An autumn survey of the vascular flora, birds, fungi, myxomycetes and lichens of Baladjie Lake Nature Reserve and Baladjie Rock

2013·5 MB·

by  Daphne Choules Edinger

AN AUTUMN SURVEY OF THE VASCULAR FLORA,
BIRDS, FUNGI, MYXOMYCETES AND LICHENS OF
BALADJIE LAKE NATURE RESERVE
AND BALADJIE ROCK
By DAPHNE CHOULES EDINGER
Department of Parks and Wildlife, Locked Bag 104,
Bentley Delivery Centre, Bentley, 6983 Western Australia
ABSTRACT
In April 2009 the Western Australian Naturalists’ Club
conducted a biological survey at the Baladjie Lake Nature
Reserve and at Baladjie Rock, on the western edge of the
Great Western Woodlands near the town of Bullfinch. 97
specimens of lichens (including Parmeliopsis macrospora, a
Listed Priority 3 species), 15 fungi, 13 vascular flora and six
myxomycetes (slime moulds) were collected in this survey
and deposited in the Western Australian Herbarium.
Twenty-five species of birds were also recorded in the area.
An updated inventory of all flora comprising 170 species
and lichen records (including those made in the current
survey) was compiled for the Baladjie area from herbarium
records.
INTRODUCTION is located about 16km north-west
of the small town of Bullfinch in
The 2009 Easter Excursion of the
the Shire of Westonia. It
Western Australian Naturalists’
straddles the border between the
Club (WANATS) involved 23
Avon Wheatbelt and Coolgardie
club members who camped near
1BRA Bioregions and is thus part
Baladjie Rock in the Shire of
of the Great Western Woodlands
Yilgarn for seven days (April 8-
which form the largest area of
14). The purpose of the excursion
temperate climate woodlands in
was to conduct a survey of the
the world. The Great Western
vascular flora, fungi, lichens and
Woodlands (about 160,000 km2)
birds at the request of the then
are also remarkable on a global
Department of Environment
scale due to their high bio¬
and Conservation (DEC).
diversity and largely pristine
The Baladjie Lakes Nature vegetation and because wood¬
Reserve (C42720) encompasses land formations elsewhere do
about 8,916.34ha adjacent to the not inhabit areas with such dry
Baladjie Rock Water Reserve and climates and nutrient poor soils.
126
The Baladjie Lakes and Baladjie to assist in the relocation of the
Rock are located within the quadrats. Each quadrat was
Yilgarn Block, a stable Archaean photographed from the north
Craton that consists of belts of east corner. All taxa of trees,
banded gneiss, ironstone and shrubs, herbs, grasses, sedges, and
layered sedimentary, volcanic lichens in the quadrats were
and intrusive rocks (Chin and recorded and identified. Addit¬
Smith 1983). The gently undu¬ ional opportunistic collections
lating landscape of this area and records of vascular plants,
comprises lateritic, duricrusted fungi and lichens were also made
uplands and sandplains (at an outside the quadrats.
elevation of about 400m)
Fungal fruiting bodies were
dissected by broad paleodrainage collected opportunistically and
channels (now chains of shallow
placed in paper bags. The sub¬
salt lakes). In places where the
strates and vegetation associated
landscape above has eroded away with these locations were noted.
to a lower plain, there are often
In the laboratory, the collections
residual monadnocks such as
were identified by Elaine
Elachbutting Hill (elevation Davison using standard keys
407m) and Baladjie Rock (eleva¬
(Cunningham 1979, Grgurinovic
tion 377m) that are emergent
1997). Spores and capillitium were
from this plain.
mounted in lactophenol cotton
Prior to this excursion, the local blue and examined at x 1000
flora was known from only 93 magnification. All collections
vascular plant collections in the have been deposited in PERTH.
Western Australian Herbarium
Myxomycetes were grown in
(1998- ). The Department of En¬ moist chambers (Stephenson and
vironment and Conservation has
Stempen 1994) on bark from
also previously compiled a list of
Acacia sp. narrow phyllode (B.R.
