Rainforest Research Project #2
Walking with Rainforests
How do rainforests recover & change over time?
It's a vital question for the many people involved in restoring and protecting our remaining rainforests.
This research taps into a golden opportunity - after all, how often do scientists have the luxury of access to 47 years of field data? The potential for making great leaps ahead in our understanding of how rainforests repair themselves is almost limitless so scientists are itching to explore this untapped potential. So far, they've been able to 'go back in time' and correct elements of the data that, at that time, were not known. What it reveals is the recovery journey of rainforest plots spread across North East New South Wales through time.
"Our greatest wish is that these plots will survive into the future," says Robert. Already, early findings could change the way rainforest managers around the world look at rainforest recovery. It seems the effects of a disturbance can 'linger' over time. Rather than begin its recovery straight away, the rainforest may continue to 'go backwards' producing bigger gaps as more trees die and fall down. The implications for forestry could be huge.
"A study of long time-scale rainforest dynamics and disturbance responses in north east NSW (Maina Kariuki and Jerry Van Clay - Southern Cross University, Dr Grant Wardell-Johnson University of Qld., and Robert Kooyman University of New England Earth Process Ecological Services). Twenty-four permanent rainforest plots (in north east NSW) with up to 47 years of time series data were remeasured and additional (ecological) data collected. The data were analysed using a range of multi-variate techniques and then utilised in growth and yield modelling (forestry) and to determine disturbance responses and recovery rates (and directions). Funding will support post research remarking of permanent plots and the 'update' of plots for future research and long term monitoring.
More Information
- Rainforest Research #1 - The Private Life of the Peach Myrtle
- Rainforest Research #3 - Discovery of the Nightcap Oak
- Rainforest Research #4 - Vital Science for Big Scrub Landcarers
- Rainforest Research #5 - Genetic Footprints of Rainforest Trees
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