2. Species Information
2.1 Ecology C. megacarpa is a cycad that grows to 5 - 8 m height, with a trunk 8 – 14 cm diameter and a glossy green crown with leaves 40 – 110 cm long (Queensland Herbarium, 2007; DES, 2009). As a member of the Cycadaceae family, the plant is dioecious (i.e., individual plants are either male or female). Male plants produce brown cylindrical cones, and the female plants produce seeds on the end of sporophylls up to 30 cm long with two to six ovules. Seeds are produced at the top of the trunk, within the crown of fronds and are ovoid in shape, and 35 – 45 mm in diameter (Hill, 1992). Preferred habitat comprises woodland and open woodland communities, dominated by eucalypts, including spotted gum ( Corymbia citriodora ) and narrow leaved ironbark ( Eucalyptus crebra ) with a grassy understorey on hill tops and steep slopes (DES, 2009). The species has also been recorded on rainforest margins (DES, 2009). It occurs at altitudes of 40 – 500 m, typically on undulating, hilly terrain either on gentle to steep slopes or hill crests. The soils are generally well drained, shallow, often stony, sandy loam to clay loam in texture and derived from sandstones, fine grained sediments and acid and basic volcanic rocks (Queensland Herbarium, 2007). Regional ecosystems that are identified by the Regional Ecosystem Description Database (REDD) (Queensland Herbarium, 2023) as suitable habitat for C. megacarpa in the Southeast Queensland Bioregion include REs 12.2.11, 12.11.5e, 12.11.6, 12.11.7, 12.11.14, 12.12.3, 12.12.5, 12.12.7 and 12.12.12. The Cycas genera is pollinated by insects, with C. megacarpa suspected to be beetle pollinated (specifically beetles from the genera Hapalips and Ulomoides ) (Toon et al., 2020). Genetically similar individuals have been reported to be generally found within 18 km of each other (James et al., 2018). 2.2 Distribution Cycas megacarpa is endemic to central Queensland and occurs from Bouldercombe in the north to Woolooga in the south (Queensland Herbarium, 2007; Australasian Virtual Herbarium (AVH), 2023). The Queensland Herbarium (2007) reports a total area of occupancy of 2,527 ha across 46 populations with a projected number of adult individuals greater than 372,964, noting that this data is 16 years old and based on limited datasets. Local occurrence A total of 46 individuals were recorded by GHD in the impact area between 7th – 9th of April 2025 ( Figure 2 ). A further 300 plus individuals were recorded within the broader study area and proposed recipient site for the Project conducted by GAP on 13 th June 2025. Details of the initial survey method are provided within the Factual Ecological Assessment Report for Upper Mundic Gully (GHD, 2025). In summary, the majority of individuals were detected via walking traverses in areas of suitable habitat. 2.3
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Mundic Gully TSF Translocation Project - Cycas megacarpa
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