97 taxa for the reserve (Ben
Maslin 7831), Eucalyptus petraea,
Lullfitz, pers. comm.) but there
collected close to the quadrats.
were no fine scale vegetation
The chambers were observed at
maps available for the area.
frequent intervals and any
myxomycetes that developed
were mounted on slides and
METHODS
identified using standard keys
To sample the vascular flora,
three permanent 30m x 30m
Table 1. Location of flora sampling
quadrats (Table 1; Figure 1) were quadrats at Baladjie Nature Reserve
set out in eucalypt woodland
using the system of Keighery Quadrat Location
(1994). Galvanised fence droppers
BRI 30° 57 07.0"S, 118° 52' 31.1'E
were placed at the four corners
BR2 30° 56’ 57.7”S, 118° 52' 50.7”E
of each quadrat. A marker peg
BR3 30° 52' 51.8"S, 118° 55' 08.3"E
was also placed on a nearby track
127
Figure 1. Quadrat locations at Baladjie Lake Nature Reserve and Baladjie Rock.
(Mitchell 2003, Neubert et al. petraea (Granite Rock Box)
2000). All collections have been formed stands near the base of
deposited in PERTH. Baladjie Rock and Eucalyptus
Updated inventories of all loxophleba subsp. lissophloia (the
smooth bark form of the York
vascular flora and lichens known
from Baladjie Lakes Nature Gum) was also nearby. Eucalyptus
Reserve and Baladjie Rock were kochii subsp. plenissima (Trayning
Mallee) grew further away from
compiled from records of
the rock towards the salt lakes.
specimens held at PERTH (WA
Herbarium 1998- ) and records Eucalyptus salmonophloia (Salmon
from this survey. It is unknown Gum) and Eucalyptus salubris
(Gimlet) were the larger trees of
if there have been previous fungi
and slime mould (myxomycete) the area.
collections in the area as records The understorey layers of the
for these groups are not readily mallee and woodlands were
available from WA Herbarium dominated by Acacia spp., in¬
(1998). cluding Acacia sp. narrow
phyllode (B.R. Maslin 7831) (the
A list of birds that were sighted
or heard by all members of the Northern Jam Wattle) and Acacia
excursion was compiled during tetragonophylla (Kurarra). Also
the survey. This included all common were Bursaria
birds identified near the three occidentalis, Eremophila clarkei
flora sampling quadrats at (Turpentine Bush), Eremophila
specific times during the flora drummondii, Eremophila ionantha
(Violet-flowered Eremophila),
survey (Table 2).
Eremophila scoparia (Broom Bush),
Leptospermum fastigiatum, Lepto-
RESULTS spermum macgillivrayi, Olearia
dampieri subsp. eremicola, Olearia
1. Vascular Flora and Vegetation
pimeleoides (Pimelea Daisybush),
The current survey found sam¬ Olearia muelleri (Goldfields Daisy)
phires and shrublands adjacent and Pittosporum angustifolium.
to the Baladjie Lakes, and mallee
All of the vegetation was gener¬
and woodlands further from the
ally in very good or excellent
lakes. The mallee Eucalyptus
condition with little disturbance
except occasional signs of rabbit
activity.
Table 2. Bird observation locations/
Forty-six specimens of vascular
times at or near flora quadrats
flora were recorded in this
Nearest Date and time of records survey, identified by the author
quadrat and Gilbert Marsh and 13
specimens were deposited in
BRI April 11,10:30am to 11:15am PERTH (WA Herbarium 1998- ).
BR2 April 11,3:00pm to 3:45pm
The taxa identified in the field
BR3 April 12,10:00am to 10:45am
and deposited in the herbarium
129
are listed with previous herb¬ BR-2: Open Eucalyptus kochii
arium records from this location subsp. plenissima mallee (25%
in Appendix 1. cover) over Exocarpos aphyllus-
The vegetation sampled in the Dodonaea viscosa subsp.
quadrats of the current survey is angustissima tall, open shrubs
(>2m, 10% cover); over low open
briefly described below in terms
of the dominant (greater than 2 Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia
shrubs (<2m, 5% cover); and other
% cover) taxa in each layer.
low open shrubs including
Olearia muelleri and Rhagodia
BR-1: Mid-dense Eucalyptus
drummondii (<lm); and sparse
loxophleba subsp. lissophloia mallee
Austrostipa elegantissima perennial
(40% cover); over Calycopeplus
grass (5 % cover).
paucifolius tall, open shrubs (>2m,
Associates of this vegetation are
5% cover); Acacia sp. narrow
listed below.
phyllode (B.R. Maslin 7831) and
other low, open shrubs; and Shrubs <2m: Acacia sp. narrow
sparse annual grasses. Common phyllode (B.R. Maslin 7831)
associates of this vegetation are A triplex nummularia, Callitris
listed below. columellaris, Eremophila oppositifolia,
Shrubs <2m: Acacia Maireana diffusa, Maireana georgei,
Olearia muelleri, Ptilotus nobilis
tetragonophylla, Eremophila
subsp. nobilis, Ptilotus obovatus and
decipiens, Eremophila drummondii,
Solanum hoplopetalum
Leptospermum fastigiatum, Olearia
dampieri subsp. eremicola, Olearia Perennial herbs: Thysanotus
muelleri, Olearia pimeleoides, manglesianus (dead).
