pink gum now on threatened species list

polly · 28th June 2007, 12:59 AM

Hi ,

Pink gum (euc fasciculosa ) has recently been added to the threatened species list for the Mount Lofty Ranges in S.A and I wonder if it is due to the infestation of Box Mistletoe (Amyema miquelii), if no one knows if this is the reason why does, anyone know where I can find out?

We have seen large area's affected by this mistletoe , but I also wonder if there is another cause? Dieback for instance?

If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate your feedback.

Cheers

Polly

Ekka · 28th June 2007, 01:57 AM

Interesting.

I have just been reading a heap of stuff about mistletoe and it's continuing infestation ... it's spreading.

Inaction has been taken as it's seen as a natural course of events, healthy trees are said to be able to sustain the mistletoe but where trees get infected over say 50% of the canopy it should be removed (the mistletoe).

The problems come from us (humans) changing the environment too much, not only with regard to the trees but with major regard to the soil and small scrub/natural floor beneath trees.

Mistletoe is now seen as the primary food source and staple diet for many birds/marsupials etc. The spread of it is due to the natural predators of mistletoe being removed from the system (ungrowth/scrub natural floor insects and bugs). Scientists are of the opinion it's the new food source and should be tolerated for the faunas sake.

I searched Google Australia some and CSIRO had some articles, but I didn't keep anything other than my brain cells memory.

The mistletoe infections around Burleigh Hill on the Gold Coast, Nerang etc have gone troppo. The trees are severely infested however after reading what I did I understand why .... development and drought, simple.

Sean Freeman · 28th June 2007, 02:27 AM

Hi Polly, you might want to read this if you haven't already seen it.

Mistletoehostcondition.pdf

Agree entirely with Ekka environmental (negative) impacts esp in regards soils are the greatest driver of many of the increasing pest and pathogen pressures we see on our native tree species.

Ekka · 28th June 2007, 02:45 AM

Found one of them, this is probably the best one to read and is backed up by Dr Charles Watson fron CSU who researched the stuff for 25 years+

http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/march2004/

Quote:

David says mistletoe is now ten times more abundant in south-east Australia than it was before white settlement, certainly a new force to be reckoned with. Mistletoes particularly target trees isolated in paddocks or by the sides of roads, making them all the more obvious to us. But David argues that mistletoe infestations are a symptom, not a cause of a much bigger problem. Changes in fire frequency and intensity, clearing trees and a reduction in native animals have all contributed. Mistletoe is killed by fire, and many areas are burnt far less often than before. Native animals such as possums, gliders and even koalas eat mistletoe, as do certain butterfly larvae. Once these species disappear from an area, there is nothing to keep the mistletoe in check.

Sean Freeman · 28th June 2007, 02:56 AM

That is a good link Ekka, funny how a different perspecive can alter the way we view a plant.....nature refuses to be black and white

Mistletoe and wildlife a positive view.pdf

Ekka · 28th June 2007, 03:09 AM

Excellent Boa, confirms same.

Quote:

Since the cause of problems associated with mistletoe appears to be related to an 'unhealthy' environment, a long term solution is to try to create an environment on a property, and in the surrounding landscape, which is more 'ecologically healthy' and hence where 'tree stress' is
reduced. Some steps that can be taken are to fence off remnant native vegetation, restore areas by encouraging the growth of native understorey plants and native groundcovers. Regeneration of surrounding trees will eventually shade some of the mistletoes on isolated trees and may help their recovery. Leaving ground cover such
as leaves, branches and logs will assist animals that make use of this habitat and may assist invertebrates that defoliate mistletoe. Fencing off reasonably large circular areas of native vegetation and taking care with agricultural practices (e.g. keeping fertilizers away from native
vegetation) will assist. Connecting small remnants with larger ones using corridors of native vegetation can restore natural movement patterns including those of birds that eat mistletoe fruits but do not aid dispersal, thus potentially reducing recruitment.

I too viewed mistletoe as an evil up until this year, now it's just another VTA sign of something larger. And it is so often that the trees are fringe trees or roadside or middle of some nice lawn etc.

polly · 28th June 2007, 03:41 PM

oh that's really interesting, I've wondered about

that for quite a while.

I now look at mistletoe in a whole new light.

Thanks guys

Polly

polly · 29th June 2007, 03:16 PM

Hello Ekka and Boa,
although all this mistletoe information has come to light do you know if it is the reason Pink gum has been listed as endangered /vunerable. Or ,Do you know who may know.I know the census for vascular plants is written by some department in Canberra, perhaps I should ask them? Also these plants are listed on the epbc act. When i enquired with that department they very kindly sent me a list of all endangered/ vunerable eucalypt species listed in the mount lofty ranges but no reason why pink gum has recently been added. It just seems strange and it was recently considered common.

