TY  - JOUR
A1  - Beckers, Doug
A1  - Offord, Catherine A.
T1  - Waratah theft in Brisbane Water National Park - an analysis of the blue paint poaching reduction program
T2  - Cunninghamia : a journal of plant ecology for eastern Australia
N2  - The flowers of Waratahs, Telopea speciosissima (family Proteaceae) are regularly harvested illegally from natural bushland, particularly close to urban areas such as the New South Wales Central Coast. The removal of Waratah blooms from the wild may have implications for the long-term survival of local populations because of the interaction between wildfire events, subsequent flowering and limited seedling recruitment opportunities. To reduce the incidence of theft, blue acrylic paint was applied to blooms to reduce their commercial value. The painting of blooms in 2004 did not significantly reduce the incidence of wildflower theft when compared to unpainted blooms, but overall losses were lower (27%) than in 2003 (33%). However, painting of blooms had a deleterious affect on fruit production on plants with multiple heads with painted blooms having significantly reduced fruit set compared to unpainted blooms. Painting of blooms had no significant effect on seed quality (seed production per fruit, seed germination or seedling vigour) when compared to unpainted blooms. The painting of Waratah blooms to reduce theft was relatively ineffective and decreased fruit production. Alternative strategies should be considered to reduce wildflower theft in the area.
Y1  - 2010
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/29316
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-293168
SN  - 2200-405X
SN  - 0727-9620
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
SP  - 287
EP  - 293
PB  - Mount Annan Botanic Garden, The Administration Officer
CY  - Mount Annan, NSW
ER  -