Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346:reg:3:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 6/10)
Character Range: 40350–43489

& Jordan 2014). The longevity of individual plants, their ability to reproduce for many years and the presence of soil seed banks may contribute to the maintenance of genetic diversity and could buffer deleterious effects of random genetic drift caused by fragmentation and disturbance (Schulz et al. 2018).
Whilst intrinsic factors such as long individual lifespan and soil seed banks may facilitate preservation of a species' genetic diversity (Long et al. 2015; Broadhurst et al. 2017), a recovery action that seeks to ensure the maintenance of genetic diversity into the future is essential.  The success of adaptation to changing environments, such as climate change, is underpinned by genetic variation and consequently, reduced genetic diversity may limit the species' evolutionary potential (Jump & Penuelas 2005; Anderson et al. 2011; Hoffmann & Sgro 2011). Strikingly, smaller populations (300–600 individuals) of Spiny Rice-flower contain levels of genetic diversity similar to larger populations (>1000 individuals), thus stressing the potential importance of smaller populations in the environmental resilience of Spiny Rice-flower (James & Jordan 2014).
Despite the presence of significant genetic diversity, the persistence of Spiny Rice-flower is likely to be compromised if further fragmentation occurs (James & Jordan 2014). Of particular concern is the small size of the majority of populations. Small and disconnected populations are at greater risk of extinction than large populations due to both physical damage and genetic decline. Reduced connectivity may increase inbreeding with detrimental consequences for outcrossing  species , and as surrounding habitat is lost, new populations are unlikely to establish (Ellstrand & Elam 1993; Lande 1993; Honnay & Jacquemyn 2007).
Investigation of possible mechanisms for dispersal away from parent plants and populations would assist in the design of vegetation corridors to increase geneflow in areas where populations are surrounded by unsuitable habitat (James & Jordan 2014). Further analysis of genetic variation between and within sites and correlating this with biogeographic variables and investigating the prevalence and importance of vector-driven outcrossing is required.

Sourcing genetic materials for recovery action
Spiny Rice-flower genetic diversity occurs across a cline from the Melbourne area westwards and then to the north and northeast (James & Jordan 2014), rather than as discrete suite of genetic 'groups' correlated with distinct geographic regions (Foreman 2005, 2012). Populations located within a 25–35 km radius among each other are generally more genetically similar than populations further apart (James & Jordan 2014).
The high genetic diversity of Spiny Rice-flower may permit adaptation to novel conditions, and genetic mixing between populations may enhance their adaptive opportunities. For Spiny Rice-flower translocation and conservation purposes, seeds should be collected from a number of different plants from each source population. Mixing genetic material within, but not between, northern and southern populations may provide