Sclerophyllous Research Articles

Girrimarring wiirrilgal bulany ngayanbading (bat nest-type fur sun-like): blending traditional knowledge and western science to create roosting habitat for the threatened golden-tipped bat Phoniscus papuensis

Context Despite being widely distributed along eastern Australia, the golden-tipped bat (Phoniscus papuensis) is listed as Vulnerable in New South Wales (NSW). The 2019–2020 wildfires affected an estimated 40% of foraging and roosting habitat, causing further conservation concern. The species roosts in suspended birds’ nests located along watercourses in rainforest or wet sclerophyll forests. Habitat augmentation is a key recovery action for the species; however, effective techniques are unknown. Aims We integrated western scientific and Indigenous cultural knowledge and practice to deliver an artificial roosting structure for golden-tipped bats, and designed and implemented a collaborative model for habitat restoration, with genuine opportunity for cultural practice and two-way knowledge sharing. Methods In partnership, members of Indigenous groups, western scientific organisations and volunteers shared learnings about bats, culture and caring for Country. Weaving materials were collected from local forests, roosts were woven and hung in rainforest gullies and monitored using remote cameras and direct visual inspection. Key results Golden-tipped bats used woven roosts, suggesting that roosting-habitat augmentation could support recovery of the species. Strong partnerships were established between government conservation programs and local Indigenous communities, engaging younger generations in cultural practice and learning. Delivery models were demonstrated for further collaborative, two-way threatened species projects. Conclusions Golden-tipped bats will use woven structures for roosting. Integrating Indigenous knowledge into threatened species programs can deliver effective conservation outcomes for specialist and cryptic species. Implications Should further broadscale fire, or other impact causing loss of roosting structures occur, community, Indigenous groups or government agencies can utilise this model to implement effective conservation actions together.

A fossil pinnate palm leaf (Arecaceae, subfam. Arecoideae) from Island Lagoon, in the arid zone of South Australia

ABSTRACT Fossil pinnate palm leaves (Arecaceae, subfam. Arecoideae) are described from the Eocene or Miocene Island Lagoon fossil site near Woomera in the arid zone of South Australia. These leaves are described as a new species, Phoenicites insula-lacuna and shown to share morphological similarities to the extant genus Archontophoenix (subtr. Archontophoenicinae), endemic to eastern Australia. This fossil record constitutes a significant temporal and geographic range extension for Archontophoenicinae and likely Archontophoenix. The presence in Australia of Archontophoenicinae as early as the Eocene or more likely Miocene, is in accordance with molecular analyses that propose dispersal of this clade into Australia from New Guinea, with subsequent dispersal from Australia to New Caledonia and divergence of the Archontophoenix and Chambeyronia lineages during this interval of time. Previously reported co-occurring myrtaceous woody fruits from Island Lagoon and proximal-coeval silcrete floras previously referred to Angophora, Callistemon, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca and fossils of other sclerophyllous taxa such as Banksia are consistent with this palm being part of a landscape mosaic with riparian rainforest that included mesic plants growing within wider sclerophyllous forest or woodland vegetation comparable to the eastern coastal zone of modern-day Australia and the modern range of Archontophoenix.

The extinct Notiomastodon platensis (proboscidea, Gomphoteriidae) inhabited mediterranean ecosystems during the Late Pleistocene in north-central Chile (31°S–36°S)

Limited pollen and limnogeological evidence show that central Chile (31°S–36° S) had a more temperate climate during the Late Pleistocene. Questions remain, however, regarding the extent of the mediterranean sclerophyllous forest currently found in this region and its postglacial dynamics. The extinct Notiomastodon platensis was the only proboscidean species that inhabited central Chile and ranged across a broad latitudinal range (31°S–42°S) during the Pleistocene. Although this species was a mixed-feeder, we reconstructed past ecosystems when these animals were alive using stable isotope evidence from dental root collagen (δ13C and δ15N) of N. platensis specimens collected from present-day semi-arid and mediterranean ecosystems in central Chile (31°S–36°S). Compared to modern vegetation isotope baselines, we expected the isotopic value of the Estimated Consumed Diet (ECD) (the probable diet of N. platensis) to be similar to the isotopic signal (low values) from vegetation adapted to temperate rainforests. However, elevated δ15NECD values indicate a paleo-vegetation more similar to a xerophyte scrub influenced by a semi-arid paleoclimate. δ13CECD values reflect a wooded/forested environment but adapted to more arid conditions. Although high δ15N values could be influenced by other non-climatic factors (e.g., grazing effect), our combined evidence suggests that these gomphotheres roamed through ecosystem very similar to those found today in central Chile. Our results show the need for multiproxy reconstructions of past environmental change in Mediterranean regions where the abundance of entomophilous species can lead to biased pollen reconstructions.

