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Eucalyptus morrisbyimorrisbys gum

T A S M A N I A N T H R E A T E N E D S P E C I E SL I S T I N GS T A T E M E N T

Scientific name: Eucalyptus morrisbyi Brett, Pap. & Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasmania 129: pl.

14–15 (1939)Common name:morrisbys gumGroup: vascular plant, dicotyledon, family Myrtaceae

Status: Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: endangeredEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Endangered

Distribution Biogeographic origin: endemic to TasmaniaTasmanian Natural Resource Management Region: SouthTasmanian IBRA bioregions (V6): South East

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Figure 1. Distribution of Eucalyptus morrisbyi, showing IBRA bioregions

Plate 1. Eucalyptus morrisbyi: buds, capsules, adult & juvenile leaves (scale bar=2cm)

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)

IDENTIFICATION AND ECOLOGY

Eucalyptus morrisbyi is a small tree, growing to a height of approximately 6 to 12 m. Seedlings take about ten years to produce flowers, a relatively long time for eucalypts. Peak flowering occurs from February to May (Williams and Potts 1996). The species is more or less well adapted to fire, which stimulates release of seed from capsules for regeneration. If flowering is compromised, the canopy held seedbank is only viable for about two years as capsules

become too woody to release their

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)seed. The Calverts Hill stand in particular has a large number of seedlings that have been repressed by continuous browsing to ground level and potentially may be many years old. Plants in the Risdon stand have resprouted from lignotubers following a major dieback event and genetic testing of stems has demonstrated considerable clonality in the stand (Jones et al. 2005).

Eucalyptus morrisbyi is susceptible to drought, being the first of the local eucalypts to show signs of stress following drought events, with stress symptoms particularly evident in trees growing on drier sites. Stressed plants including any regrowth are more susceptible to vertebrate and insect browsing, often rapidly resulting in death or dieback.

There are considerable genetic differences between the Calverts Hill and Risdon stands. Plants from the Risdon stand are less palatable to vertebrate browsing as demonstrated in mixed plantings (Mann et al. 2012).

However, plants from the Risdon stand have been shown to be more susceptible to myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) (newly introduced to Tasmania) than those from Calverts Hill (Potts et al. 2016). Plants from the two stands can be distinguished using molecular techniques (Jones et al. 2005). Some molecular differences are also evident between plants from the Calverts Hill stand and its associated remnant stands in the Cremorne area. Despite the small size of the Risdon subpopulation, variation remains high and it is not showing signs of inbreeding. This may be a consequence of inbreeding being limited by the high levels of self-incompatibility shown by the species (Potts & Savva 1988) and the longevity of the existing genotypes. Although Eucalyptus morrisbyi hybridises with Eucalyptus viminalis in the wild, studies have not revealed significant contamination of its gene pool.

DescriptionWhile Eucalyptus morrisbyi is generally rough barked at the base of the trunk, the old bark is shed further up leaving the upper part of the trunk and the branches smooth and brown, white-grey or pink-grey in colour. The bluish- green juvenile leaves are glaucous, unstalked

Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment 2

SUMMARY: Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum) is a small tree endemic to Tasmania’s southeast. It is only known from two locations 21 km apart; in the Government Hills near Risdon, and the fragmented Cremorne subpopulation which now consists of a main stand at Calverts Hill and several small remnant stands following past clearing for residential and agricultural purposes. The Risdon and the main Calverts Hill stands have suffered rapid dramatic declines in recent decades with the loss of all but a few mature trees which are all located at Calverts Hill. The Risdon stand is now considered to be functionally extinct as it no longer produces seed. This leaves the species with fewer than 30 mature trees in the wild that produce seed. The species appears to have been contracting to wetter gullies over time, exacerbated by the recent warmer and drier conditions associated with climate change. The species is highly palatable and once stressed, recovery is hampered by vertebrate and insect browsing that if left unchecked leads to the death of trees within years. The smaller roadside stands in the Cremorne area are additionally at risk from clearing to improve road safety and the small Lumeah Point


and rounded, 2 to 3 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide. They are arranged in opposite pairs. The adult leaves are stalked, less glaucous and arranged alternately. They are about 5 to 10 cm long and 1.5 to 4 cm wide. The flower buds have a pointed cap and are glaucous and shortly stalked. They arise in clusters of three from the leaf axils. The flowers are cream and develop into cylindrical, glaucous, woody capsules, 9 to 11 mm long and 6 mm wide (Plate 1).[description based on Curtis & Morris 1975]

Survey techniquesThis small tree can be identified at any time of the year, though mature trees (with capsules) are required to confirm the identity of this species.

Confusing SpeciesEucalyptus morrisbyi can be confused with the closely related Eucalyptus gunnii (cider gum), and Eucalyptus cordata (heart leaved silver gum). It can be distinguished from Eucalyptus gunnii by its coastal lowland habitat and presence of warty protuberances on buds and capsules. It can be distinguished from Eucalyptus cordata by its smaller capsules that occur in the axils of adult leaves only. Refer also to Wiltshire and Potts (2007). Eucalyptus morrisbyi can hybridise with Eucalyptus viminalis and some stands and older plantings contain a significant proportion of hybrid trees. The hybrids are readily distinguished by their narrower and less glaucous juvenile leaves.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

Eucalyptus morrisbyi is endemic to Tasmania with wild occurrences known only from the Cremorne area, with a main stand at Calverts Hill and several small nearby remnant stands, as well as from a

small subpopulation 21 km away in the Government Hills near Risdon (Figure 1, Table 1). A number of conservation plantings have been made and Eucalyptus morrisbyi has been widely planted as a specimen tree and ornamental.

In natural stands, Eucalyptus morrisbyi occurs in coastal, dry sclerophyll woodland on gentle to hilly slopes where it tends to be restricted to gullies that offer some relief in this drought

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)prone, low rainfall area. It is associated with poor soils, with the Calverts Hill and associated remnant stands occurring on recent sands overlying dolerite and the Risdon stand on Permian mudstone. The species tends to occur in relatively pure stands with a number of other eucalypt species occurring nearby.

