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The talk will look at immediate impacts of some Black Summer megafires, and share findings about responses to heat and smoke chemicals by seeds of alpine flora, grassy ecosystems and endangered shrubs.
Abstract
In recent years there have been unprecedented megafires across South-Eastern Australia. The talk will begin by looking at the immediate impacts this had on plants. While some plants are able to recover by resprouting, others rely entirely on the seed bank to regenerate. The National Seed Bank and collaborators have long been studying the response of seeds to heat and smoke chemicals. I will share examples of our findings from the alpine flora, grassy ecosystems and endangered shrubs. We will finish with an eye on the future and the projects now underway to conserve and study bushfire-impacted plant species.
Biography
Dr Lydia Guja is Manager of the National Seed Bank in the Biodiversity Conservation and Knowledge Section at the Australian National Botanic Gardens and Seed Conservation Biologist in the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. She studies the ecology, biology, physiology and conservation of native plant seeds.
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November in the Gardens’ Theatrette. Talks last for 1 hour. Admission is by gold coins donation. The Friends use the ‘gold’ coins donations received at each activity to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated. Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
The talks are in line with COVID-19 guidelines which can change rapidly.
Bookings are essential. Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/BYPPE Bookings can be made from the Friday before the talk until Wednesday night before the talk.
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. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. A donation to the Friends for the use of this material will be gratefully accepted. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au