"THE KINGDOM OF FUNGI - variety and importance" Without fungi, life as we know it would not exist. Fungi play essential roles in the environment: as mycorrhizal partners with plants, as recyclers of organic material in all ecosystems and in the formation and maintenance of soil structure and functioning. Mycologist Pam Catcheside will look at the fungal kingdom, the variety of fungi, their ecology and their roles in the environment. Pam Catcheside was born in London, England, studied Botany at…

"THE RISE OF ANIMAL LIFE: THE CAMBRIAN ‘EXPLOSION’ AND THE GOBE IN AUSTRALIA AND GONDWANA" The Cambrian fossils of Kangaroo Island are among the most important in the Southern Hemisphere, and they represent the earliest complex animals in the planet. The green paddocks of KI provide a window to the oceans of half a billion years ago, in which the ancestors of today’s lobsters, clams and whiting lived. However, these ancient marine organisms look very different from their modem descendants……

ARID LANDS BOTANIC GARDEN John will cover the history of the Arid Lands Botanic Garden since he first proposed the establishment of the Garden in 1981, development of the Garden, the role of the “Friends” support group and the status of the Garden today. John is an experienced horticulturist with broad knowledge of ornamental horticulture in South Australia, particularly in the arid zone, and a passion for plants and gardening. Trained at the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, worked at Leigh…

HOW TO BUILD A NATIONAL PARK Alan is a CPA qualified accountant with a lifelong passion for the environment. Having had a fascination for birds from a young age, after settling in the southern suburbs in the mid-1980s, he had a desire to see local open space preserved for nature. Increasing losses of open space had occurred and starting as a member of Trees for Life, Alan’s first efforts were plantings in the O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park. In 1996 an…

RESTORING THE REEFS WE NEVER KNEW WE LOST Dr. Dominic McAfee is a University of Adelaide Research Associate in the School of Biological Sciences.   I am a marine ecologist with a special interest in shellfish ecology. My research is heavily focused on applied marine conservation management and restoration ecology. Much of my research has focused on the capacity of wild oyster populations to protect coastal biodiversity from the extremities of climate change. The majority of this work has been…

6.30pm B.C.S.A. A.G.M. 7.00pm Public Talk on Protecting Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats in the Mallee Southern hairy nosed wombats are the state fauna emblem. Protection efforts began in the 1960s after a severe drought. Moorunde Wildlife Reserve was established in 1968 and is now home to about 2000 wombats. In a climate of hostility towards them from surrounding landowners, Moorunde remains a haven for the species. Presented by Dr. Peter Clements, President, Wombats SA   Entry by donation (minimum of $2).…

Parasites: the silent majority. The world’s biota probably includes more parasitic than non-parasitic species. Analyses of biodiversity have indicated that although more species of insect have been described and more are awaiting description than for any other group, each of  those species will host at least 1 species of nematode as well as other ecto and endo parasites. As shown in a case study of wombat nematodes, parasites have important roles to play within ecosystems and have evolutionary value. Presented…

Public Talk by Professor Robert S. Hill, Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide Evolution of the southern Australian vegetation – the World’s biggest climate change experiment Professor Robert Hill will explain how 45 million years ago, southern Australia was attached to Antarctica and was covered in diverse and dense tropical rainforest. Through time, the climate has dried, and the rainforests have been replaced by a mosaic of dry-adapted vegetation.   Entry by donation (minimum of $2). Bookings not required Please…