Section 1 Name and Description

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Section 1 - Name and Description

Name

2. Name of nominated threatening process. The name should accurately reflect the scope of the process based on the description and evidence provided in this form.

Ecosystem degradation, habitat loss and species decline due to invasion in southern Australia by introduced Tall Wheat Grass (Lophopyrum ponticum).

Description

3. Description of the threatening process that distinguishes it from any other threatening process, by reference to:

(i) its biological and non-biological components;

(ii) the processes by which those components interact (if known).

Description of Tall Wheat Grass (Lophopyrum ponticum): L. ponticum is a robust, densely tufted perennial grass growing to 2.2m high (Walsh & Entwisle 1994). Native to the Balkans, Black Sea, Asia Minor and southern Russia, L. ponticum is a halophyte that grows in saline meadows, marshes and on coasts in its native range. It was first introduced to Australia in 1935 for reclamation of saline soils. The most widely planted cultivar – ‘Dundas’ – was released in 1999 by the Victorian Government. During the past decade its use as a pasture grass for saline areas has been heavily promoted and subsidised in southern Australia under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. This has resulted in a very high propagule pressure, particularly in Western Victoria (Booth et al. 2009).
Naturalisation & invasion: In a relatively short time, L. ponticum has become one of the most seriously invasive grass species in temperate Australia (Booth et al. 2009). Map 1 (page 12) documents known sites of naturalisation in Victoria. It has also naturalised in South Australia, NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania, although the extent has not been documented (Booth et al. 2009, Virtue & Melland 2003, Weiss & Iaconis 2001). The distribution and age structure of invading populations indicate that it is rapidly recruiting and expanding its range (XXXX XXXX). The Future Farm Industries CRC has recently assessed the weed risk of L. ponticum for Victoria as ‘very high’ and for other states (NSW, SA, WA) as ‘high’ (Byrne & Stone 2009). Climate modeling found its potential range in Victoria exceeded 10 million hectares (Weiss & Iaconis 2001). The total invasive range may be considerably larger because it has naturalised in locations far removed from its modeled climate envelope (comparing Map 1 with ibid). No climate modeling is available for other states. In South Australia, one risk assessment found that 25% of native vegetation of the South-east region was at risk of invasion (Virtue & Melland 2003). Observations in South Australia indicate that L. ponticum is widespread and an extremely serious invader (XXXX XXXX; XXXX XXXX.). This is particularly the case in the Coorong (a Ramsar wetland and a system under severe pressure), where L. ponticum is now widespread and abundant in many locations, and on Kangaroo Island, where it occupies diverse environments (saline and non-saline).
Amongst many invasive species threats in south-eastern Australia L. ponticum stands out as having an extremely wide ecological amplitude across temperate lowlands. It is tolerant of salinity, alkalinity, drought, frost and waterlogging, and is invading the following range of habitats:

Coastal and non-coastal upper and mid-level saltmarshes
Plains Grasslands on basalt-derived soils
Coastal cliffs and coastal calcareous sands
Salt Paperbark (Melaleuca halmaturorum) Swamp Scrub
Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Forest on stony clay loam
River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis) Grassy Forest on clay loam and on deep siliceous sands (the latter with Porcupine Grass Triodia scariosa)
Seasonal and permanent wetlands, brackish wetlands, estuaries and non-saline wetlands (including Brackish Sedgeland and Brackish Wetland)
Mallee Chenopod Woodland on calcareous sandy loam, Kangaroo Island
Riparian woodlands
Exotic vegetation of road reserves in a very wide range of saline, brackish and non-saline environments