RESERVATION STATUS

Eucalyptus morrisbyi is formally protected in the Calverts Hill Nature Reserve and the East Risdon State Reserve. The Lumeah Point stand is on a coastal reserve that has been leased to the Clarence City Council for recreational use.

POPULATION PARAMETERS

Number of subpopulations = 2 (1 reproductive) Number of locations = 2 (1 reproductive) Extent of occurrence ~45 km2

Area of occupancy ~ 12.5 ha(0.5 ha for mature individuals)Area of occupancy (as per IUCN criteria) = 8 km2 (or 4 km2 as reproductive in only 1 location) No. of mature

individuals < 30Eucalyptus morrisbyi is known only from two subpopulations in the wild (Table 1). In the Cremorne area, the subpopulation has been fragmented into the Calverts Hill stand, and several small remnant stands approximately 2 km away. The species is no longer present at some sites where it was collected in the past in the Cremorne area. Numbers in the smaller remnant stands have been supplemented by plantings and other plantings in the area have been made. A census of trees in the Risdon subpopulation in 1996 showed 69 trees with adult foliage though less than 20 of these were carrying seed. This stand is now functionally extinct with only weak, spindly, non- reproductive lignotuber regrowth remaining. The Calverts Hill stand is close to being functionally extinct. There were 1915 mature trees in the Calverts Hill stand in 1991 and only seven mature trees were still alive in early 2018 (one dying) following a dramatic decline that started after 2005 (and was first reported in 2014 at which time 70 to 80% of mature trees had already died). Seed-bearing mature individuals can still be found in the small remnant patches in the Cremorne area though



Table 1. Population summary for Eucalyptus morrisbyi

Subpopulation Tenure NRMregion

1:25,000

mapsheet

Year of census

Area of occupancy (ha)

Number of adult trees (NR

not reproducti

ve)1.1

Calverts Hill Calverts Hill Nature Reserve

South

Cremorne

201920181991 11.

5

67

1915

1.2

Lumeah Point Coastal Reserve

South

Cremorne

20191991 0.1

5

^ 16

1.3

Honeywood Driveroad reserve*, private land

South Cremorne

20191991 0.1

5

>8^^ 12

1.4

South Arm Road/ Delphis Drive

2017 6^^^

1.5

Cremorne Avenue 20191991

5^^^^~5

2 Government Hills, East Risdon

East Risdon State Reserve

South

Hobart 201420021996

0.70

(219NR)**0 (81NR)<20 (69

NR)

*managed by the Department of State Growth for sites1.4 and Clarence City Council for sites 1.3 and 1.5

**of the 219 stems sampled, there were 110 distinct genotypes (Jones unpubl.)^mix of natural and planted trees both pure and hybrid, more hybrids than

pure, some recruits^^seed collected from 8 trees, others with little seed, no recruits

^^^plus 9 planted (North Barker Ecosystem Services 2017)^^^^plus 2 hybrids and some planted (origin disputed)

some of the roadside trees have died since the last census in 1991. In total, the number of naturally occurring mature trees (reproductive) of Eucalyptus morrisbyi is estimated to be fewer than 30.At least two mid-1990s ex situ plantings grown from a genetically diverse collection of seed from Calverts Hill are reproductive, with recruitment present in the understorey. Once the seedlings grow to maturity, these plantings could be considered to be self-perpetuating and could be included as subpopulations for the purposes of applying extinction risk criteria.

CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT

Eucalyptus morrisbyi meets the following criteria for listing as endangered on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995:A.Total population reduction in the form

of1. an observed reduction of at least

50% within the last three generations (to a maximum of 100 years) based ona. direct observation


B.Extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 5,000 km2, and1. it is known to exist at no

more than five locations, and

2. there is a continuing decline observed in the number of mature individuals

C.Total population estimated to number fewer than 2,500 mature individuals, and2 there is a continuing decline

observed in numbers of mature individuals anda.(i) no subpopulation

estimated to contain more than 250 mature individuals,

a.(ii) at least 90% of all mature individuals in a single subpopulation

D. Total population estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals.

It qualifies as Critically Endangered using the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List criteria given its restricted distribution, a greater than 80% decline observed in the number of mature individuals and fewer than 50 mature individuals remaining in the wild.


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Eucalyptus morrisbyi forest and woodland is listed as a threatened vegetation community on schedules of the Nature Conservation Act 2002.

THREATS, LIMITING FACTORS AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Eucalyptus morrisbyi has undergone a dramatic decline in recent decades to the point at which the species is at imminent risk of becoming extinct in the wild. Extinction of the species as a whole is unlikely, at least in the short to medium term, given the presence of ex situ and ornamental plantings. The main issues with the decline and recovery prospects are discussed below.

Plate 2. Calverts Hill site, April 2016

Clearing and fragmentation: Past records indicate a decline from clearing for agriculture and urban development of at least 50% in the area occupied by Eucalyptus morrisbyi in the Cremorne area since European settlement (Wiltshire 1992). Much of the original Lumeah Point stand is likely to have been cleared because remaining trees are in a narrow coastal strip adjacent to a housing subdivision. The risk of further clearing has decreased with the reservation of the bulk of the Calverts Hill stand in 2007. However, the roadside remnant stands have suffered from roadside maintenance and are at risk of being cleared for safety reasons as they impede line of sight to the highway from access roads to new subdivisions. The stands in the Cremorne area have also suffered from woodcutting. The fragmentation caused by conversion for agriculture, roads and housing has contributed

