Spinifex Grass Research Articles

Assessing the suitability of a surveillance fauna-monitoring program for detecting future changes in reptile occupancy

Context Ecological surveillance monitoring typically targets multiple taxonomic groups by using standardised sampling across large spatial scales. Although surveillance monitoring confers advantages over hypothesis-driven monitoring in its broad taxonomic and spatial scope, the approach has been criticised for its disconnect from ecological management and failure to provide insights on the drivers of ecological change Aims To assess the adequacy of a plot-based general fauna-monitoring program for sampling reptiles as indicators of ecosystem health in a semi-arid upland region of the Northern Territory, Australia. Methods We surveyed reptiles at 90 sites, stratified between major landform and vegetation types, and using standard fauna-sampling methods, across the 2568 km2 Tjoritja National Park in the MacDonnell Ranges. We compiled a full inventory of the reptile fauna of the study area and identified species with potential utility as ecological indicators. We then used single-season occupancy models and power analyses to evaluate the adequacy of sampling for detecting potential future changes in occupancy. Key results We detected 57 of the 68 reptile species known from the protected area, 17 of which are potentially useful indicators of ecological health, mostly related to fire management. There was insufficient power to detect moderate (50%) future changes in reptile occupancy for all but the single most detected species. For the two ecological indicator species with sufficient detections for occupancy modelling, a positive association with a keystone structure (dense spinifex grass) was confirmed. However, increasing detection probability or the number of surveys would result in only minor improvements in power to detect occupancy change in these species. Conclusions Although reptiles are potentially useful indicators of ecological health, particularly in relation to fire regimes, the number of sites required to detect future changes in reptile occupancy by using standardised plot-based monitoring in this protected area is prohibitively high. Implications Our results suggest that once ecological associations are understood, monitoring ecological health remotely by using techniques such as fire-scar mapping to track proportions of long-unburnt vegetation should be considered over labour-intensive surveillance monitoring for reptiles. Targeted monitoring of threatened and other reptile species of conservation or cultural concern may also be warranted.

Mortality rates of desert vegetation during high‐intensity drought at Uluru‐Kata Tjuta National Park, Central Australia

AbstractPrecipitation variability and heatwaves are expected to intensify over much of inland Australia under most projected climate change scenarios. This will undoubtedly have impacts on the biota of Australian dryland systems. However, accurate modelling of these impacts is presently impeded by a lack of empirical research on drought/heatwave effects on native arid flora and fauna. During the 2018–2021 Australian drought, many parts of the continent's inland experienced their hottest, driest period on record. Here, we present the results of a field survey in 2021 involving indigenous rangers, scientists and national parks staff who assessed plant dieback during this drought at Uluru‐Kata Tjuta National Park (UKTNP), central Australia. Spatially randomized quadrat sampling of eight common and culturally important plants indicated the following plant death rates across UKTNP (in order of drought susceptibility): desert myrtle (Aluta maisonneuvei subsp. maisonneuvei) (91%), yellow flame grevillea (Grevillea eriostachya) (79%), Maitland's wattle (Acacia maitlandii) (67%), waxy wattle (A. melleodora) (65%), soft spinifex grass (Triodia pungens) (53%), mulga (A. aneura) (42%), desert oak (Allocasuarina decaisneana) (22%) and quandong (Santalum acuminatum) (0%). The sampling also detected that seedling recruitment was absent or minimal for all plants except soft spinifex, while a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) indicated two‐way interactions among species, plant size and stand density as important predictors of drought survival of adult plants. A substantial loss of biodiversity has occurred at UKTNP during the recent drought, with likely drivers of widespread plant mortality being extreme multi‐year rainfall deficit (2019 recorded the lowest‐ever annual rainfall at UKTNP [27 mm]) and record high summer temperatures (December 2019 recorded the highest‐ever temperature [47.1°C]). Our findings indicate that widespread plant death and extensive vegetation restructuring will occur across arid Australia if the severity and frequency of droughts increase under climate change.

