Talk: Do increased nutrients and transpiration help the regrowth of Banksia scrub vegetation following fire?

Registration recommended but not essential

7:30 pm, 20 September St Andrews Uniting Church, corner of Vernon Street and Chisholm Street, Turramurra

The recent high intensity fire at North Head (October 2020) left large areas of Banksia scrub open for degradation, with the rapid regrowth of vegetation very important for recovery. Fortunately, our unique vegetation has evolved alongside fire as a persistent disturbance, shaping its road to recovery following complete loss of leafy material. Fire directly increases soil nutrients which plants need for growth. Plant roots also need to supply their leaves with sufficient water to transpire and grow. As the regrowth of leaves slowly occurs following fire, plants can be more liberal with their water supply to leaves as there are far less leaves demanding water. Is a boost in nutrients or water supply more important for recovery?

Erin Rogers (Western Sydney University) will discuss the importance of both in driving the regrowth of three native basal resprouters across three areas of differing fire intensity at North Head. She will also touch on the importance of rain events following fire and discuss how high rainfall may have worked to kickstart the recovery of the Banksia scrub on North Head. She will finish up with some lessons learnt and recommendations for ongoing vegetation monitoring on the headland.

Photo credit: David Ellsworth