to invasion by weeds and increased vertebrate and insect browsing pressure in the stands.Climate change: Eucalyptus morrisbyi is susceptible to drought, with the range of the species apparently retracting to wetter gullies since the last glaciation (Wiltshire et al. 1991). This makes the species particularly vulnerable to the warmer conditions and changed rainfall patterns associated with the accelerated rate of climate change seen in recent decades. As well as increasing transpiration rates, warmer and drier conditions may cause an increase in the browsing pressure on Eucalyptus morrisbyi as food resources become restricted or by causing local increases in insect populations. It is now evident that with the current rate of climate change, significant intervention will be required to maintain Eucalyptus morrisbyi in the wild.Vertebrate browsing: Genotypes from the Calverts Hill stand are particularly palatable to vertebrate browsing (mainly possums, wallabies and possibly rabbits). While there are a large number of seedlings still evident in the Calverts Hill stand following the death of all but a few mature trees, they were continually being browsed, often to ground level after resprouting from lignotubers. Several areas with seedlings (natural or planted) have been fenced or caged, allowing the seedlings to grow, but possum damage was evident where fences had been breached or seedlings had outgrown their cages. Recent exclusion of vertebrate browsing by perimeter and some internal fencing, cutting of overhanging branches, and relocation of possums has occurred. However, relocation of browsers and maintenance of fences for at least the next 7 to 10 years may be required to allow the seedlings in this stand to grow to

Listing Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum)maturity and regular surveillance will be required to allow prompt intervention before significant damage occurs. Surrounding agricultural land is likely to continue to attract vertebrate browsers to the site.Insect browsing: Both subpopulations of Eucalyptus

morrisbyi are highly susceptible to insect browsing. The mortality rate, particularly of saplings and seedlings, is high following drought stress and the trees appear to become more susceptible to defoliation caused mainly by the autumn gum moth (Mnesampela privata). The mortality rate, particularly of saplings and



seedlings, has also been observed to increase following high rainfall growing seasons due to outbreaks of insect populations. Surviving trees are weakened and flowering is compromised in following seasons. Warmer temperatures and unusually wet periods in warmer months may encourage increased insect populations. Allowing seedlings to reach maturity will require monthly monitoring in spring, summer and into autumn and treatment of insect outbreaks. Weeds may also attract and contribute to insect outbreaks. Noisy miners (Manorina melanocephala) are native honey eaters that can move into eucalypt stands in large numbers, particularly when the stands are fragmented and drought stressed, where they drive out other bird species by their aggressive behaviour. By driving out insect eating birds, noisy miners can cause increases in insect populations that can result in eucalypt dieback (Bennett et al. 2015). While noisy miners have been noted in the Calverts Hill stand, it is not known whether they contributed to the recent decline and monitoring will be required to determine whether they might adversely impact recovery. ‘Aggressive exclusion of birds from potential woodland and forest habitat by over- abundant noisy miners (Manorina melanocephala)’ is listed as a threatening process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.Competition: The poor health of the Risdon subpopulation has reduced its competitive ability. In the late 1970s, a native parasitic vine, Cassytha pubescens, threatened to smother and kill many of the trees and was removed (Brown & Bayley-Stark 1979). The understorey of silver wattle, blackwood and prickly mimosa was thinned in October 2001 in order to

further reduce competition stress on the trees. These actions have not reversed the decline.Weeds: Drought conditions and a lack of awareness in relation to identification and impacts, have allowed serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma), a declared weed and Weed of National Significance to significantly increase in numbers. It is present in the Calverts Hill stand, where it poses a significant threat if not controlled, by invading recruitment niches and increasing fire frequencies by significantly increasing the fuel load. Control will need to be ongoing given continual invasion from large


occurrences that may not be possible to eradicate on adjacent cleared land within and surrounding the Calverts Hill Nature Reserve. Invasion of recruitment niches by chilean needlegrass (Nassella neesiana), another declared weed, is a risk to the smaller remnant stands of the Cremorne subpopulation. The diversity of weeds in the Cremorne subpopulation may increase insect damage to Eucalyptus morrisbyi by supporting increases in insect populations.Fire: Frequent fires will cause a decline in stands. While larger trees can resprout from lignotubers and epicormic buds, smaller trees will be killed. If the store of seed held in the canopy is not replenished in the fire-free interval, recruitment from seedlings will not replace the individuals killed. The small Risdon subpopulation is particularly at risk from fire as the mortality rate would be high given the poor health of trees and currently there is no seed being produced in the stand. A burn in the area, however, may provide an opportunity to replant the fire created recruitment niches

using stored seed. Fire will need to be excluded from the Calverts Hill stand until most of the wild and planted seedlings are large enough to survive a burn. Grazing of cleared land at Calverts Hill to reduce fuel loads and establishment of a mineral earth fire break have been undertaken to protect recovering seedlings from wildfires.Ex situ management of genetic resources: Ex situ plantings have been established at Brighton (established 1994), and Geeveston and Lutana (both established 1999) and provide a resource of seed for revegetation and long- term storage. An additional planting at Meadowbank was burnt in 2012 and the trees are not currently reproductive. The Brighton planting was established from seed from plants originating from the Calverts Hill stand and genetically diverse seed has been collected from this planting. The health and seed output of the declining Risdon subpopulation was briefly improved following an unusually wet spring and summer in 1995/96 allowing seed to be collected for the establishment the Geeveston and Lutana seed orchards and seed from the Geeveston orchard has also been collected for conservation storage. This orchard was planted with alternate rows of seedlings from the Risdon and Calverts Hill stands. The Calverts



