INTERIM RECOVERY PLAN NO. 129

SPLIT-LEAVED GREVILLEA (Grevillea althoferorum)

INTERIM RECOVERY PLAN

2003-2008

Gillian Stack & Val English

Photograph: Leonie Monks

May 2003

Department of Conservation and Land Management

Western Australian Threatened Species and Communities Unit (WATSCU) PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6946

FOREWORD

Interim Recovery Plans (IRPs) are developed within the framework laid down in Department of Conservation and Land Management (the Department) Policy Statements Nos. 44 and 50.

IRPs  outline  the  recovery  actions  that  are  required  to  urgently  address  those  threatening  processes  most affecting the ongoing survival of threatened taxa or ecological communities, and begin the recovery process.

The Department is committed to ensuring that Critically Endangered taxa are conserved through the preparation and implementation  of Recovery Plans or Interim Recovery Plans and by ensuring that conservation action commences as soon as possible and always within one year of endorsement of that rank by the Minister.

This Interim Recovery Plan results from a review of, and replaces, number 42 Grevillea althoferorum (S. Hamilton-Brown and V. English, 1999). This IRP will operate from May 2003 to April 2008 but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced. It is intended that, if the taxon is still ranked Critically Endangered, this IRP will be reviewed after five years and the need for a full Recovery Plan will be assessed.

This IRP was approved by the Director of Nature Conservation 20 June, 2003. The provision of funds identified in this Interim Recovery Plan is dependent on budgetary and other constraints affecting the Department, as well as the need to address other priorities.

Information in this IRP was accurate at May 2003.

SUMMARY

Scientific Name:	

Grevillea althoferorum	

Common Name:	

Split -leaved Grevillea	
Family:
Dept Regions: Shires:	Proteaceae Midwest, Swan Coorow, Swan	Flowering Period: Dept Districts: Recovery Teams:	August – October
Moora, Perth Hills
Moora District Threatened Flora Recovery	
			Team (MDTFRT) and Swan Region Threatened Flora and Communities Recovery Team (SRTFCRT)	

Illustrations  and/or  further  information:  Brown,  A.,  Thomson-Dans,  C.  and  Marchant,  N.  (Eds)  (1998).   Western Australia’s Threatened Flora . Department  of Conservation  and Land Management,  Western Australia; Olde, P.M. and Marriott,  N.R.  (1993).  New  species  and  taxonomic  changes  in  Grevillea  (Proteaceae:  Grevilleoideae)  from  south -west Western Australia. Nuytsia: 9 (2) 237-304.

Current status: Grevillea althoferorum was declared as Rare Flora under the Western Australian  Wildlife Conservation Act  1950  in September  1986  and  ranked  as  Critically  Endangered  (CR)  in November  1998.  It currently  meets  World Conservation Union (IUCN 2000) Red List category ‘CR’ under criterion B2ab(iii) (IUCN 2000) as there are less than 300 individuals known from two highly fragmented populations with continued decline in the quality of the habitat. The known populations  are  small  and  susceptible  to  threats  including  weeds,  grazing,  disease,  road,  track,  fence  and  firebreak maintenance,   inappropriate   fire  regimes  and  chemical  drift.  The  species  is  also  listed  as  Endangered  under  the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservati on Act (EPBC Act) 1999.

An  Interim  Recovery  Plan  was  developed  for  the  species  in  1999  (Hamilton-Brown  and English  1999).  Information collected since that plan was completed has been incorporated into this plan and this document now replaces Hamilton- Bro wn and English (1999).

Critical  habitat:  The  critical  habitat  for  Grevillea  althoferorum  comprises  the  area  of  occupancy  of  the  known populations; similar habitat within 200 metres of known populations; and additional nearby occurrences of similar habitat that do not currently contain the species but may have done so and may be suitable for translocations.

Habitat critical to the survival of the species, and important populations
Given that this species is Critically Endangered it is considered that all known habitat is habitat critical. In addition all populations are considered important to the survival of the species as the two populations have been found to be genetically distinct.

Benefits to other species/ecological communities
A threatened ecological community (TEC) listed as Vulnerable in Western Australia the ‘herb rich saline shrublands in clay pans’ occurs adjacent to Population 2. Recovery actions implemented to improve the quality or security of the habitat of Grevillea althoferorum Populatio n 2, such as control of dieback disease are likely to improve the status of this TEC.

International Obligations
This plan is fully consistent with the aims and recommendations of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by Australia in June 1993, and will assist in implementing Australia’s responsibilities under that Convention. However, as Grevillea althoferorum is not listed under any international agreement, the implementation of other international environmental responsibilities is not affected by this plan.

Role and interests of indigenous people
There are no known indigenous communities interested or involved in the management of areas affected by this plan. Therefore no role has been identified for indigenous communities in the recovery of t his species.

