Category Archives: Seminar

Factors influencing deoxygenation following an unintended whole of water body herbicide treatment of aquatic weed cabomba in a natural wetland in the Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia

This Paper was presented by Aquatic Systems Officer Christina Day at a National Conference

 Christina Day 1, Ian A. Wright2, Amy St Lawrence1, Robert Setter1, Geoffrey Smith1

  1. Environment Branch, Blue Mountains City Council, Locked Bag 1005, Katoomba, NSW, 2780. cday@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
  2. School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751. i.wright@uws.edu.au.

Key Points

  • The recently registered SharkTM Aquatic Herbicide (240g/L carfentrazone-ethyl) was used at Glenbrook Lagoon to treat an infestation of cabomba, one of the first applications of this scale in Australia.
  • Water quality and ecological effects were monitored to determine the impacts of the herbicide on a large natural water body.
  • One year later, monitoring programs show a return to healthy dissolved oxygen levels; a healthy population of native fish and turtles; and no evidence of cabomba or weed water lily.
  • This case study highlights the challenges involved with planning and implementing a large scale aquatic weed control program and the importance of understanding and careful consideration of the current physical, chemical and biological conditions of the individual water body being targeted.

Download the full Glenbrook Lagoon paper at:

http://7asm-2014.m.asnevents.com.au/information#/schedule/abstract/11623

 

Bifenthrin pesticide contamination: impacts and recovery at Jamison Creek, Wentworth Falls

BMCC Council’s Aquatic Systems Officer Amy St Lawrence presented this paper at National Conference.

Amy St Lawrence1, Ian A. Wright2, Robert B. McCormack3, Christina Day1, Geoffrey Smith1 and Brian Crane1

  1. Blue Mountains City Council, Locked Bag 1005, Katoomba, NSW 2780. Email: astlawrence@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
  2. School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751.Email: i.wright@uws.edu.au
  3. Australian Aquatic Biological Pty Ltd, PO Box 3, Karuah, NSW 2324. Email: rob@aabio.com.au

Key Points

  • Jamison Creek in the Blue Mountains was contaminated by a pesticide, Bifenthrin, in July 2012
  • The pesticide caused a mass crayfish kill and severe, adverse effects on aquatic macroinvertebrates
  • Eighteen months later, the macroinvertebrate community (including crayfish) has recovered well
  • The incident highlights the potential hazards of urban pesticide use and the risks associated with direct stormwater connections between urban areas and natural waterways.

Download the full Jamison Creek paper at:

http://7asm-2014.m.asnevents.com.au/information#/schedule/abstract/11636

 

Native Bee Seminar at Glenbrook.

Hello, everyone,

This is just to let you know that there are still places left for the Native Bee Seminar, scheduled for Saturday 19 October 2013, at Glenbrook. I have attached the flyer again for your convenience. Some of you will already have registered, and your place has been confirmed.

Although you may not be interested at the moment, you may like to tell a friend about the day.

www.beesbusiness.com.au

Australian native bees of the Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra regions

Date: Saturday, 19 October 2013

Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm

Cost: $50.00 per person  or $90.00 per couple (see payment details below)

Venue: Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve. See details of the venue below

Address: Great Western Highway, Opposite the Tourist Information Centre, Glenbrook NSW Enter ‘Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve’ for directions on Google maps.

Course outline: The following topics will be covered.

  • The importance of bees in our environment: including honey bees, stingless bees, semi-social and solitary bees
  • How bees contribute to biodiversity in the ecosystem
  • The economic importance of bees in our world
  • The pollinator crisis worldwide
  • How bees improve crop production
  • Some anatomical adaptations that make bees the best pollinators in the world
  • How to identify some of the native bees in your own garden
  • How to attract native bees into your garden
  • How to conserve and provide habitat for native bees
  • View the inside of a stingless bee (Austroplebeia australis) nest
  • How to make native bee nests, from the basic to the beautiful

Included in the seminar

Each registered participant (couples see ‘Couples offer’, below) will receive a compilation CD ROM, containing the ‘Native Bees of the Sydney Region: A Field Guide’, distributed by Aussie Bee, a guide to making resin bee and reed bee nests, a guide to maintaining your solitary bee nests and basic notes from the seminar to jog your memory. You will also be put into the draw to win the lucky door prize: a hardwood solitary bee nest to take home, worth $60.

Couples offer

Each couple receives only one CD, thus the $10.00 discounted price

We are very fortunate to be able to use the delightful facilities located within the Glenbrook reserve. The venue ensures an intimate and personal atmosphere, which affords participants the opportunity to ask all those native bee questions they’ve always wanted answered. A substantial morning tea will be provided, to ensure you have the energy to get through the whole three-hour session.

Merchandise available for purchase at the seminar

Solitary bee nests

  • Drilled hardwood block with roof: $60 each
  • Drilled hardwood block no roof: $30 each

Bee hotel (please let me know if you are interested in purchasing prior to event): $250 each

Reed bee nests bundle: $5 each

Native bee mobile kit, for children: $10 each

Product details available at www.beesbusiness.com.au

Eucalyptus Workshop Notes 2011

An Introduction to Eucalyptus

by Jill Dark

Eucalypts belong to the family Myrtaceae, one of the major plant families with about 70 genera in Australia. The name comes from the Greek myron meaning perfume and refers to the characteristic smell of the family.

The genus name Eucalyptus comes from the Greek eu, well; and calyptos, covered; and refers to the bud cap covering the flower.

Angophora comes from the Greek angos, jar; and phoros, bearing; alluding to the cup-like fruits.

Corymbia is from the Latin corymbus, meaning a cluster of flowers.

There are well over 800 species of Eucalyptus. Most are endemic to Australia, about 8 species growing in New Guinea. As new species are discovered, or present species split, 800 is a very conservative estimate. In fact there are probably over 900 species.

The first specimens were probably collected by Banks and Solander in 1770. Corymbia gummifera collected from Botany Bay was originally called Metrosideros gummifera by Solander. Banks was the first person to refer to eucalypts as “gum trees”.

Although many species were collected by various expeditions it was not until 1788 the genus Eucalyptus was first named. Charles Louis L’Heritier de Brutelle, who had never seen them growing in their natural state, called a specimen collected from Tasmania on Cook’s third voyage, Eucalyptus obliqua.

The Blue Mountains World Heritage Area contains well over 100 species and the diversity of the eucalyptus genus was one of the reasons for world heritage nomination. There are probably about 60 species in Blue Mountains National Park. Some species are common, others extremely rare and restricted to small areas.

References:

Brooker, M I H, & Kleinig, D A. Field Guide to Eucalypts. Vol 1., Inkata Press,1990.

Burgess, C. Blue Mountain Gums, 1963.

Hay, A. Gum, Duffy & Snelgrove, 2002.

Pellow, B J et al. Flora of the Sydney Region. 5th ed., Syd UP, 2009.

EUCLID (CD)

Gecko Winter 2008

In this issue:

  • Remote Area Bushcare
  • Micro Bats talk by Marg Turton
  • The Water Page: 2007 Aquatic Reports now available
  • Dragonflies and Damselflies – learn the difference
  • Tallest Weed? David Coleby finds a two-metre Prickly Sowthistle
  • Phytophthora Management Workshop
    Also read “The Phytophthora Challenge“.Students from St Pauls Grammar at Cranebrook give a helping handMonitoring Change in Upland Swamps: the roles of fire and rainIdeas for celebrating 20 years of Blue Mountains BushcareBushcare celebrates World Environment Day at Springwood

Gecko_Winter_2008 PDF file – 752 KB