Hill plants were severely browsed with only one tree flowering at the time the seed was set so that there would have been minimal contamination of the Risdon Hills seed collected. If necessary, molecular techniques could be used to identify and cull any intraspecific hybrids though molecular studies indicate that the contamination was minimal and restricted to seed from trees surrounding the flowering tree from Calverts Hill (Jones unpubl.). Supplementation of the collection may require prior pruning of any of the Calverts Hill trees with flower buds. Given genetic differences, the supplementation of the small collection of seed from the smaller remnant stands in the Cremorne area is warranted. The Eucalyptus morrisbyi seed collections are currently held in long term conservation storage at the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre based at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Seed used in most of the ornamental and early conservation plantings is thought to have originated from the smaller fragments of the Cremorne subpopulation. However, the seed used was collected from a small number of individuals that may not have been representative of the genetic variation available and it included hybrids that were not culled prior to planting. A relatively large number of trees planted at Lumeah Point in order to supplement numbers in the stand appear to be hybrids.Maintenance of the species in the wild: Given the decline of the Risdon and Calverts Hill stands and small size and threats faced by the four smaller remnant stands of the Cremorne subpopulation, maintenance of the species in the wild will be dependent on recovery of the Calverts Hill stand. Recovery of the Risdon stand is unlikely to be feasible given the small area occupied by the species and

ongoing decline that has not been possible to arrest. A burn in the area, however, may alleviate threats and provide an opportunity to replant the fire created recruitment niches using stored seed. Recovery of the Calverts Hill stand will be dependent on ongoing control of vertebrate and insect browsing pressure to allow existing seedlings and supplementary plantings to survive to maturity. However, to improve the prospects of maintaining the species in the wild, plantings of the more


vertebrate browsing resistant Risdon genotypes have been made at the site. To alleviate edge effects, a buffer planting of more drought tolerant eucalypt species could be considered.

MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

The main objectives for the recovery of Eucalyptus morrisbyi are to maintain the species in the wild by arresting declines and to preserve genotypic variation within the species through conservation storage of seed and the establishment of ex situ plantings in areas where the future climate is expected to be suitable for the species.

What has been done? Long-term research

conducted at the University of Tasmania has been fundamental to our understanding of the population genetics, evolutionary relationships, and population decline.

Implementation of a

Recovery Plan for Eucalyptus morrisbyi commenced in 1992. The Recovery Plan was revised in 2006 (Threatened Species Section 2006). Both plans were partially implemented.

The bulk of the Calverts Hill stand of Eucalyptus morrisbyi is now in the Calverts Hill Nature Reserve, acquired through the 1999 Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) Private Land Reserve Program.

Ex situ plantings and seed orchards are being maintained by Forestry Tasmania and the University of Tasmania, School of Biological Science.

Serrated tussock in the Calverts Hill Nature Reserve is being managed.

Seed from trees originating from the Risdon and Calverts Hill stands has been collected for long term conservation storage at the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre based at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

The Parks and Wildlife Service have taken action to reduce the risk of the Risdon stand being burnt by illegally lit fires, a firebreak has been establish to protect the Calverts Hill stand.



Through the efforts of Pipe Clay Coast Care Group and the Understorey Network, a number of conservation plantings have been made on private land in the vicinity of Calverts Hill using locally sourced seed (collected under permit) to address fragmentation and to establish wildlife corridors.

Plantings have been made to supplement the Calverts Hill stand.

Fences and cages have been constructed and maintained to protect natural and planted seedlings from browsing at Calverts Hill, possums caught in the fenced areas have been relocated, and remaining mature trees have been banded to prevent damage from possums.

Groups including staff and students from the University of Tasmania, NRM South and Wildcare’s Threatened Plants Tasmania have been involved in survey and monitoring actions at Calverts Hill.

The Department of State Growth is implementing measures to encourage recruitment away from the road verge in the South Arm Road/Delphis Drive stand through land acquisition, fence relocation and weed management.

A Threatened Species Recovery Fund project to recover the Calverts Hill stand following its catastrophic decline is being implemented.

What is needed?Agencies, groups or individuals may assist with some or all of the following recovery actions (coordinated efforts may achieve the best and most efficient results): implement the actions detailed

in Threatened Species Recovery Fund project i.e.o protect surviving trees,

seedlings and plantings in the

Calverts Hill stand from vertebrate and insect browsing,

o supplement plantings at Calverts Hill,

o include the species in Greening Australia’s Eucalyptus restoration trials in sites that are projected to be within the future climate envelope of the species,

o control invasive grasses


o supplement seed conservation holdings from trees originating from the Calverts Hill stand,

o supplement seed conservation holdings from the Cremorne lowland remnants.

monitor wild and ex situ stands and manage as appropriate;

implement measures to control serrated tussock in the Calverts Hill Nature Reserve and to prevent spread of Chilean needle grass into the remnant stands of the Cremorne subpopulation;

conduct a census of plants in the small remnant stands of the Cremorne subpopulation;

maintain conservation plantings and seed holdings;

establish seed conservation holdings for the smaller remnant stands;

supplement the conservation seed holding of the Risdon subpopulation;

consider a buffer planting

at Calverts Hill of more drought tolerant eucalypt species to address edge effects;

reduce competition in the Risdon stand when needed;

encourage an ecological burn in the Risdon site and supplement the stand if burnt through sowing or planting;

consider culling planted hybrids (do not cut down naturally occurring hybrids)

consider culling noisy miners at Calverts Hill if monitoring demonstrates that their numbers are reducing bird diversity at the site.

pursue uplisting to Critically Endangered on schedules of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Protection Act 1999.

REFERENCES

Bennett , J.M., Clarke, R.H., Thomson, J.R. and MacNally, R. (2015) Fragmentation, vegetation change and irruptive competitors affect recruitment of woodland birds. Ecography 38: 163–171.

Blackhall, S.A. & Lynch, J. (1992). Eucalyptus morrisbyi flora Recovery Plan: Management phase. Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage, Hobart, Tasmania.



Brown, M.J. & Bayly-Stark, H.J. (1979). The plant communities of the East Risdon Nature Reserve. The Tasmanian Naturalist 58: 1–11.

Curtis, W.M. & Morris. D.I. (1975). The Student’s Flora of Tasmania, Part 1 (Second Edition), Government Printer, Tasmania.

Jones R.C., McKinnon G.E., Potts B.M. & Vaillancourt R.E. (2005) Genetic diversity and mating system of an endangered tree Eucalyptus morrisbyi. Australian Journal of Botany 53: 367–377.

