It’s All About the Plants
Tuesday, 25 November 2014, 10:00–12:00
Ground Floor Meeting & Lunch Room, Tram Barn

by Molly Whalen, Rick Davies & Alison Nicolson
Flinders University School of Biological Sciences

Predicting the response of native vegetation in Australia’s arid rangelands to management actions, such as changing grazing regimes, is often hampered by a lack of knowledge regarding the nature of native plant biodiversity at a local scale. Simply measuring above-ground plant species richness can be quite misleading because in arid habitats, much of a site’s plant diversity, particularly that of short-lived species, may be present as dormant seeds in the soil seed bank. We are investigating factors influencing variation in both above- and below-ground plant diversity in a large (ca. 420,000 km²) conservation reserve in arid South Australia. This reserve, Witchelina, has a long history (ca. 140 years) of pastoral use, but was destocked in 2010 when it was purchased by the Nature Foundation of South Australia. Particular factors being investigated include variation among different habitats and effects of past grazing intensities. For example, we are comparing the diversity and composition of the seed banks and above-ground vegetation in areas close to watering points with a history of heavy grazing with those of areas more distant from watering points that have been less heavily grazed. Alison Nicolson will also speak about her honours research on Witchelina, for which she used existing DEWNR photopoints monitoring sites at Witchelina to study regeneration since 1999. By comparing, photopoint photos taken in 2014 with field measurements, she has also been able to evaluate the reliability of using photopoints alone as a monitoring tool.

All Herbarium staff, honoraries, volunteers, students and guests welcome.
Morning tea provided.

It’s All About the Plants
Monday, 15 December 2014, 2:00–3:00
Ground Floor Meeting & Lunch Room, Tram Barn

Note changed date and time!

by Dee Provis

Dee Provis, a local naturalist and community volunteer from Mundulla, in the upper South East, has kindly offered to come and tell us about the Mundulla Primary School Herbarium Project she set up. The project involved the State Herbarium’s Weeds Botanist Chris Brodie, who also attended the launch of the project. This is a great example of how different levels of government and the community can partner to achieve positive outcomes for education and the local environment.

The aims of the Herbarium Project are

…To involve students in basic plant science, using both indigenous and exotic plants from our rare Grey Box Grassy Woodland.

To teach students how to:

• Identify both native plants and exotic species (weeds/garden escapees)
• Collect, mount, arrange and catalogue plant samples according to the strict protocols required by the State Herbarium
• Make this information available to the wider community by publications, DVD & website

To increase the body of knowledge held within the local community of both indigenous and exotic plants. This resource will support locals in identifying weeds for removal and facilitate native plant retention and regeneration.

The Herbarium Project has been funded by a Natural Resources Management Action Grant in 2014.

State Herbarium Weeds Botanist Chris Brodie with Mudalla Primary School students during the launch of the Herbarium Project. Photo by Benn Gransden, Border Chronicle.

All Herbarium staff, honoraries, volunteers, students and guests welcome.
Morning tea provided

It’s All About the Plants
Tuesday, 7 October 2014, 10:00–12:00
Ground Floor Meeting & Lunch Room, Tram Barn

by Chris Brodie
Weeds Botanist, State Herbarium of South Australia

Demonstration of a weed sniffer-dog, trained to detect certain weed species, to find a weed hidden in the conference room

Chris attended the 19^th Australasian Weeds Conference in Hobart from 1–4 September 2014. The conference brought together about 240 people, who work with (or in many cases against) weeds in Australia and New Zealand, and few others from further afield. It was hosted by CAWS (Council of Australasian Weed Societies).

A broad cross-section of participants were in attendance from universities, community groups and governments. Regional government staff ranged from those involved with weeds at a country and state level, to regional councils and NRM authorities. South Australia was represented by State Herbarium, The University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, Biosecurity SA, Natural Resources South East and Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges, Rural Solutions SA, to name a few.

Topics and talks given included current weed research in both, the laboratory and in the field, weed policy, on-ground activities, managing weeds, as well as discussion groups debating how to best tackle weeds at a national, regional and local level. Keynote speakers included Prof. Daniel Simberloff from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Prof. Stephen Hopper from The University of Western Australia. Prof. Simberloff spoke about biological invasions and how these are perceived by people at each end of the debate. Prof. Hopper informed the Conference about his observations regarding weeds that dominate areas in Australia, and compared this to how these species exist in much lower numbers in the their native countries in harmony with the environment.

Several other State Herbaria were also represented at the conference with Matt Baker from the Tasmanian Herbarium and Melinda Laidlaw from the Queensland Herbarium. Melinda coordinates the Queensland Weed Spotter’s Network and is achieving great results identifying new weed incursion throughout the State.

At the Conference, Chris gave a presentation entitled Weeds in South Australia: a Regional account and will be presenting this exciting talk and a report on the 19^th Australasian Weeds Conference at the next It’s All About the Plants seminar.

It’s All About the Plants
Tuesday, 2 September 2014, 10:00–12:00
Ground Floor Meeting & Lunch Room, Tram Barn

by Pam Catcheside
Honorary Research Associate, State Herbarium of South Australia

Pam will explore the theme of fungi and art as it pertains to the KI fungi.

Kangaroo Island’s large area of remnant vegetation houses a very rich diversity of fungi. New species of fungi have been found there as well as many new records of fungi for South Australia, together with species of rare fungi. Fungi are not only essential for life on earth, but their variety, importance, beauty and strangeness make them members of an intriguing and often elusive kingdom.

Kangaroo Island artists demonstrate an involvement, empathy and ability to show different aspects of their environment. They will be illustrating the fungal kingdom in next year’s SALA art exhibition at the National Wine Centre, organised by Fleur and Fred Peters of Fine Art KI.

All Herbarium staff, honoraries, volunteers and students are welcome.
Morning tea provided.

Award-winning photo of Crepidotus sp. by David Catcheside