Caladenia granitora

Recreational activities
Destruction of habitat by 4WD vehicles and track maintenance is a threat to part of Subpopulation 1. The subpopulation is located within a recreation reserve and adjoins a parking area, road and track. The margins of the parking area and track have been gradually expanding, destroying orchid habitat. Recent works have been carried out on the track, upgrading and resurfacing it to discourage vehicles running off its edge. However, some vehicles are still doing this.

Small population size
As Caladenia granitora is known from just 63 mature individuals, and its habitat is limited to a few coastal granites, the likelihood of the species falling victim to a chance demographic or environmental event is high.

Road maintenance
Threats to the part of Subpopulation 1 alongside a main road include grading, chemical spraying, construction of drainage channels and the slashing of roadside vegetation.

Altered fire regimes
Fire during the summer when plants are dormant has no known detrimental impact on the species. However, fire during late autumn, winter and early spring may adversely affect the viability of populations by directly killing plants and also preventing seed set. Most orchid species emerge from the soil by mid-April and dehisce their seed by late November. The optimum time for fire is therefore between December and mid-April.

This species is listed as Endangered under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

In Place 

• Monitoring and surveys have been carried out to determine plant numbers and impact of threats.
• Land managers (City of Albany) have been notified of the location and threatened status of Caladenia granitora. Notifications detail their legal obligations in regards to its protection.
• Threatened flora markers have been installed along the main road at Subpopulation 1.
• Seed collected by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA) from Population 1 is in long term storage.
• Recent works have been carried out on the track running past Subpopulation 1, upgrading and resurfacing it to discourage vehicles running off its edge.
• Included in Western Australian Wildlife Management Program No 20 – Declared Rare and Poorly Known Flora in the Albany District, C.J. Robinson and D.J. Coates 1995. A species recovery plan “Interim Recovery Plan No. 361 Granite Spider Orchid (Caladenia granitora)” has been prepared.
• Caladenia granitora benefits from the preservation of habitat for the threatened bird species, Noisy Scrub-bird, Western Bristlebird and Western Whipbird and two Threatened flora species – Banksia verticillata and Daviesia ovata.
  

• Ongoing monitoring and observations of subpopulation and threats.
• Rehabilitate habitat adjacent to the track through Subpopulation 1.
• Collect and store seeds along with samples of the orchid’s symbiotic fungus to guard against the extinction of natural populations. Collections of seed should aim to sample and preserve the maximum range of genetic diversity possible.
• Develop and implement a translocation proposal if natural populations decline.
• Develop and implement a fire management strategy. Caladenia granitora is thought to be killed by fire if it occurs while the plant is in active growth. It is important therefore that a fire regime with appropriate fire frequency, intensity and seasonality be applied to areas occupied by the species.
• Continue undertaking surveys for new populations.
• Ensure long-term protection of habitat. Parks and Wildlife will investigate ways and means of improving the security of C. granitora habitat at Subpopulation 1. This may include vesting change, acquiring land or developing management plans in consultation with land managers.
• Liaise with land managers and Aboriginal communities to ensure that populations of C. granitora are not accidently damaged or destroyed and its habitat is maintained in suitable condition for the conservation of the species. Aboriginal consultation will take place to determine if there are any issues or interests in areas that are habitat for the species.
• Map habitat critical to the survival of the species to facilitate its protection and appropriate management.
• Promote awareness of the species with general public.
• All known subpopulations of C. granitora need to be maintained to maximise the species’ genetic diversity.
• 4WD access should be excluded from the area of Subpopulation 5 by closing the access track and car park or by fencing the subpopulation.