The extreme versatility and hardiness of Tall Wheat Grass, and its capacity to invade and dominate a range of very sensitive environments – saltmarshes, wetlands and grasslands – render it an invader of particular concern.
Threats to ecological communities: As a stress-tolerant halophyte and glycophyte, L. ponticum forms dense monospecific swards in naturally saline and non-saline areas. This is the reason it has been heavily promoted as a pasture grass – to extend productive uses onto saline areas (eg. see Borg & Fairbairn 2003). L. ponticum is currently the most serious invasive weed of upper and mid-level saltmarshes in both coastal and inland areas in southeastern Australia, and could result in almost complete elimination of these ecological communities in many areas (Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group 2009, Booth et al. 2009, Weiss & Iaconis 2001).
L. ponticum is also a serious threat for saline and subsaline wetlands, including numerous Ramsar-listed sites (Carr et al. 1992; XXXX XXXX in prep.). It also threatens estuaries, riparian environments and grasslands in southeastern Australia.
L. ponticum shifts the floristic composition of ecological communities by outcompeting and eliminating structurally subordinate native plant species and preventing recruitment of all species; it eliminates and degrades faunal habitats and alters ecosystem functions associated with fire and potentially also with hydrology and nutrient cycling.
With Government promotion of L. ponticum, propagule pressure has substantially increased during the past decade, and as many sites of naturalisation and invasion are only recent developments, this weed has the potential to invade a much larger area. The area vulnerable to invasion in Victoria alone probably exceeds the 10 million hectares modeled by Weiss & Iaconis (2001) as naturalised populations have been discovered outside the modeled climate envelope both latitudinally and altitudinally.
Threat to species: The flora of naturally saline areas has been little studied and includes several endemic species with small distributions that are highly vulnerable to weed invasion. L. ponticum is invading the habitat of numerous rare and threatened species, including 12 species listed under the EPBC Act (Booth et al. 2009). It forms tall, dense swards that shade out subordinate species and prevent the recruitment of all other species.
Fire: Because L ponticum grows tall and dense, forming closed stands, L. ponticum substantially increases fuel loads in many invaded areas, and may alter fire behaviour and long-term fire regimes. Some vegetation types not subject to natural burning, such as shrublands dominated by Tecticornia, are becoming vulnerable to fire as a consequence of invasion (ibid).
Note that other perennial exotic grass species promoted under salinity programs are also invading natural areas in southern Australia. Other species of concern include Festuca arundinacea, Phalaris aquatica, and Puccinellia ciliata (Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group 2009, Booth et al. 2009). However, we regard L. ponticum as the most serious of these threats because of its very robust life form, exceedingly wide ecological amplitude and the evidence of its threats to date. There are likely to be releases of new cultivars of these species in future bred for greater drought or salinity tolerance that could exacerbate their threats.
The major focus on L. ponticum has been in Victoria, where its propagule pressure has been strongest due to its promotion as a pasture species and where the data on its impacts are most comprehensive. However, the same threatening process will operate in other parts of southern Australia over a longer timescale as naturalisations increasingly occur.

Section 2 - Impacts on Native Species and Ecological Communities

Notes:

General information on the mechanism of impact should not be included in this section - this is part of the description.
In this section only one pair of questions 4/5, 6/7 or 8/9 need to be answered. However, providing all available evidence against each question will aid in assessment on the nomination.
The criteria for listing a species or ecological community under the EPBC Act are at Part B and Part D of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee guidelines at the end of this form. It is important to refer to these criteria when answering questions in this section.
The EPBC Act lists of threatened species and ecological communities are available on the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website at: www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html

Non-EPBC Act Listed Species/Ecological Communities

4. Provide a summary of those species or ecological communities, other than those that are listed under the EPBC Act, that could become eligible for listing in any category, other than conservation dependent. Please include:

For each species: the scientific name, common name (if appropriate), category it could become eligible for listing in;
For each ecological community: the complete title (published or otherwise generally accepted), category it could become eligible for listing in.

Species/Ecological Community

Category

Upper Coastal Saltmarsh communities (see description section 5)

Lachnagrostis billardierei ssp. billardierei (Coast Blown-grass)

Lawrencia spicata (Salt Lawrencia)

Limonium australe (Yellow sea-lavender)

Melaleuca halmaturorum ssp. Halmaturorum (Salt Paperbark)

Poa physoclina (Tussock-grass)

Prasophyllum anticum (Pretty Hill Leek-orchid)

Prasophyllum viretrum (Orford Leek-orchid)

Teucrium albicaule (Scurfy Germander)

Candalides neolkeri (Goldenrayed Blue Butterfly)

Vulnerable-endangered

Vulnerable

Vulnerable

Vulnerable

Vulnerable

Critically endangered

Endangered

Critically endangered

Vulnerable

Vulnerable

5. Provide justification that the species or ecological communities detailed at question 3 could become eligible for listing in any category, other than conservation dependent. For each species/ecological community please include:

data on the current status in relation to the criteria for listing;
specific information on how the threatening process threatens this species/community;
information on the extent to which the threat could change the status of the species/community in relation to the criteria for listing.

