Chariot Wheels

Chariot Wheels

(Maireana cheelii)

Compatible grazing regimes in the western Riverina

Conservation Status
Nationally vulnerable to extinction

Location
Northern Irrigation Region
Victorian Riverina Bioregion
Pine Grove, Quambatook, Watchem

Agricultural Industries
Meat, Wool

Chariot Wheels (Photo: John Eichler)

What is the problem

It does not survive under heavy grazing pressure, cropping or improved pasture.
Chariot Wheels persists on private land unimproved pasture under light grazing regimes.
Thresholds of grazing at which the species can persist and reproduce are unknown.

What are the solutions

Status quo grazing regimes should be maintained on existing populations, until longer term monitoring determines optimal grazing pressure.

What farmers said
“It’s still there (the Chariot Wheels population) so why change it when it’s successful the way it is. If it’s survived this long …
and that round has been used since around 1860 and it’s still there … there’s hundreds of them still there … so obviously I’m doing something right, or the family has done something right.”

Image: Threatened Species Final Report Cover

Chariot wheels: Ecology and conservation in the context of agriculture - Preliminary investigations into population ecology (PDF 523KB)

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