Early Growth and Physiological Acclimation to Shade and Water Restriction of Seven Sclerophyllous Species of the Mediterranean Forests of Central Chile.

The success of using active restoration in Mediterranean-type climate zones mostly depends on an appropriate matching of plant species and specific management prescriptions upon establishment. In this study, we assessed the early growth and short-term physiological acclimation of seven common species found in the sclerophyllous forests in central Chile to water restriction and shading. We established a nursery experiment that included three treatments (T0: sun-exposed and water-restricted, T1: sun-exposed and fully irrigated, and T2: shaded and fully irrigated) and seven tree species differing in their shade and drought tolerance (Quillaja saponaria Molina, Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz, Peumus boldus Molina, Lithraea caustica (Mol.) Hook. and Arn, Luma apiculata (DC.) Burret, Colliguaja odorifera Molina, and Escallonia pulverulenta (Ruiz and Prav.) Pers). We measured the increment in seedling height and different leaf morpho-physiological traits during two months in the dry season. Based on the measured traits, none of the species took advantage of the higher water availability in T1 relative to T0, but most of the species responded to the shade in T2, regardless of their shade or drought tolerance. Height increments due to shade varied from 0% in P. boldus to 203% in L. apiculata. Overall, all the species responded similarly to the treatments in specific leaf area, chlorophyll content index, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and intrinsic water use efficiency. This suggests that the species exhibited similar acclimation patterns of these parameters to shade and drought, even regarding the variation in midday xylem water potential found in the water-restricted treatment T0 (from -1.5 MPa in P. boldus to -3.1 MPa in E. pulverulenta). In this study, shading had a higher positive effect on the seedling performance of sclerophyllous species than watering, which at operational level highlights the need for investing in tree shelters when using these species in restoration programs.

Anatomy of a post-wildfire recovery: Responses of mammals to a Black Summer wildfire in a fox-free landscape

Wildfires are predicted to increase in frequency and severity with climate change. Devising effective strategies to ensure wildfires do not hasten a decline in wildlife populations hinges on developing a deeper understanding of how species are affected by recent wildfires. I investigated the response of eight species of medium-sized mammals over a 4-year period (2020–2023) following a wildfire in the Australian Black Summer fire season. Pre-wildfire population levels were not known. These species differed in their ability to survive the passage of fire; from being able to flee the fire front, to remaining in protective shelters, to favouring unburnt forest types, to none of these strategies. Camera trapping was conducted from 5 months to 4 years after the fire across 62 sites in wet and dry sclerophyll forest (burnt and unburnt) and rainforest (unburnt) to characterise both initial survival and subsequent reproduction-led post-fire occupancy. There was consistency in the response of species in year 1. Those assumed to be able to flee the fires showed medium-high post-fire occupancy regardless of whether a site was burnt. Those that use protective shelters and unburnt forest also showed high occupancy. One species without these options showed greatly reduced occupancy in year 1 relative to years 3 and 4. Most species showed evidence of increased detection across years, which is inferred to reflect increased abundance, and was expected given substantially above average rainfall for three years following the fire. The feral cat was the only predator sufficiently widespread to be of concern in species’ recovery but was rarely detected in years 1 and 2, relative to years 3 and 4. This study provides evidence that many species, including three threatened species, have the ability to survive the passage of fire, and show high post-fire occupancy. The study landscape contained abundant habitat elements (unburnt rainforest, boulder fields) that promote survival through a wildfire and post-fire recovery, providing insights to guide future conservation actions.

Unveiling emerging interdisciplinary research challenges in the highly threatened sclerophyllous forests of central Chile

BackgroundThe potential ecosystem collapse of forests in Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs) by unprecedented droughts is worrisome due to the impacts on its exceptional biodiversity and human well-being. However, research integrating the impacts of global change drivers, forest resilience and the challenges facing human-nature relationships is still scarce.Methods and resultsUsing the central Chile megadrought and recently massive forest browning event as a model scenario, we identified, through a scientific literature review and an interdisciplinary scientific workshop, the research priorities and questions to address for MTEs in a context of global change. Our results highlighted knowledge gaps that need to be covered, particularly in social and environmental sciences, with an emphasis on soil science. Research priorities must focus on (1) the understanding of interactive effects of global and local anthropogenic drivers on MTEs and (2) the evaluation of the potential impacts of MTEs collapse on human well-being and ecosystem functioning.ConclusionsWe highlight the need for a collaborative approach involving scientists, landowners, managers/administrators, and policymakers to apply adaptive forest management against the current socio-environmental challenges under a global change context.

Microbial Diversity of Soil in a Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot: Parque Nacional La Campana, Chile.

Parque Nacional La Campana (PNLC) is recognized worldwide for its flora and fauna, rather than for its microbial richness. Our goal was to characterize the structure and composition of microbial communities (bacteria, archaea and fungi) and their relationship with the plant communities typical of PNLC, such as sclerophyllous forest, xerophytic shrubland, hygrophilous forest and dry sclerophyllous forest, distributed along topoclimatic variables, namely, exposure, elevation and slope. The plant ecosystems, the physical and chemical properties of organic matter and the soil microbial composition were characterized by massive sequencing (iTag-16S rRNA, V4 and ITS1-5F) from the DNA extracted from the soil surface (5 cm, n = 16). A contribution of environmental variables, particularly related to each location, is observed. Proteobacteria (35.43%), Actinobacteria (32.86%), Acidobacteria (10.07%), Ascomycota (76.11%) and Basidiomycota (15.62%) were the dominant phyla. The beta diversity (~80% in its axes) indicates that bacteria and archaea are linked to their plant categories, where the xerophytic shrub stands out with the most particular microbial community. More specifically, Crenarchaeote, Humicola and Mortierella were dominant in the sclerophyllous forest; Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria and Alternaria in the xerophytic shrubland; Solicoccozyma in the dry sclerophyllous forest; and Cladophialophora in the hygrophilous forest. In conclusion, the structure and composition of the microbial consortia is characteristic of PNLC's vegetation, related to its topoclimatic variables, which suggests a strong association within the soil microbiome.

Occurrence patterns of sympatric forest wallabies: assessing the influence of structural habitat attributes on the coexistence of Thylogale thetis and T.stigmatica.

We studied the occurrence of two sympatric wallabies, the red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis) and the red-legged pademelon (T. stigmatica) in northeastern New South Wales, Australia in relation to structural habitat attributes. At our study site, both species inhabit closed forest environments and have overlapping distributions, but T. thetis leaves the forest at night to graze adjacent grassy forest edges whereas T. stigmatica remains within the forest and browses forest vegetation. The objectives of the study were to investigate how structural attributes of two forest types, wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest, relate to the fine-scale occurrence of these two wallaby species within the forested environment. We gathered occurrence data from 48 camera trap stations divided equally between rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest. At each camera point, we also measured a range of structural habitat attributes to determine habitat affiliations for the two Thylogale species. Principal component analyses were used to describe major trends in habitat, and generalised linear models were used to describe the efficacy of the variables in predicting habitat occurrence of each species. The number of occurrences of Thylogale thetis was significantly greater than occurrences of T. stigmatica, which was driven by significantly greater occurrences of T. thetis in wet sclerophyll forest. There was both spatial and temporal partitioning between the two species; there was a significant difference in the occurrences of the two species at individual cameras and T. stigmatica had a different activity schedule than T. thetis in wet sclerophyll forest, where the latter reached its greatest rate of occurrence. At a finer (camera station) scale, occurrences of T. thetis increased with proximity to roads and grassy edges and at sites that were less rocky and less steep. T. stigmatica occurrence increased in the presence of rainforest elements like vines, palms and ferns, more ground-level cover and tree-fall gaps and at sites with fewer emergent eucalypts. Our findings have implications for managing these pademelons and their habitats. T. thetis is a common species that was encountered more often than T. stigmatica, and it responded positively to human disturbance like roadsides and grassy edges, presumably because these areas provided good grazing opportunities. By comparison, T. stigmatica is a threatened species, and it responded to natural disturbance like tree-fall gaps where lateral cover was greater, and where rainforest food plants may be more abundant. Our results suggest, therefore, that conservation of the threatened T. stigmatica requires the preservation of intact rainforest.

Habitat context and functional growth traits explain alien plant invader impacts on native vegetation communities

Examining context-dependency of ecological impacts of alien plant invasions is critical to further understand the mechanisms driving impacts. We examined how different regional and local habitat contexts influence the abundance-impact associations of an invasive ground-creeper, Tradescantia fluminensis, in native forests across eastern New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Invader impacts were assessed using surveys of resident vegetation at 97 monitoring plots (5 m × 2 m) located at 14 sites, representing a gradient of T. fluminensis abundance. We modelled the association of T. fluminensis invasion with native species richness (number per plot) and foliage cover across two different habitat types (remnant vs replanted forests), two vegetation community types (wet sclerophyll vs river oak forests), and two regions (northern vs. southern NSW). We also modelled variation in native species responses amongst different functional growth forms. The negative associations of T. fluminensis and native species communities was more strongly explained by local site variables (i.e., habitat type, community type, plant growth form) than regional scales. Native richness reduced with invasion in river oak but not wet sclerophyll forest. Native richness also declined in remnant forest, although no effect of invasion was observed in replanted forest. Surprisingly, native species growth forms most like T. fluminensis (ground layer herbs, ferns) were more resistant to reductions in native richness compared to divergent forms (shrub, tree and woody vine recruits). This study highlights the need to explicitly consider local community and habitat context and functional representation of resident species when considering invader impacts and site-level management plans.

Bark thickness and related parameters of tree species along an elevation transect leading to treeline in Central Himalaya.

Since treelines are generally fire-free, the trees growing there are expected to have thin bark, unless adaptation to other factors than fire results in the selection of a thick bark. Related to this is also higher proportional investment in inner bark in such an environment of infrequent fire. This study has considered stem bark thickness both in absolute and relative terms and also in the frame of the composition of outer and inner bark components of 20 tree species along an elevation transect (2100-3300m) in high ranges of the Central Himalaya leading to treelines. The study species varied from 2.1 to 16.2mm for total bark thickness and from 1.2 to 18.85% for relative bark thickness. The average absolute total bark thickness across the tree species decreased with elevation from forest to treeline, both when trees of all diameters (10.2 ± 0.84mm for forest and 6.9 ± 1.79mm for treeline) and those of the same stem diameter range (18-20m) were compared (9.10 ± 1.30mm for forest species and 6.38 ± 1.31mm for treeline species). Nevertheless, the treeline bark thickness was similar to those of several forest communities considered to have comparatively thick bark. Like many other biological structures, bark carries out multiple functions; therefore, its thickness could be affected by more than one environmental factor. We suggest that the requirement of mechanical resistance to the snowfall, rainstorms, wind and adaptation to a high sunlight and UV radiations or storage of water, and non-structural carbohydrates could affect total, outer and inner bark thickness. Studies on these aspects in similar ecosystems may help understand the multi-functional attributes of the bark. For trees of comparable sizes (trees with 18-20cm diameter at breast height) treeline species also had lower relative bark thickness (< 6%) than trees of forest below it (> 7%). The median proportion of inner bark of the total bark (70.5%) for our 20 species was more than that for savannas (~ 50%), exposed to frequent fire regime and similar to those of in cool sclerophyllous forests and temperate rain forests where fire return time is > 100years. However, it was lower than the inner bark proportion reported for tropical rain forests. To conclude, in spite of a fire-free environment, the Himalayan treeline and adjoining forest species show mixed bark characters.

Diversity and growth patterns of woody species in the Mediterranean Coastal range of Chile: A case study in Altos de Cantillana

Background: The Altos de Cantillana mountain range (ACMR) in central Chile is composed of different vegetation communities, and is currently a priority site for conservation, due to its high endemism, high anthropogenic pressure and vulnerability to climate change. Research on biodiversity and carbon stocks in ACMR is essential to comprehend the resilience of these forests and to define conservation strategies. This study examines the spatial variability of biodiversity and tree biomass patterns along the entire altitudinal gradient of the ACMR. Methods: Six tree species communities were studied in Altos de Cantillana Nature Sanctuary, along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 415 to 2010 m. Woody species regeneration and inventory plots, as well as dendrochronological sampling in ~150 trees were carried out. Diversity patterns were analyzed using the Jaccard index and alpha index. Growth patterns of dominant trees species were analyzed by ring-width and trunk biomass chronologies, focusing on the recent megadrought period since 2010. Results: The forest inventory revealed a notable decline in alfa diversity patterns with increasing elevation. The moist sclerophyllous forest exhibited the highest diversity. However, we did not find a pattern between elevation and diversity (and abundance) at the seed regeneration inventory level. Additionally, we identified three clusters of woody species similarity: (i) sclerophyllous, shrubs and hygrophilous forest (&lt;1,000 m.a.s.l.); (ii) high-elevation sclerophyllous forest (&gt;1,500 m.a.s.l); and (iii) deciduous forests (~ 2,000 m.a.s.l). Furthermore, declining growth rates were observed in all communities studied beginning in the 1980s, with even a stronger reduction in radial growth (35% on average) and biomass accumulation (56% on average) when comparing the megadrought with six decades earlier. Conclusions: We concluded that there is a negative correlation between woody species diversity and elevation. However, there are no altitudinal patterns in seedling regeneration diversity and abundance, which puts the natural succession in ACMR at risk. Additionally, we have determined that the accumulation of trunk biomass in dominant woody species has been significantly impacted by the recent megadrought period. This has affected the sink capacity of forest communities in ACMR. Therefore, our findings can significantly contribute to more efficient and timely decision-making processes regarding the conservation and restoration of this globally unique ecosystem.

Foliar nitrogen uptake in broadleaf evergreen Mediterranean forests: Fertilisation experiment with labelled nitrogen

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests of Holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia, Q. ilex) in Spain often exceeds empirical critical loads established for ecosystem conservation. There are still uncertainties on the capacity of canopy retention and uptake of the atmospheric N deposited of these forests. Studying and analysing all the forest nitrogen-cycle processes is essential to understand the potential effect of N deposition in these ecosystems. This study conducted a year-long short-term fertilisation experiment with labelled ammonium (15N-NH4) and nitrate (15N-NO3) to estimate foliar N absorption rates and assess the influence of leaf phenology and meteorological seasonal variations. Fertilising solutions were prepared to simulate low and high wet N deposition concentration, based on data reported from previous studies. Additionally, ecophysiological and meteorological measurements were collected to explore potential relationships between absorption rates, plant activity, and weather conditions. The results showed that Holm oak leaves were able to absorb both oxidised and reduced N compounds, with higher rates of NH4+ absorption. N recovery of both NH4+ and NO3− was higher in the low concentration treatments, suggesting reduced effectiveness of absorption as concentration increases. Foliar absorption rates were leaf-age dependent, with the highest values observed in young developing leaves. Foliar uptake showed seasonal changes with a clear reduction during the summer, linked to drought and dry weather conditions, and showing also smaller leaf net assimilation and stomatal conductance. During the rest of the year, foliar N absorption was not clearly associated to plant physiological activity but with environmental conditions. Our findings suggest that Holm oak canopies could absorb an important part of the incoming N deposition, but this process is compound, season and leaf phenology dependent. Further research is therefore needed to better understand and model this part of the N cycle.

