Grazed and cleared
Stocker’s Bottom isn’t like the other ecosystems you’ll tour.
Once a grassy woodland and seasonal wetland, the area was first used for agricultural grazing, and then cleared and planted with introduced grasses to replace the over-grazed native grasses.
Today it’s a large, open expanse with drainage channels running through its centre.
Restoring an ecosystem
One consequence of this land clearing is the soil’s alteration from predominantly fungal to bacterial systems, which impedes the establishment of more sensitive native species.
In addition, while Stocker’s Bottom features large old black gum (Eucalyptus ovata) and cabbage gum (lutha) (Eucalyptus pauciflora), distributed across the uncleared grassy woodlands, this community has no children, as overgrazing and damage from deer antlers has consistently prevented saplings establishing as future canopy. If left unaddressed, the remnant open woodland will age into an eerie field of skeletons.
As we begin to plan the restoration of Stocker’s Bottom, regenerating the soil is a priority, as is creating habitat for small native mammals.
Long-nosed potoroo
The long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) is one mammal we hope to encourage to return to this area.
Potoroo play a critical role in the ecosystem, using their highly developed sense of smell to forage for and spread fungal species that lack their own mechanisms for spore dispersal. In doing this, they enable new fungi to form symbiotic relationships with tree and shrub roots, which in turn, enables the exchange of minerals and nutrients for carbon and boosts water absorption.
Adapting and surviving
Despite the stress this ecosystem is under, species have adapted and survived.
Wombats (prupilathina) (Vombatus ursinus) use the drainage channels like highways. Flame robins (puwina) (Petroica phoenicea) perch on our experimental leaky weir structures. And our microphone audio recorders have picked up the sounds of four species of bats (layrina).
Swanning around
Meanwhile, in nearby Stocker’s Dam, a pair of black swans (kaylarunya) (Cygnus atratus) have built a nest and hatched cygnets. In the spring of 2023, we spotted five fluffy, white youngsters in the dam. One was riding on mum’s back, one on dad’s, and the other three were paddling alongside.
There is also a pair of Australian shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) in the area.
Both species exhibit high levels of cooperation in raising young, with pairs often defending their territory and caring for their offspring together.
Explore by ecosystem
The Quoin is home to a diverse range of ecosystems—from grassy woodlands to dolerite escarpments—each with its own distinct appearance, species composition, and vital role within the broader web of life.
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