Barred Galaxias Investigation Report – Koala Creek

This report is an investigation into the required protection for a translocated population of Barred Galaxias (Galaxias fuscus) in the Koala Creek, Rubicon State Forest. A Barred Galaxias population was translocated to the Koala Creek due to its previous distribution being largely effected by the 2009 bushfires (Ayres et al., 2012). Due to a low genetic variability, this population is extremely important for the persistence of the species (Ayres et al., 2012). This Koala Creek population is one of the last strongholds of the species, with 63 individuals recorded there in 2016 (Victorian Biodiversity Atlas, 2017). Upon analysing the location of this population, it was discovered that the population is located within a clearfell logging coupe 312-509-0004 ‘Topsy’, which is scheduled to be clearfelled between 2016-18 (VicForests Timber Release Plan, 2017). Therefore, this report raises the concerns of how the clearfelling process would impact the Barred Galaxias population. This report also addresses the appropriate protection which should be implemented to protect this population, as the required Special Protection Zone (SPZ) has not yet been implemented in the area (Leadbeater’s Possum Interactive Map, 2017; VicForests Interactive Map, 2017).

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