How well do you know the local wildlife? You are invited to meet the Wildlife Identification Challenge!
CAN you identify these native birds of prey using the Digital Field Guides? Which of them is the world’s most common raptor?
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The Black Kite is thought to be the world’s most common raptor.
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Myrtle Rust – a growing problem!
Plants from the Myrtaceae family are iconic in the Australian native environment, with gum trees, lilly pillys, tea trees, and paper barks well loved by gardeners and bushwalkers alike. However, over the last few years, you may have noticed a new disease on one of your favourite Myrtaceae plants, the orange/ yellow spores of myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii). This plant pathogen, native to south America, was first detected in Australia in 2010. The pathogen is wind dispersed, making it difficult to control, and it has now spread across much of the east coast of Australia. Myrtle rust can infect the new leaves, and in some cases the flowers and fruits, of over 300 plant species. Repeated infection by myrtle rust over several years can kill plants with a low tolerance to infection, sometimes with severe consequences. For example, myrtle rust has killed large numbers of two rainforest plants, Rhodamnia rubescens (scrub turpentine) and Rhodomyrtus psidioides (native guava), resulting in these species being classified as critically endangered. However, not all Myrtaceae species are as susceptible, with most Eucalypt species and several common ornamental lilly pillys, including Syzygium luehmannii and Syzygium australe, showing a higher level of tolerance.
Work is ongoing to tackle the problem of myrtle rust with a group of dedicated people across Australia, from governments, universities, botanical gardens, and community groups working hard to define the problem and mitigate the impacts. There are ongoing projects to monitor the spread of myrtle rust, to breed or nurture tolerant populations of highly susceptible plant species, and even a project to develop a vaccine to protect trees against myrtle rust infection. The research conducted as part of my PhD studies also aims to work towards this goal, with one of my projects investigating the impacts of high tree death due to myrtle rust on fuel loads using remote sensing. If you are interested in learning more about the ongoing and completed projects on myrtle rust in Australia and overseas, I recommend checking out some of the presentations given at the 2021 myrtle rust symposium (Myrtle Rust – Plant Biosecurity Science Foundation (apbsf.org.au)).
Kristy Stevenson, The University of Queensland
Myrtle rust infection on Rhodamnia maideniana – photo Kristy Stevenson
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Join us at Kenmore Library on Tuesday June 28th at 6.30pm (for 7pm) to hear distinguished guest speaker Dr Bill McDonald presenting:
Brisbane rainforests – their flora, ecology and relationship within SEQ rainforest.
The talk covers:
Biography: Dr Bill McDonald has been a leader of rainforest research within Queensland within the last 40 years. He has championed (and helped build) the tools used to identify the often infertile rainforest plants in eastern Australia. These tools have helped spur ongoing interest in native rainforest plants in Queensland, and also driven rainforest conservation and research. Bill has been the go-to person whenever ecologists needed information about these complex vegetation systems, and has always generously given his time and advice about plant identification and aspects of rainforest ecology. Bill completed his PhD on vine thickets within Queensland, however he has also studied the rainforests of the Wet Tropics in north Queensland, and worked and studied rainforests overseas in Borneo and PNG.
Eye spy with my little eye … a water dragon, an echidna, Black-eyed Susan, a red triangle slug, Mare’s eggs, a Northern Mountain Possum and a platypus! But wait there is so much more to see and read in the Winter Newsletter.
Thanks to Cathi for putting together another fabulous read and to all the contributors for sharing their wealth of knowledge, news and discoveries.
Here is the link for the Winter Newsletter
The Koala – a species under threat!
The koala is one of the most well-known Australian animals. It is a marsupial, like many of our native mammals – this means that females have a pouch and give birth to extremely underdeveloped young, known as joeys, after a short pregnancy period of 33 to 35 days. Koala joeys (the size of a jellybean when born) spend the first 6 months or so of their lives inside their mother’s pouch. Koalas have a very specialised diet of eucalyptus (or gum) leaves. In fact, koalas only feed on about 50 to 60 of the 800 or so Eucalypt species found in Australia. Each koala has their individual preferences, and they often prefer the fresh juicy new growth known as ‘tip’ over mature leaves. Eucalyptus leaves are quite low in energy, resulting in koalas spending 18 to 20 hours each day resting or sleeping!
It is a very special experience to spot a wild koala. We are blessed to have localised populations of them in our Western suburbs – but for how much longer? While the threat of being hunted for their fur is no longer an issue (hunting was banned in the early 1900s), koalas still face many threats such as drowning in swimming pools, being attacked by dogs, being hit by cars, disease and habitat loss. Habitat loss, often caused by development, can increase the risk of pool drownings, dog attacks and car strikes as it forces koalas to move through suburban/developed areas. Ways to reduce these threats can be found at: https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/koalas/threats. The stress a koala faces due to habitat loss (including difficulty finding territory and food sources) can also make them more vulnerable to disease. Protecting existing koala habitats and wildlife corridors is crucial to their survival. To report a sick or injured koala in Queensland, please call 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625).
Words and photo by Rebecca Bain
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How well do you know the local wildlife? You are invited to meet the Wildlife Identification Challenge!
CAN you identify these native native waterbirds using the Catchment Field Guides? How do they differ in swimming and feeding behaviour?
