Caladenia hastata

There are a number of threats to this spider orchid outlined in detail in the recovery plan (Todd 2000) and in the case study (DEWHA 2009). The largest subpopulation for this spider orchid is at Point Danger, Portland where an aluminium smelter was opened in 1986. Although some plants were translocated or taken into ex situ conservation, the size of available habitat at this site is now reduced and the effect of emissions from the smelter on this orchid and the vegetation needs further research (DEWHA 2009). Grazing by native and introduced herbivores and competition from introduced weeds and invasive native shrubs is a threat at most sites for this species (Todd 2000, DEWHA 2009). Inappropriate fire regimes can be detrimental to this species and its pollinators and further research is required (Todd 2000, DEWHA 2009). There is no evidence of illegal orchid collection but this remains a risk as there is easy access to the Point Danger site (Todd 2000).

One of the most serious threats for the long term survival of this species is the limited natural pollination which was reported to be low or absent at three sites (DEWHA 2009). As part of the recovery programme hand pollination was undertaken, particularly at Point Danger. However during monitoring at Point Danger a low level of natural pollination was observed in 2009 (Bowers) and at Wilkin Flora and Fauna reserve (D. Pitts pers. comm. 2016). In the long term changes in climate may cause this species to flower earlier which could also affect pollination timings (DEWHA 2009).

Conservation measures for this spider orchid have been in place since the 1970's (DEWHA 2009), with the latest recovery plans (Todd 2000, DCE 2004) outlining conservation actions required for this and other threatened spider orchid species. A Threatened Orchid Recovery Team of local scientists, horticulturalists and land managers oversee threatened orchid conservation actions in Victoria (Todd 2000). Measures undertaken include ex situ and in situ propagation, ex situ seed conservation, reintroductions, hand pollination of flowers to aid seed set, caging plants to protect them from grazing, control of invasive weeds, surveys of historic and new sites and community engagement (Todd 2000, DCE 2004, DEWHA 2009). There has been extensive research to improve propagation of this species and other threatened spider orchids (Wight et al. 2009) and to isolate the fungal mycorrhiza (Todd 2000). However further research is still required including extent of natural pollination and the effect of fire (DCE 2004, DEWHA 2009).

Ex situ living and seed collections are conserved at Kings Park Botanic Gardens and Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens and there is also a seed collection at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (DEWHA 2009). The majority of this spider orchid's population is found within protected areas, including Point Danger Coastal Reserve, Discovery Bay Coastal Reserve, Lower Glenelg National Park and Wilkin Flora and Fauna Reserve. Part of the population at Point Danger, Portland is found within private land belonging to Portland Aluminium (Todd 2000). The plants at the Discovery Bay Coastal Reserve were original translocated from the Point Danger, Portland site when the Portland aluminium smelter was built (DEWHA 2009). The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne has an active reintroduction programme for this species running until 2018 (N. Reiter et al. 2016). 

This spider orchid is listed as Endangered on the Commonwealth Environment Protections and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. In Victoria it is listed as Critically Endangered in 2005 by Backhouse and Cameron (with the criteria B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v), C2a(ii)), Endangered by the Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Vascular Plants in Victoria (DEPI 2014) and as a threatened species in the Victoria Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (DELWP 2015). This species is also listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES 2016).