National Recovery Plan for the
Coast Dandelion
Taraxacum cygnorum

Oberon Carter

		

Prepared by Oberon Carter, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.

Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) Melbourne, February 2010.

© State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2010
This publication is copyright.  No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne.

ISBN 978-1-74208-780-1

This is a Recovery Plan prepared under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian Government.
This Recovery Plan has been developed with the involvement and cooperation of a range of stakeholders, but individual stakeholders have not necessarily committed to undertaking specific actions.  The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds may be subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved.  Proposed actions may be subject to modification over the life of the plan due to changes in knowledge.

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

An electronic version of this document is available on the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website www.environment.gov.au
For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186

Citation:  Carter, O. 2010.  National Recovery Plan for the Coast Dandelion Taraxacum cygnorum.  Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

Cover photograph: Habitat of Coast Dandelion Taraxacum cygnorum at River Rd site, Lower Glenelg National Park Victoria, by Oberon Carter.

Table of Contents

Species Information
Description
Distribution
Population Information
Habitat
Decline and Threats
Recovery Information
Recovery Objectives
Recovery Actions and Performance Criteria
Program Implementation
Program Evaluation
Management Practices
Affected Interests
Role and Interests of Indigenous People
Social and Economic Impacts
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Priority, Feasibility and Estimated Costs of Recovery Actions

Table 1.  Population and threat information for Coast Dandelion

Figure 1.  Distribution of Coast Dandelion

Summary
The Coast Dandelion Taraxacum cygnorum is a small, short-lived rosette-forming forb that was formerly widely distributed across southern Australia, occurring in Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.  The species has not been seen in Western Australia and Tasmania for more than a century, and the most recent records are from four sites in south-western Victoria in the 1980s.  It is currently not known if there are any extant populations.  Weed invasion, disturbance and altered fire regimes are thought to be the main threats to the species.  The Coast Dandelion is listed as Vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and as Threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.  This species is presumed extinct under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.  This national Recovery Plan for the Coast Dandelion is the first recovery plan for the species, and details its distribution, habitat, threats and recovery objectives and actions necessary to ensure its long-term survival.
Species Information
Description
The Coast Dandelion Taraxacum cygnorum Hand.-Mazz., from the family Asteraceae, is a rosette-forming perennial forb.  Mature leaves are glabrescent, 4–12 cm long and oblong to linear-lanceolate with 4–7 short, more or less hooked or triangular lobes along each side.  The leaf margins between lobes may be entire or finely toothed.  Petioles are usually very pale and narrowly winged.  Flowers appear between October and December on stalks that are 3–5 cm long (2–3 times longer in fruit).  Flower heads are 1.5–2 cm in diameter (including the marginal ligules).  Outer bracts are white bordered and appressed to the inner series, and are 3–6 mm long, apiculate with a small dark callus.  Ligules are pale lemon-yellow; outer ligules are almost equal to in the inner bracts.  Stigmas are yellow.  The dark-red to blackish-purple fruits are narrow-fusiform, 4–6 mm long, spiny above, wrinkled, and with a 4–6 mm long beak (description from Scarlett 1999).  This species is distinguished from other native Taraxacum species by the fruit shape and texture and the relatively short beak, and from introduced Taraxacum species by the generally shorter leaves.  Virtually nothing is known of the biology or ecology of the Coast Dandelion.
Distribution
The Coast Dandelion formerly had a wide but apparently disjunct distribution across southern Australia, occurring from near Perth to Esperance in Western Australia, in south-western Victoria, and on three islands in Bass Strait (Tasmania) (Figure 1).  There are no records from South Australia.  The most recent records are from south-western Victoria, near Nelson and Portland, in the Naracoorte Coastal Plain IBRA bioregion (sensu DEH 2000).  However, it was previously recorded on Flinders Island and Prime Seal Island (Flinders bioregion) and King Island (King bioregion) in Tasmania, and from ‘Israelite Bay’ (Esperance Plains bioregion) and ‘Swan River to Cape Riche’ (precise locations unknown) in Western Australia.  Records from eastern Victoria and south-eastern New South Wales attributed to T. cygnorum are mis-identifications of the similar native Mountain Dandelion Taraxacum aristum.(N. Scarlett pers. comm.; Scarlett 1999).  Maps showing the distribution of the Coast Dandelion are available from the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.
Population Information
The Coast Dandelion was last seen in the 1980s, where it was recorded from four sites in south-western Victoria: three in the Lower Glenelg National Park near Nelson, and one in the Bat's Ridge Nature Reserve near Portland (Table 1).  The total population was estimated at 200 plants in the 1980s.  No plants were observed during surveys in 1991–1992 and in 2003, although these surveys were probably carried out when fertile material was absent, and T. cygnorum could not then reliably be distinguished from any introduced Taraxacum species present.  All populations occurred on reserved land managed by Parks Victoria.  There are at least two unconfirmed records of Coast Dandelion elsewhere in the Lower Glenelg National Park, and more sites are likely to be found following further searches at times when plants are fruiting.  The species was successfully cultivated by Neville Scarlett at La Trobe University in the 1980s, but no plants currently exist in cultivation.

