Talk by Mark Brundrett is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia and a Research Associate of the West Australian Herbarium.

The Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR) is a global biodiversity hotspot with exceptional plant species richness, endemism and rarity that is linked to complex ancient landscapes, extremely infertile soils and a relatively stable climate history. It contains about 8000 plant species, the majority of which are endemic.

Complex mineral nutrition traits are exceptionally abundant, especially ectomycorrhizal, nonmycorrhizal and carnivorous plants. Complex pollination relationships with specific insects, birds, or non-flying mammals are also overrepresented. Most plants also have complex traits for fire survival and recovery, such as soil or canopy-stored seed, resprouting or fire-promoted germination. Despite these adaptations, fire impacts cause substantially altered plant diversity and dominance. The most complex combinations of these trait categories occur in plant families that also are also the most diverse. Species richness patterns of these families extend the SWAFR boundary to include additional plant diversity hotspots, especially in woodlands and ironstone ranges.

Our local bioregion is globally unique due to the diversity of plants with exceptionally
complex functional traits that evolved in response to adverse conditions. Thus, it is the best location globally for studying long-term impacts of climate and soil conditions on plant diversity and provides a preview of future conditions elsewhere. However, plants in this region now face even more severe fires, droughts, pollinator shortages and declining soil health. This greatly increases the need for well-resourced and science-based adaptive approaches for ecosystem management and rare flora conservation.

Doors open at 7.10pm and the meeting begins at 7.30pm at the Hew Roberts Lecture Theatre, University of Western Australia, Nedlands. Parking is available at the Gordon St or Clifton St entrances to the campus. All are welcome to attend, with a donation of $3 for members or $5 for non-members giving you a chance to win the door prize (EFTPOS available). The main presentation will be followed by a short “focus” talk, after which you are welcome to join us for tea/coffee and conversation.