Strategic Management Prospects v4.0 Species Forecast Report created on 01 February, 2024
A Species Forecast Report is a summary of currently available information, the predicted 50-year outlook for the species, and potential pathways to recovery through species-specific and landscape-scale actions.
The report collates data from a range of sources including the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas, Strategic Management Prospects (SMP), Specific Needs Assessments, Threatened Species Action Statements, the Genetic Risk Index, and the IUCN Common Assessment Method.
Species Forecast Reports are intended to be used in conjunction with SMP and other spatial outputs in NatureKit, and Action Statements where relevant.
For more information on Species Forecast Reports, SMP and other biodiversity decision support tools, including user guides, visit Choosing actions for nature webpage on the DEECA website.
| Taxon ID | 1637 |
| Scientific name | Euastacus neodiversus |
| Common name | South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish |
| Group | Mussels, decapod crustacea |
| FFG status | Endangered |
| EPBC status |
The South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish is a small species of spiny crayfish with a maximum recorded occipital carapace length (OCL) of 45 mm (McCormack 2012). Most species of Euastacus are moderate burrowers, seeking refuge under rock ledges and amongst submerged, in-stream tree roots (Zeidler 1982). E.neodiversus is a burrowing species which can build burrows under rocks in clear, flowing shallow streams (McCormack, 2012). The diet of spiny freshwater crayfish consists primarily of aquatic to semi-aquatic vegetation and benthic invertebrates (Goddard 1988). Fungi and bacteria found in rotting detrital matter is also consumed (DCE 1992). Mating activity between mature E. neodiversus occurs from May to July, following which females carry their brood of 30 - 90 large crimson eggs under their tail, with the final release of independent juveniles in December (McCormack, 2012). After hatching from eggs, the dependent juvenile crayfish are carried beneath the tail until their release. The yolk of the egg is retained by the young hatchlings as a yolk sac supplying food during early growth. Once the yolk sac has been completely absorbed, the juveniles disperse to fend for themselves.
The South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish has a restricted distribution and has been found to occur in relatively low abundance. The species occurs at Wilsons Promontory and on the southern slopes of the Strzelecki Ranges within the South Gippsland river basin, Victoria. The species is found at elevations of 50 m to 650 m above sea level (McCormack 2012) but has been found below elevations of 30 m asl in Growler Creek at Wilson Promontory (Bryant et al 2012). The taxon’s range is divided in two by the lowland of the Yanakie Isthmus (Morgan 1986). In South Gippsland the species appears to be restricted to the southern side of the Strzelecki Ranges and the Merriman Creek system represents the most eastern extent of the species range (Morgan 1986). Outside of Wilsons Promontory, the species occurs in streams in sclerophyll forest where the streamside vegetation is dominated by Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans), tree ferns (Cyathea spp) and Lilly Pilly (Acmena smithii) (Morgan 1986). At Wilsons Promontory inhabited streams are typically coastal heath with ferns along stream banks (McCormack 2012). A study by Koster et al (1999) shows the species occurs in generally rocky streams with low aquatic vegetation and low silt cover.
Streams where the South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish have been recorded are typically narrow and shallow with stream temperatures ranging between 7 and 15 anddeg;C (Koster et al. 1999). Dissolved oxygen is generally high. The species is more common in streams with pool habitat and with little or no aquatic vegetation cover (Koster et al. 1999). Other Euastacus species occur in coastal and inland streams of south-east South Australia, and in both lowland and mountainous regions of Victoria.
This table contains information on the genetic health of South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish, informed by recent work conducted by Monash University and cesar Pty Ltd (Kriesner et al. 2019; Kriesner and Weeks 2020). The project undertook genetic risk assessments of ~1,100 species of flora and fauna found in Victoria and generated a large database of available genetic and demographic data for these species. A framework was developed for combining these parameters into a Genetic Risk Index that classified species broadly into ‘Low’, ‘Moderate’, ‘High’, ‘Very High’ and ‘Uncertain’ risk categories. The Genetic Risk Index will continue to undergo refinement and validation to provide further insight into the genetic health of species in Victoria.
| Total Australian population size | 500 - 2,000 individuals |
| Australian distribution | Only occurs in Victoria |
| Dispersal capacity | Very low: ~320m |
| Reproductive mode | Sexual: species reproduces sexually via male and female gametes |
| Average generation time | One generation every 11 - 20 years |
| Victorian population trend since ~1975 | Population has significantly decreased |
| Inbreeding evidence | Not assessed |
| Genetic diversity | Not assessed |
| Genetic rescue potential | Uncertain |
| Genetic Risk Index | Very high |
The Habitat Distribution Model (HDM) layer shows the modelled distribution of habitat for South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish in Victoria. Red shading indicates areas of habitat with relatively higher suitability, compared with yellow shaded areas. HDMs are developed by combining Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (VBA) occurrence records for the species with a range of environmental variables to predict where the most suitable habitat for the species is in Victoria. Species may not always occupy areas of suitable habitat. Threatening processes (prior or ongoing) and disturbance regimes (e.g. fire, timber harvesting) may stop species from occupying otherwise suitable habitat for periods of time. Management actions often focus on currently occupied areas, however management of unoccupied areas can also be important to allow populations to re-establish.
No Habitat Distrabution Model is currently available.
No Species Forecast data is available because South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish is not yet included in our decision-support tools.
A Species Forecast is the estimated likelihood of a species being present in 50 years time. The data for Species Forecasts is drawn from DEECA’s decision support tools, Strategic Management Prospects and Specific Needs Assessments.
Many species benefit from the management of widespread threats, such as weeds and pests, and the benefit of these landscape-scale actions to ~4,200 species is modelled in Strategic Management Prospects. In addition to landscape-scale actions, some species also need actions that improve or protect habitat at certain sites, such as nest boxes or hollow logs, or actions to improve certain populations, such as gene mixing or translocation.
As part of a continuous improvement program for our decision-support tools, we are working to expand the scope of actions modelled in Strategic Management Prospects, and to build the dataset of species benefits from location-specific and population-specific actions.
We can use this data to consider how different actions may benefit a species and examine how different types of on-ground management may contribute to a species’ recovery in 50 years, to develop a Species Forecast.
No Species Forecast data is available because South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish is not yet included in our decision-support tools.
The benefit data in SMP can be used to consider what the South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish’s prospects are if the landscape scale management actions in SMP are implemented.
No Species Prospects figure is available becuase South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish is not yet included in SMP.
For more information on the decision support tools, products and underlying data used in this report, and how the data is collected and developed into products, please visit the following links:
These links include information on how to provide data and feedback into these products.
The Species Forecast Reports will be updated periodically to reflect changes and improvements in the products and tools that inform them (e.g., following updates to SMP).
As the data contained in Species Forecast Reports is drawn from multi-species datasets, it is not currently possible to incorporate species-specific information or feedback directly.
For help or further information get in touch by visiting Choosing actions for nature webpage on the DEECA website.
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