Polly

Sean Freeman · 29th June 2007, 04:32 PM

Polly I'm sure you have already roamed through this site but the methods and processes envovled in placing a plant, animal or community on the EPBC lists are detailed comprehensively here http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiv...mmunities.html
use the linke in the side bar on the right and the left to get info on specific elements of the process.
Remember that each state here in Oz has taken the framework of the National legislation EPBC Act and in effect refined it for the conditions found in that state.
I couldn't find E fasciculosa on the national list, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been added (though I'd doubt it) its has most likely made the SA lists because of the concern about dieback through the ranges parks and specifically the vulnerability of specific Euc subgenus to fungal, insect and plant pathogens (lumping mistletoe in there I know its a parasite not pathogen!)

Read through the 1st pdf I attached and you'll find part of the explaination there. Concerns about the volume of dieback found in E fasciculosa is discussed on pg10, results shown in table5 pg12, the difference in resiliance across subgenus pg15, and the 2004 state of E fasciculosa communities re dieback begins around pg16.

Mistletoe is seen as an indicator, not a causal factor for E fasciculosa decline in the ranges parks.

For each state the funding and commitment varies dramatically, region by region. These studies take time and rely on the effforts of very commited individuals and the passions they have for the areas they live in. I don't know exactly how the process works in SA, but am thinking like Qld people living and working in the parks are very sensitive to negative changes they see in the environment around them, whilst the CRC's are still in existance (just) there is a structure capable of investigating htis issues and delivering sound scientific data to support or not the intuative concerns. It is far better to identify communities when they are vunerable/threatened and action may be effective...than to wait till they are actually disappearing and all we can do is wring our hands.

An individual species like E fasciculosa can be common and of little concern when it occurs in one community in a region but as part of another community it can be in all kinds of dire straits, the web of interrelationships between flora and fauna and the local environmental pressures create great diversity in this. We have exactly the same situation with our Wet Sclerophyll forests and the flora that dominate there, common and relatively unstressed in the drier ecosystems, or the wetter rainforests but absolutely on a knife's edge as Wet Sclerophyll.

polly · 29th June 2007, 05:51 PM

well Boa ,that has given me some food for thought, I will go to that link.
Thanks for the info!

I am specifically interested in this as we supply native plant/tree replacement specific to peoples area using providence stock, I can always convince our clients to take plants which local fauna use for food source and habitat but it is hard to convince them to plant a local tree suitable for their garden with natural understorey, as it is so much more beneficial.We even supply the plants for free one plant for every $100 dollars spent and the plants cost me $2 each.

I find our native trees are not usually considered to be this appealing to the everyday garden, but when you look closely at them (like alot of native's) there have their own delicate beauty as well as real envionmental benefits, low water usuage etc. etc. Interestingly enough peoples ears prick up if i mention i can provide them with a rare or endangered tree. Funny how people like to have something there's not alot of.

You are right, the rangers in Belair National park told me euc. faciculosa had just been added to the list.
The whole dieback issue is very interesting. I loved reading the gondwana link article you put up. That's really great how much success they are having..

Polly

Sean Freeman · 29th June 2007, 07:03 PM

Polly do you have a commercial nursery or are you supplying for reveg?

I agree with you entirely about the lack of appreciation for our native flora, living at the Northern end of the Brigalow belt in the dry tropics the past 100yrs has seen our native flora ripped out and totally devalued, yet since coming here in 88' I have seen numerous examples of endemic native trees proving just why they should be planted more and more.

I posted a very small number of pics of some of my fav natives from round here, I have thousands of shots on disc and will get around to making a thread about native species generally one day soon. This thread was really about autumn colour but you get the idea http://www.treeworld.info/showthread...=6450#post6450
I would love to see some pics of SA natives and thoughts on their suitability, form etc for private or public land.
By the by the Liquid ambers that are so prevalent around Ekka's neck of the woods blew me away with their leaf colour last month, absolutely beautiful.
Just have to put it in for the colour...sorry

Ekka · 29th June 2007, 07:10 PM

Oh, those Liquid Ambers are great to cut down, love doing TD's on them.

2 Main reasons people cut them down .... leaf and ball drop + vigorous roots take over the surface like ficus.

But we dont do many really, just stirring you up.

polly · 29th June 2007, 07:43 PM

Boa they are very nice pictures, you've got a good eye for photo's but I really had to laugh at the commentary that went with them, (Arborist drinking ale looking at tree photo's ) "tell me your not moved ...she's lovely" tee hee hee

We do tree surgery and removal, we supply free native plant replcement for our customers partly for our conscience in giving back to the environment, partly because it helps raise awareness for customers as to the benefits of planting natives and being aware of our native fauna which really struggles to find enough correct food source , and also because it's a good marketing tool, I just think tree removal is hard to see as a positive, you pay heaps of money, you lose something, your left with a hole in the ground and empty space in your garden. Plant replacment is so cheap and easy and it goes from being a negative to a positive experience for most people. lots of people call us back because of that. I especially love it when I drive past property where people have had big jobs done by us and accepted out native plants and to see they have grown ,are doing well and lots of little birds and insects are living there instead of some great ugly cypress.

yes I will dig up some photo's of some of our local natives , my current fav is native cherry (exocarpos cupressiformis), such a pretty ,compact, bright green little tree.... nice form, sturdy .....I think I feel the need to have a beer a look at tree photo's.