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The Pacific Black Duck feeds by upending or ‘dabbling’, plunging its head and raising its tail out of the water. The Australasian Grebe is adapted for diving completely under the water, with its legs set far back on its body, so it does not walk well on land. In contrast, the Australian Wood Duck feeds mainly on land, eating grasses, clover and other herbs.
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Mark your calendar!
Volunteers needed to take part in a macro-invertebrate, fish identification and water health survey.
Citizen Science Events –
We are looking at waterway health and you can help! Volunteers needed to take part in a water bug, fish identification and water health survey. The day is suitable for budding beginners through to macro-invertebrate maestros with team leaders available to guide you. By participating in this project you will be assisting in collecting valuable data on what are regarded some of the most pristine creek lines close to Brisbane. Come test the waters of citizen science. For more info or to register your attendance please email [email protected]
Where
Brookfield (meeting point will be advised for each survey day).
Please check emails leading up to event.
When
0900-1200
Who
Anybody with a reasonable level of fitness not afraid to get their shoes wet. Young Citizen Scientists (10+) welcome with an adult.
What to wear & bring
Remember to wear suitable outdoor clothing, enclosed shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, a hat, sunglasses and water bottle. Lunch provided.
More information
Email: Lewis [email protected]
Supporters
The Creek Health Monitoring Project is a Citizen Science project undertaken by Moggill Creek Catchment Group. Proudly supported by the Queensland Government -Queensland Citizen Science Grants and Brisbane City Council.
Recent Flooding
We all remember well the recent rainfall event. Over the four days 25th – 28th February in Kenmore Hills we recorded 795 mm. Sadly, many residences close to Brisbane’s creeks were seriously flooded. But vegetated areas along creeks were also impacted, effects varying depending on the nature of the vegetation and age. Recent plantings were in many cases flattened and even moderate sized trees were bowled over. Logs and branches carried downstream caused considerable damage to existing trees, as the photo shows, in which a large log has impacted a mature fig tree on the bank of Moggill Creek. Owing to potential danger associated with the flooding, permission for bushcarers to rescue damaged trees on Council land was delayed. Different species differ in relation to recovery, with the creek sandpaper fig being especially good at recovering from being bowled over, hanging on by a few roots and sprouting from along its trunk, whilst the river she-oaks are just bowled over and may not recover.
Fig tree impacted by floating logThe other adverse effect of creek flooding is debris and plant material being washed downstream. Many of the understorey weed species take root again after having been moved and the climber Madeira vine will spread by its tubers being washed downstream too. Where creek margins had been cleared of all vegetation, significant erosion would have occurred and where weed species are the only ones present on flood-prone land, it is desirable to remove them progressively, replacing with natives, to avoid significant erosion. Lomandra species especially are superb at holding the soil in place and emerge unaffected following days underwater, as shown here.
Lomandras flourish and control erosionAway from flooded areas the rain has largely been welcome, although some landslips have occurred. Plants – both native and exotic – have benefitted from the improved moisture. Where exotics such as signal grass have been removed native grasses have flourished and produced seed following the rain. Varying depending on species, tree species will have benefitted too, through moisture penetrating to the subsoil.
Woodland with native grass understorey benefits from increased moistureWords and Photos by Bryan Hacker
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Moggill Magic this issue features the Moggill Creek Catchment Group Newsletter which has been published quarterly since the Group was started 22 years ago. The Newsletter has been the main communication vehicle for the MCCG and is widely read by local members and even as far wide as Sydney and Melbourne.
It has covered the efforts of the MCCG Bushcare Groups, the Annual Photo Competition, The Kids Day at the Cottage, Dale’s Cottage Talks and the recent popular evening presentations at the Showgrounds Hall. It has also included informative local articles on native plants, weed control and native fauna. We are fortunate to have several experts living within the catchment who have contributed authoritative articles on a wide range of subjects from birds, butterflies, frogs, landscaping, platypus and creek health.
The MCCG Newsletters from the first issue on November 1999 to 2012
None of this would have been possible without the dedicated work of our two Editors, the late Graeme Wilson and our present editor Cathi Lawrence.
This issue is Cathi’s 22nd Newsletter and she has brought a professional expertise to the Newsletter that has lifted the publication to an exceptionally high standard. Cathi has not only produced a highly attractive publication she has cleverly cajoled the contributors of articles to supply a newsletter with a regular balance of articles on people and activities in the catchment with topical and informative articles on the fauna and flora of the area.
The work that goes into producing each issue is enormous and Cathi’s highly disciplined approach results in the timely production of the newsletter each quarter.
A recent letter to the MCCG Secretary put it well:
Dear Zoe
Thank you for the latest Newsletter, what a delightful and informative issue. I was really interested in the information on the likelihood of our native wild life survival during the flood. It would seem that Nature is able to cope so much better than the humans.
The article was well illustrated and most informative. As someone who finds using a computer difficult, I really appreciate the Newsletters and can only admire those responsible in producing such an excellent product.
Thank You
Peter Strickland.
The MCCG Newsletter is truly Moggill Magic and a large contributor to the success of the Moggill Creek Catchment Group.
Words and photo by Ed Frazer