Mann A.N., O'Reilly-Wapstra J.M., Iason G.R., Sanson G. & Davies N.W. (2012). Mammalian herbivores reveal marked genetic divergence among populations of an endangered plant species. Oikos 121: 268–276.

North Barker Ecosystem Services (2017). Sandford Morrisby Gum Conservation Area, South Arm Secondary Road. Management Report July 2017 For Department of State Growth

Potts, B.M. & Savva, M. (1988). Self- incompatibility in Eucalyptus. In ‘Pollination 88’. pp. 165–170. Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, University of Melbourne: Melbourne.

Potts, B.M., Sandhu, K.S.,Wardlaw, T.,

Freeman, J., Li, H., Tilyard, P., Park, R.F. (2016) Evolutionary history shapes the susceptibility of an island tree flora to an exotic pathogen. Forest Ecology and Management 368: 183–193.

Threatened Species Section (2006). Flora Recovery Plan: Morrisby’s gum, Eucalyptus morrisbyi Year 2006–2010. Department of Primary Industries and Water, Hobart.

Williams, K.J. & Potts, B.M. (1996). The natural distribution of Eucalyptus species in Tasmania.

Tasforests 8: 39–165.Wiltshire, R.J.E (1992). Section III.

Eucalyptus morrisbyi R.G.Brett. In Wiltshire, R.J.E, Potts, B.M. Reid, J.B. and Brown, M.J. (Eds): Conservation of Endangered Species of Eucalypts in Tasmania. A report to the World Wildlife Fund.

Wiltshire, R.J.E & Potts, B.M. (2007). Eucaflip. School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania & CRC for Forestry.


Wiltshire, R.J.E, Potts, B.M. & Reid, J.B. (1991). Phenetic affinities, variability and conservation status of a rare Tasmanian endemic, Eucalyptus morrisbyi R.G. Brett. In Banks, M.R. et al. (Eds): Aspects of Tasmanian Botany – A tribute to Winifred Curtis. Roy. Soc. Tasm. 31: 213–229.

Prepared in 2001 under the provisions of the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. Revised in March 2009, September 2018 and February 2020.Cite as: Threatened Species Section (2020) Listing

Statement for Eucalyptus morrisbyi (morrisbys gum). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania.View: www.naturalvaluesatlas.tas.gov.au www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/threatenedspecieslists www.threatenedspecieslink.tas.gov.au/Contact details: Threatened Species Section, Department of

Primary Industries,Parks, Water and

Environment, GPO Box 44 Hobart Tasmania Australia 7001. [email protected]: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.


Saving Eucalyptus morrisbyi, one of Australia's most threatened eucalypts

Final project partner report June 2019 - October 2019

This project has substantially improved the trajectory for Eucalytus morrisbyi. At the start of the project the largest sub-population of this species, at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve, had undergone rapid and extreme decline with only 7 of the original 2,000 adult trees remaining and some supressed juveniles under pressure from mammal browsing. It also was underrepresented in seed banks. The activities undertaken over the last 2 years have contributed significantly to the improved trajectory for Eucalyptus morrisbyi with the decline at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve halted and active regeneration occurring. A final report of project progress since June 2018 includes:

Calverts Hill Nature Reserve

Wildlife proof fences: Since the project was initiated E. morrisbyi plants at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve has been protected from browsers in three fenced areas. The regeneration resulting from the establishment and maintenance of these fences is now evident in the landscape with a young E. morrisbyi woodland emerging from the protection of the grass. There is an estimated 2,400 naturally regenerating juveniles and these juveniles have grown an average of 33cm since the fences were established. Maintaining this regeneration is labour intensive, with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) committed to actively monitoring, trapping and relocating possums from the fenced areas when required. Without this continued commitment E. morrisbyi would resume its decline at this site. In the six months between January-July 2019 16 brush tailed possums were trapped and relocated from the two larger fenced areas (over a total of 117 trapping nights). Seven of these possums were recaptures in the northern block.

Revegetation: Two seasons of revegetation have resulted in 549 E. morrisbyi seedlings planted into the remaining empty niches in the fenced areas at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve. Over 95% of the plants from the first planting season are surviving after 13 months and this represents an increase of genetic diversity at the site with the introduction of plants from the Risdon provenance.

Banded Adult trees: Six of the seven adult trees banded to prevent possum browsing are surviving, all showing increases in canopy cover and/or epicormic growth. The trees on the upper slopes are still of concern, as while they have shown increase epicormic growth they still have low canopy cover. One of these trees, which had no canopy (only weak epicormic growth) when the wildlife proof fences were established, died during the project. Further management options to address the risk of losing these adults trees on the upper slopes are being investigated.

Caging: Fifty-five juvenile plants within the southern fenced area have had their cages removed to improve growth and reduce on-going maintenance for PWS. These juveniles are now significantly advanced in comparison to the juveniles that have only been protected from browsing since 2017, with some reaching over 2m tall and developing adult leaves. The only three juvenile plants found outside of the fenced area have been caged.

Weed Control: pakana Services undertook serrated tussock control across the 2 larger fences areas at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve. This involved follow up control from the control undertaken in preparation for re-vegetation, and survey and primary control across the entire fenced areas - both the northern and southern block. The infestations of serrated tussock in the fenced areas have been substantially reduced.

Other Conservation Actions:

Conservation Plan: Project partners have developed a Conservation Action Plan which has been proposed by the DPIPWE’S Threatened Species Section as the basis for the National Recovery Plan for the species. This work included a reassessment of the species using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. This plan has an overarching conservation objective of down-listing the species from its current status of Critically Endangered over the 20-year timeframe. This Conservation Action Plan involves management strategies that focus on: 1. reversing the decline at Calvert Hill Nature Reserve; 2. connecting this sub-population with ‘lowland’ remnants and; 3. undertaking 4 large, biodiverse E. morrisbyi plantings in the future climate envelope of the species to increase both the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy (assisted migration in the face of changes in climate).

