Systematics and Evolution (HA)
Bulahdelah Highway Orchid Project
Cryptostylis hunteriana |
Project Leader: M. Clements
(CSIRO: ma81)
The Bulahdelah Bypass project aims to address issues for the survival, sustainability and translocation of t wo nationally listed threatened orchid species Cryptostylis hunteriana and Rhizanthella slateri and a third New South Wales listed threatened orchid species Corybas dowlingii that are present within and adjacent to the proposed Pacific Highway Upgrade on the foot slopes of Alum Mountain at Bulahdelah.
The research is being undertaken at the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research/Australian National Herbarium order to: gain an understanding of the requirements for the long term survival and population sustainability of these three threatened orchid species; provide a basis for and recommendations on the translocation of each species in compliance with the EPBC Act; and provide a basis for future scientific research on the conservation of these and related species. This research involves the location, hand pollination and collection of seeds of three threatened orchid species at Bulahdelah; the isolation, identification and establishment of the nature of the mycorrhizal relationships with each orchid species and the identity of potential hosts higher plant species. The pollination syndromes and species involved for each orchid species will also be investigated. Using these data identify possible alternative sites on Alum Mountain suitable for translocation of those plants directly affected by the construction of the Bulahdelah bypass. In addition in vitro propagation of all three groups will be used as a means for their translocation and re-introduction into identified suitable sites for the conservation of those species. The project will use the collection resources of the Australian National Herbarium (ANH) and its partner agencies.
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