Social and economic impacts
There are not likely to be any major social or economic implications as a consequence of the implementation of this plan.

Evaluation of the Plan’s Performance
The  Department  of  Conservation  and  Land  Management,  in conjunction  with the Recovery  Teams  will evaluate  the performance of this IRP. In addition to annual reporting on progress with listed actions and comparison against the criteria for success and failure, the plan is to be reviewed within five years of it s implementation.

Habitat requirements:  Grevillea althoferorum is known from two populations  that occur 200 km apart. Population  1 grows on pale brown or grey loamy sand in low heath while Population 2 grows on yellow colluvial sand in low  Banksia woodland.

Existing Recovery Actions: The following recovery actions have been or are currently being implemented:
1. 	Relevant land managers have been made aware of the location and threatened status of the species.
2. 	DRF markers have been installed at the populations.
3. 	Research has been conducted into the reproductive biology of this species.
4. 	Smoke water trials were conducted in 2001, but were not successful in stimulating germination.
5. 	Research has been conducted into the genetic diversity of individuals of the species.
6. 	A very small quantity of seed has been collected from Population 2 and stored in the Department's Threatened Flora
Seed Centre.
7. 	The Botanic Garden and Parks Authority (BGPA) currently have 23 plants of Grevillea althoferorum from two clones .
8. 	BGPA is currently propagating plants for use in dieback susceptibility trials.
9. 	An information sheet has been produced that describes and illustrates the species.
10.  Staff from the Department's Moora and Perth Hills Districts regularly monitor populations of the species.
11.  The  Moora  District  Threatened  Flora  Recovery  Team  and  the  Swan  Region  Threatened  Flora  and  Communities
Recovery Team regularly monitor the species.

IRP Objective: The objective of this Interim Recovery Plan is to abate identified threats and maintain or enhance in situ
populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the species in the wild.

Recovery criteria
Criteria for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased by ten percent or more.
Criteria for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased by ten percent or more.

1.	Coordinate recovery actions	8.   Monitor populations	
2.	Rehabilitate habitat	9.   Liaise with land managers	
3.	Map critical habitat	10. Conduct further surveys	
4.	Implement feral animal control	11. Undertake and monitor translocation	
5.	Maintain disease hygiene	12. Obtain biological and ecological information	
6.	Develop and implement a fire management strategy	13. Promote awareness	
7.	Collect seed, cutting and tissue culture material	14. Review the need for a full Recovery Plan	

Recovery actions

1.	BACKGROUND

History

Grevillea althoferorum was first collected south of Eneabba in 1978 by E.A. Griffin 1. This population was destroyed during mining operations and subsequent surveys by Griffin did not locate any additional populations. In 1991, P. Olde2  discovered approximately 100 plants some 5 km east of the Griffin collections (Population 1). Departmental staff and consultants carried out subsequent surveys of the area during 1991-1994, but no further populations were located. A second population of 30 plants, occurring 200 km south of Population 1 was located during a floristic survey of the southern Swan Coastal Plain (Gibson et al. 1994).

An  Interim  Recovery  Plan  was  developed  for  the  species  in  1999  (Hamilton-Brown  and English  1999). Information collected since that plan was completed has been incorporated into this plan and this document now replaces Hamilton-Brown and English (1999).

Description

Grevillea althoferorum is a lignotuberous  shrub with trailing stems up to 3 m long, and angular branchlets covered with very fine, long, soft hairs. Its leaves are 1.5 to 2 cm long, ascending to spreading, shortly petiolate and twice divided, lobes broadly triangular with recurved pungent points. The terminal inflorescence is 2 to 6 cm long and erect or decurved. The cream flowers (floral whorl and style) are regular (not one-sided), and the buds are covered in pinkish- brown hairs. The grooved, oblong fruit is 12 to 15 mm long and 3 to 4 mm wide.

It is closely related to Grevillea rudis but differs in that the leaves are more deeply divided to the midrib, and it has a shorter (generally not exceeding the leaves), denser inflorescence.

Distribution and habitat

Grevillea althoferorum is currently restricted to two known populations 200 km apart, one south of Eneabba and the other near Bullsbrook.

Population 1 is found on the crest of a low rise on pale brown loamy sand or grey sand supporting low heath. Grevillea   althoferorum   forms   a  part   of   the   mid-dense   shrub   layer   with   Grevillea   integrifolia ,  G. shuttleworthiana, Verticordia grandis, Viminaria juncea , Hakea prostrata and numerous other shrub species. The population occurs on a 12 m wide road verge and is threatened by weed invasion, road maintenance and agricultural activities, grazing, general ground disturbance by rabbits and foxes, and inappropriate fire regimes.

