Complex plant responses to fire, pollination and infertile soils make Southwestern Australia the most extraordinary biodiversity hotspot

Our local bioregion, which is also one of the world’s Biodiversity Hotspots, is globally unique not simply due to the diversity of plants but also the wide range of functional traits that evolved in response to adverse conditions. Many plants have complex ways of fulfilling their mineral nutrition needs and a diverse range of pollination relationships with specific insects, birds and mammals. Most plants also have complex traits for fire survival and recovery, such as soil or canopy-stored seed, resprouting or fire-promoted germination. Despite these adaptations, fire impacts cause substantially altered plant diversity and dominance. The most complex combinations of these trait categories occur in plant families that also are also the most diverse.

Our guest speaker this month is Dr Mark Brundrett. Mark is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia and a Research Associate of the West Australian Herbarium. His recent research has focused on orchid pollination and conservation, restoration of ecosystems and the impacts of fire and weeds on Perth’s urban bushland. He also studies the evolution of plant nutrition traits, biodiversity patterns in Australia, orchid taxonomy and has published a field guide to local orchids.

As usual, our meeting will be on the second Tuesday of the month – 13 September – at the Subiaco Community Centre.

Doors open at 7.45 pm for an 8 pm start. A $3 donation gets you entry into the night’s door prize. All are welcome.