Member Groups; The Lismore Land Protection Group, Weering-Eurack Landcare Group, Leslie Manor Landcare Group, Cundare Duverney Landcare Group, Weerite Landcare Group & Mount Elephant Community Management
Its’ Not Only The Bees That Are Disappearing
Showcasing 30 years of Landcare across our area
Breaking Down the Stubble Myth
Revegetation Plantings, Summer Rain and Weeds
Its’ Not Only The Bees That Are Disappearing
The disappearance of any particular insect species may seem inconsequential and who would worry about less flies or mosquitoes. However many species of insects are in decline including beneficial ones such as bees, wasps, ladybirds and other beetles, and it is considered to be a key reason for the decline of a number of bird species that rely on insects as a food source.
Insects encompass a very wide range of organisms, with over 1 million species described, which represents about 75% of all described animal species. The actual number of living insect species is estimated to possibly be as high as 5 to 10 million, with the orders Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps), and Diptera (true flies) containing the greatest numbers of species.
Insects have been around for a very long time. Insect species first evolved about 300 million years ago with the beetles, while flies evolved about 250 million years ago. Moths and wasps came later about 150 million years ago). The flies and moths along with the fleas evolved about 100-140 million years ago.
While pest insects usually attract most of our attention, there are many insects that perform functions essential to the survival and wellbeing of both humans and the broader environment.
Insects form an important part of the food chain for many animal species and perform many essential ecological functions that mostly go unnoticed. Bees are well known for their role in the pollination of food crops and other flowering plants, however many other insects also perform this function too including wasps, ants, butterflies, moths. Pollination helps transfer genes of plants which preserves and increases genetic diversity and plays an important role in the evolution of flowering plants and adaptation of plants to changing environmental and climatic conditions.
Wasps, ladybugs, mantises, and ants predate on other less beneficial insects species and consume large volumes of slugs and aphids, helping to prevent significant damage to crops, pastures, gardens and native vegetation communities. Some insects consume large numbers of weed seeds, helping to stop paddocks being overrun by unwanted plants and keeping systems in “balance”. They can also help spread plant seeds.
Insects are essential for the breakdown of organic matter in forests, paddocks and even in cities, and they assist in the cycling of nutrients in the soil to keep ecosystems functioning. Without insects almost nothing would rot away. Dung beetles provide an essential function in animal farming systems by removing manure, cycling nutrients and reducing blowflies.
Evidence for the decline of insects has been documented from a range detailed studies – including surveys of nature reserves and wilderness areas (to take out human influences), and even simple assessment bug splats on windscreens.
Studies undertaken in nature reserves in Germany found the annual average weight of insects in traps fell by 76% over the 27-year period of the research. Most alarming was the discovery that during summer, a time when insect numbers should reach their peak, the decrease was even higher at 82%. Adding to this was that the study was undertaken in a nature reserve, where insect numbers and diversity would be expected to at its highest compared to surrounding areas.
Similar long term studies in other areas and other countries support this trend, such as those undertaken in pristine forests of Puerto Rico where decline of both insects and the birds, frogs and lizards that they support is documented.
According to entomologists there are a range of reasons for the decline, with some compounding the effect. Land use change and loss of the insects natural environment or habitat, agricultural systems and monocultural cropping, urbanisation and the effects of light (which attracts moths and other nocturnal insects), use of chemicals and pesticides, changes to rainfall patterns including extended dry periods and prolonged droughts, and climate change. Many insects exist in a rather tight temperature band, so any changes to temperature can affect them or their life cycle significantly.
According to distinguished Harvard biologist Edward O Wilson, “If all humankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed 10,000 years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.”
For More Information
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/02/why-insect-populations-are-plummeting-and-why-it-matters/
Showcasing 30 years of Landcare across our area
The Corangamite CMA has partnered with Federation University to compile all the projects undertaken by Landcare Groups and Landcare Networks across the region. As part of this, past revegetation plantings done across the Corangamite Lakes Landcare area have been mapped and are presented. Although in its infancy with more information still to be added, it shows a significant change to the landscape in the Corangamite Lakes Landcare area over the past 30 years.
So far for this area, revegetation works have been added to the portal with other themes such as pest plants, pest animals, remnant vegetation protection, wetlands and waterway protection to be added. Note that while we have endeavoured capture most of the past works, we have not yet got them all.