Population 2 occurs at the base of the Darling Scarp in greyish-yellow colluvial sand in Banksia low woodland. It forms part of the shrub layer in a Banksia menziesii and B. attenuata woodland with Hibbertia hypericoides, Xanthorrhoea  preissii,  Conostephium  pendulum,  other  shrubs,  and  herb  species.  The  population  is  in  a conservation reserve adjacent to agricultural land. The reserve is known to contain dieback disease caused by the plant pathogen Phytophthora megasperma and the Grevillea althoferorum population is also at risk from firebreak  maintenance,  inappropriate  fire regimes  and possibly  herbicide  or fertiliser  drift associated  with agricultural activity on adjacent land.

Any future searches for the species and for possible translocation  sites should be focused on both habitats described above, as both appear suitable for the species.

Critical habitat

Critical  habitat is habitat identified  as being critical  to the survival  of a listed threatened  species  or listed threatened   ecological   community.   Habitat   is  defined   as  the  biophysical   medium   or  media  occupied (continuously,  periodically  or   occasionally)  by  an  organism  or  group  of  organisms  or  once  occupied (continuously, periodically or occasionally) by an organism, or group of organisms, and into which organisms

1  Ted Griffin, botanist
2  Peter Olde, botanist and Grevillea specialist

of that kind have the potential to be reintroduced (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999 (EPBC Act)).

The critical habitat for Grevillea althoferorum comprises:
the area of occupancy of known populations;
areas of similar habitat within 200 metres of known populations, i.e. low heath or woodland on lateritic sandy clay or yellow colluvial sand (these provide potential habitat for natural range extension);
additional occurrences of similar habitat that do not currently contain the species but may have done so in the past (these represent possible translocatio n sites).

Habitat critical to the survival of the species, and important populations
Given that this species is Critically Endangered it is considered that all known habitat is habitat critical. In addition all populations are considered important to the survival of the species as the two populations have been found to be genetically distinct.

Benefits to other species/ecological communities
A threatened  ecological  community  (TEC)  listed as Vulnerable  in Western  Australia  the ‘herb rich saline
shrublands in clay pans’ occurs adjacent to Population 2. Recovery actions implemented to improve the quality or security of the habitat of Grevillea althoferorum Population 2, such as control of dieback disease are likely to improve the status of this TEC.

International Obligations
This plan is fully consistent with the aims and recommendations of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by Australia in June 1993, and will assist in implementing Australia’s responsibilities under that Convention. However, as Grevillea althoferorum is not listed under any international agreement, the implementation of other international environmental responsibilities is not affected by this plan.

Role and interests of indigenous people
There are no known indigenous communit ies interested or involved in the management of areas affected by this plan. Therefore no role has been identified for indigenous communities in the recovery of this species.

Social and economic impacts
There are not likely to be any major social or economic implications as a consequence of the implementation of this plan.

Evaluation of the Plan’s Performance
The Department of Conservation and Land Management, in conjunction with the Recovery Teams will evaluate the performance of this IRP. In addition to annual reporting on progress with listed actions and comparison against the criteria for success and failure, the plan is to be reviewed within five years of its implementation.

Biology and ecology

It appears that there is a divergence in the reproductive biology of the two populations of this species. Neither population has shown recent evidence of seedling recruitment. Population 1 has been confirmed as clonal and is actively recruiting from root suckers. Population 2 does produce seed but at very low levels. Burne et al. (in press) found that 0.15% of flowers set fruit. In addition, they found that the lack of sexual recruitment in Grevillea althoferorum is most likely to be due to the lack of viable pollen on the stigmas, which was almost nil at Population 1 (Burne et al. in press).

Genetic  work  also  suggests  that  both  populations  are  clonal,  with  very  little  diversity  within  each,  and substantial difference between populations (personal communication  M. Byrne3). Banksia goodii is a similarly rare resprouter that produces few seeds, for which any accidental losses of adult plants were found to increase

3  Dr. Margaret Byrne, Principal Research Scientist (genetics), the Department’s Science Division

the mortality rate and cause accelerated declines in population size (Drechsler et al. 1999; cited in Burne et al.
in press).

The  presence  of  root  suckering  at  Population  1  and  lignotubers  at  Population  2  indicates  that  Grevillea althoferorum resprouts following removal of above-ground plant material through disturbances such as fire or grazing (Burne et al. in press).

G. althoferorum is suspected to be susceptible to dieback disease.

Threats

Grevillea althoferorum is currently ranked Critically Endangered under World Conservation Union (IUCN,
2000) Red List criterion B2ab(iii) (IUCN 2000) as there are less than 300 adult plants known from two highly fragmented  populations,  with continuing  decline  in the quality  of the habitat.  The main threats  are weeds, grazing, disease, road, track, fence and firebreak maintenance, inappropriate fire regimes and chemical drift.

