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Understanding the genetic diversity and relatedness between plants is critical for understanding their ability to reproduce. If plants are too closely related inbreeding may limit the quality of seeds and the survival of seedlings.  Equally important to a species survival is the environment in which seeds germinate and grow, too dry or too hot and the seedlings may die, or the seeds may not even germinate. For the Little Mountain Palm which only occurs on the very summit cloud forests of two mountains on Lord Howe Island, these factors are doubly important. 

Project lead: Amy Smith (Honours). Supervised by Mark Ooi, Chantelle Doyle, Tom Le Breton 

This study aims to address two questions essential to conserving the critically endangered Little Mountain Palm Lepidorrhachis mooreana.  The first being, is there genetic mixing between plants or is the population occurring on Mt Gower suffering inbreeding which may limit seed production and seedling growth? The second is, will climate change associated increasing temperatures and reduction in cloud canopy (drying) result in a loss of suitable habit and put the species at greater risk of extinction?

This project is in collaboration with the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and the Lord Howe Island Board.