The Ecological Society of Australia is pleased to announce Ted Wiedemeyer as the recipient of the 2024 Applied Forest Ecology Scholarship. Ted is a Masters by Research student with the University of Melbourne.

Alpine ash (Eucalyptus Delegatensis) has a delicate relationship with fire – its seeds require burning to germinate, but will not recover if its foliage is burnt. This means that if fires occur more frequently than new individuals can reach seed-producing maturity, the species risks local eradication. 

With anthropogenic climate change driving hotter and drier conditions, the likelihood of frequent, high intensity bushfires is increasing. This places the alpine ash in danger of becoming exceedingly rare or replaced by other vegetation types.

“Losing alpine ash communities has implications for important ecosystem values,” said Ted. 

“Alpine ash forests capture carbon at an extremely high density, regulate water quality, are part of the cultural landscape for traditional owners, provide recreational and tourism value to the Australian Alps and offer key habitat for vulnerable long-nosed potoroos and yellow-bellied gliders as well as endangered spotted-tail quolls and gang gang cockatoos.”

To help manage this threat, Ted’s research aims to identify the spatial predictors of alpine ash seedcrop production and map the amounts of seedcrop production across their extent. He also aims to estimate the future effects of climate and fire regime changes upon seedcrop abundance and distribution.

“Ted’s models and maps of current and future seed crop occurrence and abundance will be an important tool in the conservation of this iconic forest type in Victoria,” said research supervisor Dr Benjamin Wagner. 

“It will help government and forest managers assess the threat status of this species and plan future seed crop collection and sowing efforts.”

Ted will formally receive this award at ESA 2024 in Melbourne this December.

“It’s very gratifying and motivating to have the importance of my research and of these amazing forests recognised,” he said.

“The scholarship will allow me to visit more remote sites and in turn build a more comprehensive model of alpine ash seed production. It will also give me the chance to present my research to a large audience, which is exciting.”

Runner-up was Lyndon Kidman from the University of Western Australia for their project Macrozamia riedlei and the floristic signature of traditional Noongar habitation sites in south-west Australia.