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Species Conservation Summary Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus (Latham, 1802) Dasyornithidae Conservation status Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv) Reasons for listing Extent of occurrence <5000 km2 and occupies <500 km2, occurs at 5 locations and there is a continuing decline in extent of occurrence, area occupied, habitat quality and no. locations and subpopulations, particularly for the northern subspecies, though reintroductions probably balance out the population losses Status 2000 Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) Status 1990 Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) Taxonomy D. b. brachypterus (eastern Victoria, southern and central coastal New South Wales) is Endangered, D. b. monoides (north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland) is Critically Endangered. Subspecies are not supported by genetic analysis (Roberts et al. 2011), but are nevertheless phenotypically distinct (Schodde and Mason 1999). Taxonomic uniqueness: high (1 genus/family, 3 species/ genus, 2 subspecies/species) Range There are 3 main areas where the species occurs. D. b. monoides occurs on the Queensland/New South Wales border including 12 locations across the Lamington, Border Ranges and Gibraltar Ranges National Parks. D. b. brachypterus occurs on and near the central NSW coast, including Barren Grounds Nature Reserve and Budderoo National Park and the Bherwerre and Beecroft Peninsulas around Jervis Bay. D. b. brachypterus also occurs on the NSW/Victoria border including Nadgee Nature Reserve and Croajingolong National Park (Baker 1997; Bramwell 2008). Small numbers occur elsewhere, either remnants, natural colonists or the results of planned translocations. A continuing decline in EOO and AOO is likely given the localised extirpations in at least the north. Abundance No more than 50 D. b. monoides are likely to persist (Stewart 2006; D. Stewart pers. comm.; D. Rohweder pers. comm.). Subpopulations of D. b. brachypterus include about 1250 mature individuals at Barren Grounds, 1200 at Jervis Bay and 300 at Nadgee/Howe Flat. There are newly established subpopulations at Cataract of 50 individuals and about 10 at Red Rocks (Baker 1997, 1998, 2009). Population trends are assessed as stable, with increasing translocated subpopulations in the south balancing declines in the north. Ecology D. b. monoides mostly occurs in tall, dense, grassy groundcover in open Eucalyptus forests or woodlands, often interspersed with, or within 750 m of, mature subtropical rainforest. D. b. brachypterus primarily inhabits heathland, sedgeland and swamp communities, but also open sclerophyll woodland or forest with an understorey of shrubs, grass or Bracken Pteridium esculentum and occasionally in temperate rainforest (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities 2011). Population density increases until 10–20 years after fire (Baker 2001; Bain and McPhee 2005). Feeds near the ground, mainly on small invertebrates with some seeds and small fruits (Gibson and Baker 2004). Breeds annually in spring, laying 2 eggs (Higgins and Peter 2002). They breed readily in captivity and appear to have high survival rates after translocation or captive breeding and release. A generation time of 5.2 years (BirdLife International 2011) is derived from an average age at first breeding of 1.6 years, an annual survival of adults of 77.0%, and a maximum longevity in the wild of 7.3 years, all values elicited from an expert committee. Threats Extensive fire is currently the main threat (Baker 2000). Both subspecies have been substantially affected by fire in the last few decades. Fire destroys cover, but too infrequent fire can cause the vegetation to become too dense for nesting (Bain et al. 2008). However, bristlebirds can avoid fire by moving to unburned areas and returning later when conditions are more suitable (Bain et al. 2008). Predation by foxes Vulpes vulpes and feral cats Felis catus is also significant (Lindenmayer et al. 2009). Other possible threats include overgrazing, invasion of habitat by exotic plants and disturbance by humans (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities 2011). Historically the range has been greatly reduced by clearing for residential development, agriculture and forestry, and degraded by fire and grazing mammals. Conservation objectives 1. An increasing population 2. Viable populations at more than 5 locations Information required 1. Impacts of introduced predators, particularly in combination with fire 2. Reasons for