Impacts of Myrtle Rust Induced Tree Mortality on Species and Functional Richness within Seedling Communities of a Wet Sclerophyll Forest in Eastern Australia

Austropuccinia psidii is an introduced plant pathogen known to have caused significant declines in populations of several Australian native Myrtaceae species. However, limited research has focused on the impacts communities aftermath its invasion. This study investigated relationship between disease impact level, species diversity, and functional richness seedling a wet sclerophyll forest southeast Queensland. A clear shift was found from early colonizer mid- understory more diverse non-Myrtaceae community indicative secondary succession. Comparisons key suggest that there may also be towards produce drupes larger seeds, overall, current reduction fruit availability due dramatic loss previously dominant Seedling diversity showed no correlation with tree mortality, possibly favorable rainfall conditions during period. The subtle changes composition, such as type myrtle rust, however, could affect visitation local bird short term certainly reduce store colonizing shrub