Catherine Offord

Home gardens contribute to conservation of the critically endangered Wollemi Pine: Evaluation of a botanic garden‐led horticultural release programme

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 26-07-2023

DOI: 10.1002/PPP3.10410

Abstract: Botanic gardens play a leading role in conserving plant species worldwide. Wollemi Pine, a critically endangered species described as new to science in 1994, has been the subject of botanic garden‐led conservation efforts, including widespread horticultural cultivation. An online survey found that gardeners hold a wealth of knowledge on the response of Wollemi Pine to local environmental conditions and horticultural regimes and a high level of awareness of the importance of plant conservation. This information could increase the success of future ex situ conservation efforts, such as the development of a genetically erse, globally dispersed metacollection of Wollemi Pines. The Wollemi Pine ( Wollemia nobilis Araucariaceae) is a critically endangered conifer and the source of public and horticultural fascination since its identification in 1994. An ex situ population of Wollemi Pine was initially established in a botanic garden for conservation purposes. Subsequently, a commercial propagation programme was developed to satisfy the demand for this tree as a garden plant, with the release of plants internationally in 2005. We sought to understand how well the original aim of the Wollemi Pine horticultural release programme (to safeguard the species in the wild by promoting its widespread use in horticulture and thereby reduce the risk of illegal and harmful collection) has been met and the factors correlated with Wollemi Pine presence and growth in gardens. We developed an online community science survey to gather data on the location and growth characteristics of Wollemi Pines in garden environments globally. We received 1510 in idual responses from 31 countries on five continents. The key factors correlated with the presence of Wollemi Pine were: a temperate climate with mean monthly minimum and maximum temperatures between 3.2 and 25.4°C, respectively, and above‐average rainfall. Plants in the ground were favoured by loamy soil. Wollemi Pines are established in gardens in many parts of the world and are amenable to a variety of horticultural situations. The results of this survey inform future conservation horticulture of this species, such as the development of genetically erse metacollections, by ensuring the selection of participating botanic gardens and arboreta in environmentally appropriate locations.

Ex situ germplasm collections of exceptional species are a vital part of the conservation of Australia's national plant treasures

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 12-09-2023

DOI: 10.1002/PPP3.10421

Defining biodiverse reforestation: Why it matters for climate change mitigation and biodiversity

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 20-09-2022

DOI: 10.1002/PPP3.10329

Abstract: Mixed species plantings present an attractive alternative to monoculture reforestation through their added benefits to bio ersity. Yet there is ambiguity in the use of the term ‘bio ersity’ in carbon and bio ersity markets, which may create perverse outcomes when designing schemes and projects. Here, we review how the concept of bio ersity is defined and applied in reforestation projects, and restoration more broadly. Improved transparency around the use of the term bio ersity is urgently needed to provide rigour in emerging market mechanisms, which seek to benefit the environment and people. Reforestation to capture and store atmospheric carbon is increasingly ch ioned as a climate change mitigation policy response. Reforestation plantings have the potential to provide conservation co‐benefits when erse mixtures of native species are planted, and there are growing attempts to monetise bio ersity benefits from carbon reforestation projects, particularly within emerging carbon markets. But what is meant by ‘bio erse’ across different stakeholders and groups implementing and overseeing these projects and how do these perceptions compare with long‐standing scientific definitions? Here, we discuss approaches to, and definitions of, bio ersity in the context of reforestation for carbon sequestration. Our aim is to review how the concept of bio ersity is defined and applied among stakeholders (e.g., governments, carbon certifiers and farmers) and rights holders (i.e., First Nations people) engaging in reforestation, and to identify best‐practice methods for restoring bio ersity in these projects. We find that some stakeholders have a vague understanding of ersity across varying levels of biological organisation (genes to ecosystems). While most understand that bio ersity underpins ecosystem functions and services, many stakeholders may not appreciate the difficulties of restoring bio ersity akin to reference ecosystems. Consequently, bio ersity goals are rarely explicit, and project goals may never be achieved because the levels of restored bio ersity are inadequate to support functional ecosystems and desired ecosystem services. We suggest there is significant value in integrating bio ersity objectives into reforestation projects and setting specific restoration goals with transparent reporting outcomes will pave the way for ensuring reforestation projects have meaningful outcomes for bio ersity, and legitimate incentive payments for bio ersity and natural capital accounting.

