LANDSCOPE Magazine Volume 39, Number 4

Front cover The Rowley Shoals are home to vivid nudibranchs, also called sea slugs, like this Goniobranchus kuniei. Photo – Peter Nicholas Back cover Rowley Shoals Marine Park. Photo – Tourism WA LANDSCOPE is produced and printed on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar, the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. We pay respects to them, their Elders past and present and to all Aboriginal people and acknowledge their continuing connection to lands across Western Australia.…

We are living in an increasingly complex world, and the pace of change can be relentless. An open inquiring mind is essential for thriving in this environment and innovation is a critical component of driving improvements—to not only what we do, but how we do it. Thoughts of innovation often go to digital transformation, and this is an important aspect of maintaining effectiveness in an increasingly connected world. Of course, innovation is much broader and can be applied in all business contexts. Innovation is fundamental to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) as a science-based organisation, and innovation is evident in our science endeavors as well as our management practices. This issue of LANDSCOPE highlights some of the innovations being implemented in DBCA’s science programs. Ghost bats are…

Dr Andrew Crawford is the manager of DBCA’s Western Australian Seed Centre. Andrew has been collecting native seeds for more than 30 years and started seed conservation work with DBCA in 2001. Andrew’s work covers all aspects of the seed conservation process; from seed collection and processing, to seed storage and testing, generating plants for translocations, as well as seed-focused research aiding in threatened species management and recovery. Lauren Hawkins is a research scientist with DBCA’s Ecosystem Science program. She uses ecoacoustics to study the acoustic communities residing within the south-west forests of Western Australia. Her research aims to improve scientific understanding of the ecological functions, habitat quality, and acoustic biodiversity of these ecosystems to inform the monitoring of forest health. Dr Kym Ottewell is a senior research scientist and…

Poets corner Through the beautiful expanse of YellagongaOn my bicycle or just to wanderPedalling past groves of paperbarkHearing the call of mudlark Out on the lakes are swans and cootsThe odd looking musk duck gives loud hootsMakuru season brings the rainFungi multitudes flourish again Spring time wisteria flowering purpleAt Neil Hawkins you may sight a turtleAround the edges of the lakesOne may sight frogs hunted by snakes Overhead in cloudless skyA whistling kite issues a cryTake some time off your phoneThrough Yellagonga enjoy a roam This issue of LANDSCOPE features a reader’s poem in place of the regular reader’s pic, which will return next issue. If you’ve got a fantastic nature photograph you would like to see published, send it along with a 100-word description of the species or where…

Work is underway on the $4.2 million Yalbunullup mountain bike trails project at the northern end of Yellagonga Regional Park. The family-friendly, seven-kilometre trail network is due to be completed by spring 2024, with the project also including a new carpark, toilets, shade pavilion, yarning circle and interpretive signage. Located at the corner of Lakeside Drive and Joondalup Drive, the new infrastructure will have a view across Lake Joondalup and was designed to complement the surrounding bushland setting. The name Yalbunullup reflects the Noongar name for the site. A smoking ceremony and site blessing was held in April ahead of construction getting underway. The trails will be suitable for beginner and intermediate riders.…

Funding of $1.43 million over five years has been provided by philanthropic organisation the Ian Potter Foundation in a bid to learn more about the peatlands’ strong carbon storage capabilities in critical peatland ecosystems in Western Australia’s south-west. The Protecting Peatland Ecosystems and Addressing Threats (PEAT) project is being undertaken by Edith Cowan University (ECU), the University of Western Australia (UWA), the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and the WA Museum. Researchers are investigating the ecosystems of the 363,000-hectare Walpole Wilderness area—home to rare species including the sunset frog and the Albany pitcher plant fly (Badisis ambulans). The project will involve sampling and fully characterising peatland diversity to assist with management of its biodiversity, carbon and bushfire risk. The collaboration is guided by Elders from the Walpole-Nornalup National…