Threatened Species - Recovery of Acacia enterocarpa Through Co-operative Action

• About the Jumping-jack Wattle
• Where Does It Live?
• How Endangered?
• Why is it Endangered?
• Aim of the Recovery Program
• What is Being Done?
• Who is Involved?
• Funding
• Program Support
• Author
• Contact

Jumping-jack Wattle Acacia enterocarpa seed pod (Photo: K Smith)

About the Jumping-jack Wattle

• Botanical name: Acacia enterocarpa (RV Smith)
• Common Name: Jumping-jack Wattle, from the seed pods' resemblance to a jumping jack cracker
• Dense prickly shrub to 1.5 metres in height
• Bright yellow ball flowers in winter/spring

Where Does It Live?

Jumping-jack Wattle occurs in small, isolated populations on Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and in the south east of South Australia and is also found in western Victoria. It occurs in many different habitats, from red and blue gum woodlands to mallee, and is often found on fertile soil. This wattle is found in three Department for Environment and Heritage reserves and in one Heritage Agreement. Most of the other populations are restricted to roadsides and rail reserves.

Jumping-jack Wattle Acacia enterocarpa in a roadside reserve in the South East. ( Photo: K Smith)

How Endangered?

Nationally endangered and listed as endangered on the 7th Schedule of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

Why is it Endangered?

• Low numbers
• Lack of recruitment
• Threatening processes:

Flowers of Acacia enterocarpa. (Photo: D Keane Threatened Plant Action Group)

• inappropriate fire regimes
• grazing by rabbits, kangaroos and hares
• weed invasion - Bridal Creeper Asparagus asparagoides smothers existing plants and prevents regeneration of seedlings
• precarious locations on roadsides increase the risk of damage from vehicles and heavy machinery
• disease, in this case a gall-producing rust fungus, stresses existing plants and prevents optimal seed production

Aim of the Recovery Program

Threatened species, such as Acacia enterocarpa, are a unique part of our natural heritage. Without urgent action, many such species are at real risk of becoming extinct. A general aim in threatened species' recovery is to establish sufficient healthy populations for the species to be no longer listed as a threatened species. In this case, the decline in Acacia enterocarpa indicates a decline in the general health of its ecological community. Recovery actions are therefore aimed at restoration of the ecological community.

Other threatened flora to benefit include:

Acacia enterocarpa habitat, woodland at Aberdour Conservation Park (Photo: K Smith)

• Silver-leafed Daisy Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa*
• Winter White Spider-orchid Caladenia brumalis*

* listed under Commonwealth endangered species legislation

What is Being Done?

• Fencing to prevent stock and vehicles from damaging plants
• Rabbit control
• Weed control
• Investigating the role of fire in regeneration and disease prevention
• Marking populations on Transport SA and local government road reserves, and informing workers such as Telstra, Council and Electricty Trust of South Australia of the significance of these sites
• Determine further secure appropriate sites for re-establishment of the species

Bridal Creeper Asparagus asparagoides (Photo:K Smith)

Who is Involved?

• Friends of the Upper South East Parks
• Threatened Plant Action Group
• Transport SA
• Department for Environment and Heritage, South East region
• Department for Environment and Heritage, West region
• Department for Environment and Heritage, Northern and Yorke region
• Tatiara Council
• Biodiversity Conservation Programs, Department for Environment and Heritage.
• Primary Industries and Resources (PIRSA)
• Private Landholders

Funding

Disease - gall producing rust fungus, may stress plants and reduce reproductivity. (Photo:K Smith)

Funding was received in 1999 through a $13,500 Threatened Species Network Community Grant. This will allow the work of various groups to be integrated and enable further recovery actions to be implemented. Natural Heritage Trust funding has also been allocated to Jumping-jack Wattle Acacia enterocarpa (among other species) on Eyre Peninsula as part of the multi-species recovery program 'Biodiversity Conservation Programs of Eyre Peninsula and Far West (previously Ark on Eyre) Threatened Plants'.

Program Support

• Natural Heritage Trust
• Threatened Plant Action Group

Author

Karan Smith, Department for Environment and Heritage

Contact

Annie Bond, Ecologist, Threatened Flora, Department for Environment and Heritage