Wood wide web - fact or fallacy?

It has been long well-accepted that trees and fungi have a mutual partnership. Mycorrhizal fungi are able to act as an extension of the tree’s root systems. The fungi help provide the trees with minerals and water from the soil and the trees supply the fungi with sugars formed from photosynthesis in their leaves. This example of beneficial mutualism between the two species has been known since 1885 when the German scientist, A B Frank discovered the relationship.

A small mycelium network on the underside of a log - Bunyip SP

After producing a number of scientific papers in 2021, Canadian forest ecologist Suzanne Simard, published ‘Finding the Mother Tree’, a book in which she proposed that the mycorrhizal fungi can be used by the trees to share resources between one another, even that the trees can ‘communicate’ with each other by sending and receiving signals via the fungi.

It has now emerged that the speed at which Simard’s hypothesis has spread, has outpaced any science underlying it – it appears that more research is needed.

Spectacular Rustgill (probably!) - Thornell's Reserve

In 2023, Professor Justine Karst and two other scientists published a paper in the journal Nature, Ecology and Evolution with the wonderful title ‘Positive Citation Bias and Overinterpreted Results Lead to Misinformation on Common Mycorrhizal Networks in Forests’, a scientist’s way of saying ‘we think you are wrong’.

Nangara Reserve

Whatever. While the debate rages, I won’t be deterred from visiting some of my favourite forests and marvelling at the amazing diversity of fungi, trees and other flora and fauna that are under threat from climate change and other man-made activities.

 

 

Winter wanderings

Being out and about in cold weather apparently burns more calories as the body works harder to maintain core temperature. Cold weather walking can also boost the immune system, stimulate deeper breathing, boost vitamin D, and improves mood. While we don’t have snow on the ground, some days it has been pretty cold lately but there is still plenty happening in our parks and reserves.

At Golden Whistler Reserve, the Nodding Greenhood Orchids are putting on a great show at present. Listen for the tchew-tchew call of the Eastern Yellow Robin and noses to the ground for some interesting fungi.

A pair of Pelicans have arrived at McNeilly Park wetlands.

Down at Bellbird Park wetland, the Superb Fair-wrens have enjoyed our mulch-spreading and a couple of Swamp Rats were undisturbed by our working bee.

So, time to rug up and check out some nature on our doorstep! 

 

Our birds need some help

A posting on this site almost 2 years ago suggested that although not in Australia at that time, H5N1, a virulent strain of Bird Flu was surely going to come. Well, it is here. Three days ago, the Australian Government announced, “a detection of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza was confirmed by the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in single Brown Skua in Western Australia.” Further sick and dead birds are being tested at this time.

While migratory seabirds, other waterbird species and domestic poultry are the most significant natural carriers of the virus, it can spread virulently through other avian species and mammals.

Sick or dead birds, particularly waterbirds – swans, ducks, etc., raptors, gulls, terns, etc. – should be reported as quickly as possible.

Birdlife Australia has a useful H5 Bird Flu FAQ page (being updated) worth perusing.