The ecology, evolution and management of mast reproduction in Australian plants

Australia is home to a diverse assemblage of plant species that display marked population-level variation in inter-annual flower or seed output (i.e. masting). These include a semelparous bamboo with an estimated inter-crop period of 40–50 years, numerous iteroparous masting gymnosperms, angiosperms that include landscape-dominant eucalypts, arid-zone wattles and spinifex (Triodia spp.) grasses, and a rich selection of species that display disturbance-related forms of masting such as pyrogenic flowering and environmental prediction. Despite the prevalence of masting in the Australian flora, there has been a paucity of research on these plants. Nevertheless, from the literature available, it appears that, similar to other parts of the world, a continuum of inter-year reproductive variability exists, with a small number of species displaying extreme–high inter-annual seeding variability. From experimental studies and many anecdotal reports, most of the fitness benefits associated with masting evident overseas also operate in Australia (e.g. predator satiation, improved pollination efficiency, and environmental prediction). Additionally, some Australian masting species offer periodically important food resources for Aboriginal nations in the form of seed or fruit. These include the bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii), members of the cycad genera Cycas and Macrozamia, spinifex (Triodia) grasses, and mulga shrubs (Acacia aneura). Key future research areas for effective conservation of Australian masting plants include (1) improved understanding of how management interventions such as burning and silvicultural thinning influence regeneration dynamics and higher-order trophic interactions, (2) further longitudinal monitoring across a range of habitats to identify other, as yet unknown, species that display reproductive intermittency, and (3) elucidation of how changes to temperature, precipitation and fire regimes under climate change will affect reproduction and regeneration dynamics of the Australian masting flora.

Slow loss of a foundation species in agricultural landscapes: Effects of nutrients, land clearing, and other factors

Foundation species strongly influence other organisms and declines in foundation species due to disturbance can have impacts that extend throughout communities. Spinifex grasses (Triodia spp.) are foundation species of arid Australia that provide resources to many birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates. We tested drivers of Triodia scariosa presence and abundance at local and landscape scales using a Bayesian structural equation model and species distribution modelling, based on the mapped distribution of 11,887 spinifex plants in remnant vegetation across a ~12,000 km2 agricultural region. At the local scale (<1 km), there was a negative effect of soil phosphorus on spinifex abundance, particularly when the prevalence of other grasses was high. These results suggest that the combination of other grasses and nutrient enrichment promote hostile conditions for spinifex in small agricultural remnants, possibly through altered competitive interactions. However, at the landscape scale (100 + km), there was a positive effect of phosphorus on spinifex abundance, reinforcing the importance of multi-scale studies. Spinifex presence at the landscape scale was best determined by proximity to nature reserves. Sites closest to reserves were cleared later than more distant sites, which suggests a trajectory of decline consistent with an extinction debt. Our results correspond with a global phenomenon of delayed biodiversity loss and identify key threats to foundation species in human-dominated landscapes. Given that our proposed mechanisms of loss, nutrient enrichment and possible competition are widespread in agricultural regions throughout the world, understanding how to mitigate threats to foundation species should be a priority.

Predators, prey or temperature? Mechanisms driving niche use of a foundation plant species by specialist lizards.

Foundation species interact strongly with other species to profoundly influence communities, such as by providing food, refuge from predators or beneficial microclimates. We tested relative support for these mechanisms using spinifex grass (Triodia spp.), which is a foundation species of arid Australia that provides habitat for diverse lizard communities. We first compared the attributes of live and dead spinifex, bare ground and a structurally similar plant (Lomandra effusa), and then tested the relative strength of association of two spinifex specialist lizard species (Ctenophorus spinodomus and Ctenotus atlas) with spinifex using a mesocosm experiment. Temperatures were coolest within spinifex compared to bare ground and Lomandra. Invertebrate abundance and the threat of predation were indistinguishable between treatments, suggesting temperature attenuation may be a more important driver. Overall, the dragon C. spinodomus preferred live over dead spinifex, while the skink C. atlas preferred dead spinifex, particularly at warmer air temperatures. However, both species displayed individual variability in their use of available microhabitats, with some individuals rarely using spinifex. Our results provide an example of temperature attenuation by a foundation species driving niche use by ectothermic animals.

