Event

The ecological importance of the Myrtaceae in the woody ecosystems of New Zealand

Presented by Insu Jo, ecologist,
Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research

The Myrtaceae is a woody family that is commonly found in natural ecosystems in New Zealand. Although the family is acknowledged as an ecologically important part of New Zealand’s ecosystems, no quantitative studies have previously been conducted to test this in comparison with other co-occurring woody families. Join us at this webinar to hear about how Insu Jo and his team used a nationwide forest and shrubland inventory data set to quantify the ecological importance of Myrtaceae based on its richness and abundance. They then explored how environmental factors influence Myrtaceae importance. Finally, they compared functional plant traits of Myrtaceae associated with plant growth and reproductive strategies with other co-occurring woody families to determine their ecological role in woody ecosystems in New Zealand.

The team found that Myrtaceae is the second most ecologically important woody family in New Zealand woody ecosystems. The family has high wood density and tall stature, ensuring large and enduring carbon stocks. Insu’s study suggests that there will potentially be large and deleterious outcomes in forest ecosystems if taxon-specific pathogens, such as Austropuccinia psidii, the causal agent of myrtle rust, spread and significantly reduce Myrtaceae abundance.

To attend live or to receive a recording to watch after the live session, register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1050250630224503052