories together.
Threats

Fragmentation of habitat through clearing of native vegetation; Degradation of habitat from the effects of Phytophthora dieback, hard-hoofed introduced animals, intense and high frequency bushfires and weed invasion; Predation by feral cats and foxes; Stochastic events; Small population size (genetic issues) exacerbated by fragmented and isolated populations, Climate Change.

• 
  IUCN Red List 2010: Near Threatened
  
• 
  Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Vulnerable
  
• 
  Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950: Vulnerable
  

Photo: © Cameron Tiller (DEC)

One of Australia’s largest mainland carnivorous marsupial, with mature adults reaching the size of a small domestic cat and weighing up to 1.3kg. Pelage is reddish-brown with white spots, and the long tail graduates to black at distal end.

Formerly occupied up to 70% of Australian mainland but since mid-20^th century has been confined to south-western WA. The species has been translocated to various sites between Cape Arid and Kalbarri NPs and ranges widely so exact distribution is difficult to assess. However, appears to occurs patchily throughout the south-west land division using a wide range of habitats from sclerophyll woodlands to beaches and deserts. Riparian systems may support higher than normal densities.

An important population of the species occurs in the Ravensthorpe Range through to the northern marine plain of the FRNP.

Has historically been present in a wide variety of habitats and is not possible to list specific habitat characteristics that should be conserved. However, some key aspects for survival in an area include:

• 
  Adequate den resources (hollow logs, burrows or rock crevices); and
  
• 
  Adequate prey resources (particularly large invertebrates); and
  
• 
  sizeable areas (>20,000ha) to accommodate large home ranges.
  

Opportunistic omnivore and consumes large invertebrates as well as small birds, mammals and reptiles. Plant material (e.g. Zamia (Macrozamia riedlei) seed pulp) occasionally eaten and may also scavenge from humans. Mainly terrestrial and nocturnal but will occasionally climb trees and forage diurnally.

Males and females reach sexual maturity in first year and rarely live longer than four years. Both sexes are promiscuous. Young spent first 2 months in pouch, after which they reside in a den.
Threats

Loss and fragmentation of habitat; Degradation of habitat including loss of den sites (e.g. hollow logs); Inappropriate fire regime (e.g. high frequency); Competition with and predation by feral cats, foxes, and dingoes; Conflict with humans (e.g. trapping, illegal shooting, poisoning); Vehicle collisions.

• 
  IUCN Red List 2010: Vulnerable
  
• 
  Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Vulnerable
  
• 
  Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950: Vulnerable
  

Photo: © Alan Danks

A large, ground-dwelling bird up to 60cm long and 2.5kg in weight. Adult birds have grey necks with black medial stripe and upperparts are chestnut brown with mottled brown, black and white ocellations on the wings.

In Australia, occurs in a wide distribution (approximately 900,000km²) from the Great Dividing Range in the east to Shark Bay in the west. In WA, occurs south-west of a line from Carnarvon to Eyre Bird Observatory, often patchily especially in remnant bush in the Wheatbelt. It is absent from far south-west.

There is no information to specify that any population is more under threat than any other, nor are there any locations where the species can be confidently regarded as secure. However, it is regularly seen throughout the FNRP.

Habitat requirements are poorly understood, but a sandy substrate and abundant leaf litter are clear requirements for the construction of nests. In WA, the Malleefowl occurs mainly in arid mallee and shrubland habitats on sandy soils.

Generalist foragers and will consume invertebrates, a variety of plant material (especially seeds) as well as fungi but may also use artificial sources of food (e.g. spilt grain. Usually forage around dawn and dusk.

A mound-nester, it builds mounds 4-5m in diameter and 1m high. Pairs may raise 8-10 chicks per year. Sexually mature at 4-5 yrs and the average lifespan may be c.15 yrs.
Threats

Loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat from land clearing, environmental weeds and effects of altered hydrology; Predation by cats and foxes; Vehicle collision while foraging for spilt grain along roadsides; Inappropriate fire regimes (e.g. large-scale or high frequency fire events); Small population sizes (genetic issues) exacerbated by fragmented and isolated populations; Competition from grazing herbivores; Climate change.

• 
  IUCN Red List 2010: Endangered
  
• 
  Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999): Vulnerable
  
• 
  Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act (1950): Vulnerable
  

Photo: © Stephanie Hill (DEC)

A small marsupial, with distinctive white transverse stripes on the lower back and rump over the reddish-brown pelage. Has large brush-like tail and single black and white lateral stripe on either side of the head between the eye and lower jaw. Mature adult body length is around 200-250mm, with the tail adding 150-180mm.

Formerly widespread across semi-arid and arid southern Australia from western NSW and southern NT to the south-west of WA.

Just two natural populations remain, at Dryandra Woodland (near Narrogin) and Perup NR (near Manjimup). Translocated populations now exist in a number of reserves throughout the south-west, including Cocanarup TR in the Fitzgerald Biosphere.

Historically, habitat preferences were varied but currently the species is restricted to eucalypt woodland areas, e.g. Salmon Gum (Eucalyptus salmonophloia) in Cocanarup TR.

The translocated population in Cocanarup TR in the Fitzgerald Biosphere.

• 
  The area of occupancy of the translocated population; and
  
• 
  Similar habitat that currently does not contain the species but may be suitable for translocations.
  

Feeds almost exclusively on termites (Isoptera), extracted by digging to intercept galleries (rather than nests) and using its extremely long tongue, coated with adhesive saliva. Unusually for a small marsupial, it is a diurnal species. Solitary and territorial, females raise young in burrows until mature enough to forage further afield. May live up to 5 yrs, reaching sexual maturity in the first year for females and second yr for males.

Predation by cats, foxes and native avian predators; Inappropriate fire regimes (frequency and intensity); Loss of woodland habitat, Stochastic events, Climate change.