You are invited to our AGM and the Lance McCaskill Memorial Address given this year by Emeritus Professor Dave Kelly: How will mast seeding respond under climate change? Recent discoveries show winners and losers.
At the University of Canterbury, Dave Kelly has worked for 37 years on mast seeding (intermittent, synchronous seed crops in perennial plants). Masting is common in New Zealand including in rimu, kahikatea, harakeke/flax, snow tussocks, and southern beech (Nothofagus). Nothofagus mast years create pest irruptions which the Department of Conservation now manage to protect threatened birds. But as climate change accelerates, we need to know how masting will be affected by rising mean temperatures. Using three examples from NZ and Europe, Dave will present recent research which shows that some plant species will have large reductions in seed output, but others will be unaffected.
The address will be preceded by a short AGM.
We will be calling for nominations for the positions of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and to join the Branch Committee. Please contact us with any questions or offers on northcanterbury.branch@forestandbird.org.nz
Note: there will be no public talk in June.