Transcript overview of Bell Miner Associated Dieback

Bell Miner Associated Dieback
in NSW
Bell Miner Associated Dieback Working Group
c/o Dept Environment and Climate Change
Coffs Harbour, NSW
Bell Miner Associated Dieback ?
* BMAD is a form of Eucalypt dieback caused by phloem
feeding insects called psyllids (Glycaspis)
* Occurs throughout Victoria, NSW and southern
Queensland
* The causes are complex and include;
* disturbance that opens the canopy, presence of Bell miners and
psyllids, moisture retaining soils, a dense understorey and reduced
frequency of fire.
Bell Miner – (Manorina melanophrys)
Photo by Paul Meek
Psyllid shelter or lerp
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Theorems: Causes of BMAD
* All of the causes remain unresolved although
two main theorems have been proposed
Tree Stress Theorem
Tree Stress
increased inputs
and/or reduced
outputs
Site Changes
to soil, moisture,
aeration, chemistry,
solar radiation
Increased
microbial
antagonism
Biotic Responses
Increased understorey
competition
Secondary
Changes
Increased
abiotic stress
Reduced Root
Vigour
Increased
Defoliation
Improved pest
and pathogen
nutrition
Forest Opening/
Disturbance
Disturbance Theorem
Bell Miners in
Close Proximity
Frost Free
Area
Persistent Soil
Moisture
Bell Miner Colony
High to
Moderate Soil
Fertility
Dense Midstorey
Decreasing
Psyllid
Predators
Increasing
Psylids
Increasing
Dieback
Impacts on Biodiversity
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Forest ecosystem degradation & threatened species loss
Eucalyptus dunnii and E. scorparia
The Blue Gum High Forests of Sydney
The effects on threatened fauna are currently being
researched
Financial Loss to Industry
* Degradation of the forest has implications for the
economy
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Reduced native forest & plantation timber volumes
Poor honey production
Impact on recreational use of forests
Degraded cattle grazing country
Adaptive Management Option Trials
* Explicit focus on learning from doing
* Design and test agreed land management actions likely to
prevent and control BMAD
* Subject to review by BMAD Scientific Reference Group
* Trials are currently being scoped by BMAD Working Group
* Five sites at Sheepstation Creek, Creeks Bend, Donaldson
SF, Mt Lindesay SF and Kumbatine NP.
Fire Management
*
Fire is a useful tool for landscape level management of
BMAD.
*
When Lantana is growing, a hot fire will significantly reduce
abundance of this weed in the understorey.
*
Increasing evidence that fire does result in changed
understorey habitat and subsequent reduction of Bell
miners (habitat modification) and recruitment of native plant
species.
Photo by Paul Meek
Weed Management
*
The aim is to control Lantana and disturb Bell miner
behaviour by changing understorey habitat at a small
scale
*
The removal of Lantana is anticipated to cause a decline
in Bell miners and an improvement in forest health
*
Ideal for small scale control and follow up but not for
landscape level control
*
Refinement of splatter gun method for Lantana control
Risk Assessment
*
SPOT5 satellite imagery and LIDAR
photography is being used to map
BMAD and Lantana
*
This system maps tree symptoms and
canopy damage
*
A spatial modeling tool is being
developed to predict potential areas at
risk of BMAD
www.bmad.com.au