Weed invasion is a major threat to Population 1. Weeds suppress early plant growth by competing for soil moisture, nutrients and light. They also exacerbate grazing pressure and increase the fire hazard due to the easy ignition of high fuel loads, which are produced annually by many grass weed species.

Grazing by rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus ) and possibly kangaroos (Macropus spp.) and/or sheep has had a  major  impact  on  Population  1.  In  addition,  disturbance  of  soil  by  rabbit  warren  and  fox  midden construction, increased nutrient levels from their droppings and the introduction of weeds are impacting the habitat of the species. Grazing may have an impact on the establishment of Grevillea althoferorum juveniles (seedlings or young ramets), thereby limiting natural recruitment.

Disease could be a serious threat to Population 2. Dieback, in this case believed to be caused by the plant pathogen Phytophthora megasperma, occurs in the immediate vicinity of Population 2. This plant pathogen causes the roots to rot and results in death from drought stress. It is suspected that  G. althoferorum  is susceptible to this pathogen. Even if not susceptible (some Grevilleas are not susceptible to Phytophthora spp.), the Banksia woodland habitat that occurs at this site is characteristically highly susceptible. Changes in the structure of the habitat caused by dieback, for example opening up of the canopy, may then impact on the G. althoferorum population.

Road,  track  and  firebreak  maintenance  activities   have  threatened  both  populations  in  the  past. Construction of drainage channels, grading and other road maintenance activities impact on road verge populations of G. althoferorum. Several of these actions also encourage weed invasion. Relevant authorities have been informed of the road reserve population and  have been advised of the need for appropriate protective measures.

Fence maintenance activities  are a potential threat to the roadside Population 1, in the event that the adjoining farmland boundary fence should need repair or replacement. This is not considered an immediate threat as the landholders have been made aware of the population.

Inappropriate fire regimes  may affect the viability of populations, as  Grevillea althoferorum  resprouts after fire. The reserves of the lignotuber could be exhausted  if fires recurred before plants could build up fresh reserves. However, it is likely that occasional fires would stimulate ramet production in this species.

Chemical  drift  from  herbicide  and  fertiliser  application  on adjacent  farmland  may  affect  the species’ growth and survival, particularly at Population 1. The owners of land adjacent to Population 1 have been informed of the species’ presence, to prevent possible grazing, fire damage and agricultural chemical drift.

Lack of genetic diversity  is evident within each population, affecting the evolutionary adaptability of this species. The populations may continue indefinitely if well adapted to their environmental conditions, but if those conditions change, the taxon may have limited ability to adapt.

Summary of population information and threats

Pop. No. & Location	District	Land Status	Year/No. plants	Condition	Threats	
1. S of Eneabba	Moora	Shire Road
Reserve	1995  100
1999  75
2000  55 (5)
2001  147	Moderate	Weeds, grazing, warren and midden
construct ion, road and fence maintenance activities, fire, chemical drift	
2. Bullsbrook	Perth Hills	Nature Reserve	1995  30
1997  100+
1999  151	Healthy	Disease, inappropriate fire regimes,
firebreak maintenance	
Numbers in brackets = number of juveniles.

Guide for decision-makers

Section 1 provides details of current and possible future threats. Any on-ground works (clearing, firebreaks, roadworks etc) in the immediate vicinity of Grevillea althoferorum  will require assessment. On-ground works should not be approved unless the proponents can demonstrate that they will not have an impact on the species, its habitat or potential habitat.

2.	RECOVERY OBJECTIVE AND CRITERIA

Objectives

The objective  of this Interim  Recovery  Plan is to abate  identified  threats  and maintain or enhance  in situ
populations to ensure the long-term preservation of the species in the wild.

Criteria for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased by ten percent or more.
Criteria for failure:  The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have decreased by ten percent or more.

3.	RECOVERY ACTIONS

Existing recovery actions

All land managers have been notified of the location and threatened status of the species. The notification details the Declared Rare status of Grevillea althoferorum and the associated legal responsibilities.

Declared Rare Flora (DRF) markers have been installed at both populations. These serve to alert people working in the vic inity to the presence of DRF, and the need to avoid work that may damage vegetation in the area.

Research has established that sexual reproduction of this species is limited by the viability and abundance of pollen (Burne et al. in press). There is a significant difference between the two populations in the number of viable pollen grains produced, which appears to indicate a divergence in reproductive biology. Population 1 near Eneabba has an almost total absence of viable pollen and is entirely clonal, while Population 2 near Bullsbrook has a higher  production  of viable  pollen  (although  still significantly  lower  than two closely  related  more common taxa), produces a small amount of seed and has the ability to resprout following fire. This research trialed the use of smoke water to stimulate germination of soil-stored seed, but no germination was recorded. However, germination trials conducted by the Department’s Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC) suggest that physical nicking of the seed coat is a more important germination trigger. Seed nicking simulates the effects produced by heat of fire rather than chemicals in the smoke (personal communication A. Cochrane4).

