Abstract

The genus Notelaea (family Oleaceae) is endemic to Australia and consists of 12 species. One of these species, Notelaea lloydii, is listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act, 1999) and the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 due to its restricted distribution encompassing approximately 3700 km2 in South East Queensland (Conservation Advice for Notelaea lloydii, 2008; Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006, 2017). Notelaea lloydii occurs in about five small disjunct populations, each with fewer than 30 individuals, together with a few other individuals scattered along roadsides (Queensland Herbarium records and personal observations). Given the high degree of urbanisation and vegetation clearance in South East Queensland, it is possible that intraspecific gene flow is limited between these small and isolated populations and inbreeding may be a significant risk. Consequently, it is essential that an evaluation of the levels of genetic diversity within populations and the genetic differentiation and gene flow among populations is undertaken to inform conservation management strategies.