PhD Candidate: Paola Pisetta Raupp

PhD Supervisors: Dr Yolima Carillo (WSU), Associate Professor Paul Rymer (WSU), Associate Professor Uffe Nielsen (WSU), Dr Ian Oliver (DCCEEW)

Project Summary: Cumberland Plain Woodlands (CPWs) are one of Australia’s most threatened ecological communities, with less than 9% of their original extent remaining. These woodlands are characterised by a discontinuous Eucalyptus canopy and a diverse understorey of native grasses and forbs. However, much of the remaining CPWs have been severely altered, with exotic species dominating both the understory and soil conditions. These disturbances impact the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, which can create legacies that hinder restoration efforts. This study aims to investigate the linkages between soil properties and the composition and abundance of native and exotic plant species across a gradient of degradation in CPWs. Field plots were established across ten locations in the Sydney Basin bioregion to capture a range of degradation conditions.

Vegetation surveys were conducted to assess species composition, abundance, and ground cover, while soil samples are collected at three depths for analysis of physicochemical and biological properties. In the laboratory, these samples are being analysed to quantify factors such as soil pH, nutrient levels, microbial structure and diversity. The expected outcomes of this research include identifying key soil properties that influence native and exotic plant establishment and determining how these factors vary across soil layers and degradation conditions. This information will be used to inform soil manipulation strategies aimed at improving the success of restoration efforts in CPW ecosystems.

Collaborators: Local Land Services (NSW Government), National Parks, Botanic Garden Mount Annan, Western Sydney Parklands