New species discovered at Henbury Bush Blitz!
A team of 15 scientists and five teachers have spent the last 12
days and nights scouring Henbury Station, near Alice Springs, for new plant and
animal species as part of Australia’s largest biodiversity discovery program—
Bush Blitz.
At this blitz scientists believe they have found a new species of bee, scorpion,
plant and some spiders—as well as healthy populations of desert fish.
Bush Blitz manager Jo Harding is very excited by the discoveries.
“This is the seventeenth Bush Blitz we’ve done and it has been a huge success.
It looks like scientists have found a previously unknown plant as well as spiders,
true bugs and bees. The next step is to get the samples back to the labs so they
can be examined in more detail,” Jo said.
“So, despite a wet and cold start to the expedition, which saw reptiles burrowing
into the sand and invertebrates making themselves pretty scarce, we’ve had a lot
of success.
“The teams have had a busy and productive time scouring the property for
spiders, true bugs, plants, bees, stygofauna, dragonflies, frogs, reptiles, fish and
mammals!
“The fish have really piqued everyone’s interest. To survive out here, they have
had to adapt. They move through the desert via any water they can find. For
example, the spangled grunter, which we have found here on Henbury, has been
known to swim 20 kilometres in six hours along a tyre rut!
“What we find tells a story—it helps us build a clearer picture of the amazing
biodiversity of this remote part of the continent.
“In total, the Bush Blitz program has discovered more than 650 species new to
science since it began in 2009.
“This is exciting for everyone—not just for the scientists, but for all Australians.
The information from Bush Blitz helps us understand what we have, where it is
and what’s going on - and helps us better conserve and manage our biodiversity
now and for future generations.
“The discoveries are particularly important when you consider that up to 75 per
cent of Australia’s biodiversity is yet to be discovered. There are thousands of
small insects and the like that are yet to be scientifically described.
“There’s still a tremendous amount to learn about our biodiversity and it’s the job
of Bush Blitz to get out there and discover it. If we don’t know what’s out there,
how can we protect it?” she said.
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For the first time, science teachers from across Australia have joined
the team as part of the Bush Blitz TeachLive program. Bush Blitz
TeachLive is coordinated by Earthwatch Australia and the
Australian Science Teachers Association
One of the teachers involved in Bush Blitz TeachLive, Ms Cassie Duykers from
Nhulunbuy High School, speaks about her experience.
“The Bush Blitz TeachLive program has given me the most wonderful
opportunity. I have done some amazing things like work with some of Australia’s
top scientists searching for native snails and collecting plant specimens,” said
Cassie.
“When we go out collecting invertebrates, we attach a giant net attached to the
top of a car. As we drive along it captures all the bugs, bees and butterflies. It’s a
bit like a scientific scene out of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
“Another highlight has been flying in a helicopter to spectacular gorges in the
north-west of the property. It was amazing!
“For me, the best bit has been the ability to relay my experiences back to the
students in the classroom via skype and video blogs.
“They have loved the interaction. TeachLive links the theory they learn in the
classroom with practical research in the field.
“The students have been able to ask scientists questions directly and get
immediate answers. We’ve been able to show them snakes, tarantulas, fish and
witchetty moths that we have caught.
“As teachers, we are always working hard to inspire the next generation of
Australian scientists. TeachLive makes that so easy!” she said.
The knowledge gained during the Henbury Bush Blitz will be published for use by
land managers, scientists and researchers across Australia and the world. It will
also help Henbury’s owners, R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings, to manage the
property’s abundant biodiversity for years to come.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
For visuals go to Bush Blitz media centre: www.bushblitz.org.au/mediacentre.php
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QUICK FACTS
Henbury Station

Henbury Station was purchased by R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings in 2011 and is
being managed for conservation as part of Australia’s National Reserve System.

The Australian Government provided $9.2 million towards the purchase, to ensure
Henbury’s outstanding biodiversity is permanently protected for future generations. It is
the largest property ever purchased for the National Reserve System with Australian
Government support.

Henbury was previously run as a cattle station, but cattle have now been removed
allowing the native vegetation and wildlife to regenerate.

The 500,000 hectare property is home to various threatened species including the
bustard, southern marsupial mole and the black-footed wallaby. They live in the red
gum, desert oak and mulga woodlands, shrublands and hummock grasslands, which
provide habitat for other threatened species including the Peter Latz wattle and the
thick-billed grass wren.
Bush Blitz

Bush Blitz is a multi-million dollar partnership program between the Australian
Government, global resources company BHP Billiton and not-for-profit conservation
research organisation Earthwatch Australia. This program, to document and discover the
plants and animals in properties across Australia’s National Reserve System, also
involves CSIRO, museums, herbaria and governments across Australia, dozens of the
country’s top scientists and science teachers as well as volunteers.

Since it began in 2009, Bush Blitz has sampled more than 60 National Reserve System
properties, totalling almost 2 million hectares.

It has collected some 650 native species new to science— helping to increase our
knowledge of Australia’s amazing biodiversity.

Some of the species discovered include 216 species of true bugs, 106 species of spider
and scorpion, 85 species of moth and 12 species of vascular plants.

Bush Blitz has also recorded more than 9,500 species not previously known from these
nature reserves, including more than 2,000 plant species and almost 300 reptile species.
Bush Blitz TeachLive and the Australian Science Teachers Association

TeachLive is an innovative educational program developed by Earthwatch Australia in
2003.
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
The program places primary and secondary school teachers on field-based
research projects, where they receive a unique professional
development experience and get to teach 'live' back to their
classrooms via the TeachLive website.

Teachers have called their classrooms via satellite phone from the dark rainforests of
Brazil's Pantanal and they have skyped from Australia's Outback. Teachers who take part
in the program not only experience scientific research at its best, but are given the
opportunity to bring a unique learning experience to their students and schools.

Students are able to take a virtual expedition with their teachers helping them to engage
in science in an Australian and global context and see their teachers as science role
models.

It is through education that we gain the understanding necessary to enact change and
continue to strive for innovative and effective strategies for conserving our
environment.

The Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) is also working in the Bush Blitz
TeachLive program by coordinating the application and selection process.
R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings

Established in 2009, R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings is a powerfully diverse and
globally focused food producer with sustainable, agricultural roots.

RMWAH owns a blue-chip portfolio of rural properties in Queensland and the Northern
Territory producing beef and organic poultry for domestic and international markets.
Complementing the company’s protein focus is a commitment to exploring new,
sustainable practices that balance agricultural activities with environmental initiatives.

R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings is working within the parameters of the NRS to
protect the biodiversity of Henbury Station into perpetuity so as to deliver
environmental, social, and cultural outcomes of national significance.

The company will continue to work with Henbury Station project partners – including
the traditional owners of Henbury Station – in a collaborative manner in accordance
with their responsibility as custodians of this important parcel of Australia’s red centre.
BHP Billiton

BHP Billiton, an Australian icon and leading global natural resources Company, is proud
to be Bush Blitz’s major corporate sponsor. The Bush Blitz partnership represents a new
and significant investment in biodiversity conservation for the company. BHP Billiton
employees will have the opportunity to participate in the hands-on experience of Bush
Blitz field work.
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