HollyS · 4th July 2007, 11:00 AM

Side note on Liquid Amber/Sweetgum. For people who like the color and not the balls...like me...the lobe leafed sweetgum. No balls! And the leaves look like little hand prints. The same star shape but with rounded tips. Like a bunch of 5yr olds traced their hands and made leaves.

Ekka · 4th July 2007, 01:28 PM

HollyS

A pic of that tree would be good, maybe bot name too, see if we got it here.

Polly, biggest PITA here is the watering situation, I have watched Adelaide go up over the last 3 months, Sydney went up too, Melbourne is in trouble but look at us in Brisbane.

http://www.weatherchannel.com.au/Mag...late=DamLevels

No watering and we go level 6 soon, also in our council water is going from 0.33cents a kilo litre to $1.43 ... stinking rip off, so gardens and landscapes are off peoples to do list let alone watering.

28th June 2007, 12:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
polly former member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Adelaide Hills Posts: 74	pink gum now on threatened species list Hi , Pink gum (euc fasciculosa ) has recently been added to the threatened species list for the Mount Lofty Ranges in S.A and I wonder if it is due to the infestation of Box Mistletoe (Amyema miquelii), if no one knows if this is the reason why does, anyone know where I can find out? We have seen large area's affected by this mistletoe , but I also wonder if there is another cause? Dieback for instance? If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate your feedback. Cheers Polly

28th June 2007, 01:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,405	Interesting. I have just been reading a heap of stuff about mistletoe and it's continuing infestation ... it's spreading. Inaction has been taken as it's seen as a natural course of events, healthy trees are said to be able to sustain the mistletoe but where trees get infected over say 50% of the canopy it should be removed (the mistletoe). The problems come from us (humans) changing the environment too much, not only with regard to the trees but with major regard to the soil and small scrub/natural floor beneath trees. Mistletoe is now seen as the primary food source and staple diet for many birds/marsupials etc. The spread of it is due to the natural predators of mistletoe being removed from the system (ungrowth/scrub natural floor insects and bugs). Scientists are of the opinion it's the new food source and should be tolerated for the faunas sake. I searched Google Australia some and CSIRO had some articles, but I didn't keep anything other than my brain cells memory. The mistletoe infections around Burleigh Hill on the Gold Coast, Nerang etc have gone troppo. The trees are severely infested however after reading what I did I understand why .... development and drought, simple. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

28th June 2007, 02:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,699	Hi Polly, you might want to read this if you haven't already seen it. Mistletoehostcondition.pdf Agree entirely with Ekka environmental (negative) impacts esp in regards soils are the greatest driver of many of the increasing pest and pathogen pressures we see on our native tree species. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

28th June 2007, 02:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,699	That is a good link Ekka, funny how a different perspecive can alter the way we view a plant.....nature refuses to be black and white Mistletoe and wildlife a positive view.pdf __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

28th June 2007, 03:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
polly former member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Adelaide Hills Posts: 74	re:Pink gum mistletoe infestation oh that's really interesting, I've wondered about that for quite a while. I now look at mistletoe in a whole new light. Thanks guys Polly

29th June 2007, 03:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
polly former member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Adelaide Hills Posts: 74	Hello Ekka and Boa, although all this mistletoe information has come to light do you know if it is the reason Pink gum has been listed as endangered /vunerable. Or ,Do you know who may know.I know the census for vascular plants is written by some department in Canberra, perhaps I should ask them? Also these plants are listed on the epbc act. When i enquired with that department they very kindly sent me a list of all endangered/ vunerable eucalypt species listed in the mount lofty ranges but no reason why pink gum has recently been added. It just seems strange and it was recently considered common. Polly