Table 1.  Population and threat information for the Coast Dandelion
Site	Population size*	Threats (High  Medium  Low)	
Lower Glenelg National Park			
    Bully Range Rd	1985: 63 plants	altered fire regimes (H)
weed invasion (H)	
    Nelson North Rd	1984: 22 plants	weed invasion (H)
altered fire regimes (H)
firebreak construction, maintenance (H)	
    River Rd	1986: 22 plants	altered fire regimes (H)	
Bat’s Ridge Nature Reserve	1986: 100 plants	altered fire regimes (H)
weed invasion (L)	
* data from N. Scarlett La Trobe University unpubl. 

Figure 1.  Distribution of Coast Dandelion
Habitat
The habitat preferences of the Coast Dandelion are poorly known.  Sites where the species most recently occured are in near-coastal areas in shrubby woodland on limestone with red-brown sandy loam soils, with an average annual rainfall of 760–860 mm.  Woodlands are variously dominated by Eucalyptus baxteri, Eucalyptus ovata, Eucalyptus obliqua, Eucalyptus viminalis and Eucalyptus willisii.  Prominent tall shrubs include Leucopogon parviflorus, Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae and Banksia marginata, with common smaller plants including Senecio pinnatifolius, Ajuga australis, and Daucus glochidiatus.  Large moss patches (Thuidium spp.) may be present.  The Coast Dandelion has not been recorded from adjacent E. obliqua open forest with dense Xanthorrhoea australis understorey on grey sandy soils.  The Western Australian and Tasmanian records are also likely to have been from areas with a limestone geology.  A proposed recovery action is to define the habitat critical to the survival of the species, if populations can be relocated.
Decline and Threats
There is little information on the decline of and historic threats to the Coast Dandelion.  Records from the 1800s from Tasmania and Western Australia have not been re-located in recent decades and the species is presumed to be extinct in those States.  Searches of the outer Furneaux Islands by Harris et al. (2001) and of coastal limestone areas of Flinders Island in 2003 by David Cheal (pers. comm.) failed to locate the species.  The disjunct historical distribution in the south-west and the south-east of Australia, but apparent absence from large areas of suitable habitat in South Australia, is also perplexing.  Former population size is impossible to estimate.
There are also problems with reliably identifying the Coast Dandelion, due to its resemblance to other superficially similar rosette-forming herbs, notably the introduced Hypochoeris glabra and Hypochoeris radicata, Taraxacum species 1, Taraxacum section Erythrosperma, Sonchus oleraceus and Leontodon taraxacoides subsp. taraxacoides.  Several of these are present at sites where T. cygnorum grows.  The apparent rarity of the species may at least in part be due to lack of monitoring or mis-identification.
The historical decline of the Coast Dandelion may be due to intensified land-use in much of the coastal areas where the species was thought to occur.  Major threats to the remaining populations in Victoria are thought to be weed invasion, especially by the Coast Wattle Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae, and changed fire regimes, resulting in longer periods between burning and consequent increased density of vegetation communities.  The local area near recorded plants tends to contain relatively sparse tree cover compared to surrounding vegetation.  Two sites where the Coast Dandelion was recorded in the 1980s now appear to contain much denser native vegetation than was originally present.  Absence of fire in some areas may have contracted suitable habitat.  Firebreaks have been created near some populations, and maintenance may be impacting on populations.
Plants were last detected in the four known populations in the 1980s, and surveys in 1992 and 2003 failed to locate any plants.  However, plants most likely still occur at one or two of the current locations, although accurate estimates are difficult due to the difficulty in distinguishing Coast Dandelion from related taxa at most times of the year.  Plants are also likely to be relatively short-lived, and the size of natural fluctuations of populations from year to year is unknown.
Recovery Information
Recovery Objectives
The overall objective of recovery is to minimise the probability of extinction of the Coast Dandelion in the wild and to increase the probability of populations becoming self-sustaining in the long term.
Within the duration of this Recovery Plan, the specific objectives for the recovery of the Coast Dandelion are to:
1.	Determine distribution, abundance and population structure
2.	Determine habitat requirements
3.	Manage threats to populations
4.	Identify key biological functions
5.	Determine growth rates and viability of populations
6.	Establish a population in cultivation
7.	Build community support for conservation
Recovery Actions and Performance Criteria

