Were you ever interested about the insects, birds and marsupials pollinating our flowers? Flowers compete to attract pollinators using colours, scents and shapes tailored for pollinator-specific sensory systems. Some flowers have evolved to attract relatively specific pollinators, presumably to increase pollen transfer within a species. Differences between plants in their flower types, pollination mechanisms and biotic or abiotic pollen vectors are classified into pollination strategies.

A study into pollination strategies of all plants in our biodiversity hotspot (9000 plants) identified that the complexity of pollination evolution here is globally unique and has major consequences for rare flora management and ecosystem restoration, especially due to increasing habitat degradation, fire and climate change.

Dr Mark Brundrett Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia and Research Associate of the West Australian Herbarium is co-author of a study into the pollination of southwest Australian plants. He will give a fascinating talk about the relationships between floral characteristics and animal association with many excellent photos.

Doors open at 7.10 pm and the meeting begins at 7.30 pm at the Hew Roberts Lecture Theatre, University of Western Australia, Nedlands. Parking is available at the Gordon St or Clifton St entrances to the campus.  All are welcome to attend, with a donation of $3 for members or $5 for non-members giving you a chance to win the door prize (EFTPOS available).  The main presentation will be followed by a short “focus” talk, after which you are welcome to join us for tea/coffee and conversation.