Root pathogens in threatened ecological communities under global change

Abstract

This thesis explored how root pathogen communities in Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) would shift in response to precipitation and elevated CO2. I also completed a survey of current root pathogen communities within the Sydney Basin. Anthropogenic climate change has increased atmospheric CO2 resulting in higher temperatures and more intense and frequent drought and precipitation events. Root pathogens, in particular oomycetes, are reliant on water to germinate and infect their host. However, they can also persist during unfavourable conditions such as drought by producing protective structures. These pathogens have caused widespread dieback in the Jarrah Forest in Western Australia and sudden oak death in North America. This study focuses on root pathogens within TECs in the Sydney Basin, TECs are defined by a unique suite of coexisting flora and fauna and associated abiotic conditions. These ecological communities are important because they provide habitat and migratory corridors for vulnerable species. Within the Sydney basin these communities have been cleared for agricultural purposes and urban expansion as a result they are highly stressed and vulnerable to climatic changes and pathogen invasions.

Date of Award	2020
Original language	English