Rhagodia drummondii, Santalum Annual herbs: Podolepis capillaris
acuminatum and Solanum (dead).
nummularium.
Hemi-parasite: A myema miquelii on
Grasses: Aristida contorta, (Eucalyptus kochii subsp. plenissima).
Austrostipa trichophylla.
This quadrat was at the north
Perennial herbs: Dianella revoluta. end of Baladjie Rock (close to a
Annual herbs: Waitzia acuminata small lobe of the salt lake) on
var. acuminata (dead). orange sand with a 50% litter
cover.
Hemi-parasite: Amyema miquelii
(on Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp.
lissophloia). BR-3: Eucalyptus salubris low open
woodland of (<10m, 10% cover);
This quadrat was at the base of
Baladjie Rock to the north of the over tall Eremophila scoparia and
camping area. It was a poorly Acacia sp. narrow phyllode (B.R.
Maslin 7831) shrubs (>2m, 15%
drained flat with orange,
granitic, gravelly soil and 50% cover); over A triplex nummularia
low open shrubs (<2m, 5% cover).
bare ground. Leptospermum
fastigiatum formed dense thickets Associates of this vegetation are
closer to Baladjie Rock. listed below.
130
Shrubs <2m: Eremophila clarkei, brackets growing on dead wood.
Eremophila ionantha, Eremophila In addition to these macrofungi,
oppositifolia, Eremophila scoparia, bark incubated in moist
Exocarpos aphyllus, Scaevola chambers yielded six species of
spinescens, Senna artemisioides Myxomycetes (Appendix 4).
subsp. filifolia and Senna These include Arcyria pausiaca,
chatelainiana an uncommon species world¬
Shrubs <0.5m: IDissocarpus wide, which has been found
paradoxus, Maireana sp., Ptilotus several times on bark from arid
nobilis subsp. nobilis and Ptilotus and semi-arid areas in Australia
obovatus (Davison and Davison, un¬
published).
Grasses: Austrostipa pycnostachya
These groups were identified by
This quadrat was approximately
Elaine Davison (Curtin Uni¬
11.5 km NNE of Baladjie Rock just
west of the track running up to versity) and all collections were
deposited in PERTH.
the Mt Jackson Road alongside
Lake Baladjie. The soil was
poorly-drained, lichen-covered, 4. Avifauna
orange clay-sand, with about 5% Twenty-five bird species were
litter cover. noted in the general Baladjie
Rock/ Baladjie Lakes Nature
2. Lichens Reserve area and adjacent to the
three flora sampling quadrats
Ninety-seven lichen specimens
(Appendix 5).
(from 13 families and at least 21
genera and 36 species) were
collected (Appendix 2). These
DISCUSSION
collections were identified by
Ray Cranfield of DPaW The flora survey was conducted
(Manjimup) and all specimens at a low intensity during dry,
were deposited in PERTH. autumn weather. However,
although there were no vascular
3. Fungi and Myxomycetes (Slime flora taxa of listed conservation
Moulds) significance found in this survey,
Thirteen collections of fungi 31 taxa not previously known
(from five families, six genera from the area (WA Herbarium,
and at 11 species) were made 1998- ) were collected in this
(Appendix 3). All were taxa with survey. It is recommended that
persistent fruiting bodies. Nine additional flora surveys are
(Geastrum spp., Podaxis pistillaris, carried out in spring at Baladjie
Pisolithus sp., Tulostoma spp.) were to survey the annuals and
puffballs or puffball-like species geophytes. The playa vegetation
and occurred on the ground. The also appears to be worth further
other two, Pycnoporus coccineus investigation as a Priority 1
and Gloeophyllum sp., were species (Tecticornia flabelliformis)
131
is known from the area (WA that were collected in this survey
Herbarium, 1998-). Classifying (e.g. Podaxis pistillaris) are con¬
and mapping the fine-scale spicuous and widespread (Grey
vegetation assemblages in the and Grey 2001), but the small
area could also provide useful stalked puffballs (Tulostoma spp.)