Upper Coastal Saltmarsh communities (see description below)	Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group (2009), Booth et al. (2009), Carr (unpubl.)	L. ponticum has the potential to eliminate upper saltmarsh communities in many areas, particularly Western Victoria, by becoming the dominant species.
*Lachnagrostis billardierei* *ssp. billardierei***	Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group (2009), Carr (unpubl.)	Based on IUCN criteria, this species is endangered in Victoria. L. ponticum is an imminent serious threat. Its upper saltmarsh habitat would be vulnerable to L. ponticum invasion in other parts of its range, but data is lacking.
*Lawrencia spicata*	Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group (2009), Crowfoot et al. (2006), Carr (unpubl.)	Based on IUCN criteria, this species is critically endangered in Victoria, with L. ponticum a major threat. Its upper saltmarsh habitat would be vulnerable to L. ponticum invasion in other parts of its range, but data is lacking.
*Limonium australe*	Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group (2009), Crowfoot et al. (2006)	Based on IUCN criteria, this species is critically endangered in Victoria, with L. ponticum a major threat. Its upper saltmarsh habitat would be vulnerable to L. ponticum invasion in other parts of its range, but data is lacking.
*Melaleuca halmaturorum* ssp. *halmaturorum*	Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group (2009), Carr (unpubl.)	Based on IUCN criteria, this species is critically endangered in Victoria, with L. ponticum a major threat. Its upper saltmarsh habitat would be vulnerable to L. ponticum invasion in other parts of its range, but data is lacking.
*Poa physoclina*	Walsh (2008)	Based on IUCN criteria, this species is critically endangered. 5 known populations. Inhabits the margins of salt lakes or seasonal wetlands. Major threat is encroachment by L. ponticum and Phalaris aquaticia. Without management of L. ponticum, all populations are likely to go extinct.
*Prasophyllum anticum*	XXXX XXXX	1 known population. Without management of L. ponticum this population could go extinct.
*Prasophyllum viretrum*	XXXX XXXX	4 known populations. L. ponticum is a serious emerging threat.
*Teucrium albicaule*	XXXX XXXX (unpubl.)	Based on IUCN criteria, this species is critically endangered in Victoria. Its saltmarsh habitat would be vulnerable to L. ponticum invasion in other parts of its range, but data is lacking.
*Candalides neolkeri*	XXXX XXXX	4 known populations. Its habitat is severely threatened by L. ponticum.

The Victorian Saltmarsh Survey (2009) has recommended that the current Ecological Vegetation Community (EVC) 9 ‘Coastal Saltmarsh Aggregate’ be split into 7 different EVCs. Invasion by L. ponticum is a threat to upper saltmarsh communities (not lower saltmarshes), including the following components:

Seasonally Inundated Sub-saline Herbland (Wilsonia humilus Herbland)
Seasonally Inundated Sab-saline Herbland (Wilsonia rotundifolia Herbland)
Seasonally Inundated Sub-saline Herbland (Wilsonia backhousei Herbland)
Brackish Wetland
Brackish Herbland
Estuarine Scrub (Western Victoria)
Brackish Lignum Swamp
Brackish Sedgeland (Baumea juncea)
Brackish Sedgeland (Gahnia trifida)
Brackish Grassland
Estuarine Flats Grassland (Poa poiformis – Ficinia nodosa)
Estuarine Flats Grassland (Austrostipa stipoides – F. nodosa – P. poiformis)
Coastal Saline Grassland (Distichlis distichopylla Grassland)
Coastal Saline Grassland (Sporobolus virginicus Grassland)
Coastal Dry Saltmarsh (Sarcocornia blackiana Herbland)
Coastal Dry Saltmarsh (Annual Herbland)
Coastal Dry Saltmarsh (Frankenia pauciflora Shrubland)
Coastal Dry Saltmarsh (Disphyma crassifolium Herbland)
Coastal Hypersaline Saltmarsh (Tecticornia pergranulata Shrubland)
Coastal Hypersaline Saltmarsh (Tecticornia halocnemoides Shrubland)
Coastal Hypersaline Saltmarsh (Lawrencia squamata Shrubland)
Coastal Tussock Saltmarsh (Gahnia flium Sedgeland)
Coastal Tussock Saltmarsh (Austrostipa stipoides Grassland)
Saltmarsh-grass Swamp (Puccinellia stricta Grassland)

