Congratulations Professor Anya Reading!
RST Apology to Tasmanian Aboriginal people 2021.
RST Apology to Tasmanian Aboriginal people 2021.
Tasmaniaâ’s relictual cool temperate conifer flora is at risk from projected climate change during this century. Montane and rainforest conifer species exhibit several characteristics which indicate likely vulnerability to environmental change. They are adapted to cool and wet conditions and are highly sensitive to drought and fire. Increased moisture stress and fire are therefore expected to drive declines and local extinctions in these species with ecosystem-changing consequences. A long-term monitoring program has been established to examine trends in condition and recruitment for four Tasmanian endemic conifer species. Permanent monitoring sites have been established at 13 locations in Tasmaniaâ’s highlands. The target species include two long-lived, slow-growing rainforest tree species Pencil Pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides) and King Billy Pine (A. selaginoides) and two shrubby conifers typically associated with high elevation coniferous heath vegetation Dwarf Pine (Diselma archeri) and Drooping Pine (Pherosphaera hookeriana). Conifer condition was assessed visually using four condition classes. Presence of juvenile plants was recorded as were cones (strobili) on mature plants. Conifers were mostly in good condition, with Drooping Pine the only species to frequently exhibit poorer condition. Condition varied significantly between sites for Pencil Pine but not for King Billy Pine. No recruitment of Pencil Pine was evident at the majority of its sites (23 of 34), whereas seedlings and juveniles were present at most King Billy Pine sites (20 of 24). Recruitment appeared to be more or less continuous for the shrubby conifer species.
Royal Society of Tasmania, RST, Van Diemens Land, natural history, science, ecology, taxonomy, botany, zoology, geology, geography, papers & proceedings, Australia, conifers, monitoring, climate change, Tasmania, Athrotaxis cupressoides, Athrotaxis selaginoides, Diselma archeri,
Microcachrys tetragona, Pherosphaera hookeriana, Pherosphaera lawrenci.
Published Papers
The Royal Society of Tasmania acknowledges, with deep respect, the traditional owners of this land, and the ongoing custodianship of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. The Society pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that Tasmanian Aboriginal Peoples have survived severe and unjust impacts resulting from invasion and dispossession of their Country. As an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, the Royal Society of Tasmania recognises Aboriginal cultural knowledge and practices and seeks to respect and honour these traditions and the deep understanding they represent.
On 15 February 2021, the Royal Society of Tasmania offered a formal Apology to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