The provision of water and shade but not soil amendments in degraded habitats increases the seedling survival of woody species in restoration processes of the Chilean sclerophyllous forest

The provision of water and shade but not soil amendments in degraded habitats increases the seedling survival of woody species in restoration processes of the Chilean sclerophyllous forest

Entangled Plumwoods: Stewardship as Grassroots Conservation Humanities

Hundreds of thousands of hectares of bushland and accompanying biodiversity were lost over a few short weeks during the Black Summer fires of 2019–2020 along the east coast of Australia. On the night of 19 December 2019, fire swept up the escarpment from the coast, slowed down with the thick understory of temperate rainforest and burnt through the lower dry sclerophyll forest on Plumwood Mountain. The aftermath of the bare, burnt landscape meant a significant change in the structure and diversity of vegetation, while the consequences of the fire also brought about fundamental changes to Plumwood as a conservation and heritage organisation. Plumwood Mountain as a place, the individual plumwood tree as an agentive being, Val Plumwood as a person and Plumwood as an organisation are all an entangled form of natureculture and indicative of a practice-based conservation humanities approach. Conservation as part of the environmental humanities can offer an alternative to mainstream models of conservation with the potential to instigate active participation on the ground, engaging in a different form of stewardship.

Mapping functional diversity of canopy physiological traits using UAS imaging spectroscopy

Plant functional diversity (FD) is a component of biodiversity linking plant functional traits to ecosystem processes (e.g., photosynthesis) and services (e.g., gross primary production). Development of remote sensing capabilities to monitor forest FD across various spatio-temporal scales is critical, especially in view of increasing global climate and anthropogenic pressures. Here, we focus on investigating the capability of unoccupied aerial systems (UAS), acquiring imaging spectroscopy data of high spatial (pixel size ≤0.1 m) and spectral (band-width < 5 nm between 400 and 1000 nm) resolutions, to map two trait-based FD metrics, namely, richness and divergence, of two open sclerophyll forests at the plot-scale (<0.2 km2). An emerging scalable kernel-based trait probability density (TPD) approach was implemented to compute spatially explicit metrics of FD at different areal extents and pixel sizes through spatially resampled products. Narrow-band spectral indices were utilized as proxies of selected plant functional traits, including photoprotective zeaxanthin-to-antheraxanthin transformation ratio (VAZ), and foliar pigments of chlorophylls and anthocyanins (Cab and Cant). The combination of high-resolution imagery and TPDs presents a suitable alternative to the traditional need for taxonomic information and alleviates pixel-based spectral mixing issues known to affect pixel-based FD metrics. A moving kernel (6 × 6 m) applied to UAS data, allowed to capture fine and medium-scale drivers of functional richness and divergence, including within-crown and complex branching variance, topography, sun aspect, and speciation. For the same kernel size, functional richness computed from coarsened pseudo-airborne products (pixel size of 2 m) was found to be 57–68% of that derived from UAS products. Functional divergence did not portray substantial differences across scales and resolutions, even though this metric further emphasized the complexity of the surveyed open-forest sclerophyll sites. UAS have the potential to become an efficient tool for monitoring FD linked with ecosystem processes at key monitoring sites, and for the validation and support of large-scale but less detailed airborne and satellite products. Finally, this study highlights the sensitivity of FD metrics to variations in scale, resolution, and TPD parametrization suggesting that more research is needed to standardize remote sensing protocols for the quantification of FD across spatial and temporal scales.

Drivers of wood decay in tropical ecosystems: Termites versus microbes along spatial, temporal and experimental precipitation gradients