information for the manage¬ and earthstars (Geastrum spp.) are
ment of the area. easily overlooked. These latter
genera contain many species that
The low number of birds
can only be separated by
recorded in this survey probably
microscopic examination. The
also reflected the warm to hot,
species found at Baladjie Lake
dry weather conditions at the
Nature Reserve and Baladjie
time of survey and the low
intensity of the survey. Rock are similar to those from
arid areas in other parts of
The lichen collections made in
Western Australia and in the
this survey were the first lichens
Northern Territory (Davison,
recorded at Baladjie since 1971,
unpublished).
when Prof. A. R Main (1919—
The fungi that occur in arid areas
2009), a long-term member and a
fill the same ecological niches as
patron of the Western Australian
those that occur in more mesic
Naturalists’ Club, collected three
environments. Some, such as
taxa at Baladjie Rock and lodged
them in the WA Herbarium Pisolithus are mycorrhyzal with
shrubs and trees. Decomposers,
collection. None of the taxa
collected by Prof. Main were re¬ such as Pycnoporus coccineus and
collected in the current survey. Gloeophyllum are important for
recycling cellulose and lignin. It
One lichen species (Parmeliopsis
macrospora) that was collected in is only when weather conditions
are suitable that they produce
the current survey is listed as a
macroscopic fruiting bodies, and
Priority 3 taxon by DPaW
(Western Australian Herbarium this is less frequent at Baladjie
than in higher rainfall areas.
1998- ). Seven of the species
collected in the current survey From this survey, lichens and
(including Parmeliopsis fungi appear to be significant
macrospora) were first records for components of the biodiversity
the Coolgardie and Avon at Baladjie. Further surveys of
Wheatbelt IBRA Bioregions. these poorly known groups in
other areas of the Great Western
The fungi and slime moulds
Woodlands may contribute in¬
collected in this survey appear to
sights into the ecology of this
be the first collections of these
poorly known area.
groups from Baladjie Lakes
Nature Reserve and Baladjie
Rock, to be deposited at the WA
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Herbarium. The macrofungi that
occur in arid areas of Australia WA Naturalist’s Club members
are not well known. Some species who participated in this Easter
132
Excursion survey were Daphne GREY, P. and GREY, E. 2001. Fungi
Edinger, John and Ruth Luyer Down Under, the Fungimap Guide to
(who collated the bird data), Australian Fungi. Fungimap, c/o
Elaine and Peter Davison (who Royal Botanic Gardens
led the collection of the fungi Melbourne.
and slime moulds), Penny Hussey
GRGURINOVIC, C. A. 1997. Larger
(who led the collection of the
Fungi of South Australia. The
lichens), John Abbott, Margaret
Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and
and Alec Brimms, Yvonne and
State Herbarium and the Flora
Peter Broome, Margaret Larke,
and Fauna of South Australia.
Gilbert Marsh, Lyn Myles,
Handbooks Committee, Adelaide.
Graeme Rundle, Marlene and
KEIGHERY, B.J. 1994. Bushland
Bob Willis, Joan and Rob Sharp,
plant survey. A guide to plant
Jolande Keeble, Yvonne and
community survey for the community.
Kevin Coate and Rob and
Wildflower Society of WA (Inc).
Maureen Skeet. Rohan Swan
developed an electronic draft of MITCHELL, D.W. 2003.
this paper. Ben Lullfitz (Con¬ Myxomycete keys. CD-ROM
servation Officer, DEC Yilgarn) privately published by the author.
provided information and NEUBERT., NOWOTNY, W. and
assistance in the planning of this BAUMANN, K. 2000. Die
trip. The paper was edited by Myxomyceten. Karlheinz Baumann
Cate Tauss. Verlag, Gomaringen.
STEPHENSON, S. L. and
STEMPEN, H. 1994. Myxomycetes: a
REFERENCES
Handbook of Slime Molds. Timber
CHIN, R.J. and SMITH, R.A. 1983. Press, Inc., Oregon, USA
1:250,000 Geological Series, Jackson, WA HERBARIUM, 1998-
SH/50. Geological Survey of FloraBase. Department of Parks
Western Australia. and Wildlife, Western Australia,
CUNNINGHAM, G. H. 1979. The http:/ / florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/
Gasteromycetes of Australia and New Accessed January, 2013.
Zealand.J Cramer, FL-9490 Vaduz.
133
Appendix 1. The vascular flora recorded at Baladjie Lakes Nature Reserve and
Baladjie Rock in April 2009 and all WA Herbarium (1998- ) records from these
locations.