Action	Description	Performance Criteria	
Specific Objective 1:  Determine distribution, abundance and population structure	
1.1	Develop a genetic test for reliably distinguishing the species.
Responsibility:  DSE, RBG	•	Genetic markers developed	
1.2	Undertake surveys to determine the area and extent of populations, the number, size and structure of populations, and inference or estimation of population change.
Responsibility:  DSE, PV	•	Four most recent population sites searched during fruiting season.
•	If plants detected, sites mapped for population size, condition and habitat.	
Specific Objective 2:  Determine habitat requirements	
2.1	Survey known habitat and collect floristic and environmental information relevant to community ecology and condition.
Responsibility:  DSE, PV	•	Species/habitat specific survey design prepared.
•	Habitat critical to survival mapped for any extant populations.	
2.2	Identify and survey potential habitat, using ecological and bioclimatic information that may indicate habitat preference.
Responsibility:  DSE, PV	•	Potential habitat in Lower Glenelg National Park surveyed.
•	Predictive model for potential habitat developed & tested at five sites.	
Specific Objective 3:  Manage threats to populations	
3.1	Control threats from pest plants.
Responsibility:  PV	•	Reduction in cover of woody weeds (notably Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae) at and near all sites.	
3.2	Identify optimal fire regimes to maintain habitat, building on knowledge from action 2.1.
Responsibility:  DSE, PV	•	Preparation and implementation of management prescriptions for ecological burning at Lower Glenelg NP and Bats Ridge Faunal Reserve if required.	
3.3	Control the threat of direct damage by human activities.
Responsibility:  PV	•	Impact of firebreak maintenance monitored and reduced if required.	
Specific Objective 4:  Identify key biological functions	
4.1	Evaluate current reproductive status, seed bank status, longevity, fecundity and recruitment levels.
Responsibility:  DSE	•	Reproductive ecology and regenerative potential quantified for four representative sites.
•	Seed bank potential quantified for 10 representative sites.	
4.2	Identify key stimuli for seed germination requirements.
Responsibility:  DSE	•	Stimuli for recruitment identified.
•	Management strategies identified to maintain, enhance or restore processes fundamental to reproduction and survival.	
Specific Objective 5:  Determine the growth rates and viability of populations	
5.1	Measure population trends and responses against recovery actions by collecting demographic information including recruitment and mortality, timing of life history stages and morphological data.
Responsibility:  PV, DSE	•	Techniques for monitoring developed and implemented.
•	Population growth rates determined and Population Viability Analysis completed for all populations.	
Specific Objective 6:  Establish a population in cultivation	
6.1	Establish plants in cultivation to provide a research population and potentially for reintroductions.
Responsibility:  RBG, DSE	•	Development of effective propagation and cultivation techniques.
•	At least 200 mature plants in cultivation.	
6.2	Establish a seed bank and determine seed viability.
Responsibility:  RBG	•	Seed from all extant populations in storage.	
Specific Objective 7:  Build community support for conservation	
7.1	Identify opportunities for community involvement in the conservation of the Coast Dandelion.
Responsibility:  DSE/PV	•	Community nature conservation and Landcare groups aware of the species and support its conservation.	
Abbreviations:  DSE – Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria); PV – Parks Victoria; RBG – Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

