Plant diversity and conservation
CSIRO studies Australian plant diversity and community ecology and aims to conserve and protect it against threats such as exotic plant invasions.
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24 March 2010 | Updated 11 January 2012
The expertise we gain from our research helps us to tailor effective and efficient conservation methods to:
- preserve the biodiversity of Australia’s native plants
- protect ecosystem health.
Remnant vegetation
Land clearing across Australia has fragmented habitats and created small, isolated pockets of native vegetation, or remnants.
CSIRO is improving knowledge about the genetic and demographic factors involved in remnant health.
CSIRO is investigating the relationships between invasive plants and the native environment in order to shed light on what gives them the edge over native plants.
We are studying the long-term viability of remnants which helps us develop a series of guidelines to ensure Australian remnants are properly managed and maintained.
Conservation: community ecology
CSIRO's community ecology research is helping uncover how invasive species gain a strangle-hold on native ecosystems and how we can help solve the problem.
Exotic plant invasions are a big problem for native Australian ecosystems.
The vigorous exotic plants outcompete native species in fragile and at-risk populations, taking over their ecosystem.
As a result, the diversity of Australian native plants and the survival of important plant species suffer.
CSIRO is investigating the relationships between invasive plants and the native environment in order to shed light on what gives them the edge over native plants.
Understanding more about the invasive plants causing problems for Australia will help in the development of strategic control methods.
Native plant communities are also under the spotlight.
CSIRO is researching the structure of plant communities to find out what factors determine their susceptibility to invasion.
Genetically modified risk assessment
CSIRO is developing scientifically rigorous methods for evaluating potential ecological risks posed by genetically modified (GM) plants.
Such methods will provide a framework for undertaking effective risk assessments of GM plants prior to their introduction into the environment.
Related research
Interacting with AcaciaThis two-page information sheet is about CSIRO's research on the ecological and evolutionary interactions of the genus Acacia in Australia.
Cryptic plants reveal their secretsThis two-page information sheet is about CSIRO's research in bryophytes, the group term for plants known as mosses, hornworts and liverworts.
Where science and history work togetherIn an effort never before attempted, a team of Australian botanists is co-ordinating a project which will provide a nationally-agreed list of scientific names used for native and naturalised plants in Australia. (2 pages)
Conservation: community ecologyCSIRO’s community ecology research is helping uncover how invasive plant species gain a strangle-hold on native ecosystems and how we can help solve the problem.
Conservation: conservation geneticsCSIRO is helping protect our native biodiversity by improving the management of remnant vegetation and the availability of appropriate seed for revegetation projects.
Conservation: plant-microbe interactionsCSIRO is using the relationships between plants and microbes to understand pathogen resistance, improve revegetation programs and investigate the structure of plant communities
Read more about
CSIRO Plant Industry research.
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