Grafting from cellulose nanofibres with naturally-derived oil to reduce water absorption

Cellulose nanofibres (CNF) derived from spinifex grass were surface modified via grafting with an epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), which improved its hydrophobicity. The method was successfully applied to CNF-derived nanopaper, as well as a paper containing micro- and nanofibres to compare substrate morphology effects. The water absorption capacity of ESO-grafted nanopaper was reduced by 40% compared to untreated nanopaper, and the contact angle of cellulose nanopaper grafted with ESO reached 99°. The chemical surface analyses (FTIR and XPS) revealed that a relatively thin, less than 10 nm layer of ESO-polymer was covalently bound to the surface. The method was also successfully applied to a freeze-dried CNF aerogel, which showed a reduction of water vapour absorption of up to 53%. Characterisation using solid state NMR confirmed the covalent attachment of ESO to the CNF aerogel. Our work provides an essential premise in expanding the functionality and potential use of different forms of CNF in diverse applications requiring higher hydrophobicity.

Abundance, Condition and Size of a Foundation Species Vary with Altered Soil Conditions, Remnant Type and Potential Competitors

Native biodiversity often depends on remnant vegetation for survival in agricultural landscapes. However, the size and shape of remnant patches can affect their conservation values through edge effects and isolation of ecologically important species such as foundation species. Foundation species interact with and profoundly affect other species, leading to cascading community effects if they are lost from an ecosystem. We used spinifex grass (Triodia scariosa) to investigate the patterns, processes and consequences of remnant shape and habitat degradation, including nutrient enrichment and soil compaction, for a foundation plant species in agricultural landscapes. First, we quantified differences in biotic and soil variables between narrow linear remnants and larger, more equilateral nature reserves. We then assessed whether these differences explained variation in spinifex abundance and condition. Finally, we tested whether edge effects influenced spinifex abundance. We surveyed 4230 quadrats across 282 sites in south-eastern Australia and measured the size and condition of 11,514 spinifex clumps. Linear remnants were characterised by different plant communities, elevated nutrient levels, more compact soil and higher abundance of non-spinifex grasses compared to nature reserves. Spinifex was twice as abundant in reserves than linear remnants and was negatively associated with soil compaction and soil nutrients. Spinifex condition was negatively associated with soil nitrogen and non-spinifex grasses. Linear remnants had proportionally fewer small spinifex clumps compared to reserves, suggesting lower recruitment in linear remnants. We found minimal evidence of edge effects on environmental variables, and no clear edge effect on spinifex abundance. Given the large contribution of linear remnants to native vegetation cover, measures to minimise nutrient enrichment and disturbance in these areas may help arrest potential ongoing declines in this foundation plant species in agricultural landscapes.

The contribution of pathogenic soil microbes to ring formation in an iconic Australian arid grass,

Ring-forming species of spinifex grasses (Triodia spp.) are a dominant feature across much of Australia’s arid and semi-arid zone. Researchers have long been curious about the mechanisms underpinning their striking growth form. However, none of the factors investigated to date provide a convincing explanation for ring formation. Here, we asked whether an accumulation of pathogenic soil microbes might impede seedling emergence and subsequent growth in the centre of Triodia basedowii rings. We collected soil from inside and outside naturally occurring spinifex rings and compared plants grown in soil with live microbes to plants grown in sterilised soil. Consistent with our hypothesis, we found that emergence of T. basedowii seedlings was lower in live soil from inside the rings than in live soil from outside the rings. Further, seedling emergence in soil from inside the rings increased significantly in response to soil sterilisation. We found no significant difference in growth between sterile and live soils. However, this might be due to a lack of power caused by high rates of seedling mortality in all treatments. Overall, our study provides evidence for the role of soil pathogens in shaping this iconic Australian grass.

Ecological niche and microhabitat use of Australian geckos

Modern biological research often uses global datasets to answer broad-scale questions using various modelling techniques. But detailed information on species–habitat interactions are often only available for a few species. Australian geckos, a species-rich group of small nocturnal predators, are particularly data-deficient. For most species, information is available only as scattered, anecdotal, or descriptive entries in the taxonomic literature or in field guides. We surveyed gecko communities from 10 sites, and 15 locations across central and northern Queensland, Australia, to quantify ecological niche and habitat use of these communities. Our surveys included deserts, woodlands, and rainforests, examining 34 gecko species. We assigned species to habitat niche categories: arboreal (9 species), saxicoline (4), or terrestrial (13), if at least 75% of our observations fell in one microhabitat; otherwise we classified geckos as generalists (8). For arboreal species, we described perch height and perch diameter and assigned them to ecomorph categories, originally developed for Anolis lizards. There was lower species richness in rainforests than in habitats with lower relative humidity; the highest species richness occurred in woodlands. Most arboreal and generalist species fit the trunk-ground ecomorph, except those in the genus Strophurus, whose members preferred shrubs, twigs of small trees, or, in two cases, spinifex grass hummocks, thus occupying a perch space similar to that of grass-bush anoles. Habitat use by Pseudothecadactylus australis, Saltuarius cornutus, and Gehyra dubia fit the trunk-crown ecomorph. We provide quantified basic ecological data and habitat use for a large group of previously poorly documented species.

