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Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society

The Heino Lepp and Diana Leemon gallery of fungi photographs – Part 1

Updated on date by author

We are privileged to be able to showcase a portfolio of photographs by Heino Lepp, Honorary Manager of the Mycology section of the Australian National Botanic Garden. who photographed the Island’s fungi in 1994, 1995 and 1997, identifying as many as he could.

Catalogue list

In the gallery, hover on each image to ascertain the file name which embodies the identification. Refer to the Catalogue list or the list in alphabetical order of botanical names for further information.

 

Part 1 (this part) includes 100 images by Heino Lepp. Since the gallery was uploaded, he has identified no. 1188 – 21 rows down or 5 rows up, second column from left – as Resupinatus applicatus. Another photo of this species is available, identified by doctoral student Jennifer McDonald.

 

 

 

Posted in Endemic Flora |

The Heino Lepp and Diana Leemon gallery of fungi photographs – Parts 3 and 4

Updated on date by author

 

As explained in the first post in this series, Heino Lepp was Honorary Manager of the Mycology section of the Australian National Botanic Garden. He photographed the Island’s fungi in 1994, 1995 and 1997, identifying as many as he could. His photographs have been digitised by Society Life Member Mark Hallam and the images matched with names by Dr Diana Leemon, of the Queensland Mycological Society, who has also contributed some additional images, in this gallery, Part 3.

For Part 3, hover your mouse over each photo to read the file title which embodies the identification. Then refer to the Catalogue list and the list in alphabetical order of botanical name for further information.

 

Part 3 – 52 images

 

Part 4 – Lepista sublilacina – 35 images

Posted in Endemic Flora |

The Heino Lepp and Diana Leemon gallery of fungi photographs – Part 2

Updated on date by author

Another tranche of images from the Heino Lepp collection. Hover your mouse over each photo to read the file title which embodies the identification. Then refer to the Catalogue list and the list in alphabetical order of botanical name for further information.

As explained in the Part 1 post, Heino Lepp was Honorary Manager of the Mycology section of the Australian National Botanic Garden. He photographed the Island’s fungi in 1994, 1995 and 1997, identifying as many as he could. These photographs have been digitised by Society Life Member Mark Hallam and the images matched with names by Dr Diana Leemon, of the Queensland Mycological Society, who has also contributed some additional images, in Parts 3 and 4.

Posted in Endemic Flora |

Bee survey 2022

Updated on date by author

The honey bee population on Norfolk Island is unique from a pest and disease perspective. No other honey bee population in the world has fewer pests and pathogens. This important finding was confirmed in 2022 by a survey by Dr John Roberts of CSIRO. The report recommended that ongoing surveillance in Norfolk Island as part of the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program be resourced. Read the report here. The report can also be found on the Department’s website: Norfolk Island bee pest survey 2021–2022. The Department has summarised the results as follows:

 

“Honey bees are an important part of the ecosystem and culture of Norfolk Island. Honey bees support food security through reliable pollination services as well as producing honey and hive products. Having access to up-to-date information on bee pests and diseases is critical to maintaining the Island’s bee biosecurity.

In December 2022 and April 2023, Dr John Roberts visited Norfolk Island to conduct surveys of the honey bee population. Under the guidance of Norfolk Island’s beekeepers, Dr Roberts collected samples from bees, honey and hives to test for pests and diseases. He sampled 67 bee colonies (approximately 50% of all managed colonies) and inspected and tested for 16 pests and diseases.

The key findings of the survey are:

  • Since the last 2012–14 survey, no new honey bee pests or diseases were detected in Norfolk Island honey bees.
  • All previously reported pests and diseases were detected, including
    • high prevalence and infection levels of the gut parasite, Nosema ceranae
    • high prevalence of Lake Sinai virus, a common bee virus group with no known disease
    • low detection of the lesser wax moth (Achroia gresella), a minor hive pest.
  • The honey bee population on Norfolk Island is unique from a pest and disease perspective. No other honey bee population in the world has fewer pests and pathogens.

The report made three recommendations:

  • Permit only commercial importation of certified irradiated honey into Norfolk Island.
  • Resource ongoing surveillance in Norfolk Island as part of the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program.
  • Registration for all Norfolk Island beekeepers and encouraging beekeepers to perform regular hive inspections in line with Australia’s Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice.

 

Posted in Insects, Invasive Species, Weak Biosecurity |

The Conservation of Norfolk Island

Updated on date by author

In 1968, the Australian Conservation Foundation, Australia’s peak environmental community organisation, published a 50-page booklet, The Conservation of Norfolk Island (4.5 MB). The booklet was reprinted in 1969 and 1975. The PDF file has been optimised for web use. A scanned version with greater resolution is available (111 MB).

Along with justification for an ethic of conservation, the report includes descriptions of local areas, recommendations about conservation and appendices with lists of the species of plants and animals.

Posted in Fauna, Flora, Natural History, Publications by Others |

The eucalypts

Updated on date by author

Many species of eucalypts have been planted on Norf’k, mainly scattered through the residential portions, except that there are some healthy stands of eucalypts (planted for future timber supply) within what is now the National Park, in the Anson Bay locality:

Eucalyptus microcorys    – Tallowwood

Eucalyptus paniculata     – Grey Ironbark

Eucalyptus maculata       – Spotted Gum

Eucalyptus pilularis         – Blackbutt

Eucalyptus grandis         – Flooded Gum

Eucalyptus acmenoides  – White Mahogany

Eucalyptus cloeziana      – Gympie Messmate

Eucalyptus fibrosa          – Broad-leaved Red Ironbark

Eucalyptus botryoides    – Bangalay, Southern Mahogany.

There is evidence that eucalypts have self-seeded on a couple of private properties but they have not become a recognised pest on the Island, even though they have done so in other countries such as California. Part of the reason may well be that ants carry off most of the seed, as they do in Australia (as much as 99% of seed fall).

Posted in Introduced Flora |

Quarantine (pests and diseases) Survey 2012-14

Updated on date by author

In 2012-2014 the Department of Agriculture conducted a comprehensive survey of the plant and animal pests and diseases of the Island, coordinated by resident Glynn Maynard. The report is publicly available.

Supporting data

The data amassed during the survey have been published open access as appendices to the following paper:

Maynard, G V, B J Leschi and S F Malfroy. 2018. “Norfolk island quarantine survey 2012-2014 – a comprehensive assessment of an isolated subtropical island“. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales Vol. 140: 7-243.

 

Posted in Introduced Flora, Invasive Fauna, Invasive Species, Publications by Others, Weak Biosecurity |

Madeira Vine

Updated on date by author

Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia) is a South American invader with bright green fleshy leaves and tubers growing both underground and at nodes along the trailing stems. There are numerous patches within the Hundred Acres reserve. The first photo is of a new patch heading up the nearest tree.

 

Once established, manual control is a painstaking task that must be repeatedly frequently to remove freshly sprouted bulbils before their tendrils generate strings of new ones. Also, it is very easy to mistake the worthy native spinach Tetragonia for Madeira Vine. In the second photo, a spinach is peeking out from the Madeira vine near the stick.

Posted in Introduced Flora, Invasive Weeds |