{"id":8773,"date":"2024-08-06T02:54:54","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T02:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/pond-apple-survey-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-04-03T20:48:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T20:48:13","slug":"pond-apple-survey-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/pond-apple-survey-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Pond apple survey work"},"content":{"rendered":"[mk_page_section bg_image=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/web-banner-lowland-rainforest-broadwater-dawe.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” min_height=”500″ js_vertical_centered=”true” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” section_id=”donate” el_class=”donate-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][mk_fancy_title font_family=”none” align=”center”]INVASIVE WEED CONTROL[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”67″][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789112768{padding-right: 36px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_left”][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”15″ visibility=”visible-sm”][mk_padding_divider visibility=”visible-tl”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” el_class=”terrain-title-2″]POND APPLE AERIAL SURVEYS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”60″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″ visibility=”visible-nb”][vc_column_text el_class=”sub-head” css=”.vc_custom_1722912960058{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]AUGUST 2024[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1722913472208{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Aerial surveys in the Tully and Murray Upper region have helped to understand the extent of pond apple, a Weed of National Significance, at the top end of these catchments.<\/p>\n

The Murray River catchment is the most southerly part of the region with major outbreaks of pond apple so the goal is to keep it from spreading further south to Cardwell, the Ingham district and beyond.<\/p>\n

Terrain NRM\u2019s Deb Bass said drones and a helicopter were used to search for pond apple after mapping wetland areas and selecting more than 25 survey sites.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is known there is pond apple in the Tully and Murray floodplain \u2013 we wanted to find out the extent of the problem further upstream,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

Two-year life cycle for pond apple seeds<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPond apple seeds have a two-year life cycle so if control work can continue for two to three years it is much more achievable to contain an outbreak.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsolated pond apple trees have been found further south in the Lower Herbert, but ongoing weed control by the Hinchinbrook Shire Council has prevented it from spreading. It has also been found in the Mackay region and some of the Torres Strait Islands. If pond apple is caught early, by removing mature trees from upper catchments and continuing to monitor for seedlings, there is a good chance of removing the seed bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recent aerial surveys identified more than 15 pond apple sites in wetland areas in the upper Tully and Murray catchments. The plant, which is listed as a Weed of National Significance, grows into thickets and can take over areas, especially swampy spots, impacting fish species and replacing whole ecosystems.<\/p>\n

2000 hectares covered by pond apple in the Wet Tropics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pond apple currently covers 2000 hectares in the Wet Tropics region. Its seeds and fruit spread via water, especially in floods, and via feral pigs. Terrain NRM removed more than 20,000 mature pond apple trees in the Upper Warrami and Corduroy Creek wetland areas of the Murray River catchment in recent years and followed up last year with seedling removals from the same sites.<\/p>\n

Treatment methods include mechanical control, herbicide control and fire, with a combination of those methods often used.<\/p>\n

Ms Bass said the survey results, which would be shared with relevant organisations, could be used to source funding and plan future whole-of-catchment weed control work.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789122720{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 34px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_right”][mk_padding_divider size=”206″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1722913310323{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"\"<\/p>\n

In some good news, pond apple was not detected in the Kennedy Valley, south of the Murray catchment, during recent aerial surveys.<\/p>\n

This project was funded by the Queensland Government as part of the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative. Terrain NRM worked with Canegrowers Tully, Sugar Research Australia, Cassowary Coast Regional Council, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Biosecurity Queensland, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Queensland Department of Resources.<\/p>\n

For more information about pond apple, visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au and search for \u2018pond apple\u2019.<\/p>\n

POND APPLE: FAST FACTS<\/strong>
\nIntroduced as a grafting stock for custard apple.
\nCovers 2000 hectares in the Wet Tropics region, growing in thickets and taking over areas, especially swampy spots.
\nPond apple can replace whole ecosystems.
\nIdentification: A 3m-15m semi-deciduous woody tree with grey bark, alternate leaves 70-120cm long with a prominent midrib, creamy white to light yellow flowers and fruit that looks like a custard apple.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section el_class=”grean-btn-sec” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”47″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_button dimension=”outline” url=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/what-we-do\/waterway-health\/murray-and-mossman\/” align=”right” el_class=”green-btn” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_color=”#175137″ outline_active_text_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#175137″ outline_hover_color=”#ffffff”]Read More[\/mk_button][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1-blog” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”105″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” align=”right” el_class=”terrain-title”]RELATED NEWS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” fullwidth_content=”false” id=”post_grid_filter_1″][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”grid_greate_3″ css=”.vc_custom_1743713270854{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n

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