EPBC Act Listed Species/Ecological Communities

6. Provide a summary of those listed threatened species or ecological communities that, due to the impacts of the threatening process, could become eligible for listing in another category representing a higher degree of endangerment. Please include: a. For each species: the scientific name, common name (if appropriate), category it could become eligible for listing in; For each ecological community: the complete title (published or otherwise generally accepted), category it could become eligible for listing in.
Species/Ecological Community	Category
*Poa sallacrustis* (Salt-lake Tussock-grass) *Prasophyllum diversiflorum* (Gorae Leek-orchid) *Senecio psilocarpus* (Swamp Fireweed) *Trichanthodium baracchianum* (Dwarf Yellow-head)	Critically endangered Critically endangered Endangered Critically endangered
7. Provide justification that the species or ecological communities detailed at question 6 could become eligible for listing in another category representing a higher degree of endangerment due to the impacts of the threatening process. Please include: data on the current status in relation to the criteria for listing (at least one criterion for the current listed category has been previously met); specific information on how the threatening process significantly threatens this species/community; information on the extent to which the threat could change the status of the species/community in relation to the criteria for listing. This does not have to be the same criterion under which the species/community was previously listed.

*Poa sallacrustis*	Carter & Walsh (2006b), McRobert & Carr (2008), DSE (2008).	9 populations covering 800m². Weed invasion is the major threat, with L. ponticum the most serious invader. Unless L. ponticum is controlled, all populations are likely to be lost.
*Prasophyllum diversiflorum*	XXXX XXXX; XXXX XXXX	2 populations. L. ponticum has invaded near one population & is a very serious threat.
*Senecio psilocarpus*	XXXX XXXX (unpubl.)	About 25 populations. L. ponticum is a serious potential threat.
*Trichanthodium baracchianum*	XXXX XXXX	8 wild populations, on the periphery of saline flats. L. ponticum has invaded some sites & will destroy all populations in time unless managed.

8. Provide a summary of those species or ecological communities, listed as threatened under the EPBC Act, that are considered to be adversely affected by the threatening process. Please include:

For species: the scientific name, common name (if appropriate) and category of listing under the EPBC Act;
For ecological communities: the complete title (exactly as listed) and category of listing under the EPBC Act.

Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain		Critically endangered
Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain		Critically endangered
*Carex tasmanica*	Curly Sedge	Vulnerable
*Cullen parvum*	Small Scurf-pea	Endangered
*Glycine latrobeana*	Clover Glycine	Vulnerable
*Lachnagrostis adamsonii*	Adamson’s Blown-grass	Endangered
*Lepidium aschersonii*	Spiny Peppercress	Vulnerable
*Pimelea spinescens* ssp. *spinescens*	Spiny Rice-flower	Critically endangered
*Poa saltacrustis*	Salt-lake Tussock-grass	Vulnerable
*Prasophyllum diversiflorum*	Gorae Leek-orchid	Endangered
*Senecio psilocarpus*	Swamp Fireweed	Vulnerable
*Trichanthodium baracchianum*	Dwarf Yellow-head	Vulnerable
*Xerochrysum palustre*	Swamp Everlasting	Vulnerable
*Neophema chrysogaster*	Orange-bellied Parrot	Endangered

9. Provide justification that the species or ecological communities detailed at question 8 are affected adversely by the threatening process.

Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain	L. ponticum is currently rare in this community but based on current evidence it will emerge as a significant threat.
Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain	L. ponticum is a very serious threat.
*Carex tasmanica*	Weed invasion is the “greatest threat” (Carter 2010). L. ponticum is identified as a “serious problem” in the recovery plan.
*Glycine latrobeana*	L. ponticum is a very serious invader of its grassy woodland habitat (XXXX XXXX, unpubl.).
*Lachnagrostis adamsonii*	According to the draft recovery plan, continuing invasion by L. ponticum “is likely to lead to the extinction of L. adamsonii at a large number of sites” (Murphy 2010).
*Lepidium aschersonii*	L. ponticum invasion is an immanent threat (XXXX XXXX, unpubl.)
*Pimelea spinescens* *ssp. spinescens***	According to the recovery plan, long-term viability is doubtful without intensive site management. L. ponticum is one of the major threats and populations will be lost unless it is controlled (Carter & Walsh 2006).
*Poa sallacrustis*	Weed invasion is the major threat and L. ponticum is one of the two major weed threats (Carter & Walsh 2006, McRobert & Carr 2008).
*Prasophyllum diversiflorum*	Weed invasion is the major threat and L. ponticum is one of two of the most serious invaders (XXXX XXXX, unpubl., XXXX XXXX)
*Senecio psilocarpus*	Weed invasion is the major threat and L. ponticum is one of the most invaders (XXXX XXXX, unpubl.)
*Trichanthodium baracchianum*	L. ponticum is already in the vicinity of most populations and will destroy all without management (XXXX XXXX).
*Xerochrysum palustre*	Weed invasion is the most serious threat and L. ponticum is one of the most serious invaders (XXXX XXXX).
*Neophema chrysogaster*	L. ponticum is invading feeding grounds and continued invasion could result in loss of a large proportion of its upper saltmarsh habitat (Victorian Coastal Saltmarsh Survey 2009; XXXX XXXX unpubl.).

Section 3 – Threat Abatement Plan

Threat Abatement

10. Give an overview of how threats posed by this process are being abated by current (or proposed) activities. Identify who is undertaking these activities and how successful the activities have been to date.

We know of little activity currently underway or proposed to abate threats. To date there has been very limited recognition within governments and government management agencies of the invasiveness of L. ponticum (in part due to its promotion for salinity control) and threats due to invasion. No comprehensive surveys have been conducted to identify invasions or their impacts. The information gained to date has come from systematic and opportunistic surveys by botanists in some of the areas where invasion is occurring. Much more comprehensive data are required to comprehensively understand the threat of this grass.
L. ponticum continues to be sold and promoted as a pasture grass in southern states. The promotion has been tempered to some small extent in recent times in acknowledgement that L. ponticum is invasive. The Future Farming Industries CRC determined in December 2009 it would no longer promote the planting of L. ponticum in Victoria on the basis of an assessment that the species constitutes a ‘very high’ weed risk in that state. However, they will continue to promote it in other southern states despite an assessment that it is a ‘high’ risk in other states. The Victorian Government continues to promote it in Victoria, with the only concession to weed risk being a recommendation that it be grazed to prevent seeding and that it not be planted near certain sensitive environments. However, it is exceedingly unlikely that these recommendations will substantially reduce the rate of naturalisations. In December 2009, the Victorian Government said it would review the weed status of L. ponticum. However, we have not been informed of any outcome as yet.
Parks Victoria is planning to implement control of L. ponticum at several locations to protect threatened species. But there is no comprehensive control plan.
We have no information about control activity in other states. With limited recognition of the invasiveness of L. ponticum, there is likely to be control only in sites being managed for other reasons.

11. Would the development of a threat abatement plan be a feasible, effective and efficient way to abate the process? What other measures could be undertaken?

We consider a threat abatement plan is necessary to engender coordinated action on this invader. It will be necessary as the basis for promoting comprehensive data collection and management across the states where L. ponticum is invading. It is also necessary to address conflicts associated with use of L. ponticum as a pasture in saline areas. Recommendations are provided in Booth et al. (2009).