On the landscape of fear: shelters affect foraging by dunnarts (Marsupialia, Sminthopsis spp.) in a sandridge desert environment

Abstract Disturbances such as fire reduce the structural complexity of terrestrial habitats, increasing the risk of predation for small prey species. The postfire effect of predation has especially deleterious effects in Australian habitats owing to the presence of invasive mammalian predators, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus), that rapidly exploit burned habitats. Here, we investigated whether the provision of artificial shelter could alleviate the risk of predation perceived by two species of small marsupial, the dunnarts Sminthopsis hirtipes and S. youngsoni, in open postfire habitat in the sandridge system of the Simpson Desert, central Australia. We installed artificial shelters constructed from wire mesh that allowed passage of the dunnarts but not of their predators at one site, and measured and compared the perceived risk of predation by the dunnarts there with those on a control site using optimal patch-use theory (giving-up densities, GUDs). GUDs were lower near artificial shelters than away from them, and near dune crests where dunnarts typically forage, suggesting that the shelters acted as corridors for dunnarts to move up to the crests from burrows in the swales. Foraging was lower near the crest in the control plot. Two-day foraging bouts were observed in dunnart activity, with recruitment to GUD stations occurring a day earlier in the augmented shelter plot. Despite these results, the effects of the shelters were localized and not evident at the landscape scale, with GUDs reduced also in proximity to sparse natural cover in the form of regenerating spinifex grass hummocks. Mapping dunnart habitat use using the landscape of fear (LOF) framework confirmed that animals perceived safety near shelter and risk away from it. We concluded that the LOF framework can usefully assess real-time behavioral responses of animals to management interventions in situations where demographic responses take longer to occur.

Carbon and water fluxes in two adjacent Australian semi-arid ecosystems

The southern hemisphere and especially Australian arid and semi-arid ecosystems played a significant role in the 2011 global land carbon sink anomaly. Arid and semi-arid regions occupy 70% of the Australian land surface, dominated by two biomes: Mulga woodlands and spinifex grasslands or savannas. We monitored carbon and water fluxes in two of these characteristic ecosystems: a Mulga woodland (2010–2017) and a Corymbia savanna dominated by spinifex grasses (2012–2017). The aims of this study were to compare net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and evapotranspiration (ET) of these two ecosystems and to identify precipitation thresholds at which these ecosystems switched from being a C source to a C sink. Annual NEP in the Mulga woodland ranged from −47 to 217 gC m−2 y−1 (2010–2017), with the second largest positive NEP observed during the global C sink anomaly (162 gC m−2 y−1, 2010–2011). By contrast in the Corymbia savanna, annual NEP ranged from −190 to 115 gC m−2 y−1, with frequent occurrences of negative NEP and larger ET rates than for the Mulga woodland. Precipitation thresholds were identified at 262 mm y−1 and 507 mm y−1 in the Mulga woodland and the Corymbia savanna, respectively. Soil water content (SWC), along with air temperature and vapour pressure deficit, was a significant driver for water fluxes in both ecosystems (SWC–ET correlation of 0.5–0.56) and for carbon fluxes in the woodland (SWC–NEP and SWC–GPP correlation of −0.51 and −0.41, respectively). Arid and semi-arid ecosystems have dominated the inter-annual variability of the global terrestrial C sink, thus identifying precipitation thresholds at which ecosystems switch from being a C source to a C sink is important for furthering our understanding of the global C and water budget and for modelling of future climate.

