Mount Canobolas Xanthoparmelia Lichen Community - endangered ecological community listing

The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to list the Mt Canobolas Xanthoparmelia Lichen Community as an ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY on Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Listing of Endangered Ecological Communities is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. Mt Canobolas Xanthoparmelia Lichen Community is the name given to the community of foliose lichens of the genus Xanthoparmelia (F. Parmeliaceae: Ascomycotina) characterised by the species assemblage listed in 2, below. The community occurs at Mt Canobolas in central-western New South Wales.

2. Mt Canobolas Xanthoparmelia Lichen Community is characterised by the following assemblage:

• Cladia fuliginosa
• Xanthoparmelia canobolasensis
• Xanthoparmelia digitiformis
• Xanthoparmelia metaclystoides
• Xanthoparmelia metastrigosa
• Xanthoparmelia multipartita
• Xanthoparmela neorimalis
• Xanthoparmelia sulcifera
• Xanthoparmelia tasmanica

Xanthoparmelia canobolasensis and X. metastrigosa are known only from Mt Canobolas, and X. sulcifera and C. fuliginosa are each known from only one other locality in New South Wales.

3. The total species list for the community is likely to be considerably larger than that given in 2, above. It is likely, for example, that microfauna and many species of invertebrates are associated with the lichens, but these have not been studied.

4. Mt Canobolas Xanthoparmelia Lichen Community occurs on rock faces and soils of the Mt Canobolas Tertiary volcanic complex. The Mt Canobolas complex consists mostly of trachyte and alkali rhyolite, with smaller outcroppings of other Tertiary rocks.

5. Mt Canobolas Xanthoparmelia Lichen Community is threatened by road and drainage works, and collection of bushrock. Tourist visitation of the slopes and summit of Mt Canobolas increases risks of trampling and disturbance to the community. There is also potential for loss of lichen habitat from increased urban encroachment and rural development such as vineyards and orchards on the north and east flanks of Mt Canobolas. Part of the Community occurs within the Mt Canobolas State Conservation Area, but this affords only limited protection of the community from the listed threats.

6. In view of the above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Mt Canobolas Xanthoparmelia Lichen Community is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate and that listing as an endangered ecological community is warranted.

Proposed Gazettal date: 05/10/01
Exhibition period: 05/10/01 - 0911/01