North Queensland Wet Tropics Research
5. Research in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area
Research has included studies of rainforest bird recovery in restored plantings along the Barron River which Kuranda EnviroCare has managed for many years, and nearby bird impacts monitoring in Yellow Crazy Ant infestations, and general surveys on several private properties. Current work on the root parasite Balanophora fungosa and its potential pollinators is interesting with Musky Rat Kangaroos and other vertebrates appearing to take nectar or pollen from male flowers - see representative videos of Musky Rat Kangaroos below (others to be added).
Noisy Pitta are one of the last species to colonise rainforest plants
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The Barron River Kuranda Nth QLD, Australia
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A Musky rat-kangaroo feeds on the root parasite Balanophora fungosa
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Publication and reports on Ray's Wet Tropics projects
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Pierce R, Ogle C. 2018. Musky Rat Kangaroos and other vertebrates feeding from the flowers of the root parasite Balanophora fungosa. NQ Naturalist 47:14-20.
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Pierce R, Schultz P, Scott K, Stowe R. 2017 (in prep). Trends in rainforest bird use of revegetated corridors along the banks of the Barron River, Kuranda. NQ Nat.