the failure of the Nadgee subpopulation to recover Management actions required 1. Establish and maintain a viable captive population of D. b. monoides 2. Prepare and implement fire management plans for all subpopulations 3. Develop contingency plans in case of fire including emergency evacuation, assisted habitat recovery and translocation © Birds Australia 2011 Published by CSIRO Publishing, http://www.publish.csiro.au/ Citation: Garnett ST, Szabo JK, Dutson G (2011) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. Current eligibility against IUCN Red List Criteria IUCN category A Criteria eligibility Not applicable: past, current or future population declines are thought unlikely to exceed 20% in any 3-generation period IUCN Red List assessment data Estimate Reliability Extent of occurrence trend 1270 km2 decreasing medium medium Area of occupancy trend 214 km2 decreasing medium medium 2550 stable high medium B Endangered: EOO <5000 km2, AOO <500 km2, at ≤5 locations with plausible future threat, inferred continuing decline in EOO, AOO, habitat quality, no. locations, no. subpopulations No. subpopulations 7 low C Not applicable: no continuing population decline or extreme fluctuations No. locations 17 low D Not applicable: population >1000 mature individuals, >5 locations Generation time E Not applicable: no population viability analysis undertaken 4. Control foxes and cats where vulnerable to predation, particularly after large-scale fire 5. Control weeds that are incompatible with bristlebirds 6. Undertake further translocations and or reintroductions Bibliography Bain D, McPhee N (2005) Resurveys of the Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus in central-eastern New South Wales 1999–2001: their relationship with fire and observer competence. Corella 29. Bain DW, Baker JR, French KO, Whelan RJ (2008) Post-fire recovery of eastern bristlebirds (Dasyornis brachypterus) is context-dependent. Wildlife Research 35, 44–49. Baker J (1997) The decline, response to fire, status and management of the Eastern Bristlebird. Pacific Conservation Biology 3, 235–243. Baker J (1998) ‘Eastern Bristlebird Recovery Plan 1997–2002’. NSW NPWS, Sydney. Baker J (2000) The Eastern Bristlebird: cover-dependent and fire-sensitive. Emu 100, 286–298. Baker J (2001) Population density and home range estimates for the Eastern Bristlebird at Jervis Bay, south-eastern Australia. Corella 25, 62–67. Baker J (2009) Assessment of Eastern Bristlebird habitat: refining understanding of appropriate habitats for reintroductions. Ecological Management and Restoration 10, S136–S139. BirdLife International (2011) ‘Species factsheet: Dasyornis brachypterus’. Retrieved 17 January, 2011 from <http:// www.birdlife.org/>. Bramwell MD (2008) The Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus in East Gippsland, Victoria, 1997–2002. Australian Field Ornithology 25, 2–11. No. of mature individuals trend Largest subpopulation Global population share 1250 medium 5.2 years low 100% high Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2011) Dasyornis brachypterus. In ‘Species Profile and Threats Database’. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. Retrieved 24 February, 2011 from <http://www. environment.gov.au/sprat>. Gibson L, Baker J (2004) Diet of the Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus in New South Wales. Corella 28, 79–81. Higgins PJ, Peter JM (Eds) (2002) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 6: Pardalotes to Spangled Drongo. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Lindenmayer DB, MacGregor CA, Wood JT, Cunningham RB, Crane M, Michael D, Montague-Drake R, Brown D, Fortescue M, Dexter N, Hudson M, Gill M (2009) What factors influence rapid post-fire site re-occupancy? A case study of the endangered Eastern Bristlebird in eastern Australia. International Journal of Wildland Fire 18, 84–95. Roberts DG, Baker J, Perrin C (2011) Population genetic structure of the endangered Eastern Bristlebird, Dasyornis brachypterus; implications for conservation. Conservation Genetics. Schodde R, Mason IJ (1999) The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. Stewart DA (2006) ‘Recovery plan for the northern population of the Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus monoides 2007–2011’. Report to the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane. Comments received from Jack Baker, Tim Holmes, David Rohweder, David Stewart © Birds Australia 2011 Published by CSIRO Publishing, http://www.publish.csiro.au/ Citation: Garnett ST, Szabo JK, Dutson G (2011) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.