29th June 2007, 04:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,699	Polly I'm sure you have already roamed through this site but the methods and processes envovled in placing a plant, animal or community on the EPBC lists are detailed comprehensively here http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiv...mmunities.html use the linke in the side bar on the right and the left to get info on specific elements of the process. Remember that each state here in Oz has taken the framework of the National legislation EPBC Act and in effect refined it for the conditions found in that state. I couldn't find E fasciculosa on the national list, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been added (though I'd doubt it) its has most likely made the SA lists because of the concern about dieback through the ranges parks and specifically the vulnerability of specific Euc subgenus to fungal, insect and plant pathogens (lumping mistletoe in there I know its a parasite not pathogen!) Read through the 1st pdf I attached and you'll find part of the explaination there. Concerns about the volume of dieback found in E fasciculosa is discussed on pg10, results shown in table5 pg12, the difference in resiliance across subgenus pg15, and the 2004 state of E fasciculosa communities re dieback begins around pg16. Mistletoe is seen as an indicator, not a causal factor for E fasciculosa decline in the ranges parks. For each state the funding and commitment varies dramatically, region by region. These studies take time and rely on the effforts of very commited individuals and the passions they have for the areas they live in. I don't know exactly how the process works in SA, but am thinking like Qld people living and working in the parks are very sensitive to negative changes they see in the environment around them, whilst the CRC's are still in existance (just) there is a structure capable of investigating htis issues and delivering sound scientific data to support or not the intuative concerns. It is far better to identify communities when they are vunerable/threatened and action may be effective...than to wait till they are actually disappearing and all we can do is wring our hands. An individual species like E fasciculosa can be common and of little concern when it occurs in one community in a region but as part of another community it can be in all kinds of dire straits, the web of interrelationships between flora and fauna and the local environmental pressures create great diversity in this. We have exactly the same situation with our Wet Sclerophyll forests and the flora that dominate there, common and relatively unstressed in the drier ecosystems, or the wetter rainforests but absolutely on a knife's edge as Wet Sclerophyll. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

29th June 2007, 05:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
polly former member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Adelaide Hills Posts: 74	well Boa ,that has given me some food for thought, I will go to that link. Thanks for the info! I am specifically interested in this as we supply native plant/tree replacement specific to peoples area using providence stock, I can always convince our clients to take plants which local fauna use for food source and habitat but it is hard to convince them to plant a local tree suitable for their garden with natural understorey, as it is so much more beneficial.We even supply the plants for free one plant for every $100 dollars spent and the plants cost me $2 each. I find our native trees are not usually considered to be this appealing to the everyday garden, but when you look closely at them (like alot of native's) there have their own delicate beauty as well as real envionmental benefits, low water usuage etc. etc. Interestingly enough peoples ears prick up if i mention i can provide them with a rare or endangered tree. Funny how people like to have something there's not alot of. You are right, the rangers in Belair National park told me euc. faciculosa had just been added to the list. The whole dieback issue is very interesting. I loved reading the gondwana link article you put up. That's really great how much success they are having.. Polly

29th June 2007, 07:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,405	Oh, those Liquid Ambers are great to cut down, love doing TD's on them. 2 Main reasons people cut them down .... leaf and ball drop + vigorous roots take over the surface like ficus. But we dont do many really, just stirring you up. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

29th June 2007, 07:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
polly former member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Adelaide Hills Posts: 74	Boa they are very nice pictures, you've got a good eye for photo's but I really had to laugh at the commentary that went with them, (Arborist drinking ale looking at tree photo's ) "tell me your not moved ...she's lovely" tee hee hee We do tree surgery and removal, we supply free native plant replcement for our customers partly for our conscience in giving back to the environment, partly because it helps raise awareness for customers as to the benefits of planting natives and being aware of our native fauna which really struggles to find enough correct food source , and also because it's a good marketing tool, I just think tree removal is hard to see as a positive, you pay heaps of money, you lose something, your left with a hole in the ground and empty space in your garden. Plant replacment is so cheap and easy and it goes from being a negative to a positive experience for most people. lots of people call us back because of that. I especially love it when I drive past property where people have had big jobs done by us and accepted out native plants and to see they have grown ,are doing well and lots of little birds and insects are living there instead of some great ugly cypress. yes I will dig up some photo's of some of our local natives , my current fav is native cherry (exocarpos cupressiformis), such a pretty ,compact, bright green little tree.... nice form, sturdy .....I think I feel the need to have a beer a look at tree photo's.

4th July 2007, 11:00 AM	#14 (permalink)
HollyS Sappling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California, don't hold it against me. Posts: 32	Side note on Liquid Amber/Sweetgum. For people who like the color and not the balls...like me...the lobe leafed sweetgum. No balls! And the leaves look like little hand prints. The same star shape but with rounded tips. Like a bunch of 5yr olds traced their hands and made leaves. __________________

4th July 2007, 01:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,405	HollyS A pic of that tree would be good, maybe bot name too, see if we got it here. Polly, biggest PITA here is the watering situation, I have watched Adelaide go up over the last 3 months, Sydney went up too, Melbourne is in trouble but look at us in Brisbane. http://www.weatherchannel.com.au/Mag...late=DamLevels No watering and we go level 6 soon, also in our council water is going from 0.33cents a kilo litre to $1.43 ... stinking rip off, so gardens and landscapes are off peoples to do list let alone watering. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors