Phytophthora disease in Barrington Tops National Park
New research conducted over the past six months has shown that Phytophthora cinnamomi, a soil-borne water mould, is causing substantial native plant dieback in a small area of Barrington Tops National Park.
The disease has the potential to spread further throughout the park. The NPWS needs to control any further spread while further research into the extent of the problem is conducted.
What is Phytophthora?
Phytophthora is a water mould that thrives in warm moist soils. It attacks the roots of plants, causing them to rot. The plants are unable to absorb enough water and nutrients. Phytophthora often causes plants to die. It is listed as a key threatening process under the Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Phytophthora was believed to have been introduced to Australia some time after the country was colonised. It's found in most states, particularly in high rainfall areas, and is a national problem. For example:
- In Stirling Ranges National Park in Western Australia, Phytophthora is responsible for damaging up to 50 per cent of the biodiversity of the park over 15 years.
- In Tasmania, Phytophthora has damaged large areas of myrtle beech forest.
Phytophthora is not a danger to people.
How does Phytophthora spread?
Phythophthora spreads via soil and water. People spread Phytophthora when they move infected soil or root material into an area. For example, infected material could be on:
- earthworking machinery
- boots and clothing worn by walkers, bush regeneration workers and other people going to an area
- the tyres and body of vehicles.
How was Phytophthora introduced into Barrington Tops National Park?
We are uncertain how Phytophthora was introduced, but the disease could have been transported via contaminated gravel on walking boots, vehicle tyres or on the hooves of pigs, horses or cattle.
Where is Phytophthora in the park? What damage will it do?
Phytophthora has been found on the plateau area in Barrington Tops National Park, predominantly on Watergauge Trail between Beean Beean and Big Hole. Further research into the spread of the disease will continue over the next few months.
The confirmation of the presence of Phytophthora on the plateau is of great concern to the NPWS. The potential damage caused by the water mould could be significant in the park and surrounds. A number of plant species that are vulnerable to Phytophthora are within a five-kilometre radius of the known location of the disease, including:
- shaggy pea
- Tasmanian pepper
- club moss.
The discovery of Phytophthora at an altitude of 1500 metres is also of considerable concern for park managers and scientists, as it is normally only found in areas below 800 metres. The spread of Phytophthora could have a major impact on the variety of plant life on the Barrington Plateau and potentially other areas.
Barrington Tops National Park and State Conservation Area contains a range of vegetation communities, including sub-alpine woodlands, Antarctic beech forests and temperate rainforests. Many of the species that occur in these communities are susceptible to Phytophthora.
What can we do to prevent the spread of Phytophthora?
In other areas, land managers have had little success in removing Phytophthora from an area once it has become established. The NPWS has taken various steps to contain the spread of the disease until more is known about the way it is spreading across the plateau. These steps include:
- Setting appropriate hygiene procedures, to ensure that NPWS staff and contractors working in the Barrington Tops carefully clean boots, vehicles and other equipment.
- Asking walkers to avoid the Watergauge Trail and Brumlow Swamp Track (see map above).
- Considering boot cleaning stations at major entry and exit points of the park for bushwalkers.
- Investigating the cost of upgrading the Barrington Trail to improve drainage, which would reduce contact of tyres with contaminated slurry.
- Carrying out a major public education campaign, to advise people of what they can do to ensure they don't walk Phytophthora across the Tops.
More information
Find out more about Phytophthora in the Barrington Tops, by contacting any of the following NPWS offices:
Page last updated: 27 February 2011