Bold Park

Tackling w**ds underground? It's all in a day's work for the Kings Park Science team!

Kings Park Science is investigating the hidden seed banks of invasive w**ds in the Bold Park Bushland. For almost 10 years, researchers and Bold Park staff have monitored research burn sites to understand how fire and w**ds shape native plant diversity.

While strategies for w**d management above ground are widely understood, far less research has focused on the seeds lying dormant beneath the soil in the seed bank.

To address this knowledge gap, the team initiated a soil seed bank project to quantify w**d seeds across sites with varying fire and herbicide treatment histories. The team will also x-ray these seeds to assess their viability, helping better understand their longevity following fire and herbicide management.

By uncovering what lies hidden beneath the soil, this research will improve long-term w**d management and support more effective, evidence-based conservation of Western Australia’s urban bushlands.

📷 Researcher Dr Russell Miller collecting soil samples from Bold Park Bushland; w**ds seed visible in the field sample; sorting seeds in the lab. Credit: E Au