Dr Gemma Hoyle ‘Can we bank the cloud forests? Conservation and ecology of threatened species endemic to tropical mountaintops in Far North Queensland.’

Gemma, from the National Seed Bank at ANBG, will describe synthesising current seed science knowledge, seed collection, storage behaviour and germination and will it enable ex situ conservation in Australia’s cloud forest flora?

Abstract
Funded by the Ian Potter Foundation, The Tropical Mountain Plant Science (TroMPS) project is responding to urgent calls for ex situ conservation measures in Queensland’s Wet Tropics. The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of northeast Queensland contains tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) in which > 70 endemic, seed-bearing species are at high risk of extinction. To mitigate this risk, we synthesised current seed science knowledge from TM plant communities around the world and examined what is known about seed collection, storage behaviour and germination to enable ex situ conservation of Australia’s cloud forest flora. In addition, virtually nothing is known about factors that determine the regeneration and distribution of these species. We also investigated the impacts of light quality on germination of six species using natural sunlight and green polyester filters. Light quality, specifically the ratio of red to far-red light (R:FR; 660:730 nm), has been shown to influence seed germination of light-sensitive seeds, including many small-seeded tropical species. Canopy cover, leaf litter and cloud immersion all affect the R:FR that plants are exposed to, potentially permitting fine-scale discrimination of light conditions for seed germination.

Biography 
Dr Gemma Hoyle is a Seed Scientist at the National Seed Bank in the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra. Her research focuses on seed germination, dormancy and longevity to improve the conservation and management of Australia’s native flora.

Booking Link:  https://www.trybooking.com/CQGLW

Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. 

Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.

It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly.  Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. 

Booking Link:  https://www.trybooking.com/CQGLW

The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.