Genetic analysis of planted Eucalyptus morrisbyi seed sources: This research, undertaken byinformed the seed collection and banking undertaken

during this project. The initial results showed that the seed orchard at Brighton was of Calverts Hill provenance and represented the pre-decline diversity of this sub-population. It also indicated the specific seed lot pairs that had higher relatedness and should not be planted together in conservation plantings. Over 84,000 seeds have now been collected from 59 individuals from this seed orchard and are banked in the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre and the genetic relatedness data can be tracked against seed lots which have been stored as individuals rather than in a single bulked collection. Genetic analysis and health assessments of community plantings on South Arm has helped to identify seed collection sites for this project for the underrepresented“lowland” provenance. The recommendations from this research have been implemented in the final seed collection activity. Of the 33 community plantings assessed, there were surviving plants at 28 plantings, 25 plantings included mature trees producing seed and 12 had some recruitment occurring. Overall there are at least 1,218 living E. morrsibyi trees in these plantings. The analysis the 2018 E. morrisbyi planting at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve showed that over 95% of plants from both the Calverts Hill and Risdon provenances survived 13 months after planting. There was no significant difference in the growth or survival between these two provenances during the study period, though the local provenance (Calvert Hill) showed less insect damage and a higher initial growth than the Risdon provenance.

Seed conservation: In total, the seed banking from Calverts Hill Nature Reserve has increased from a single bulked collection of 16,870 seed from 15 trees to over 100,000 seeds from 74 individuals with all new collections stored as separate collections from individual trees. Due to the large diverse amount of seed from the Calverts Hill provenance – the final seed collection effort focused on the recommendations of the genetic study. This study recommended collections from the “Lowland” provenance (Honeywood/Delphis/Lumeah/Cremorne) and plantings from this provenance as identified by genetic analysis (Utas campus, Lauderdale Yacht Club and Clifton Beach). At the completion of the project (30 September) collections had been made from the “Lowland” planting from Clifton Beach, and due to later ripening of capsules collections from Honeywood Drive, Lauderdale Yacht Club, Lumeah Point were completed in late October.

Assisted migration to future climate range: A planting of 320 E. morrisbyi has also been undertaken by Greening Australia in the future climate envelope of the species (assisted migration), as determined by climate modelling undertaken by Peter Harrison of the University of Tasmania. These plants were planted at the property Marchweil, are protected by wire mesh cages, and are part of a

field trial monitored by plant researchers at the University of Tasmania. This trial includes paired planting of seedlings from the Calverts Hill and Risdon provenances, in a similar experimental design to the trial at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve. This activity was postponed from May until September due to dry autumn conditions. There was rain at the site before, during and after planting, resulting in good soil moisture to support the establishment of this planting.

Next steps:

The most significant lesson learned during this project was from the reassessment of the species using the IUCN criteria. With the decline that occurred for this species since 2010 it now meets the thresholds for Critically Endangered under multiple IUCN criteria (A1 + A2a +B1 +B2ab(ii,v) + C1+ C2a(i) + D). This reassessment highlighted that while the project activities have halted the immediate decline at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve, further action is required to continue to improve the trajectory for this species in long-term timeframes. Continued protection from browsing and wildfire is required to increase numbers of mature plants and reverse population decline at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve, which is the only remnant stand capable of significant regeneration. Threat abatement of this stand alone will not be adequate to ensure the long-term survival of the species. New conservation plantings are planned to increase its extent of occurrence, area of occupancy and assist its migration under future climate predictions and provide seed orchards for future plantings.

Future Funding: A 4-year project proposal was submitted to NRM South to include in their tender for the Regional Landcare Partnerships Program and has been approved, though for only for 46% of the funding requested. We are currently working with NRM South and project partners to rescope the project activity in line with the revised budget and funder feedback. The Conservation Action Plan was used to guide the development of this project and will also be used to rescope the activity to fit the available budget along with additional requirements in the funder feedback.

The natural regeneration of E. morrisbyi at Calverts Hill Nature reserve is apparent in the landscape and the shape of the new E. morrsibyi woodland can be seen. Images show he view of the dam from outside the fence in November 2017 (top) and the same view in August 2019 (bottom) showing natural regeneration of E. morrisbyi (red arrows) and improved canopies of adult trees

Images removed due to copyright

Conservation Volunteers removed older cages from 55 juvenile plants within safe havens (top in 2016), to reduce on-going maintenance for PWS staff. These plants that had been caged from 2014-2016 prior to the installation of the safe haven fences are now significantly advanced in comparison to the suppress juveniles that have only been protected from browsing since 2017 (below in 2018).

images removed due to copyright

The 2018 plantings with over 95% survival after 13 months and no statistically significant difference in survival between provenances to date, having been watered by CVA volunteers over the summermonths (inset).

Plantings in southern (left) and northern (right) fenced areas are growing well.


Conservation Volunteers planted 99 E. morrisbyi at Calverts Hill Nature Reserve in July 2019.


Conservation Volunteers, Greening Australia and University of Tasmania staff planted 320 E. morrisbyi at Marchweil in September 2019 after heavy rain. Planting occurred over 5 days and were followed by further rainfall.

University of Tasmania

undertaking sampling of community Eucalyptus morrsibyi plantings.research has helped to identify seed collection sites for this project for theunderrepresented “lowland”

University of TasmaniasamplingEucalyptus morrisbyi seed.research will compare the genetic diversity between community plantings from the “lowland” provenance to inform the use of this seed in future conservation plantings.


Damaged Eucalyptus morrisbyi plants in the third safe haven before (left) fence modification in Stage 3 are showing improved growth with adult foliage in Stage 4 (right).


Possum monitoring, trapping and relocations to maintain the browser free fences is an on-going effort from PWS staff, with ‘scar-ear’ trapped multiple times in the northern block (top). The fence has been modified and the gate reinforced with metal sheeting.


