Scientists are digging into the bark of ancient trees to uncover their hidden stories. In the Gwydir Wetlands of northern New South Wales, some coolabahs and river red gums are believed to be around 500 years old.
Researchers from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW), along with the University of Newcastle, used advanced techniques called dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating. These methods help them study the age and growth of these floodplain eucalypts.
Kathryn Taffs from the DCCEEW highlighted a coolabah measuring 176 centimeters in diameter, which is the oldest tree they’ve studied. “This magnificent tree has survived for over 500 years,” she shared, calling it a “matriarch” of the wetlands.
Dr. Taffs explains that the traditional methods to age such trees were complex. They use a special drill to extract a tiny core from the tree. This method is safe and doesn’t harm the tree. The small sample lets them analyze the tree’s growth rings.
The researchers discovered that these trees can tell us about past droughts and floods through their growth patterns. Taffs mentioned they found six significant periods when the trees produced seeds, which led to new saplings. These “mass recruitment events” occurred during major environmental changes in the 1500s, 1600s, 1800s, and early 1900s.
Understanding the needs of these trees is crucial for their future. “Delivering water to these floodplains is vital for the trees to reproduce,” Dr. Taffs noted.
Climate scientist Danielle Verdon-Kidd from the University of Newcastle emphasized the study’s significance. “This research offers insights into past climate and water conditions in regions with limited historical records,” she explained.
Richard Kingsford, director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at UNSW, sees the broader implications of this research for wetlands across Australia. He highlighted the importance of understanding the natural rhythm of rivers and the history of their flooding.
Overall, this study not only reveals the age and history of the coolabahs and river red gums but also poses vital questions about environmental water management in the face of climate change. The findings will contribute to New South Wales’s Environmental Outcomes Monitoring and Research Program, shaping future water management strategies.
For more information on environmental research and its implications, you can refer to DCCEEW.
Source link
Water, Science, Tree dating, Drought, Wetlands, gwydir wetlands, coolabah trees, river red gums, climate change, flood plain
