Posts – Page 55 – Paluma – our village in the mist

Paluma hosts a nightly light-show in the forest

Although New Year’s eve in Paluma (like many other places in Australia) lacked a fireworks light-show, there is currently an nightly light-show to be seen along the rainforest tracks thanks to the bioluminescent fungi that are currently emerging with the rains. This display may not last too long, but with the rains predicted to persist for another week at least, you stand a good chance of seeing some of these remarkable little mushrooms if you wander down the H-track or the Rainforest track after dark.

In previous years I have occasionally gone out on wet nights during the summer and, after waiting in the dark for my eyes to adjust, could see faint ghostly glows scattered along the forest floor. But when turning my torch back on there was nothing to see. Even when I located the source of the glow, it was just a wet leaf or branch. I have always assumed that this was luminous fungal mycelia (the almost invisible network of threads that represent the bulk of the organism), but until last year I had never seen any actual mushrooms glowing in the dark. I only saw a couple back then so this year the family and friends went out on two nights to see if we could see them again. On the first night we went around the H-Track and on New Year’s eve Juanita and I went down the Rainforest Track. On both occasions we saw 5-10 clumps of tiny brightly glowing mushrooms on small twigs and along dead sections of lawyer vine.

Mycena clorophos; photo by Juanita Poletto

These were many times brighter than the glow from the mycelia seen on other occasions. Unfortunately I did not have by big camera with me to attempt to photograph the bioluminescence (it requires exposures of over a minute to get a good image) and we only got pictures of the mushrooms illuminated by our torches. But there are many pictures of this species on the web, such as the one below, that provide an idea of what can be seen.

While there are several species of mushroom that bioluminesce, these ones appear to be Mycena chlorophos, a widespread species found in sub-tropical Asia, Indonesia, Japan and Brazil. The caps can be much larger than the 3-8mm diameter ones seen so far in Paluma.

Reseach on a different species of bioluminescent mushroom suggest that this trait has evolved to enhance the dispersal of spores by insects attracted to the glow.

Text by Jamie Oliver, Photo by Juanita Poletto

Monty’s return for Christmas Dinner

Last Christmas a amethystine python dubbed “Monty” with a very large lump was seen on the rainforest track. Well his assumed penchant for Christmas turkey seems to be confirmed with a recent sighting of a very similar python with a very similar turkey-sized lump opposite the High Ropes course.

Carla Oliver and friends were heading down the mountain on the afternoon of New Year’s eve when they saw Monty crossing the road.

It would be great if this were indeed the same python as last year, especially since these large slow moving reptiles (especially after a big meal) can be very vulnerable to being run over when crossing the road. Let’s hope this becomes an annual sighting!

Photo/Video by Carla Oliver; Text by Jamie Oliver

A Look at the Boobook……

A couple of weeks ago, we were gifted with the rare treat of boobook owls. Boobooks are Australia’s smallest and most widespread owls, and, as with most owls, are seldom seen. In the Hawk Owl family (genus Ninox), these fledglings appear to be the more commonly distributed subspecies, Ninox boobook ssp boobook, rather than the rainforest subspecies of lurida, which is interesting as it means both subspecies must overlap in range here at Paluma.

We had heard both boobook and lesser sooty owls the previous evening, and saw at least one of the adult parent birds very early, from the bedroom window. The photos were taken from the lounge room window. These fledglings were being guarded by an adult bird, who quickly flew into the forest when spotted, but the fledglings stayed put for most of the morning, giving us a glorious opportunity to watch them watching us!

Owls are apex predators in many environments, and are at risk of consuming or accumulating toxins used to control pest species such as insects and rodents. While in Paluma, commercial spraying of pesticide is not a threat to these birds, the indiscriminate use of rodent poison certainly is. We ask all residents to consider live trapping for control of rodents over use of toxic baits. This provides not only the opportunity to identify the trapped animal, and release in a suitable location if one of our valuable endemic species, but also prevents the inevitable leeching of these toxins into our environment. After all, wouldn’t it be nice to have more owls around so that they can control the rodents instead!

Article & Photos by Sarah Swan

Rainforest Tree of the Month, December 2020 – Black Pine

It seems appropriate that during this month of Christmas we feature an evergreen conifer as our tree of the month. The Black Pine (Prumnopitys amara). This species is widely distributed in north-east Queensland as well as New Guinea and Indonesia. It can grow to 60m and has a frequently dark to blackish trunk with scattered cracks. Mature leaves are long and narrow with a distinct groove along the mid-vein on the upper surface. The species name “amara” is from the latin word for bitter and refers to the fact that the leaves, if chewed, are initially sweet tasting but then turn bitter.

None of these features are easy to distinguish in the field, but luckily the fruit are very easily recognised scattered on the ground along walking tracks. They are bright red and globular (20-25mm wide) with a shallow flesh around a hard gloubular seed. Fruit can be found on the forest floor from December to February. They are eaten by Cassowaries, and several species of rainforest rat.

