Record Brook Valley - Stewart Tree
Research Project
Year 1 - August 2020 /August 2021
Year 2 - August 2021/                     

Abstract:

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The Record Brook Valley Stewart Karri Tree research project commenced in August 2020 with the purpose of recording and preserving information on the flora fauna and fungi in the previously intact ecosystem around the Stewart Tree.  

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When I first went along on a search for the Stewart Tree I observed some sparkly fluorescent orange yellow and green blobs. I assumed it was children's rubbish which I went to remove with a stick.  To my astonishment it moved. When it was later identified as an ancient slime mould I was captivated.

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Shortly after, a photo I took near the Stewart Tree of an unknown spider hole was identified as a Mygalomorphae Wishbone spider who first lived 400,000 million years ago. A Gondwanna creature.  I sat back and wondered how much of this ecosystem sustained links connecting it to the earliest forms of  life? And what could we learn from this?

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I had already identified the area was a significant animal habitat on my first visit to the inundation zone with tunnels and tracks of wildlife.  Photographic data shows it was an intact piece of thicket essential to protect our rare marsupials.

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And that's how I came to start this scientific study with weekly field trips recording Longitudinally Repeated Observations.  During the year over 80 field trips have been completed  so far, with a minimum one each week and over 10,000 photographs taken. The data from the first year of the study is  being processed and analysed.

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Purpose: Is there evidence to support initial observations  indicating that Record Brook Valley contains a rare intact functioning ecosystem that still supports some of the first forms of life?

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Method: A longditudinal study with regular repeated observations.

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ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Water:

Record Brook is supplied by springs as well as some runoff, mainly from native forest.

Testing by DBCA /University of WA show it has a different profile to the Donnelly River. The low salt levels indicate it is water that is not contaminated by chemicals from farm runoff.

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Due to climate change, logging and agricultural demands the  water table has lowered. This has caused early senescence of the Stewart Tree and other large Karri on the side of the valley.  Due to climate change Record Brook generally only flows in winter now.

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The water catchment area is small. The Record Brook Valley is  surrounded by logged and partially logged forests with the thirsty regrowth reducing the amount of water entering the aquifer.  There is scope the water flow could be regenerated by thinning these coupes and restoring them to sustainable forest ecosystems.

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Terrain:

The steep south facing side of the valley is protected from the sun. Very little light reaches the ground and the lower vegetation.  This is particularly of note in winter,  the low light levels are included in the photography metadata. 

The air has a humidity factor at the lower levels of the ravine even in the heat of summer. This is an area that needs further testing and investigation.

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Fauna:

This study has revealed the existence of the Mygalomorphae spider, known as the Wish Bone spider.  It has been identified as existing for at  least 400 thousand years.  This little creature was around when dinosaurs roamed the planet during the Jurassic Period. There are a number of other unidentified trapdoor spiders and their tunnels.

 

Environmental Scientist Jenny Carley volunteered to help identify the animals who were leaving extensive evidence of regular diggings.

Jenny was able to obtain photographic data of the endangered Mainland Quokka within metres of the Stewart Tree. This is particularly significant because the SFIS permit precludes any drilling or exploration if there is a quokka colony.  This is the first on the ground investigation of Record Brook Valley.  The evidence presented by the SFIS to obtain permits did not involve actual surveys on the ground. They relied on  "desktop surveys" none of which were from the Record Brook Valley.

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We have been informed by The Numbat Taskforce that what was assumed to be a Phascogayle observed at the Stewart Tree during the day was more likely to be a numbat because they are diurnal whereas the Phascogayle is nocturnal.  Further investigation planned in year two.

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There is pictorial evidence of extensive Quenda diggings confirmed by an Indigenous tracker as well as in situ viewings of the diggings by both a scientist and an  experienced bushman.

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Echidna digging are also recorded as well as a number of small insects and lizards.

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Fungi

There is an extensive amount of fungi and slime mould, with connection to the earliest forms of life, in the study area.  Only ten percent of the fungi in Australia have been submitted for identification. We have data on at least one previously unknown turquoise Entoloma sp.

Further identification is currently being undertaken.

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Flora

Karri forest flora is standard through the area. Karri Cowslip orchid and Karri Oak, native clematis and wisteria. There is one unusual Pithocarpa which has been identified. The data on flora is still being processed.

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Forms of Helmut, Mosquito Greenhood, Snail and Bunny Orchids are documented, data being assessed.

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