Images of canopy of two banded adult trees near water sources in November 2017 (left) and August 2019 (right), showing increase in canopy cover and

Science for Saving SpeciesPreliminary Research findings factsheetProject 2.4.1

Research overview

Rarity or decline: Key concepts for the Red List of Australian eucalypts

This project has undertaken a comprehensive review of the conservation status of Australian eucalypts (Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora), including individual assessments of all 822 Australian species. It has been a collaboration between Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand,the NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, and the Australian Government.Assessments were undertaken against the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. The assessments will inform the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the threatened species listing under Australian legislation.The assessments will be provided to the Commonwealth, stateand territory governments at the completion of the project.A major data source developed during the project was digitised coverages defining the geographic range of each species. The geographic range of each species was intersected with a continental land-use coverage to estimate past population decline.This estimate was then augmented by the habitat preference of each species that was derived from expert elicitation and peer-reviewed literature. Given that vegetation clearance is now

regulated by all Australian state jurisdictions, land clearing for agriculture was only

considered to be a cause of past decline in eucalypt populations. Future decline was inferred in areas subject to urbanisation and current or inevitable mineral extraction, or where there was clear evidenceof an association between other threatening processes and ongoing population declines, such as dieback and lack of regeneration.A total of 193 (23%) species were assessed to meet the criteria for listing as threatened, in the Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered categories. Many species met multiple criteria for listing and at the time of this assessment only two Australian eucalypts were listed as threatened on the IUCN Red list. Of the eucalypt taxa accepted as assessable speciesin this project, 62 are currently listed as threatened under Australian national environmental law, while 87 species are listed in at least one state jurisdiction.Under this project, 128 species were assessed as threatened under Criterion A2 only, including 90 as Vulnerable, 36 as Endangered and two as Critically Endangered. Only 13 of these species are currently listed in state or federal legislation.Of the additional 65 species assessed as threatened, 29 as Vulnerable, 22 as Endangered and 14 as Critically Endangered. Thirty-three of these species are currently listed under state or federal legislation. Thirty-two species currently listed under state or

federal legislation were assessed as Near Threatened or Least Concern in this study. An additional 11 currently listed species were assessed as Data Deficient due to uncertain taxonomy.


Eucalyptus macrocarpa, with the Noongar name of mottlecah, was assessed as Vulnerable under IUCN Criterion A due to population declines of between 30-50%.The species is found on sandy or lateritic soils in the wheatbelt of south-western Western Australia. There has been heavy

clearing in this region associated with wheat cropping. Mottlecah is a mallee that grows to 5 m with large blue-grey leaves. The flower buds have a white, waxy surface and open to red blooms that produce large fruits up to 7 cm wide.

Figure 1: Distribution of eucalypts assessed as threatened under the IUCN criteria.

IUCN Criteria A

Figure 2: Distribution of eucalypt species richness in Australia.

A total of 134 eucalypt species were assessed as eligible under IUCN Criterion A2. These species had undergone a past and irreversible population decline of at least 30% over the past 210 years of colonisation. These species are primarily found in the wheat-growing districts of south-western Western Australia, and the Wimmera district of western Victoria and eastern South Australia.Table 1: Eucalypts assessed as eligible under Criterion A2.

Category No. of species

Eligible Species

Critically Endangered>80% decline

4 E. foliosa, E. morrisbyi, E. ornans, E. silvestris

Endangered50-80% decline

38 E. absita, E. aequioptera, E. behriana, E. calycogona, E. cretata, E. cuprea, E. dissimulata,E. dolichorhyncha, E. erythronema, E. forrestiana, E. froggattii, E. fulgens, E. goniocarpa,E. gunnii, E. kitsoniana, E. kondininensis, E. longicornis, E. microcarpa, E. mimica,E. myriadena, E. neutra, E. occidentalis, E. odorata, E. orthostemon, E. peninsularis,E. petiolaris, E. platypus, E. recta, E. rhodantha, E. rigens, E. sargentii, E. spathulata,E. splendens, E. strzeleckii, E. valens, E. woollsiana, E. wubinensis, E. yarraensis

Vulnerable30-50% decline

92 E. aggregata, E. albens, E. albida, E. alipes, E. angulosa, E. angustissima, E. annulata,E. arenicola, E. armillata, E. aromaphloia, E. baueriana, E. blakelyi, E. bridgesiana,E. buprestium, E. burracoppinensis, E. cadens, E. cambageana, E. camfieldii, E. captiosa,E. cephalocarpa, E. cladocalyx, E. clivicola, E. cneorifolia, E. conica, E. cyanophylla,E. dawsonii, E. dielsii, E. diminuta, E. diversifolia, E. dumosa, E. extensa, E. falciformis,E. fasciculosa, E. flocktoniae, E. gittinsii, E. glaucina, E. gomphocephala, E. goniocalyx,E. haemastoma, E. halophila, E. hawkeri, E. hebetifolia, E. ignorabilis, E. indurata,E. kartzoffiana, E. kessellii, E. kochii, E. lane-poolei, E. largiflorens, E. latens, E. leptophylla,E. leucoxylon, E. litoralis, E. longifolia, E. loxophleba, E. luemanniana, E. macrocarpa,E. mckieana, E. melliodora, E. merrickiae, E. moderata, E. moluccana, E. nicholii,E. nova-anglica, E. obtusiflora, E. ovata, E. phaenophylla, E. phenax, E. pileata,E. pleurocarpa, E. pluricaulis, E. populnea, E. porosa, E. pyriformis, E. quaerenda,E. risdonii, E. sabulosa, E. salmonophloia, E. sheathiana, E. sporadica, E. squamosa,E. subangusta, E. suggrandis, E. thamnoides, E. tumida, E. uncinata, E. varia,E. vegrandis, E. vesiculosa, E. wandoo, E. wimmerensis, E. xanthonema

Interesting findingsVery few tropical eucalypts qualified for listing as threatened and no threatened eucalypts occurred in the Northern Territory. The majority of these species occur in habitats that are not subject to intensive land use.Of the 102 Angophora and Corymbia species, none were assessed as threatened. The majority of these species(82) occur in low productivity habitats that have not been cleared for agriculture. Only two species were found to occur on productive landscapes, although both were widespread and had not undergone significant past decline.South-western Western Australia was the hotspot for threatened eucalypts. Of the species assessed as threatened, 54% (105) occurred in Western Australia.No eucalypt species were threatened by timber harvesting.Too-frequent fire was rarely a threat for eucalypt species. Most eucalypts have adaptive traits that allow post-fire recovery and many occur in low-productivity landscapes where fuel loads do not accumulate rapidly.This project provides a quantitative method for assessing decline under Criterion A2, with broad relevance for listing threatened species where historic land clearing is the cause of population decline.


Eucalyptus ovata.

Eucalyptus ovata (Swamp Gum) was assessed to be Vulnerable under IUCN Criterion A due to an irreversible population decline of between 30-50%. The species is found on fertile valley bottoms on clay soils in south- eastern Australia. These habitats have been heavily cleared for agriculture. Swamp Gum is a tree to 20 m with rough grey-brown bark and small white flowers.

IUCN Criteria BThe 22 species assessed as eligible under Criterion B are under high risk of future decline due or predominantly due to mining or urbanisation. These species have a narrow geographic range and are subject to threatening processes that occur over a small number of locations. Severe fragmentation was rarely used to assess species under Criterion B, as the associated threats to genetic integrity are often assumed but rarely tested in eucalypt genetic studies.Table 2: Summary of eucalypts listed under criterion B


Eligible Species

Critically Endangered 7 E. carolaniae, E. crenulata, E. imlayensis, E. impensa, E. ornans, E. purpurata,

E. yarriambiack

Endangered 9 E. argophloia, E. benthamii, E. johnsoniana, E. kabiana, E. platydisca, E. rhomboidea,E. rugulata, E. splendens, E. stoatei

Vulnerable 6 E. cerasiformis, E. georgei, E. infera, E. jutsonii, E. magnificata, E. steedmanii

IUCN Criteria CThere were 36 species assessed as eligible under Criterion C. These species have both small total populations and subpopulation sizes, with ongoing decline. For example, Eucalyptus johnsoniana is known from 647 individuals spread over 36 sub-populations the mid-west region of Western Australia and is threatened by mineral extraction.Table 3: Summary of eucalypts listed under criterion C


Eligible Species

Critically Endangered 6 E. beardiana, E. dalveenica, E. imlayensis, E. morrisbyi, E. ornans, E. recurva

Endangered 9 E. aurifodina, E. conglomerata, E. desmondensis, E. johnsoniana, E. nudicaulis,E. paludicola, E. petrensis, E. stoatei, E. synandra

Vulnerable 2 E. jutsonii, E. macarthurii

Eucalyptus dalveenica (Dalveen Blue Box) was assessed to be Critically Endangered under IUCN Criterion C. The species was described in 2019 and there are lessthan 250 mature individuals. The species grows on clay soils near Dalveen at the Queensland-New South Wales border. These habitats have been heavily cleared for agriculture and pastoralism leaving the species restricted to roadsides and gardens on private property. Dalveen Blue Box is a tree to 15 m with flaky grey bark.

Eucalyptus dalveenica.


IUCN Criteria DThe 37 species that were assessed as eligible under Criterion D are scattered across the southern parts of Australia with hotspots in south-western Western Australia and western Victoria. These species have either small total population sizes or a very restricted geographic range with plausible future population declines.Table 4: Eucalypts assessed as eligible under Criterion D


Eligible Species

Critically Endangered<50 matureindividuals

7 E. dolorosa, E. filiformis, E. imlayensis, E. morrisbyi, E. ornans, E. recurva, E. walshii

Endangered<250 mature individuals

6 E. absita, E. arcana, E. brevipes, E. elaeophloia, E. erectifolia, E. molyneuxii

Vulnerable 23 E. annettae, E. articulata, E. bensonii, E. brandiana, E. calcicola, E. conferta, E. crucis,E. farinosa, E. fracta, E. halophila, E. jutsonii, E. mcquoidii, E. megacornuta,E. mitchelliana, E. newbeyi, E. nutans, E. praetermissa, E. pumila, E. relicta, E. semota,E. suberea, E. vesiculosa, E. virginea

Species currently listed under Australian legislationSome eucalypt taxa that are currently listed as threatened under Australian legislation were assessed as Data Deficient under this project due to uncertain taxonomy. These taxa were either highly likely to be hybrids or synonymous with another species. Other currently listed species were assessed as Near Threatened or Least Concern on the basis of decline below the thresholds in the criteria or a lack of evidence to substantiate an association between threats and ongoing population declines. The latter could be considered for formal delisting.Table 5: Eucalypts currently listed as threatened, which were assessed as Data Deficient, Near Threatened or Least Concern


Eligible Species

Data Deficient due to uncertain taxonomy

11 E. aquatica, E. canobolensis, E. castrensis, E. copulans, E. crispata, E. forresterae,E. lateritica, E. leprophloia, E. paedoglauca, E. phoenix, E. pruiniramis

Near Threatened

15 A. inopina, C. clandestina, C. leptoloma, C. rhodops, C. xanthope, E. argutifolia,E. boliviana, E. broviniensis, E. dunnii, E. hallii, E. insularis, E. macarthurii, E. mooreana,E. sturgissiana, E. taurina

Least Concern 17 A. robur, C. petalophylla, E. approximans, E. beaniana, E. burdettiana, E. ceracea,E. coronata, E. corticosa, , E. langleyi, E. largeana, E. pachycalyx, E. parvula,E. pulverulenta, E. saxatilis, E. scoparia, E. sicilifolia, E. tetrapleura

This project is supported through funding from the Australian

Further InformationAssociate Professor Rod Fensham, The University of Queensland –

[email protected]

Government’s National Environmental Science Program.

tasmanian threatened species listing statement eucalyptus ... · web viewencourage an ecological...

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