The mapping so far has concentrated mainly on capturing revegetation plantings of mixed, locally indigenous species from the Victorian Volcanic Plains Eucalyptus Woodlands vegetation community. It does not yet include sugar gum plantations nor woodlot plantings, which although mostly monocultures and not locally endemic, do have some ecological value.
What it shows to date is over 1050 hectares of revegetation plantings have been done by our groups in the Corangamite Lakes Landcare Area. This has increased the habitat area for a range of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects, and helped to preserve biodiversity of the VVP Eucalyptus Woodlands.
These plantings will also provide an important landscape link as stepping stones to improve connectivity between the woodlands to our north around Skipton, Linton and across to Enfield with Pomborneit and Jancourt forests to our south, which connect onto the Otway Ranges. This will facilitate the migration of species as their preferred habitat range shifts southwards in response to a warming climate. In fact there is already evidence of this with field naturalists observing northern bird species around the RAMSAR lakes in drier years.
Revegetation plantings across Corangamite Lakes Landcare area since 1990
“Once you see all the revegetation plantings done over the past 30 years mapped onto an aerial photograph you realise just how much the landscape has changed” says Bill Charles of Cundare Duverney Landcare Group, “and it is also a bit of win for the participants, in that they get shade and shelter for their stock, while also locking up carbon to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a credit to all those who have participated over the years”.
We will endeavour to continue revegetation plantings to improve the landscape connectivity over coming years. This year our revegetation plantings will be funded by the Australian Governments 20 Million Trees Program and the Victorian Government’s Landcare Grants. If you are interested in participating please contact Rod
Breaking Down the Stubble Myth
The Corangamite Lakes Landcare Area has been successful in receiving $44,000 from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program Smart Farming Grants to continue our work to demonstrate methods to manage stubbles and improve soil condition. “This is good news as it will enable us to continue to the work we started a couple of years ago to enhance the decomposition of stubbles that had been incorporated into the soil and reduce burning of stubbles” says Bill Charles of Cundare Duverney Landcare Group. “The sites we did at Ross and Justin Alexanders showed that we can successfully incorporate the stubbles, sow and grow a crop with minimal problems and no yield penalty”. “Logistically it is becoming harder to burn stubbles with increasing regulations and this can help to reduce that and improve the soil condition over time” added Justin.
This project will enable other landholders to try the practice of adding nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur) to assist in the microbial decomposition of stubbles incorporated into the soil, which will also help to increase soil organic matter and improve soil condition. Trial areas need to be about 2- 4 hectares and we will be using a granular fertiliser mix for the added nutrients.
“We have about 8 to 10 landholders already interested” says Justin. “This time around we are using solid granular fertiliser because if a landholder is going to adopt the practice on a larger scale it needs to be easy and quick to implement without too much bother. Granular fertiliser is easier to source and apply, however on a few sites we will do a comparison to a liquid fertiliser blend”.
As part of the project we will be working with Latrobe University to investigate changes to soil microbial populations as a result of the stubble incorporation.
If you are interested in participating please contact Rod (0458 390146) or Justin (0498 388391).
Photo Bill & Justin Decomposed stubbles
Revegetation Plantings, Summer Rain and Weeds
While rains of late Spring were beneficial for our tree plantings, they can also promote significant growth of grasses and weeds, which if not controlled can smother the trees. Now you have done all the hard work, don’t compromise it by letting weeds over grow the site as replanting is a lot harder than controlling the weeds. Keep on eye on sites watch for phalaris and hog weed or wire weed in particular. If weed control is required we have a few options in regard to use of sprays. Contact us for more information or assistance.
Weed Control over summer makes a difference - These photos are taken in May about 7 months after planting.
This newsletter has been funded by the Australian Federal Government’s “Victorian Volcanic Plains Small Grants” Program and the Victorian State Government “Local Landcare Facilitator Initiative”
Lismore Land Protection Group
19 High Street (PO Box 28) Lismore, Victoria 3324 Ph: 03 5596 2384 Landcare Facilitators:
Rod Eldridge: 0458 390146 email: llpgrod@westnet.com.au Shari McConachy 0409 070089 email: llpgsharim@westnet.com.au Find us on the Landcare Gateway here
