Threatened Burrowing Crayfish of

West Gippsland

All photographs © Dr. Beverley Van Praagh, Invert-Eco unless otherwise stated. No image may be saved, copied, reproduced or distributed without prior permission from the copyright owner.

Biodiversity Response Planning 2018-2021 Project Profile

Victorian Government’s Biodiversity Response Planning Project (BRP)

In 2018, a partnership project between DELWP Gippsland, Federation University, Gippsland Water, Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network, and South Gippsland Landcare Network was awarded a Grant under the State Government’s Biodiversity Response Planning Project (BRP) to promote the conservation of four species of threatened invertebrates found in the western end of the Strzelecki Ranges. It builds on an earlier Federal Government project “Building Capability To Manage GGE Habitat On Farms”. The project has two aims: • work with landowners to ensure that habitats of Giant Gippsland Earthworm and burrowing crayfish are protected on rural properties. This involves undertaking appropriate revegetation and providing support for on-ground works such as deer control and fencing where required; and investigate the potential of eDNA to assist in identifying different species of burrowing crayfish in the field. The elusive nature of burrowing crayfish makes it difficult to obtain widespread distribution data and monitor population trends over time. It is possible to use DNA to identify species. FedUni is researching methods to non-invasively identify burrowing crayfish species by isolating DNA from burrow soil samples. The availability of such a method would be an additional tool for monitoring the presence and distribution of burrowing crayfish species, while also minimising potential risks to individuals being surveyed. The availability of greater amounts of population data will provide information that will aid in the effective management and conservation of crayfish populations.