The Northampton midget greenhood is known from five populations growing in open Melaleuca uncinata and Hakea recurva low scrub over low heath in winter-wet clay soils over laterite north-west of Northampton. Plants occur in open, well lit, moist areas and flower in lower numbers when the density of the vegetation increases. Pollination in most species of Pterostylis is thought to involve small Diptera, commonly known as fungus gnats. The species occurs in a heavily cleared landscape and it occurs in two Shire road reserves so is threatened by road maintenance activities. Other threats include hydrological change, erosion, feral pigs, browsing and inappropriate fire.
Northampton Midget Greenhood |
Pterostylis sinuata
Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Western Swan Greenhood
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Pterostylis sinuata
Threats The main threats are hydrological changes; weed invasion; water erosion; road; track and firebreak maintenance activities; feral pigs; grazing; inappropriate fire regimes and chemical drift.
They also exacerbate grazing pressure and increase the fire hazard due to the easy ignition of high fuel loads; which are produced annually by many weed species.
Burning at this time of year; is; however; associated with risks of fire becoming uncontrolled and risking lives and property.
In addition to the detrimental effects of inappropriate fire regimes on the vegetative stages of the species; a proliferation of weeds often follows burning; partly due to a temporary increase in the availability of nutrients (Panetta and Hopkins 1991).
W of Shire Road 1992 10 Moderate (2010) Weeds; road Northampton Reserve 1994 60 with the habitat maintenance; 1995 40 health chemical drift; 1997 40 deteriorating hydrological 1999 35 changes; pigs; 2000 4 inappropriate fire 2001 (1) regimes; 2003 17 browsing 2010 1b.
W of Private 1992 10 Moderate (2010) Weeds; chemical Northampton property 1994 60 with the habiat drift; 1995 40 health hydrological 1997 20 deteriorating changes; pigs; 1999 35 inappropriate fire 2000 15 regimes 2001 (1) 2003 2.
W of Shire Road 1992 5 Poor with the Weeds; water Northampton Reserve 1994 70 habiat health erosion; 1996 100 deteriorating chemical 1997 15 (2010) drift; road and 1999 0 firebreak 2000 19 maintenance; 2001 25 (25) hydrological 2003 (4) changes; pigs; 2010 0 inappropriate fire regimes; browsing 3.
W of Private 1990 12 Moderate (2010) Weeds; Northampton property 1994 1 browsing; pigs; 1999 0 inappropriate fire 2000 5 (1) regimes; 2001 4 hydrological 2002 2 changes 2010 4.
W of Shire recreation 1996 29 Healthy (2010) Weeds; chemical Northampton reserve 2000 0 drift; 2001 0 inappropriate fire 2002 0 regimes; 2010 24 hydrological changes; pigs; browsing 5.
W of Private 2001 4 Moderate (2010) Weeds; pigs; Northampton Property 2002 (1) hydrological 2003 0 changes; 2004 0 inappropriate fire regimes 6A and 6B Private property 2010 (6) Moderate (2010) Pigs total for subpopulations combined.
Fire The species is negatively impacted by fire between mid April to late November; during the growth phase of the life cycle this will prevent seed set and possibly kill the underground tuber.
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