Holleton (24844)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Holleton

Central coordinates: Latitude: -31.8512, Longitude: 118.9712

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 437 to 450

Area of KBA (km²): 328.00504

Protected area coverage (%): 5.23

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Holleton IBA is located in the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia, about 290 km east of Perth. It is defined as a contiguous area of habitat supporting Malleefowl, consisting primarily of unallocated Crown Land, including the Welsh Nature Reserve but excluding other neighbouring protected areas, such as Sloss Nature Reserve, which are believed to support smaller numbers of Malleefowl. The IBA was identified from expert opinion that it supports a significant viable population of Malleefowl, as determined by records in relevant databases (notably the Malleefowl Preservation Group database of 1200 sightings over 15 years, WA Dept of Environment and Conservation, WA Museum and Birds Australia Atlas), and other literature and knowledge that population viability is greatest within large areas of contiguous mallee or Acacia shrubland. The IBA represents one of the largest areas of continuous Acacia/Allocasuarina shrubland remaining within the wheatbelt of Western Australia. The area receives approximately 300mm of rainfall a year and experiences cool winters and hot dry summers. The vegetation consists primarily of Acacia and Allocasuarina shrublands but it also contains some eucalypt woodlands.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)

Additional biodiversity: Other birds have not been documented for this IBA.

Other site values: Majority of land is vested in state government as unallocated Crown Land, with a small nature reserve within the area (Department of Environment and Conservation) and a Timber Reserve also (vesting unknown at present, potentially Shire of Yilgarn). Permits are required for access to Welsh Nature Reserve.

Habitats

Land use: forestry (10%) | nature conservation and research (5%) | not utilised (85%)

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Savanna	15
Shrubland	85

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Investigate the impact of fire regimes on Malleefowl persistence.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Barrett, G.W., Silcocks,A., Barry, S., Cunningham, R. and Poulter, R. (2003) The New Atlas of Australian Birds. Melbourne: Birds Australia. Benshemesh, J. (2000) National Recovery Plan for Malleefowl. Adelaide: Department of Environment and Heritage. Bureau of Meteorology (2007) Climate Data Online (on-line). http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages Accessed December 2007. Department of Environment and Heritage (2003) National Vegetation Information System (NVIS). Pre-European and Present Native Vegetation. (Published Data-Stage 1, Version 2) National Land & Water Resources Audit (on-line) Accessed 2006. Parsons, B.C., Short, J.C. and Roberts, J.D. (2008) Contraction in the range of Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) in Western Australia: a comparative assessment using presence-only and presence-absence datasets. Emu 108: 221-231. Parsons, B.C., Short, J.C. and Roberts, J.D. (in press) Using community observations to predict the occurrence of Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Biological Conservation.