Samadera sp. Moonee Creek  |  

Climate change projections show that southern Australia is likely to experience increased intensity and frequencies of fire (CSIRO 2015).

This type of event is increasingly likely to reoccur as a result of climate change.

Decreased rainfall; Timing future Climate change projections show that increased temperatures Confidence suspected southern Australia s climate will get hotter and drier; with time in Consequence moderate drought predicted to increase over Trend increasing southern Australia (CSIRO 2015).

Extent across the entire range Such changes in climate are likely to cause forest decline; with drought stress leading to plant mortality (Choat et al. 2012).

The species limited distribution predisposes it to risk of subpopulation decline or extinction resulting from high severity fire in combination with other threats; (DAWE 2020).

The Rural Fire Service Threatened Species Hazard Reduction Code requires that there are no fires more than once every 25 years at sites supporting the Moonee Quassia in Pillar Valley to ensure survival of the subpopulations.

Fire intensity and severity varied across the bushfire extent; with many patches burning at extreme intensity and severity while others remained unburnt (DPIE 2020).

Furthermore; Moonee Quassia; like other resprouting species; may be subject to threat from fire drought interactions.

Resprouting stems are vulnerable to embolization and drastically lowered xylem hydraulic conductivity during post fire drought; increasing individual mortality risk (Pratt et al. 2014).

Furthermore; Moonee Quassia; like other resprouting species; may be subject to threat from fire drought interactions.