Tasha James ‘Endemics on the Edge - Investigating threat management in an island population of endangered endemic species - A case study at Mt. Imlay, NSW’

Tasha, recipient of the Don Beer Memorial Scholarship, will explore if and how endemic species on Mt Imlay might persist in situ in the face of different threats, and to build knowledge to inform effective in situ and ex situ conservation strategies.

Abstract
Substantial resources are allocated to managing threatened and endemic species in situ, with an increasing reliance on ex situ conservation methods. Yet little is known about how different species will persist in situ in the presence of various threats. Further, ex situ conservation methods, such as establishing insurance populations, are often approached with little information about population genetic structure or species biology. This research will explore if and how species might persist in situ in the face of different threats, building knowledge to inform effective in situ and ex situ conservation strategies.

Mt Imlay will form the study site for exploring how threats influence the survivability of locally restricted endemic species1. Mt Imlay is recognised by the NSW Government as an Asset of Intergenerational Significance, along with several threatened species endemic to the mountain1. These species include Eucalyptus imlayensis (Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act and a top 110 priority species in the Threatened Species Strategy 2021–2031), Hibbertia circinata, Boronia imlayensis, Oxylobium ellipticum and Olearia rugosa subsp. distalilobata.

The long-term persistence of these species is likely to be impacted by threats occurring on different temporal and geographical scales, including climate change, Phytophthora dieback, and recent intense fire. Island (in this case mountain-top) endemic species are inherently more vulnerable to threats, therefore, understanding the true impact upon them will help determine the potential for species persistence in situ.

This research will inform both ex situ and in situ conservation strategies and will advance the emerging discipline of 'conservation horticulture’. This includes informing how resources can be best allocated to horticultural techniques, e.g. for management of genetic diversity in ex situ collections.

Biography 
Tasha James, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra, and recipient of the Don Beer Memorial Scholarship.

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

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/CTFXL

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.