Prumnopitys amara fruit collected behand Paluma Dam, February 2016

Black Pine nuts are one of about four species of rainforest seeds regularly that were used (and relied on) on by rainforest aborigines as a source of carbohydrates. While some of the seeds required lengthy preparation to leach out toxins and bitter chemicals, Black Pine seeds, could simply be collected and cooked for thiry minutes in a grond oven and then cracked open to reveal the tasty kernels which were then pulverised between two stones.

The timber from the Black Pine is used in New Guinea and Indonesia for general building purposes as well as funiture including butter churns.

Other conifers around Paluma

Conifers belong to a group of seed-bearing plants (including Cycads and Ginkos) in which the seed is not enclosed in and ovary (Gymnosperms – meaning naked seed). The seeds of conifers (Pines and relatives) are borne within cones. Australia has several conifers that are endemic (found only in Australia) and one which is considered to be a “living fossil” (Wollemi Pine).

The Black Pine is one of only a few naturally occurring rainforest conifers in the Paluma region. Two others that can be potentially (but not commonly) seen are “Plum Pines” or Podocarps (Podocarpus grayae and Podocarpus elatus). Both are called Brown Pine and both are endemic to Australia. While not strictly a rainforest pine the Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghami) can also be seen naturally on the slopes down to the coast along the range road, and there are several large specimens that have been planted out around the village. It is not restricted to rainforests, and is common around the rocky coast of Magnetic Island.

There are other species of native pine that don’t naturally occur in Paluma but that have been planted out around the village. These include a small Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwilli) around the first corner of Smith Crescent and a Kauri pine (probably ~~Agathis microstachya~~*) behind the Paluma Environmental Education Centre. Two small potted native “Christmas trees” adjacent to the the Community hall include one conifer naturally found only in the mountains west of Mossman (Mt Spurgeon pine, Prumnopitys ladei) and a variety of casuarina (not a conifer) called the Daintree Pine (Gymnostroma australianum).

Text and photos (unless indicated) by Jamie Oliver

*Note: the Kauri pine behind PEEC is, on closer inspection, most likely to be Agathis robusta. It is distinguised by its smooth bark with thin flakes. – Jamie

TMR Range Road Update December 2020 – Part 2

TMR Range Road Update December 2020 – Part 1

Tropical Festive Cheer at Paluma

The PDCA ended the year on a high note on Saturday night (12/12/20) with the final social event of the year, the Paluma Tropical BBQ.

The Community Hall was lit up like a Christmas tree (literally!) and the tropical shirts were as loud as the lively chatter emanating from the hall. The residents of Paluma came armed with a feast of sumptuous dishes and Don fired up the BBQ with his usual finesse. Barman Les reported a lively trade and he made sure that everyone remained hydrated with their favourite beverages on the night.

Colin and Jill were the outright winners of the ‘Best Dressed’ tropical costume, arriving as if they had just stepped off the cruise boat (hopefully not the Ruby Princess!) adorned in sarong, board shirts, frangipani leis and tropical cocktails in hand.

Despite a challenging 2020, the community spirit is alive and well at Paluma as these few photographs clearly show. Merry Christmas Paluma-style!

Text & Photos by Michele Bird

A Motley Moth……

There is no doubt that we co-habit with a diversity of interesting critters at Paluma, but this moth has to be admired for its remarkable and distinctive appearance. Spotted at Peter and Jan Cooke’s place just recently, this moth flew in and spent a few hours resting around the place before heading off back to the forest.

Check out the big hair-do and the antennae. A good leg wax is certainly well overdue !!!!

Have you spotted any interesting insects or other critters around your place with the warming of the weather and the first summer showers? If so, please send us a photo so we can share your discoveries with other residents.

Photo by Peter Cooke. Text by Michele Bird.

TMR Range Road Update

Good afternoon everyone,

TMR anticipates that the full road closure of Mt Spec Road will be completed this Sunday night and the road will be operational at all times from 6am Monday 14 December 2020.

Construction crews are in the process of demobilising the project sites and expect to be finished on Mount Spec Road over the next few days.

We will provide a project update to stakeholders by email and an SMS when works are completed, and Mt Spec Road is fully open to motorists.

TMR thanks you for patience during these important works. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 1800 625 648 should you require any further information.

Kind Regards,

Meghan

Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |

Department of Transport and Main Roads

TMR Range Road Update

Good morning everyone,

Please be advised that the bottom gate closure for the Mt Spec reconstruction works has been relocated up to the Little Crystal Creek Bridge. This means that you will need to be at the Little Crystal Creek Bridge by 6pm Saturday to Thursday and 7pm Friday to travel up Mt Spec Road before the closure of the road for the evening.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information about the project.

Kind regards

Meghan

Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |

Department of Transport and Main Roads