PhD Candidate: Dylan Bristol

PhD Supervisors: Associate Professor Uffe Nielsen (WSU), Professor Jeff Powell (WSU), Dr Yolima Carillo (WSU)

Project Summary: Many Australian ecosystems have been severely affected by urbanization and industrialization among other land use changes which has resulted in widespread ecosystem degradation. However, we do not know the extent to which degradation impacts the growth and survival of native plants in the Cumberland Plain Woodland. We typically assume that since there are established native plants still within an area, even if it is low diversity, that these plants can compete with invasives just as well. However, soil degradation may impact seed germination, establishment and growth, resulting in altered community dynamics.

It is critical that we understand how soil degradation impact soil biology and functions which will help determine in what way plants are impacted from degradation to inform how restoration projects and ameliorate the effects of degradation. In doing so, I intend on seeding native grasses in 10 degraded and 10 pristine sites in the Cumberland Plain Woodland and assessing germination rates as well as growth in relation to the soil biology and soil functions.