Abstract Models estimating decomposition rates of dead wood across space and time are mainly based on studies carried out in temperate zones where microbes are dominant drivers of decomposition. However, most dead wood biomass is found in tropical ecosystems, where termites are also important wood consumers. Given the dependence of microbial decomposition on moisture with termite decomposition thought to be more resilient to dry conditions, the relative importance of these decomposition agents is expected to shift along gradients in precipitation that affect wood moisture. Here, we investigated the relative roles of microbes and termites in wood decomposition across precipitation gradients in space, time and with a simulated drought experiment in tropical Australia. We deployed mesh bags with non‐native pine wood blocks, allowing termite access to half the bags. Bags were collected every 6 months (end of wet and dry seasons) over a 4‐year period across five sites along a rainfall gradient (ranging from savanna to wet sclerophyll to rainforest) and within a simulated drought experiment at the wettest site. We expected microbial decomposition to proceed faster in wet conditions with greater relative influence of termites in dry conditions. Consistent with expectations, microbial‐mediated wood decomposition was slowest in dry savanna sites, dry seasons and simulated drought conditions. Wood blocks discovered by termites decomposed 16–36% faster than blocks undiscovered by termites regardless of precipitation levels. Concurrently, termites were 10 times more likely to discover wood in dry savanna compared with wet rainforest sites, compensating for slow microbial decomposition in savannas. For wood discovered by termites, seasonality and drought did not significantly affect decomposition rates. Taken together, we found that spatial and seasonal variation in precipitation is important in shaping wood decomposition rates as driven by termites and microbes, although these different gradients do not equally impact decomposition agents. As we better understand how climate change will affect precipitation regimes across the tropics, our results can improve predictions of how wood decomposition agents will shift with potential for altering carbon fluxes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Fire responses of flora in a sclerophyll–rainforest vegetation complex in the Nightcap Range, North Coast, New South Wales

Context Species fire responses were investigated in a mixed sclerophyll–rainforest ecosystem in the Nightcap Range, North Coast, New South Wales. Aims To examine rates of seedling recruitment and resprouting in functional and phytogeographic components of wet sclerophyll forest (WSRf), and adjacent open forest (OF) and rock outcrop shrubland (RO). Methods Species resprouting and seedling recruitment traits (fire responses) were recorded in 45 stem plots and 225 seedling subplots in WSRf, OF and RO. Species fire responses were classified, community fire-response spectra compiled and rates of seedling recruitment and resprouting in WSRf examined in relation to primary fire response, growth-form, habitat and broad functional and phytogeographic species groupings. Species size-regenerative class distribution was used to analyse population structure, fire impact, regeneration and recruitment in resprouter species that comprised most of the mesic-Gondwanan element of the WSRf flora. Key results WSRf, OF and RO habitats had distinctively different fire-response spectra. In WSRf, there was a high proportion of mesophyll resprouter species of Gondwanan origin with nil or very low seedling recruitment, a distinct component of mesophyll seeders of Indo-Malayan origin, as well as sclerophyll seeders and resprouters that also comprised most of the OF and RO floras. Resprouters comprised 75% of the WSRf flora, 50% OF and 10% pavement shrubland. Continuous size-class distributions indicated recruitment between fire events in the majority of mesophyll resprouters in WSRf. Lower total seedling density appeared to reflect inherent species traits and less canopy disturbance by fire. Large sclerophyll species forming the unburnt canopy of WSRf had very low seedling recruitment. Conclusions Different habitats (WSRf, OF and RO) and functional and phytogeographic clades in WSRf display distinctive patterns of resprouting and seedling-recruitment fire response. Fire responses of species that maintain species population and community composition are governed by fire regime, habitat variables and inherent species traits. Implications The distinctive fire-response spectrum of WSRf appears to be a direct consequence of the overlap of ‘new’ and ‘old’ floras in this broad vegetation type.

New species of &lt;i&gt;Brachionidium&lt;/i&gt; (Pleurothallinidae) from the Yanachaga Chemillen National Park, Pasco, Peru