Structural characterization of carboxyl cellulose nanofibers extracted from underutilized sources

Two different chemical methods, TEMPO-oxidation and nitro-oxidation, were used to extract carboxyl cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from non-wood biomass sources (i.e., jute, soft and hard spinifex grasses). The combined TEMPO-oxidation and homogenization approach was very efficient to produce CNFs from the cellulose component of biomass; however, the nitro-oxidation method was also found to be effective to extract CNFs directly from raw biomass even without mechanical treatment. The effect of these two methods on the resulting cross-section dimensions of CNFs was investigated by solution small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The UV-Vis spectroscopic data from 0.1 wt% TEMPO-oxidized nanofiber (TOCNF) and nitro-oxidized nanofiber (NOCNF) suspensions showed that TOCNF had the highest transparency (> 95%) because of better dispersion, resulted from the highest carboxylate content (1.2 mmol/g). The consistent scattering and microscopic results indicated that TOCNFs from jute and spinifex grasses possessed rectangular cross-sections, while NOCNFs exhibited near square cross-sections. This study revealed that different oxidation methods can result in different degrees of biomass exfoliation and different CNF morphology.

Nanocellulose from Spinifex as an Effective Adsorbent to Remove Cadmium(II) from Water

Nanocelluloses, in the form of carboxycellulose nanofibers, with low crystallinity (CI ∼ 50%), high surface charge (−68 mV), and hydrophilicity (static contact angle 38°), were prepared from an untreated (raw) Australian spinifex grass using a nitro-oxidation method employing nitric acid and sodium nitrite. The resulting nanofibers (NOCNF) were found to be an effective medium to remove Cd2+ ions (cadmium(II)) from water. For example, a low concentration of NOCNF suspension (0.20 wt %) could remove Cd2+ ions over a large concentration range (50–5000 ppm) in a relatively short time period (≤5 min). The results showed that at low Cd2+ concentrations (below 500 ppm), the remediation mechanism was dominated by interactions between carboxylate groups on the NOCNF surface and Cd2+ ions, which also acted as a cross-linking agent to gel the NOCNF suspension. At high Cd2+ concentrations (above 1000 ppm), the remediation mechanism was dominated by the mineralization process of forming Cd(OH)2 nanocrystals, which was...

High aspect ratio nanocellulose from an extremophile spinifex grass by controlled acid hydrolysis

During the last two decades, work surrounding the preparation of a vast array of cellulose nanomaterials from both wood and non-wood based sources has steadily intensified. This study reports on the isolation of high aspect ratio nanocellulose from an arid grass source commonly called “spinifex”, Triodia pungens, via an optimised sulfuric acid hydrolysis protocol. The unique attributes of T. pungens have enabled pulping and bleaching under milder conditions than used in typically reported protocols, followed by relatively easy deconstruction into nanofibres with an unprecedentedly high aspect ratio. Hydrolysis of bleached T. pungens under these optimised processing conditions has yielded nanocellulose with a very high aspect ratio of 144 (average dimensions of 3.45 ± 1 nm × 497 ± 106 nm), a crystallinity of 73% and a production yield of 42%. Based on the spectroscopic and X-ray scattering analyses, an unusually high content of hemicellulose (42%) is correlated with both the ease of deconstruction and the retention of nanocellulose length. This high hemicellulose content also appears to give rise to a lower transverse stiffness than previously-reported values for wood sources.

Cellulose Nanofibers as Rheology Modifiers and Enhancers of Carbonization Efficiency in Polyacrylonitrile

The energy requirements for the production of high quality carbon fiber and other carbon-based materials made by carbonization is a key factor limiting the commercial application of these materials. With the aim of enhancing the carbonization efficiency, we have prepared polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based precursor materials doped with high aspect-ratio cellulose nanofibers (CNF) derived from Australian spinifex grass (T. pungens). This was achieved by systematically investigating the rheology and electrospinning properties of composite fibers of PAN and CNF prepared at various CNF concentration levels and subsequently stabilized and carbonized. The carbon properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Upon carbonization, the incorporation of CNF into the PAN precursor led to changes in the crystallite and graphitic structure of the carbon materials, and these changes found to be closely related to the CNF concentration. CNF loadings of 0.5–2 wt % resulted in spinnable solutions wit...

Reinforcement of natural rubber latex using lignocellulosic nanofibers isolated from spinifex grass.

