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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 56(6)

An extinction-risk assessment tool for flora threatened by Phytophthora cinnamomi

S. Barrett A C , B. L. Shearer B , C. E. Crane B and A. Cochrane B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A South Coast Region, Department of Environment and Conservation, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.

B Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: sarah.barrett@dec.wa.gov.au

Australian Journal of Botany 56(6) 477-486 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT07213
Submitted: 23 November 2007  Accepted: 22 July 2008   Published: 16 September 2008

Abstract

A risk-assessment tool was used to investigate the risk of extinction from disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi to 33 taxa from the Stirling Range National Park, Western Australia. Criteria used to score risk of extinction were the direct impact of P. cinnamomi on taxa, number of extant or extinct populations, percentage of populations infested by P. cinnamomi, proximity and topographical relationship of populations to P. cinnamomi, proximity of populations to tracks and the number of additional threatening processes. Direct impact scores were derived from mortality curves determined from the survival of taxa after soil inoculation with P. cinnamomi in a shade-house environment. On the basis of the total extinction risk score, nine taxa had a ‘very high’, five had a ‘high’, six a ‘moderate’, eight a ‘low’, four a ‘very low’ and one ‘no’ risk of extinction. Whereas the methodology confirmed the current threatened status of nine taxa, it also identified five taxa, not currently listed, to be at ‘high’ risk of extinction. Other threatening processes identified included fire, herbivory, aerial canker disease and climate change. These combine with P. cinnamomi to push taxa further towards extinction. Quantification of risk of extinction identifies taxa at risk and allows for prioritisation of management actions for currently threatened flora. This risk-assessment methodology combined glasshouse inoculation with habitat and ecological data, current in situ disease impact and proximity to disease and vectors, to enable a more comprehensive assessment of extinction risk and may be used in other areas with endemic flora threatened by P. cinnamomi.


Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the assistance of Malcom Grant and Greg Freebury (Department of Environment and Conservation, South Coast Region, WA), Andrew Crawford (Threatened Flora Seed Centre, Department of Environment and Conservation) for germinating seeds and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority for root cuttings. Thanks go to C. Dunne, J. McComb and E. O’Gara for comments on the manuscript. This research was supported by funding from South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc.


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