Threatened plant translocation case study: Haloragis eyreana (Prickly Raspwort), Haloragaceae

Abstract

Extensive surveys between 1997-1999 counted approximately 16,000 individuals with an area of occupancy of 0.8 km2 and an extent of occurrence of 711 km2 (Jusaitis and Freebairn 2011). Since 1999, plant numbers at five population monitoring points have been steadily declining. The species is listed as Endangered under the Australian Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and assessed as Critically Endangered under IUCN criteria. Haloragis eyreana has rather specific habitat requirements, being found in low lying, disturbed areas subject to inundation or water runoff during winter. We wanted to examine the influence of planting-site proximity to the water table on translocation success. This case study describes a translocation trial that led to the serendipitous discovery of an ideal microsite for plant establishment and ongoing recruitment of this species.