12. Should the threatening process be recommended for listing under the EPBC Act, what elements could a threat abatement plan include?

Requirements for data – comprehensive surveys of invasion and impacts of invasion

Actions needed to prevent further introductions and management of existing invasions to protect species and ecological communities under threat.

13. Is there other information that relates to threat abatement that you would like to provide?

Major Studies

14. Identify major studies that might assist in the assessment of the nominated threatening process.

Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group (2009)

Booth et al. (2009)

Note that the Victorian Government conducted a risk assessment of L. ponticum in 2001 (Weiss & Iaconis 2001). However, the assessment was seriously flawed. It was a desktop study, based on scant data and anecdote rather than field evidence of invasion. Various assumptions such as that L. ponticum was spread only by water were wrong. The assessment recommended that invasion of upper saltmarsh by L. ponticum be listed as a threatening process in Victoria, but recommended against declaring L. ponticum noxious because it is a productive pasture species for saline areas.

Section 3 – References and Reviewers

Notes:

The opinion of appropriate scientific experts may be cited (with their approval) in support of a nomination. If this is done the names of the experts, their qualifications and full contact details must also be provided in the reference list below.
Please provide copies of key documentation/references used in the nomination.

15. Reference list

Booth C, Carr G, Low T. 2009. Weedy pasture plants for salinity control: sowing the seeds of destruction. Invasive Species Council.

Borg D, Borg D, Fairbairn L. 2003. Dundas tall wheat grass, our number one saline agronomy species for the high rainfall zone (550 mm+). Salinity under the sun - investing in prevention and rehabilitation of salinity in Australia. Hamilton, Victoria. Department of Primary Industries.

Byrne M, Stone L. 2009. The need for duty of care when introducing new crops for agriculture. Presentation to Biosecurity in the New Bioeconomy. CSIRO & OECD. Canberra.

Carr G, Yugovic JV, Robinson KE. 1992. Environmental Weed Invasions in Victoria - Conservation and Management Implications. Victoria: Department of Conservation and Environment and Ecological Horticulture.

Carter O. 2010. National recovery plan for the Curly Sedge Carex tasmanica. Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Carter O, Walsh NG. 2006a. National recovery plan for the Spiny Rice-flower Pimelea spinescens subsp. spinescens. Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Carter O, Walsh NG. 2006b. National recovery plan for the Salt-lake Tussock-grass Poa sallacustris. Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Crowfoot LV, Carr GW, Roberts NR. 2006. Rare Plant Survey, Phillip Island Nature Park. Report prepared for Phillip Island Nature Park by Ecology Australia. Pty Ltd.

DSE. 2008. Salt-lake Tussock-grass Poa sallucrustis. Action Statement. Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment.

McRobert J, Carr GW. 2008. Treatment Options for Discharge Management. Draft report to Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. RMCG Consultants and Ecology Australia Pty Ltd, Bendigo and Melbourne.

Muir A. 2003. Flora and Fauna Guarantee Action Statement 31. Small Psoralea, Cullen parvum. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.

Murphy A. 2010. National recovery plan for Adamson's Blown-grass Lachnagrostis adamsonii. Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group. 2009. Coastal saltmarsh and mangroves of Victoria: distribution, condition, threats and management. Draft report for a project funded by the Strategic Reserve of the National Heritage Trust by the Victorian Saltmarsh Study Group.

Virtue JG, Melland RL. 2003. The environmental weed risk of revegetation and forestry plants. Adelaide: Animal and Plant Control Commission; Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation; and CRC for Australian Weed Management.

Walsh NG. 2008. A new species of Poa (Poaceae) from the Victorian Basalt Plain. Muelleria 26: 17-20.

Walsh NG, Entwisle TJ. 1994. Flora of Victoria, Volume 2. Melbourne: Inkata Press.

Weiss J, Iaconis L. 2001. Tall wheat grass, Lophopyrum ponticum.An assessment of weed potential for Parks, Flora and Fauna Division. Frankston: Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Map 1 Records of Tall Wheat Grass (Lophopyrum ponticum) naturalisation in Victoria (Booth et al. 2009)

Version 6