Frances Kirchner
Bussell's spider orchid - discovered by Greg Bussell in 1990Photo: Frances Kirchner
Frances Kirchner
Dunsborough spider orchidPhoto: Frances Kirchner
Lorraine Duffy
Vanilla orchidPhoto: Lorraine Duffy

Busselton Orchids

Protecting critically endangered orchids from rabbit herbivory

Australian Government funding has enabled the installation of rabbit-proof fencing to protect populations of two critically endangered (Commonwealth listed – Endangered) orchid species within the Geographe catchment.

Bussell’s spider orchid is aptly named after Greg Bussell who rediscovered the species in Yallingup in 1990. Pale yellow in colour, Bussells orchid is found in winter-wet areas of sandy loam over clay soils, beneath a canopy of jarrah and marri, sometimes in association with its equally threatened cousin, the Dunsborough spider orchid (Caladenia viridescens ms) which occurs more commonly in more free draining soil in marri and peppermint woodlands or coastal heath.

Akin to the 32 other critically endangered orchid species endemic to South West Region of WA, these little guys are known from few locations and are under a high degree of threat due to the small number of known populations and factors including grazing, inappropriate fire regimes and weed invasion.

We have recently funded a project in partnership with the Department of Environment and Conservation, allowing a significant population of both orchid species to be protected from rabbit grazing. A 49 ha area of marri woodland habitat was rabbit-proofed through installation of rabbit proof fencing, followed by 1080 baiting to ensure the area was completely free of rabbits.

Fast Facts

Total area protected from rabbits

49 ha


Contact
Regional Officer Lorraine Duffy
Ph: 9754 3432
lorraine.duffy@swccnrm.org.au