Reference herbarium of Low Isles
A four-folder herbarium of the floral species of Low and Woody Islands, dating to 1999 — and the foundation for an exciting future comparative study.
Downloadable report: Terrestrial Vegetation of Low Isles
Mary Gandini (1999–2000) — prepared for Dept of Environment and Heritage & James Cook University
Four folders comprising a reference herbarium of the floral species of Low and Woody Islands have recently been returned to the Low Isles caretakers by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
The folders include GPS coordinates and physical samples, and date back to 1999. The herbarium was compiled by Mary Gandini and covers the period April 1999 to March 2000, representing a full year of systematic botanical surveying across Low Isles.
The objective of the study was to record the vascular plants of Low Isles and to collect a reference herbarium of the various families, genera and species growing on the island. The resulting report, prepared for the Department of Environment and Heritage and James Cook University, remains the most comprehensive botanical survey of the island to date.
The island seed bank
There is also a seed bank on Low Isles that dates back to a mid-1990s study conducted by researchers on PIP droppings collected with the help of LIPS volunteers. The seeds recovered that could be identified were recorded, and the unidentified ones were sent to a nursery in the Tablelands for germination, allowing further species to be named.
The resulting seedlings were then used to revegetate barren areas on Low and Snapper Islands — a practical conservation outcome that directly improved habitat on both islands.
The connection between the PIP diet study and the seed bank is a compelling example of how citizen science monitoring can generate conservation outcomes beyond the original research objective — the birds themselves are actively shaping the island's vegetation.
Proposed future research
LIPS is proposing a suite of new studies to update the baseline data from the 1990s and deepen our understanding of how Low Isles vegetation has changed over 26 years. If you'd like to get involved, please get in touch.
New plant species survey
Engage support to conduct a current survey of plant species on Low and Woody Islands and compare to the 1999–2000 reference herbarium — a 26-year comparison.
PIP diet project update
Collect and identify the content of PIP droppings using the same methodology as the 1994 pilot and 1997/98 formalised study, germinating seeds to determine species.
Bird–vegetation study
Compare the two studies to determine how much of the island's current vegetation is a consequence of bird transfer — establishing the ecological role of PIPs as seed dispersers.