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Impacts of Myrtle Rust Induced Tree Mortality on Species and Functional Richness within Seedling Communities of a Wet Sclerophyll Forest in Eastern Australia

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Stevenson, K., Pegg, G. S., Wills, J., Herbohn, J. and Firn, J. (2023) Impacts of Myrtle Rust Induced Tree Mortality on Species and Functional Richness within Seedling Communities of a Wet Sclerophyll Forest in Eastern Australia. Plants, 12 (10). p. 1970. ISSN 2223-7747

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Article Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101970

Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/10/1970

Abstract

Austropuccinia psidii is an introduced plant pathogen known to have caused significant declines in populations of several Australian native Myrtaceae species. However, limited research has focused on the impacts of the pathogen on plant communities in the aftermath of its invasion. This study investigated the relationship between disease impact level, plant species diversity, and functional richness in seedling communities in a wet sclerophyll forest in southeast Queensland. A clear shift was found from early colonizer Myrtaceae species in the mid- and understory to a more diverse non-Myrtaceae seedling community indicative of secondary succession. Comparisons of key Myrtaceae species and the seedling community suggest that there may also be a shift towards species that produce drupes and larger seeds, and overall, a current reduction in fruit availability due to the dramatic loss of previously dominant species. Seedling diversity showed no significant correlation with tree mortality, possibly due to favorable rainfall conditions during the study period. The more subtle changes in forest composition, such as changes in fruit type and availability due to myrtle rust, however, could affect the visitation of local bird species in the short term and certainly reduce the store of early colonizing native shrub and tree species.

Item Type:Article
Corporate Creators:Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Business groups:Horticulture and Forestry Science
Keywords:Austropuccinia psidii; disturbance; species richness
Subjects:Plant pests and diseases
Plant pests and diseases > Plant pathology
Forestry > Research. Experimentation
Forestry > Conservation and protection
Agriculture > By region or country > Australia
Live Archive:15 Jun 2023 05:35
Last Modified:15 Jun 2023 05:35

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