The Tasmanian Endemic Shrub Acacia axillaris: Conservation Ecology Applied to the Question of Rarity or Vulnerability

Acacia axillaris Benth. had been recommended for downgrading from a conservation status of vulnerable to one of rare in response to changed knowledge of its distribution. Ecological investigations of its phytosociology, stand structure, germination requirements, soil seed store and response to fire and disturbance indicate, however, that it is susceptible to elimination by fire regimes that allow the survival of most of its co-occurring species and most other Australian species of Acacia. The species is also vulnerable to land clearance and weed competition in the lowland part of its range, which is largely on private land. A. axillaris may be a refugial species, better suited to glacial Tasmania than to interglacial Tasmania. On ecological evidence, the species should retain its conservation status of vulnerable to extinction.