Genetic evidence suggests that Population 2 may also be clonal, but this has not been conclusively proven (personal communication M. Byrne). This research established that there was very little genetic diversity within each population, but substantial difference between the populations.

4  Anne Cochrane, Manager, the Department's Threatened Flora Seed Centre

Sixty six seeds were collected from Population 2 during a  number of visits by staff from the Department’s Threatened Flora Seed Centre in November 1997. An initial germination rate of 50% was recorded for this seed (unpublished data A. Cochrane). There is insufficient seed to conduct any repeat testing. An additional 13 seeds were collected from 7 plants at Population 2 in January 2003. As stated above, the rate of seed production is very low at this population,  and has been  found  to be non-existent  at Population  1, where the plants are completely clonal (Burne et al. in press).

The BGPA currently have 23 plants of Grevillea althoferorum from two clones. One of the clones is sourced from cutting material taken from Population 2, and the other is from seed germinated by the TFSC during trials, also sourced from Population 2. There has been variable success with cuttings,  with strike rates between 20% and 90%. It is thought that this may be at least partly attributable to the quality of propagation material (personal communication  A. Shade5).  Additional  plants  are  currently  being propagated  for the purposes  of dieback susceptibility testing.

A double -sided information sheet was produced for this species in 2002, and includes a description of Grevillea althoferorum, its habitat, threats, recovery actions and photos. This is being distributed through local libraries, wildflower shows and other means.

Staff from the Department's Moora and Perth Hills Districts regularly monitor the populations.

The Moora District Threatened Flora Recovery Team (MDTFRT) and the Swan Region Threatened Flora and Communities  Recovery  Team  (SRTFCRT)  are  overseeing  the  implementation  of  this  IRP  and  include information on progress in reports to the Department's Corporate Executive and funding bodies.

Future recovery actions

Where popula tions occur on lands other than those managed by the Department, permission has been or will be sought from appropriate land managers prior to recovery actions being undertaken.

1. 	Coordinate recovery actions

The Moora District Threatened Flora Recovery Team and the Swan Region Threatened Flora and Communities Recovery Team will continue to coordinate recovery actions for  Grevillea althoferorum and other Declared Rare Flora in their jurisdictions.  The highest priority will be given to eliminating impacts  to existing adult plants.

They will include information on progress in their annual reports to the Department’s Corporate Executive and funding bodies.

Action: 	Coordinate recovery actions
Responsibility: 	The Department (Moora and Perth Hills Districts) through the Recovery Teams
Priority: 	Moderate
Cost: 	$2,000 per year

2. 	Rehabilitate habitat

Weeds impact on Grevillea althoferorum  by competing for resources, degrading habitat, exacerbating grazing pressure, and increasing the risk and severity of fire. Weeds are a threat to Population 1. Appropriate local co- occurring species will be used to provide a buffer to weed seed being blown into this population. These plants will be placed in denuded patches surrounding the population’s periphery and following their establishment weed control will be undertaken in consultation  with the land managers. This will be by hand weeding or localised application of herbicide (wicking) during the appropriate season to minimise the effect of herbicide on the species and the surrounding native vegetation. All occurrences of weed control will be followed by a report on the method, timing and success of the treatment against weeds, and the effect on Grevillea althoferorum and associated native plant species.

Action: 	Rehabilitate habitat
Responsibility: 	The Department (Moora District) through the MDTFRT
Priority: 	Low
Cost: 	$2,700 in the first year, then $700 per year thereafter

3. 	Map critical habitat

It is a requirement of the EPBC Act that spatial data relating to critical habitat be determined. Although critical habitat is described in Section 1, the areas as described have not yet been mapped and that will be done under this action. If any additional populations are located, then critical habitat will also be determined and mapped for these locations.

Action: 	Map critical habitat
Responsibility: 	The Department  (Perth Hills and Moora Districts,  WATSCU)  through  the Recovery
Teams
Priority: 	Moderate
Cost: 	$2000 in the first year

4. 	Implement feral animal control

Rabbits and foxes have caused major disturbance in Population 1, and control measures will be undertaken. Baiting using 1080 is likely to be the most favoured option. Baiting is generally conducted in summer and repeated each year if animals reappear. Fox baitin g will be conducted in liaison with surrounding landholders to avoid risk of poisoning pets.

Action: 	Implement feral animal control
Responsibility: 	The Department (Moora District) through the MDTFRT
Priority: 	High
Cost: 	$900 per year

5. 	Maintain diseas e hygiene

The susceptibility of Grevillea althoferorum to dieback (Phytophthora spp.) is unknown, but it is suspected to be vulnerable to the disease as this is a characteristic of many Proteaceous species. Dieback is also likely to compromise the quality of habitat. Phytophthora megasperma is known to occur very close to Population 2, and the dieback front near this population will be mapped and monitored  at least every five years in summer and flagging  that  marks  the  front  will  be  replaced  regularly.  Die back  hygiene  (outlined  in  Department  of Conservation and Land Management 1992b) will therefore be adhered to wherever possible for activities such as installation and maintenance of firebreaks and walking into the population in wet soil conditions. The need for dieback treatment of the site will also be assessed through evaluation of the impact of the disease on the habitat and, specifically, on Grevillea althoferorum.

Action: 	Maintain disease hygiene
Responsibility: 	The Department (Perth Hills District) through the SRTFCRT
Priority: 	High
Cost: 	$1,200 in the first year, $500 in subsequent years

6. 	Develop and implement a fire management strategy

Fire may stimulate  the production  of new clones  of this species  (personal  communication  C. Yates6), and possibly stimulate germination of seed stored in the soil at Population 2. However, frequent fire is likely to compromise the quality of habitat as it encourages weed invasion. Field evidence from the Stirling Ranges suggests that fire also compromises the ability of many species to survive in the presence of dieback disease. A

6  Dr. Colin Yates, Senior Research Scientist (ecology), the Department’s Science Division

fire management strategy will be developed that will describe fire regimes and recommended intensity, and fire control measures.

Action: 	Develop and implement a fire management strategy
Responsibility: 	The Department (Moora and Perth Hills Districts District) through the Recovery Teams
Priority: 	Moderate
Cost: 	$1,500 in the first year, $1,000 in subsequent years

7. 	Collect seed, cutting and tissue culture material

Preservation of germplasm is essential to guard against extinction if wild populations are lost. Such collections are  also  needed  to propagate  plants  for  translocation.  A small  quantity  of seed  has  been  collected  from Population  2, and further  collections  will be made  as seed production  occurs.  Population  1 is clonal  and produces no seed. The genetic diversity within each population has been determined. Cuttings will be collected to maximise genetic material available for translocation. Cuttings will also be collected from Population 2.

It is hoped that cutting material will be suitable to propagate plants for translocation, but as the possibility of long-term storage of seed is severely restricted, the suitability of this species for tissue culture and subsequent cryostorage  will be trialed.  This cryostored  material  will then function  to conserve  the full extent  of the relatively low level of genetic diversity remaining.

Action: 	Collect seed, cutting and tissue culture material Responsibility: 	The Department (TFSC), through the Recovery Teams Priority: 	High
Cost: 	$3,800 per year

8. 	Monitor populations

Annual monitoring  of factors such as habitat degradation  (including  weed invasion,  plant diseases  such as Phytophthora  spp.  and  salinity),   population   stability  (expansion   or  decline),   pollination   activity,   seed production, recruitment, longevity and predation is essential.

Action: 	Monitor populations
Responsibility: 	The Department (Moora and Perth Hills Districts) through the Recovery Teams
Priority: 	High
Cost: 	$700 per year

9. 	Liaise with land managers

Staff from the Department's  Moora and Perth Hills Districts will continue liaising with  land managers and owners of land occupied by and adjacent to populations, to ensure that populations are not accidentally damaged or destroyed.

Action: 	Liaise with land managers
Responsibility: 	The Department (Moora and Perth Hills Districts) through the Recovery Teams
Priority: 	Moderate
Cost: 	$800 per year

10. 	Conduct further surveys

Departmental  staff will encourage community volunteers to be involved in further surveys to be conducted during the species’ flowering period (August to early November). Likely habitat near Population 2 will be searched, with a focus on private lands between this population and the Darling Scarp, if permission can be obtained.

Action: 	Conduct further surveys
Responsibility: 	The Department (Moora and Perth Hills Districts) through the Recovery Teams

Priority: 	Moderate
Cost: 	$1,800 per year

11. 	Undertake and monitor translocation

The two populations are completely disjunct and are biologically quite distinct, so the possibility of complete loss of either population through a single catastrophe must be minimised by translocation to other secure sites. Genetic research indicates that the two populations are substantially different, and so care will be required to prevent  any mixing  of genetic  material  from  the different  populations.  A Translocation  Proposal  will be developed and suitable translocation sites selected for each District. This will be coordinated by the Recovery Teams.  Information  on the  translocation  of threatened  plants  and  animals  in the  wild  is provided  in the Department’s  Policy  Statement  No.  29  Translocation  of  Threatened  Flora  and  Fauna .  All translocation proposals require endorsement by the Department’s Director of Nature Conservation.

