Wandoo crown decline

摘要

Wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) is one of several prominent tree species under severe stress in southwestern Australia. Others include tuart (E. gomphocephala), flooded gum (E. rudis) and marri (Corymbia calophylla). These cases of decline may have commoncauses. There have been several changes in the environment, varying from widespread clearing and related effects on local climate and hydrology, to impacts of fire management, commercial use of ecosystems, spread of introduced animals and the presence ofpollutants and agrochemicals. Also, in the southwest, rainfall has been declining for two to three decades. Given the significance of water in this region, any reduction is likely to have a considerable impact on ecosystems. It may not be a coincidencethat trees like wandoo, which dominate the ecosystems they occur in, are the first species that are affected.