A new Brachionidium from Peru is described and illustrated based on living plants. Information on distribution, ecology, etymology, and phenology is also included. The new species, B. montieliae, was discovered in one of the highest mountains of the Oxapampa-Ashaninka-Yanesha Biosphere Reserve (BIOAY), situated above the forests of the Humid Puna of the Yanachaga Chemillen National Park at 3590 m in elevation. It is similar to Brachionidium vasquezii but differs in the oblong-elliptic, denticulate, and semi-erect leaves, somewhat lanuginose abaxially; the purple lanuginose adaxially and papular abaxially, entire, acuminate lateral sepals; the purplish oblong-ovate dorsal sepal, lanuginose on the adaxial surface, papular abaxially; the purple petals with scalloped edges, acuminate to obtuse apex ending in a thin, slightly abbreviated tail; the lip with apiculate lateral angles and with a central, trapezoid verrucose callus on the disc. Brachionidium montieliae is a terrestrial species that thrives in the humid Puna forests at elevations around 3400–3600 meters. The ecosystem is characterized by a sclerophyllous forest with a diverse range of tree species. The species typically blooms between July and August. There are potential threats from annual burning practices in the region. Given the potential risks, it is imperative to undertake immediate conservation measures and promote environmental awareness to safeguard this species.

Fuel dynamics and rarity of fire weather reinforce coexistence of rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest

Rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and eucalypt forest exist as Alternative Stable States moderated by fire. Eucalypt forest is flammable and subject to regular fire. Insights into the flammability of rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest are difficult to obtain because of the rarity of fire, particularly in sub-tropical and tropical environments. This study aimed to determine the relative flammability of rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest with a canopy of Lophostemon confertus in subtropical Australia. Fires in 2019, coinciding with extreme fire weather and following a long period of drought, burnt rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest in south-east Queensland. The weather record indicates these conditions recur about three to four times a century. Remapping of the vegetation overlaid with the fire-scar mapping, indicated that the 2019 fires burnt 23 % of rainforest, much of which was disturbed, but 60 % of wet sclerophyll forest suggesting greater flammability of the latter. This study revealed that above-ground biomass and litter fuel loads are more than twice as high in wet sclerophyll forest than rainforest. The litter of Lophostemon confertus, a Myrtaceae tree dominating the upper canopy, on average decomposes at less than half the rate of rainforest litter, contributing to the higher fuel loads and thus greater flammability of wet sclerophyll forest compared to rainforest. The Alternative Stable States of wet sclerophyll and rainforest are partly stabilised by the fire retardance of rainforest, the rarity of weather conditions suitable for fire in the subtropical environment and the higher fuel loads in wet sclerophyll forest that allow occasional fire. Wet sclerophyll forest requires rare fire events and the legacy of these fires over hundreds of years is evident in the multiple cohorts of ‘giant’ canopy trees.

Hidden diversity within Beauveria and Metarhizium – Comparing morphology, barcoding, multilocus phylogenies and whole-genome sequences

Accurately identifying entomopathogenic fungi is crucially important, but the current approach of analysing four genes might not provide sufficient resolution. In this study, we investigated the different resolution provided by multilocus phylogenies and approaches based on whole genome sequence data. Fungi were isolated from soil samples that were collected from five different vegetation types (dry sclerophyll forest, agricultural grassland, rainforest, suburban parkland, and sugar cane fields) and across four different suburban soil habitat types in southeast Queensland. Three different agricultural pests were used as live baits, cotton stainer bug, diamondback moth, and rust-red flour beetle. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted for all 83 isolates recovered, and the ITS2 region was extracted from the genome assemblies to make initial species identifications with the UNITE database. We also extracted tef1a 3′, tef1a 5’, rpb1 and rpb2 genes from the Metarhizium genomes and the bloc, tef1a and rpb1 genes from Beauveria genomes to construct multilocus phylogenies and obtain species identification. To investigate the genetic relationships across 14 isolates of Beauveria bassiana and (independently) across 43 isolates of Metarhizium based on whole-genome data, we genotyped single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and conducted principal components analysis on the whole-genome SNP data. The multilocus methods identified isolates to species more precisely than ITS2, except in the one unresolved clade in the Metarhizium phylogeny. The whole-genome approach identified more genetic clusters than the multilocus phylogenies identified species among the isolates, and the morphological results correlated with some of the genetic clusters, so they likely represent distinct species not detected by the other methods. The genetic clusters were not associated with vegetation type or bait insect species. This is the first comparison of the resolution of multilocus phylogenetics with that of whole-genome SNP data for these genera. We suggest how the genetic clusters identified here may be investigated further to determine whether they represent unrecognised species within these groups.