Monitoring  of  translocations  is  essential  and  will  be  undertaken  according  to  the  timetable  that  will  be developed as part of the Translocation Proposal.

Action: 	Undertake and monitor translocation
Responsibility: 	The Department (Science Division), BGPA through the Recovery Teams
Priority: 	High
Cost: 	$11,000 in the first year, $12,000 subsequent years

12. 	Obtain biological and ecological information

Knowledge of the susceptibility of Grevillea althoferorum and its habitat to dieback disease (Phytophthora spp.) and the impact of control techniques would greatly assist the management of Population 2, as  Phytopthora megasperma is known to occur in the vicinity.

Action: 	Obtain biological and ecological information Responsibility: 	The Department (Science Division) through SRTFCRT Priority: 	Moderate
Cost: 	$1000 in the first year

13. 	Promote awareness

The importance of biodiversity conservation and the need for the long-term protection of wild populations of this species will be promoted to the community through poster displays and the local print and electronic media. Formal links with local naturalist groups and interested individuals will also be encouraged.

Action: 	Promote awareness
Responsibility: 	The Department (Moora and Perth Hills Districts) through the Recovery Teams
Priority: 	Low
Cost: 	$300 per year

14. 	Review the need for a full Recovery Plan

At the end of the fourth year of its five-year term this Interim Recovery Plan will be reviewed and the need for further recovery actions will be assessed. If the species is still ranked as Critically Endangered at that time a full Recovery Plan may be required.

Action: 	Review the need for further recovery actions and/or a full Recovery Plan
Responsibility: 	The Department (WATSCU,  Moora and  Perth Hills  Districts) through the  Recovery
Teams
Priority: 	Low
Cost: 	$20,300 in the fifth year (if full Recovery Plan required)

4.	TERM OF PLAN

This Interim Recovery Plan will operate from May 2003 to April 2008 but will remain in force until withdrawn or replaced. If the taxon is still ranked Critically Endangered after five years, the need to review this IRP or to replace it with a full Recovery Plan will be determined.

5.	ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The following people have provided assistance and advice in the preparation of this Interim Recovery Plan: Gina Broun 	Conservation Officer, the Department's Moora District
Dr Margaret Byrne 	Principal Research Scientist, the Department’s Science Division ,WA Herbarium
John Carter 	Nature Conservation Coordinator, the Department's Perth Hills District
Anne Cochrane 	Manager, the Department's Threatened Flora Seed Centre
Colin Crane 	Senior Technical Officer, the Department’s Science Division, Kensington
Sheila Hamilton-Brown 	Botanist, previously W.A. Threatened Species and Communities Unit David Mitchell 	Program Leader Nature Conservation, the Department's Swan Region Amanda Shade 	Horticulturalist, Botanic Garden and Parks Authority
Dr Colin Yates 	Senior Research Scientist, the Department’s Science Division, WA Herbarium

Thanks also to the staff of the W.A. Herbarium for providing access to Herbarium databases and specimen information, and the Department's Wildlife Branch for assistance.

6.	REFERENCES

Brown,  A.,  Thomson-Dans,  C.  and  Marchant,  N.  (Eds).  (1998).   Western  Australia’s  Threatened  Flora.
Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
Burne, H.M., Yates, C.J. and Ladd, P.G. (in press). Comparative population structure and reproductive biology of the critically endangered shrub Grevillea althoferorum and two closely related more common congeners. Submitted to Conservation Biology.
Department of Conservation and Land Management (1992a). Policy Statement No. 44  Wildlife Management
Programs. Perth, Western Australia.
Department of Conservation and Land Management (1992b). Dieback disease hygiene manual. Perth, Western
Australia.
Department of Conservation and Land Management (1994). Policy Statement No. 50 Setting Priorities for the
Conservation of Western Australia’s Threatened Flora and Fauna. Perth, Western Australia.
Department  of  Conservation  and  Land  Management  (1995).  Policy  Statement  No.  29  Translocation  of
Threatened Flora and Fauna. Perth, Western Australia.
Department of Conservation and Land Management (1998). Western Australian Herbarium FloraBase  – Information 	on 	the 	Western 	Australian 	Flora. 	Perth, 	Western 	Australia. http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/science/
Drechsler,  M.,  Lamont,  B.B., Burgman,  M.A.,  Akcakaya,  H.R.,  Witkowski,  E.T.F.  and  Supriyadi  (1999) Modelling the persistence of an apparently immortal Banksia species after fire and land clearing. Biological Conservation: 88: 249-259.
Gibson, N., Keighery, B., Keighery, G., Burbidge, A. and Lyons, M. (1994). A floristic survey of the Southern Swan Coastal Plain. Unpublished report for the Australian Heritage Commission prepared by Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Conservation Council of Western Australia (Inc.).
Hamilton-Brown,   S.  and  English,  V.  (1999)  Interim  Recovery  Plan  number  42,  1999-2002   Grevillea althoferorum. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.
Olde, P.M. and Marriott, N.R. (1993). New species and taxonomic changes in Grevillea (Proteaceae: Grevilloideae) from south-west Western Australia. Nuytsia : 9 (2): 237-304.
Olde, P. and Marriott, N. (1995). The  Grevillea book; species A-L Volume 2. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, N.S.W.
World  Conservation  Union  (2000).  IUCN  red  list  categories  prepared  by  the  IUCN  Species  Survival
Commission, as approved by the 51st meeting of the IUCN Council. Gland, Switzerland.

