Stipiturus mallee

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	Passeriformes	Maluridae

Scientific Name:

Stipiturus mallee

Species Authority:

Campbell, 1908

Common Name/s:

English

–

Mallee Emuwren, Mallee Emu-wren

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2abc+3bc+4abc ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

BirdLife International

Evaluator/s:

Butchart, S. & Mahood, S. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)

Justification:
This species has a small and severely fragmented range within which habitat is continuing to decline owing to fire. It is now known to be undergoing a very rapid population reduction and this has caused it to be uplisted to Endangered. It requires immediate sensitive habitat management to help slow this worrying decline.

History:

2006	–	Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2006)
2004	–	Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2004)
2000	–	Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2000)
1994	–	Lower Risk/conservation dependent (Collar et al. 1994)
1988	–	Threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Stipiturus mallee has a severely fragmented distribution in the Victorian and South Australian mallee regions, Australia, south and east of the Murray River. In South Australia, birds are found in Ngarkat and associated conservation parks but, in 1989, apparently disappeared from the isolated Billiatt Conservation Park as a result of fire. In Victoria, birds range from Sunset Country, east to Anuello Fauna and Flora Reserve, south-east of Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, and in the Big Desert east to Bronzewing State Faunal Reserve. The population is estimated at c.10,000 individuals and may be declining. The area of suitable habitat is estimated to be less than 2,000 km².
Countries:	Native: Australia
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	It appears to have declined heavily in recent years; wildfires have wiped out remnant subpopulations. The actual estimate is 2131-4164, with perhaps 1500-2800 mature individuals (Mustoe 2006).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It occupies habitats containing hummock grassland Triodia, usually within low woodland dominated by mallee eucalypts Eucalyptus and cypress pine Callitris. It also occurs in heath containing banksias Banksia or casuarinas Allocasuarina. In Ngarkat, it can disperse at least 6 km into vegetation recovering from fire, 3-4 years after it has been burnt. Highest densities occur 8-10 years after fire, although it persists in vegetation 50 years old. Much apparently suitable habitat is unoccupied.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It occupies habitats containing hummock grassland Triodia, usually within low woodland dominated by mallee eucalypts Eucalyptus and cypress pine Callitris. It also occurs in heath containing banksias Banksia or casuarinas Allocasuarina. In Ngarkat, it can disperse at least 6 km into vegetation recovering from fire, 3-4 years after it has been burnt. Highest densities occur 8-10 years after fire, although it persists in vegetation 50 years old. Much apparently suitable habitat is unoccupied.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Past clearance for agriculture and livestock grazing has fragmented habitat, but the greatest current threat is large-scale wildfires within remnants, such as occurred in Billiatt Conservation Park. Although the species has persisted despite fire in other areas, a series of large fires could put it in danger.

Major Threat(s):

Past clearance for agriculture and livestock grazing has fragmented habitat, but the greatest current threat is large-scale wildfires within remnants, such as occurred in Billiatt Conservation Park. Although the species has persisted despite fire in other areas, a series of large fires could put it in danger.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: An extensive reserve system incorporates most of its remaining range, including Hattah-Kulkyne and Wyperfeld National Parks, Murray-Sunset National Park, the Big Desert Wilderness in Victoria and Ngarkat Conservation Park in South Australia. Conservation actions proposed: Determine the current range. Establish monitoring of known populations. Establish a fire management programme that will ensure the conservation of the species within its existing range. Re-establish the species in areas from which it has been eliminated by fire.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

An extensive reserve system incorporates most of its remaining range, including Hattah-Kulkyne and Wyperfeld National Parks, Murray-Sunset National Park, the Big Desert Wilderness in Victoria and Ngarkat Conservation Park in South Australia.

Conservation actions proposed:

Determine the current range. Establish monitoring of known populations. Establish a fire management programme that will ensure the conservation of the species within its existing range. Re-establish the species in areas from which it has been eliminated by fire.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Stipiturus mallee. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 06 January 2009.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the Copyright and Data Disclaimer.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided