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Twelve years of collaboration
Looking back after over 12 years of FINIA’s operations, we can sometimes forget the achievements of the group and its partners. These were brought home at a recent FINIA partner meeting held on Fraser Island (K’gari) to check field sites in addition to identifying new challenges for the World Heritage property.
FINIA volunteers check out a successful site at Happy Valley, where Abrus has almost been eradicated and native Dianella once more dominates the understory (Photo: Sue Sargent)
In 2005, the group came together around the common issue of weed management and despite some massive wins across all land tenures (freehold, unallocated state land and National Parks), weeds and pests are still one of the biggest problems for the island and its native species.
In 2005, we looked at sisal hemp, a plant that was introduced to the Missions that were located on Fraser Island (K’gari). Today, we have an ever-growing list of plants like Abrus, Easter cassia and Brazilian cherry, that are invading the island. Twelve years ago, there were no cane toads in any of the waterways or Indian myna birds, cats and foxes hadn’t been caught on camera traps.
Thankfully, there are some success stories, bitou bush has almost been eradicated from K’gari, the Jamella leafhopper – which was destroying the island’s pandanus – is now being brought into check by the Aphanomerus wasp, which exclusively lays its eggs on the Jamella egg rafts.
FINIA is a great example of how much can be achieved by collaborating groups. But the take-home message is that we can’t hang up the tool belts yet.
Fraser Island Pandanus Rescue
Joel Fostin has launched Fraser Island’s first ever crowd-sourcing campaign. Can you help?
Fraser Island (K’Gari) has suffered catastrophic losses. Up to 50% of the east coast’s Pandanus have perished (approximately 50,000 plants). A further 20% are likely perish without intervention within the next two months. Preserving the remaining Pandanus is crucial for successful natural regeneration, and vital for the many species of wildlife that rely on them for food and habitat. The Pandanus on Fraser Island (K’Gari) need help right now. (more…)
Eurong Nursery Gives Bush Regeneration a Boost
FIDO’s July bush regeneration working bee planted more than 100 new native plants in the Eurong Resort grounds and village. While more than 20 of these plants came from the Kingfisher nursery on the western side of the island, the project wouldn’t have been possible without the rejuvenation of the QPWS eastern Eurong nursery. The availability of a functioning nursery to meet the demands of residents and bush regenerators has challenged FINIA since its founding in 2005.
Tiny Wasp Released to Save Fraser Island’s Pandanus
In an effort to rescue Fraser Island’s pandanus trees from the devastating effects of infestation by Jamella leaf-hopper (Jamella australiae), 26 October saw the long-awaited release around Eurong of a tiny sandfly-sized predatory wasp (Aphanomerus sp.) that is expected to help to check Jamella numbers.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Principal Ranger Ross Belcher reported that University of the Sunshine Coast environmental science student Joel Fostin, with QPWS, released ~500 captive-bred wasps onto Jamella egg clusters at Eurong, One Tree Rocks and Lake Wabby. Subsequent releases are planned for Dundubara, Waddy Point and Dilli Village. Funding for this project comes from QPWS, with support from the Fraser Coast Regional Council, Fraser Island Defenders Organisation (FIDO), the Fraser Island Alliance and other stakeholders. All areas will be monitored for rate of spread and the effectiveness of the control.
The Jamella leaf-hopper, native to north Queensland, was accidentally transported to southern Queensland in the 1990s on infected plant material. In the north of the state, leaf-hopper numbers are controlled by the Aphanomerus wasp, which exclusively lays its eggs in leaf-hopper egg rafts, where immature wasps eat the developing Jamella. Released from predation, Jamella numbers skyrocketed, with devastating results for the pandanus populations of southern Queensland, including Fraser Island.
A dead pandanus tree, with a healthier plant behind it. It is these healthier plants that the biocontrol method aims to save
Biocontrol of Jamella by introduction of the wasp has been effective in other parts of SE Queensland and northern NSW, and QPWS has been applying to release the biocontrol wasp since 2011. The biocontrol responds to the Jamella outbreak by slowing down in cooler months and increasing numbers in warmer active months. The wasp has only 7–9 days to find a Jamella egg raft in which to lay its eggs.
The wasps released on Fraser Island were bred in sterile conditions by Joel Fostin from wasps collected from the Sunshine Coast and were fed on Jamella egg rafts, collected from Fraser Island. Once established at the release sites, the wasps can be relocated across the island. In combination with continued stem injection pesticide treatment, it is strongly anticipated that this step could spell a return of the iconic Fraser Island pandanus community to its former glory.
Adapted from Media Release from QPWS
