Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) population, Cudgen in the Tweed local government area - rejection of endangered population listing
The Scientific Committee, established by the Threatened Species Conservation Act, has made a Final Determination to reject a proposal to list the Cudgen population of the Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus Kerr 1792 in the Tweed local government area as an ENDANGERED POPULATION in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Act. Rejection of nominations is provided for by Part 2 of the Act.
NSW Scientific Committee - final determination
The Scientific Committee has found that:
1. The Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus Kerr 1792 (family Potoroidae) is not currently listed as an endangered species in Part 1 of Schedule 1 or a critically endangered species in Part 1 of Schedule 1A and as a consequence populations of this species are eligible to be listed as endangered populations. The species is currently listed as vulnerable in Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act and under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
2. A population of the Long-nosed Potoroo occupying disjunct habitat in the Tweed local government area of north-eastern NSW, within the localities of Cudgen, Kingscliff, Duranbah and Bogangar (Geographical Names Board of NSW 2004, Map GNB 3810, 4780) has been nominated as endangered. Approximately 370 hectares of Wallum (coastal) habitat suitable for Long-nosed Potoroos exists in this area, surrounded by extensive unsuitable habitat (Milledge 2001). A Preliminary Determination to support the proposal to list the Long-nosed Potoroo, Cudgen population, Tweed local government area as an endangered population was gazetted on 28/10/2005.
3. The Long-nosed Potoroo is a medium-size potoroid about 38 cm tall and weighs up to 1.6 kg (Johnston 2000). Individuals are brown to grey above and paler below, and the snout is long and tapering.
4. The Long-nosed Potoroo is distributed from south-eastern Queensland through NSW and southern Victoria to South Australia. The species also occurs in Tasmania and on Bass Strait islands. In NSW, the species has a patchy distribution along the east coast and hinterland (Johnston 2000).
5. Long-nosed Potoroos are generally restricted to areas with an annual rainfall greater than 760 mm where they inhabit dry and wet sclerophyll forests and woodland with a heathy understorey. The preferred habitat in north eastern NSW is dry and wet open shrubland (Mason 1997; Johnston 2000). The species requires relatively thick groundcover growing on friable soils. They dig small holes in search of roots, tubers, fungi and soft-bodied soil-dwelling animals. Long-nosed Potoroos breed throughout the year with peaks at the end of winter or early spring, and again in late summer. Females typically begin breeding at one year of age and a single pouch young is reared at a time. Individuals can live for up to seven years in the wild (Johnston 2000).
6. The presence of Long-nosed Potoroos in the Cudgen area was first documented in 1988 when one individual was captured and one individual observed (Milledge 1988). In 2004, three sightings of individual Long-nosed Potoroos were reported by experienced field biologists within 1 km of the 1988 capture record (DEC Atlas of NSW Wildlife, S. Phillips pers. comm.). However, recent systematic surveys in the Cudgen area targeting Long-nosed Potoroos have failed to detect the species. Surveys employing a total effort of 575 cage trap-nights and 4348 hair tube-nights in vegetation around the perimeter of 'Cudgen Paddock' in the south eastern portion of Kings Forest Estate, including the location of the 1988 capture record, did not record potoroos (JWA 2000, 2006; Milledge 2001; Parker 2005). No potoroos were captured in a survey employing 519 cage trap-nights over 10 sites in nearby Cudgen Nature Reserve (Goldingay et al. 2006). Consequently, the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that there is currently insufficient evidence to confirm the continued existence of a population of Long-nosed Potoroos in the Cudgen area.
7. In view of the above, the Scientific Committee finds that the nominated Cudgen population of the Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus (Kerr 1792) in the Tweed local government area is not eligible to be listed as an endangered population in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Act.
Associate Professor Lesley Hughes
Chairperson
Scientific Committee
Proposed Gazettal date: 20/04/07
Exhibition period: 20/04/07 - 15/06/07
References:
Goldingay RL, Taylor BD, Taylor DA (2006) 'Survey for the Long-nosed Potoroo in Cudgen Nature Reserve.' A report for the New South Wales Scientific Committee by the School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW.
Johnston PG (1995) Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus. In 'The Mammals of Australia'. (Ed. R. Strahan) pp. 301-302. (Reed Books: Chatswood, NSW)
JWA (2000) 'Species Impact Statement for the proposed Kings Forest development.' A report for Narui Gold Coast by James Warren and Associates Pty Ltd.
JWA (2006) 'A survey for the Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) at Kings Forest, Cudgen.' A report for Project 28 Pty Ltd by James Warren and Associates Pty Ltd.
Milledge DR (1988) 'A survey of the vertebrate fauna of the Round Mountain Cudgen Lake area.' A report for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Milledge DR (2001) 'A report on harm caused to threatened species and damage to their habitats resulting from clearing and associated impacts at Kings Forest, Cudgen, NSW.' A report for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service by Landmark Ecological Services Pty Ltd.
Parker P (2005) 'Kings Forest Long-nosed Potoroo survey.' A report for Project 28 Pty Ltd by Peter Parker Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd.