Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346:reg:3:p5
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 5/10)
Character Range: 37671–40602

may promote successful recruitment of Spiny Rice-flower (Mueck 2000; Carter & Walsh 2006; DELWP 2021). Despite the availability of bare ground, recruitment of the Spiny Rice-flower post-fire can be low, particularly following hot summers and low rainfall (Mueck 2000).
While fire can help to reduce competing biomass and promote germination, it can increase individual mortality across various life stages (Figure 3; Regan et al. 2021). If fire occurs prior to or during the flowering and seed production season, it removes the reproductive output for that year and consequently reduces the potential for seed accumulation in the soil (Regan et al. 2021). Burning over the summer months has been suggested to have minimal damage to or mortality of adult plants. Adult individuals are, however, quite tolerant of fire due to the large taproot which can readily resprout after fire (Mueck 2000; Carter & Walsh 2006).
The Recovery Team guidelines for burning (Pimelea spinescens Recovery Team 2017) suggested that biomass reduction should occur at an interval of at least once every three years. It is important to note though, that in areas of high productivity or during wet years, it may be necessary to burn more frequently, and accordingly, 4 to 5 years or even longer burning intervals may be sufficient for lower productivity sites. Burning from late spring (November) through summer or into early autumn (April) is recommended. Further, in areas where the species is known to occur and fire control lines are required, a native vegetation survey conducted by a qualified botanist must be undertaken at the appropriate time before site preparation commences (Reynolds 2015).
Figure 6 Conceptual life-stage model for Spiny Rice-flower
Source: Regan et al. 2021

Genetics

Genetic diversity and fragmentation
The genetic diversity of Spiny-rice flower has not declined as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation. The retention of genetic diversity may be the result of plant longevity, where older plants reflect the gene flow of previously connected, but now isolated populations.  This fragmentation now creates the risk of loss of genetic diversity, as these individuals die out, and fewer individuals contribute to future generations within a population (James & Jordan 2014). Outcrossing enforced by sub-dioecy limits the loss of genetic diversity per generation (Duminil et al. 2009) and is possibly instrumental in maintaining the genetic diversity for Spiny Rice-flower. A relatively high population level genetic diversity is consistent with the hypothesis that in the past populations were interconnected and interbreeding among populations was conspicuous (James & 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