Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01094:body:0:p11
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01094
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 34894–37927

(Bryant et al. 2021). However, it is likely that the small population continues to decline as a result of ongoing habitat deterioration and fragmentation, introduced predators, competitors, and the ectoparasitic fly (P. longicornis) causing severe nestling mortality (Edworthy 2016b; Edworthy et al. 2019; Bryant et al. 2021).

2.7 Cultural and community significance
The forty-spotted pardalote is a flagship species for woodland bird conservation in Tasmania. Its recovery program has rallied community support, especially on Bruny Island, not only for protection of this species, but for the conservation of dry sclerophyll forests in Tasmania generally.

The species only occurs in Tasmania on the lands of the Palawa/Pakana First Nations People (Bryant et al. 2021). Although the Indigenous cultural and community significance of the species is not widely known, its strongholds on Maria Island, Bruny Island and Coningham signify a strong cultural connection to Tasmania's Palawa people. Further research and discussion with First Nations people and their communities may benefit the conservation of the species by providing insights about traditional culture and land management, including appropriate fire management of white gum forests and woodlands.

Forty-spotted pardalote sites at Murrayfield Station on Bruny Island are managed by the weetapoona Aboriginal Corporation, and at putalina (Oyster Cove) by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. Both organisations maintain a strong interest in the conservation of the species (Bryant 2023. pers comm 6 July).

The cultural, customary and spiritual significance of species' and the ecological communities they form are diverse and varied for Indigenous Australians and their stewardship of Country. This section describes some examples of this significance but is not intended to be comprehensive or applicable to, or speak for, Indigenous Australians. Such knowledge may be held by Indigenous Australians who are the custodians of this knowledge and have the rights to decide how this knowledge is shared and used.

2.8 Relevant biology and ecology
Forty-spotted pardalotes are habitat specialists, only found in forests where their preferred food tree, white gum, occurs. Habitat characteristics of the current distribution are: tree canopy layer at a projected cover of 10% or more; low annual rainfall (+760 mm yearly); high annual mean temperature (8 degrees Celsius minimum to 17.2 degrees Celsius maximum); low elevation (sea level to <250m asl); and on shallow, fertile soils (Brereton et. al. 1997). This geographical and environmental domain occurs in a narrow band between Bicheno and Southport, and all populations except those of Flinders Island occur within this region (Brereton et al. 1997).

More recently Alves et al. (2022) modelled 24 variables and assessed the likelihood of current occurrence of white gum outside known areas, and the likelihood of occurrence under a range of climate change scenarios. Modelling showed large areas of high probability of