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Aizoaceae Gunniopsis intermedia Diels *
Aizoaceae Gunniopsis quadrifida (F.Muell.) Pax *
Amaranthaceae Ptilotus nobilis (Lindl.) F.Muell. * * *
subsp. nobilis
Amaranthaceae Ptilotus obovatus (Gaudich.) F.Muell. * * *
Asparagaceae Chamaexeros fimbriata (F.Muell.) Benth. *
Asparagaceae Thysanotus manglesianus Kunth * *
Asteraceae Angianthus aff. micropodioides *
Asteraceae Angianthus prostratus P.S.Short *
Asteraceae Angianthus tomentosus J.C.Wendl. *
Asteraceae Erymophyllum ramosum (A. Gray) *
Paul G. Wilson subsp. ramosum
Asteraceae Cephalipterum drummondii A.Gray *
Asteraceae Cratystylis subspinescens S.Moore *
Asteraceae Gilberta tenuifolia Turcz. *
Asteraceae Gnephosis acicularis Benth. *
Asteraceae Goodenia quasilibera Carolin *
Asteraceae Gnephosis tenuissima Cass. *
Asteraceae Olearia dampieri subsp. eremicola (Diels) *
Lander ms
Asteraceae Olearia muelleri (Sond.) Benth. * * *
Asteraceae Olearia pimeleoides (DC.) Benth. * *
Asteraceae Podolepis capillaris (Steetz) Diels * *
Asteraceae Podotheca pritzelii P.S.Short P3 *
Asteraceae Senecio pinnatifolius A.Rich. *
Asteraceae Waitzia acuminata Steetz var. acuminata *
Brassicaceae Stenopetalum salicola Keighery *
Campanulaceae Isotoma petraea F.Muell. *
Campanulaceae Lobelia winfridae Diels *
Centrolepidaceae Centrolepis cephaloformis Reader *
subsp. cephaloformis
Centrolepidaceae Centrolepis eremica D.A.Cooke *
Centrolepidaceae Centrolepis polygyna (R.Br.) Hieron. *
Chenopodiaceae A triplex nana Parr-Smith *
Chenopodiaceae A triplex nummularia Aellen subsp. * *
spathulata Aellen
134
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S X m O as
< < pcj pcJ pcJ Ph to
p-i H PQ PQ PQ O 'S
*
Chenopodiaceae A triplex stipitata Benth.
* *
Chenopodiaceae A triplex nummularia Lindl.
*
Chenopodiaceae ? Dissocarpus paradoxus (R.Br.) Ulbr.
*
Chenopodiaceae Enchylaena tomentosa R.Br. var. tomentosa
*
Chenopodiaceae Maireana amoena (Diels) Paul G.Wilson
*
Chenopodiaceae Maireana diffusa Paul G.Wilson
*
Chenopodiaceae Maireana georgei (Diels) Paul G.Wilson
*
Chenopodiaceae Maireana sp.
*
Chenopodiaceae Maireana thesioides (C.A.Gardner)
Paul G.Wilson
*
Chenopodiaceae Rhagodia drummondii Moq.
*
Chenopodiaceae Rhagodia preissii Moq. subsp. preissii
*
Chenopodiaceae Roycea Idivaricata Paul G.Wilson
*
Chenopodiaceae Sarcocornia blackiana (Ulbr.) A.J.Scott
*
Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena diacantha (Nees) Benth.
*
Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena eurotioides (F.Muell.) A.J.Scott
*
Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena fusiformis Paul G.Wilson
*
Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena parviflora (R.H.Anderson)
A.J.Scott
*
Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia disarticulata (PaulG.Wilson)
K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson
*
Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia flabelliformis (Paul G.Wilson)
K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson
*
Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia halocnemoides (Nees)
K.A.Sheph. <Sl Paul G.Wilson
*
Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia pergranulata (J.M.Black)
K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson
subsp. pergranulata
*
Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia sp. Dennys Crossing (K.A.
Shepherd & J. English KS 552) pn
* *
Cupressaceae Callitris columellaris F.Muell.
*
Ericaceae Leucopogon sp. Kau Rock (M.A. Burgman
1126) PN
* *
Euphorbiaceae Calycopeplus paucifolius (Klotzsch) Baill.
*
Euphorbiaceae Ricinocarpos velutinus F.Muell
* *
Fabaceae Acacia sp. narrow phyllode (B.R.
Maslin 7831)
*
Fabaceae Acacia coolgardiensis Maiden
*
Fabaceae Acacia leptopetala Benth.
*
Fabaceae Acacia ligulata Benth.
135