Melaleuca irbyana field work finalised!

Posted byDr Eleanor VelasquezPosted inUncategorized

So last week a very special day occurred – I finally finished the field work I needed to complete for my research into the critically endangered Melaleuca irbyana regional ecosystem. These magnificent forests are filled with the silent papery whispers of the Melaleuca irbyana trees, eerily beautiful, however sadly they are definitely an ecosystem on the edge. I definitely enjoyed my time examining the remnant populations of this tree – which occur as island-like monocultures either bordering eucalypt forests or within a matrix of urban and peri-urban development. Here are some snaps I managed to take in between measuring literally 1000’s of trees – I hope you enjoy them!

Tick orchid (Dockrillia linguiforme) on old growth M. bracteata, Bottlebrush Park, Jimboomba. © Eleanor Velasquez
fringed water lilly
Funnel web on M. bracteata, Bottlebrush Park, Jimboomba. © Eleanor Velasquez
tick orchid
Drosera spp. (sundew)
Butterfly, Henderson Nature Reserve. © Eleanor Velasquez
Spider in remnant Melaleuca irbyana reserve, Moffatt Park, Waterford West. © Eleanor Velasquez
Frog eggs in remnant Melaleuca irbyana habitat, Henderson Nature Reserve. © Eleanor Velasquez
Melaleuca irbyana old growth, Henderson Reserve. © Eleanor Velasquez
Eastern grey buck, Purga Nature Reserve. © Eleanor Velasquez
Rufous whistler, Purga Nature Reserve. © Eleanor Velasquez

Published by Dr Eleanor Velasquez

I have always had a deep affinity for the natural world and feel most at home deep in the jungle or 18 meters down on a dive. I previously worked in the Queensland Government for eight years developing legislation and policies for environmental management and protection. During this time I worked on many projects that aimed to protect our precious environmental assets such as the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland’s remaining Wild Rivers. While working on these projects I realised that there was not always enough scientific information to properly back up the policy decisions the government needed to make. And I realised that contributing to scientific knowledge via research is one way I can help to fix this problem. I can only hope that the work I do somehow helps mankind and allows others to more fully understand our connections to the natural world.

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