7.	TAXONOMIC DESCRIPTION

Olde, P.M. and Marriott, N.R. (1993). New species and taxonomic changes in Grevillea (Proteaceae: Grevilloideae) from south-west Western Australia. Nuytsia : 9 (2): 237-304.

Compact, rounded shrubs  0.3-0.5 m high, 0.5-1 m wide; flexuose, ascending to spreading branches, dense to the ground.  Branchlets  round, scabrous to sparsely hirsute.  Leaves 3-7.5 cm long, 1- 5 cm wide, including petioles 1-5 cm long, bluish green, tangled, persistent after death, secund, ascending to erect, persistent, usually pinnatipartite; rarely (confined to foliage at the base of the plant) simple, pinnatifid, obovate-cuneate with 3-4 apical teeth, sometimes with secondary lobing of apical lobe, sometimes leaves subtending the peduncles simple and entire, 1.8-2.4 cm long, 0.1- 0.2 cm wide, linear, often fasciculate near the base of the conflorescence, sessile, usually curved, pungent; primary leaf lobes 3-7 per leaf, 2- 2.5 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, obovate -cuneate, distant, cuspidate, apically 3(4)-fid, the ultimate secondary lobe broadly triangular, pungent; the apical lobe often linear, occasionally  the secondary  lobes bifid; upper and lower surfaces similar, scabrous to sparsely hirsute; concolorous;  venation prominent, more conspicuous  on undersurface;  mixed craspedodromous  with prominent reticulum, margin flat, coincident with a conspicuous, rounded, scabrous vein; texture firmly chartaceous to coriaceous. Conflorescence terminal, usually simple, rarely 1-3 branched, erect, sessile, scarcely or not exceeding the foliage; unit conflorescence  2-5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, cylindrical, loose, development acropetal; floral rachis 1.5 mm wide at the base, arising from a leaf-opposed rosette of bracts, villous; floral bracts  6-7 mm  long,  1.5 mm  wide,  narrowly  triangular  with  apex  acuminate,  villous  outside  with  mixed biramous and glandular trichomes, glabrous inside, caducous. Flowers pedicels 2-3 mm long, villous, patent; torus 	1 mm across, straight; nectary not evident;  perianth 5-6 mm long, 1.5-1.8 mm wide, actinomorphic, reddish  when  young,  ageing  dull  creamy-yellow,  oblong  below  the  limb,  villous  outside  with  a  mixed indumentum  of biramous  and glandular  trichomes;  tepals  cohering  to anthesis,  becoming  free to base and strongly rolled down after anthesis, exposing an inner surface either densely papillose or bearing short papilloid trichomes;  limb  1.5-2  mm  long,  1.5-2  mm  wide,  erect,  densely  villous  with  spreading  to erect  straight trichomes; style creamy yellow, kinked or folded above ovary, glandular-pubescent on lower filiform portion, papillose on the upper third where continuously dilated to c. 4mm wide below the broadly expanded style -end; pollen presenter c. 0.8 mm long, 0.6-0.7 mm wide at its base, straight, conico-cylindrical with cupuliform apex. Fruits not seen.

ADDENDUM

Spilt-leaved Grevillea (Grevillea althoferorum) Interim Recovery Plan 2003-2008

In adopting this plan under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act), the Minister for the Environment and Heritage has approved the following modifications.

Critical Habitat

The plan identifies a broad area as critical habitat, including buffer zones of a set distance around known populations.  The Threatened Species Scientific Committee does not necessarily believe that such an area qualifies as habitat critical to the survival of the species, as defined in the EPBC Act.

Recovery Criteria

For the purposes of reviewing this recovery plan under the EPBC Act, the Recovery Criteria are amended to read as follows:

Criteria for success: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations have increased by 10% or more over the period of the plan’s adoption under the EPBC Act.
Criteria for failure: The number of individuals within populations and/or the number of populations
have decreased by 10% or more over the period of the plan’s adoption under the EPBC Act.