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Longwalk Reseach Subject
Longwalk Reseach Subject
INTRODUCED FLORA
Provide an overview of methods that bushwalkers can
reduce impact and strategies to stop the spread of
introduced species (300)
While Australia has very strong ethics about treading lightly when
we are out walking in the Australia bush. It is very easy to
unwittingly spread weeds and diseases that can end up killing
wildlife and the natural environment. Bushwalkers can spread
invasive weeds and diseases in many different ways. The most
common way for them to spread is on the boots of the hiker as they
may have walked through introduced flora without realising and the
seeds can get caught in their boot while they continue walking.
Other ways invasive weeds can spread is on wet fishing gear, bike
wheels or even on the dirty rims on a car.
Strategies:
- Thoroughly check footwear, waders, equipment, bikes, boats
and vehicles for mud, soil, algae and plant material before
arriving at or leaving each location.
-
Pick off seeds from shoes and clothes, and check your gear to
make sure seeds are not hiding in pockets or on velcro straps.
(Pilosella aurantiaca)
Description:
-
Introduction:
-
Impact:
-
Management practices:
(Leucanthemum
vulgare)
Description:
-
Introduction:
-
Impact:
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OX- EYE
Mature plants can produce up to 26,000
DAISY IN
seeds, which are dispersed by animals,
FLOWER
vehicles and water.
The weed is not palatable to cattle and affects pastoral lands
by reducing the quality of the land as they usually grow in
dense bunches.
Dense bunches lead to displacing native species.
Mostly impacts roadsides and cleared land, but the most
concerning thing is the species aggressively invading
undisturbed subalpine grasslands, snow gum, woodlands and
wetlands in Kosciuszko National Park.
Management practices:
-
BLACKBERRY
(Rubus fruticosus)
Description:
- Blackberries are semi-deciduous,
scrambling shrubs with tangled,
prickly stems.
- Blackberry stems are erected or
semi-erect, usually green purplish
or red.
- Stem is covered with straight or
curved prickles/ thorns.
- Blackberry flowers are 2-3 cm in
diameter, growing in clusters on side branches
- The berries are 1-3 cm diameter, changing colour from green
to red to black as it ripens.
Introduction:
- Blackberries come from a European origin.
- Introduced from Britain into NSW for its fruit and for making
hedgerows.
Impact:
- Blackberries grow in dense bunches leading to its complete
dominance of the understorey and
eventually the canopy making the
native species compete with it to
survive.
- Blackberries are spread mainly by birds
and foxes and in water, such as creeks.
- Fire hazard.
- The plant's strong prickles make it
hazardous and unpalatable to grazing
animals
- As they are prone to growing along
water sources they may also restrict access to watercourses in
forestry operations and for grazing animals and for people
completing recreational activities.
Management practices:
- The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is in
charge or management.
- Application of a registered herbicide.
- Physical removal.
- Mulching.
- Monitoring.
- Burning them.
- Introducing blackberry-leaf rust fungus, which weakens the
blackberries.