Program Implementation
This Recovery Plan guides recovery actions and will be managed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.  A Threatened Flora Recovery Team, consisting of scientists, land managers and field naturalists will be established to oversee threatened flora recovery in Victoria in general.  Technical, scientific, habitat management or education components of the Recovery Plan will be referred to specialist sub-committees on research, in situ management, community education and cultivation.  Regional Recovery Teams will be responsible for preparing work plans and monitoring progress toward recovery.
Program Evaluation
This Recovery Plan will be reviewed within five years after the Plan is adopted under the EPBC Act.  The Recovery Team will be responsible for annual assessments of progress towards recovery.  
Management Practices
Management practices required to conserve the Coast Dandelion include:
•	Surveys and publicity to locate new populations and/or relocate old populations, especially in Western Australia and Tasmania.
•	Weed control.
•	Research into the ecology and management of the species and its habitat, especially in regard to fire and other disturbance regimes required to maintain populations.
Affected Interests
Parks Victoria manages the sites where the Coast Dandelion most recently occurred, and has approved the actions outlined in this Recovery Plan, subject to availability of sufficient funding.
Role and Interests of Indigenous People
Indigenous communities on whose traditional lands the Coast Dandelion occurs have been advised, through the relevant DSE Regional Indigenous Facilitator, of the preparation of this Recovery Plan and invited to be involved in the implementation of the Recovery Plan.
Social and Economic Impacts
The implementation of this Recovery Plan is unlikely to cause significant adverse social and economic impacts, as the most recently recorded sites occur on reserved public land.
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank David Cheal, Fiona Coates, Mike Duncan, Andy Govanstone and Dale Tonkinson (Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria), Marcel Hoog Antinck and Dave Ryan (Parks Victoria), Ken Atkins (Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia) and Neville Scarlett (La Trobe University, Victoria) for contributions to this Recovery Plan.
Bibliography
DEH 2000.  Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) and the Development of Version 5.1. - Summary Report.  Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
Harris, S., Buchanan, A. and Connolly, A. 2001.  One Hundred Islands: The Flora of the Outer Furneaux.  Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment, Hobart.
Scarlett, N.H. 1999.  Taraxacum pp 688–694 in: Walsh, N.G. and Entwisle, T.J. (eds.) Flora of Victoria. Vol. 4 – Dicotyledons: Cornaceae to Asteraceae.  Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Priority, Feasibility and Estimated Costs of Recovery Actions

Action	Description	Priority	Feasibility	Responsibility	Cost estimate	
					Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Total	
1	Distribution, abundance										
1.1	Genetic tests	1	75%	DSE, RBG	$0	$25,000	$25,000	$0	$0	$50,000	
1.2	Surveys	1	100%	DSE, PV	$8,000	$8,000	$8,000	$0	$0	$24,000	
2	Habitat requirements										
2.1	Survey known habitat	1	100%	DSE, PV	$10,000	$10,000	$0	$0	$0	$20,000	
2.2	Identify survey pot. habitat	1	75%	DSE, PV	$0	$10,000	$10,000	$0	$0	$20,000	
3	Manage threats										
3.1	Control pest plants	1	75%	PV	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$25,000	
3.2	Identify fire regimes	1	50%	DSE, PV	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000	$5,000	$5,000	$40,000	
3.2	Control human damage	1	100%	PV	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$0	$0	$6,000	
4	Identify key biol functions										
4.1	Evaluate reproductive status	2	75%	DSE	$0	$0	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000	$30,000	
4.2	Seed germination	2	75%	DSE	$0	$0	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$15,000	

5	Growth rates pop viability										
5.1	Conduct censusing	2	100%	DSE	$10,000	$10,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$35,000	
6	Establish in cultivation										
6.1	Establish cultivated plants	3	50%	DSE, RBG	$0	$0	$0	$10,000	$10,000	$20,000	
6.2	Establish a seed bank	3	50%	DSE	$0	$0	$0	$2,000	$2,000	$4,000	
7	Community support										
7.1	Community extension	3	100%	DSE	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$2,000	$10,000	
				TOTALS	$2,000.00	$2,000.00	$2,000.00	$2,000.00	$2,000.00	$10,000.00