Fagus Watch 2013

[walkinTas]

What turns them red? I spent three days based at Waldheim just looking for red one year with nothing like that.. yet some years they are more common. I never found any study specific to Fagus in a search..

There is a little bit about this on the Nothofagus gunnii page on the Parks site. Interestingly, as mentioned in that article, anthocyanins are present in many Eucalyptus and they cause the colouring in the bark of E.coccifera. They have even been proposed as a taxonomy aid in Eucalypts. It is thought they may act as a natural sun lotion. Carotenoids are present in most plants and have a role in photosynthesis. As SBS found, above, you just can't see them when there is a lot of chlorophyll about. To see lots of red or deep oranges you need bright days, because anthocyanin requires light. Duller days will mean yellow is more dominant. And of course, in some plants there is just not a lot of anthocyanin to begin with. When both the anthocyanin and carotenoids disintegrate the leaves will look brownish.

[gayet]

Some red (ish) fagus

at Mt Field, between Lakes Fenton and Dobson

[Chris]

Has anyone been up to Twisted Lakes this weekend? I'm planning be up there on Wednesday - third and no doubt last fagus trip for this year - but may change plans if it's all been blown away.

[Nuts]

(Lol, indeed pretty complex. I'm guessing influences outside (on chlorophyll), certain weather conditions in combination would be more responsible somewhere like the Cradle area (given the comparative exposure). I was trying to find my photos from that particular 3/4 day, given I found 'some' I was wondering whether it actually was overcast Now, just to find a way to put those explanations into 'quick answer' punter-friendly terms Cheers.. )

[walkinTas]

It is, like many things, a complex question that can't fully be answered in a paragraph. I found this paper (about red colour) which might shed further light on the subject, particularly because Nothofagus were mentioned in the synopsis. As explained above, carotenoids (yellow-orange) are present all year, but masked by chlorophyll, but the paper goes on to state that "Anthocyanins, by contrast, are newly generated in autumn, shortly before leaf fall [10 – 13]. Thus, red is produced actively in autumn and is not simply the side effect of leaf senescence."

[Pezoporus]

While you're out and about fagus watching, think about contributing a sighting or 2 to ClimateWatch. It's easy to do, you just need to plonk a pin on a google map, or provide a lat/long with details fo the stage of leaf colour/leaf loss. Over a few years these records should be able to show changes in timing of fagus phases.

http://www.climatewatch.org.au/species/ ... uous-beech

[Davo1]

Has anyone been up to Twisted Lakes this weekend? I'm planning be up there on Wednesday - third and no doubt last fagus trip for this year - but may change plans if it's all been blown away.

Was up the mountain today and it is still looking good. Enjoyable until the weather closed in.
Be alright for a day or two as long as we don't get a big blow.

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[Chris]

Was up the mountain today and it is still looking good. Enjoyable until the weather closed in.
Be alright for a day or two as long as we don't get a big blow.

As you say Davo, still well worth going. Had a terrific day up there today. Twisted and Lake Hanson still looking superb, and fair bit of green still left. No damaging winds forecast for the next week so far, so maybe a long season?
Only saw a lone photographer and a couple of other walkers all day, which was great for us but rather sad in such perfect conditions.

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[Davo1]

Happy to see you got some quality time Chris.
Some nice pics to boot
I have spent a reasonable amount of time up there of late and apart from Dove and Marions which have been well populated, like yourself outside of those areasI have only seen another soul once.
Incredible really.

[stepbystep]

...so maybe a long season?

Seems to be, I've noticed the deciduous trees locally have held on much longer than usual.

Great pics all!

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Great pics, Chris. Thanks for taking the time to put them up!

[shazcol]

The Fagus is still visible on the parks webcam, perfect weather today.

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09/05/2013 - Cradle Fagus

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[Taurë-rana]

Absolutely beautiful photos Chris!

[razor]

The North Western slope of Mt Read is almost pure rust orange at the moment it looks quite amazing. There are only a few patches left on the western facing side of Mt Murchison.

[stepbystep]

I thought some Fagus Fiends out there might enjoy this.

http://www.hobartphotographertasmania.c ... arn-Shelf/

[Davo1]

I thought some Fagus Fiends out there might enjoy this.

http://www.hobartphotographertasmania.c ... arn-Shelf/

Thanks for the link SBS, he really does do some great work. Does the same deal with Auroras and they are WoW!