Reinforcement of natural rubber (NR) using nanofillers often results in an enhancement of the tensile strength, but at the expense of elongation at break and toughness. In this study, with the objective of strengthening NR without compromising its compliance, we investigate the reinforcement efficiency of a series of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) with variations in residual hemicellulose, lignin and therefore surface chemistry. Different types of high aspect ratio CNF isolated from Triodia pungens (T. pungens), an Australian arid grass commonly known as spinifex, were added at 0.1-2 wt% loadings into a pre-vulcanized NR latex. CNF/NR nanocomposites then were benchmarked against NR nanocomposites incorporating a well-known wood-derived CNF. It was found that the presence of residual lignin and hemicellulose, and the pretreatment with a deep eutectic solvent, a mixture of choline chloride and urea (CCU), could increase the compatibility of CNF with the NR matrix, while still enabling stability and handling of the colloidal latex mixture. Incorporation of 0.5 and 0.1 wt% of the sodium hydroxide treated CNF and choline chloride/urea treated CNF into the NR latex showed respectively 11 and 17% enhancement in tensile stress, and importantly without compromising viscoelastic properties; while addition of 0.1 wt% wood-derived CNF resulted in 18% decrease in both tensile stress and strain coupled with more pronounced latex stiffening.

Spinifex nanocellulose derived hard carbon anodes for high-performance sodium-ion batteries

Spinifex grass derived hard carbon is used as anodes for sodium-ion batteries. Extraordinary stability and capacity retention of ∼300 mA h g−1 on prolonged cycling against sodium was observed. The eco-friendly and low-cost synthesis procedure make the biomass derived carbon material promising for energy storage applications.

The denning behaviour of dingoes (Canis dingo) living in a human-modified environment

Little is known about reproduction and den site selection by free-ranging dingoes. We present observations of den sites used by dingoes inhabiting a large-scale mining operation located in the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia. We observed 24 dens concentrated within a 1-km radius. Den sites were generally situated in elevated positions overlooking the surrounding area, were a short distance from food and water resources, required vegetation (particularly spinifex grass) to provide a firm foundation and stable ceiling in the soft sand, and had single den openings that faced away from the rising and daytime sun. Distance to human structures or activity did not appear to influence site selection. Four of the dens were active, containing a total of 37 pups aged between two and four weeks of age. One den contained 18 pups of different ages, indicating that communal denning was also occurring. The high number of breeding females within close proximity suggests that multiple family groups are able to share resources and live in close proximity. Our findings highlight the importance of human-modified areas and abundance of resources in the reproduction and breeding site selection of dingoes.

Australian spinifex grasses: new names in Triodia for Monodia and Symplectrodia

The Australian spinifex grasses comprise an endemic radiation (69+ species) of morphologically and ecologically distinctive plants. Many species are long-lived hummock-forming perennials that bristle with needle-like leaves. Ecologically, they resemble sclerophyll shrubs rather than grasses (Rice &amp; Westoby 1999). They are widespread in dry communities, especially the eremaean and monsoonal (savannah) biomes, where they often dominate the landscape, particularly on oligotrophic (sandy and skeletal) substrates. Across nearly one-third of the continent, spinifex plays a dominant role in structuring communities and their fire regimes, directly influencing the habitat dynamics of many animals, including endangered species (Allan &amp; Southgate 2002, Brown et al. 2009, Dickman et al. 2011).

Optimisation of resin extraction from an Australian arid grass ‘Triodia pungens’ and its preliminary evaluation as an anti-termite timber coating

Spinifex grasses are the dominant vegetative component in Australian grassland habitats, covering approximately 26% of the Australian landmass. Our ongoing work explores the utility of both the cellulosic and resinous components of this abundant biomass for modern applications and a potential economy for our Aboriginal collaborators. This study is focused on the optimisation of a resin extraction process using solvent, and the subsequent evaluation, via a field trial, of the potential use and efficacy of the resin as an anti-termite coating material. Termiticidal performance was evaluated by re-dissolving the extracted resin in acetone and coating on pine timber blocks. The resin-coated and control blocks were then exposed to a colony of Mastotermes darwiniensis’ (Froggatt) termites, which are the most primitive alive and destructive species in subterranean area, at a trial site in northeast Australia, for six months. The results clearly showed that spinifex resin effectively protected the timber from termite attack, while the uncoated control samples were extensively damaged. By demonstrating an enhanced termite resistance, we here report that plant resins that are produced by arid/semi-arid grasses could be potentially used as treatments to prevent termite attack.