Thermal germination niches of Persoonia species and projected spatiotemporal shifts under a changing climate

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 19-02-2020

DOI: 10.1111/DDI.13040

A research agenda for seed‐trait functional ecology

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 25-10-2018

DOI: 10.1111/NPH.15502

Abstract: Trait-based approaches have improved our understanding of plant evolution, community assembly and ecosystem functioning. A major challenge for the upcoming decades is to understand the functions and evolution of early life-history traits, across levels of organization and ecological strategies. Although a variety of seed traits are critical for dispersal, persistence, germination timing and seedling establishment, only seed mass has been considered systematically. Here we suggest broadening the range of morphological, physiological and biochemical seed traits to add new understanding on plant niches, population dynamics and community assembly. The ersity of seed traits and functions provides an important challenge that will require international collaboration in three areas of research. First, we present a conceptual framework for a seed ecological spectrum that builds upon current understanding of plant niches. We then lay the foundation for a seed-trait functional network, the establishment of which will underpin and facilitate trait-based inferences. Finally, we anticipate novel insights and challenges associated with incorporating erse seed traits into predictive evolutionary ecology, community ecology and applied ecology. If the community invests in standardized seed-trait collection and the implementation of rigorous databases, major strides can be made at this exciting frontier of functional ecology.

Tropical plants do not have narrower temperature tolerances, but are more at risk from warming because they are close to their upper thermal limits

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 08-06-2020

DOI: 10.1111/GEB.13117

Abstract: Tropical species are thought to be more susceptible to climate warming than are higher latitude species. This prediction is largely based on the assumption that tropical species can tolerate a narrower range of temperatures. While this prediction holds for some animal taxa, we do not yet know the latitudinal trends in temperature tolerance for plants. We aim to address this knowledge gap and establish if there is a global trend in plant warming risk. Global. Present–2070. Plants. We used 9,737 records for 1,312 species from the Kew Gardens’ global germination database to quantify global patterns in germination temperature. We found no evidence for a latitudinal gradient in the breadth of temperatures at which plant species can germinate. However, tropical plants are predicted to face the greatest risk from climate warming, because they experience temperatures closer to their upper germination limits. By 2070, over half (79/142) of tropical plant species are predicted to experience temperatures exceeding their optimum germination temperatures, with some even exceeding their maximum germination temperature (41/190). Conversely, 95% of species at latitudes above 45° are predicted to benefit from warming, with environmental temperatures shifting closer to the species’ optimal germination temperatures. The prediction that tropical plant species would be most at risk under future climate warming was supported by our data, but through a different mechanism to that generally assumed.

Ecology and Conservation of a Living Fossil: Australia's Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis)

Publisher: Elsevier

Date: 2021

DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-821139-7.00188-4

Royal Botanic Gardens And Domain Trust

Location: Australia

View Organisation

Royal Botanic Gardens And Domain

Location: Australia

View Organisation

The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney

Location: Australia

View Organisation

University Of Sydney

Location: Australia

View Organisation

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP160101496

Start Date: 08-2017

End Date: 12-2021

Amount: $592,514.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP180100942

Start Date: 11-2019

End Date: 11-2024

Amount: $729,500.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP200200822

Start Date: 10-2021

End Date: 10-2025

Amount: $308,032.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP210200907

Start Date: 02-2023

End Date: 01-2027

Amount: $710,423.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP200200688

Start Date: 04-2022

End Date: 04-2026

Amount: $543,650.00

Funder: Australian Research Council