|
|
| Report on ANPC First National Forum - Canberra 17-19 April
What lies beneath? The role of soil biota in the health and rehabilitation of native vegetation
At the ANPC’s Adelaide Conference at the end of September 2005, the Committee decided to hold a National Forum in the year between its biennial Conferences. This first National Forum, organised and coordinated by a small working group and a host of advisers, was a resounding success. From an original concept of a shorter and simpler event than the Conferences, it grew to occupy three very full days of dynamic talks, group discussions, practical workshops and field excursions.
The primary focus of the Forum was on the hidden and often-overlooked soil-based flora: mosses, liverworts, fungi and lichens. Soil fauna were also included, and some plant-fungi-animal interdependencies were described. An outstanding group of presenters, workshop and field leaders guided the participants through explorations of the types of organisms, their key roles in ecosystem function and relevance to native vegetation rehabilitation.
The Forum program Day 1: presentations on the diversity of soil biota and their roles in ecosystem function; Day 2: group discussions and practical workshops; Day 3: field excursion.
Day 1: Presentations A suite of expert biologists shared their knowledge and latest research findings and described efforts to apply all this to on-ground rehabilitation practice. This is perhaps the most challenging aspect with no simple answers. As one presenter noted, he is always asked ‘where do I buy the microbes?’ Some experiments on planting success after inoculating seeds with rhizobia or mycorrhizal fungi were presented – such experiments hold the key to increasing knowledge on how to improve rehabilitation success through the activity of soil biota.
Topics covered biological soil crusts, disturbance, vegetation recruitment, mycorrhizal fungi and orchid reintroductions, ectomycorrhizal fungi and restoring biodiversity, arbuscular mycorrhizas, bryophyte conservation, fungi in agricultural landscapes, plant-rhizobial interactions, the role of mammals in dispersing fungal spores in woodlands, managing invertebrate/fungal interactions with fire, and soil invertebrates in ecosystem function – these abbreviated titles attempt to summarise the stimulating talks of the first day. Full versions of some papers from the Forum have been published in APC (Volume 15 Number 4, March-May 2007) along with abstracts of all the other talks.
Day 2: Panel discussions and practical workshops Participants chose between two discussion sessions in the morning: 1. Conservation of the ‘forgotten flora’: progress, gaps, priorities. 2. ‘Adding soil biota to the rehab recipe’: how to apply our knowledge of the ecological roles of soil biota to on-ground rehabilitation practice; what we can and cannot do; identifying knowledge gaps.
Each group provided a short summary of the discussion outcomes.
Participants then chose two out of eight available workshops, with four running concurrently in the morning and another four in the afternoon:
Because of numbers, workshop A was repeated in the afternoon, while workshops E and G were combined. Most workshops were held in two ANU laboratories at Botany/Zoology, with stereo and compound microscopes available for detailed identification. Workshops had one to two leaders, but often knowledgeable participants helped their colleagues.
Day 3: field excursion The field excursion was a stimulating travelling circus. We started by searching for soil organisms in eucalypt woodland on the CSIRO Black Mountain site, a short walk from our venue at the Discovery Centre. Despite the long dry spell, some fungi, lichens, mosses and invertebrates were found. A field microscope and multiple hand-lenses assisted identification.
The Australian National Botanic Gardens nursery was the next stop, with two demonstrations, one of inoculation of seedlings with rhizobia and the other of inoculation with mycorrhizal fungal spores. These techniques have been used in trial plots in revegetation sites, to test whether growth and survival are enhanced.
The Rainforest Gully in the Gardens was our next site, proving a welcome moist contrast to the dry woodland of our first stop. There was much to see here, with mosses, liverworts, fungi and lichens abundant and relatively lush.
After a picnic lunch on the Brittle Gum Lawn, we boarded the bus to visit two privately owned properties near Murrumbateman, about 30 minutes north of Canberra. The first property, owned by Robert and Lorna Stephens, was the location of experimental plantings of seedlings with various inoculations of spores of mycorrhizal fungi. The upper root zones of two plants were partially excavated to see if any mycorrhizal fungi were present. Some evidence of mycorrhizal fungi were found on the woodland soil-inoculated eucalyptus tubestock though none were found on the other treatment. This property had once been heavily over-grazed and degraded but its new owners are self-avowed tree lovers and are actively involved in the planting experiment.
The second property we visited has been owned by the Bain family for 25 years, and shows the results of many years of intelligent revegetation. Experiments are being undertaken here by CSIRO Entomology to find how ecosystems respond to disturbance (e.g. from grazing, weeds and increased nutrients). These experiments investigate the complex interactions between plants, soil and litter invertebrates. Some of the group visited one of these field sites at the top of a hill while others searched for cryptogams in an old woodland remnant, once a road-side verge, so never grazed. Though dry, some success was reported.
Attendance and feedback Some 80 people registered for day 1 of the Forum, with slightly fewer for days 2 and 3. There were 20 presenters and workshop leaders, as well as the two families who hosted our Murrumbateman property visits.
The mix of presentations, discussions, workshops and field work provided considerable opportunities for interaction and networking. 45% of the evaluation forms were returned – these are being analysed to provide information for future ANPC events. Initial examination of the forms indicates a high level of satisfaction. Verbal feedback at the time was also very positive, as has been subsequent feedback. Full evaluation.
Acknowledgements Thanks in particular to Tom May, the Forum co-organiser, who recruited most of the presenters and workshop leaders. Thanks also to Pam Strickland, my ANPC colleague and admin guru, and to Merryl Bradley, our invaluable volunteer. Sarah Jacob assisted generously throughout the Forum. Special thanks go to Jacqui Stol, who helped above and beyond all expectations. Others also excelled in providing advice, equipment and support. Chris Cargill of the ANBG provided laboratory equipment, the ANBG library lent us many books and posters, the ANU School of Botany and Zoology trusted us with their labs and highly valuable microscopes (thanks to Gary Mayo and Jeanette Cashin), the ANBG allowed us to use the nursery area and explore the Rainforest Gully. The property owners generously gave their time and hosted our visit to their land.
Thanks to the presenters and workshop and field leaders, without whom there would have been no Forum:
Neale Bougher Christine Cargill Matthew Colloff David Eldridge Niels Klazenga Teresa Lebel Elizabeth Lindsay Simone Louwhoff Tom May Peter McGee David Meagher Cassia Read Jo Slattery Zoe Smith Jacqui Stol Peter Thrall Dale Tonkinson Karl Vernes Alan York
The Forum workshops and field day were supported by the Natural Heritage Trust and the Australian Government Envirofund.
|
|
|
