Talk: Does weed control benefit native plants in limestone ecosystems?

🌿 Speaker: Dr. Debra Wotton
🏛️ Director and Principal Ecologist, Moa’s Ark Research; Research Associate, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury

Limestone outcrops in the eastern South Island are known for their incredible diversity of native plants, featuring many endemic herbs and a significant number of threatened species. 🚨 Almost half of the specialist limestone taxa in this region are classified as Threatened or Data Deficient, with many experiencing dramatic declines in recent decades.

Weed invasions are prevalent in these unique ecosystems and are believed to contribute to the decline of native flora. Although weed management occurs at some sites, it does not always yield positive effects for native biodiversity. 🌱

Join Debra as she explores her research on whether weed control enhances the native dominance of vegetation and promotes the reproduction, survival, and recruitment of threatened plant species within limestone ecosystems. She will also showcase special limestone plant species at the Lance McCaskill Nature Reserve, the first reserve in New Zealand dedicated to protecting a native plant.

🗓️ In-person and via Zoom: Join here
📍 Location: Victoria University of Wellington Student Health, Salamanca Rd, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand