Walpole is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna that have been uniquely shaped by a range of natural elements including fire. Like mankind, fire is very much a part of the Australian environment. It is important that we (managers and communities) understand the roles we can play, and the influence of fire if we are to help conserve the natural environment. This project looks specifically at invertebrate’s survival and colonisation after a wildfire in a special wilderness area of the Walpole Nornalup National Park. It also aims to provide data for comparing differences in species composition between sites that have different fire histories. For example the differences between sites that have been recently burnt and those that are longer unburnt. A scientific description of the mission is detailed under “The Project”.
This site provides a wonderful inventory of just what does lurk in the litter, logs, and hollowed out trees of our unique forests. Already a cockroach, an ant and a wood borer are believed to be new species and are currently being assessed by taxonomists of WA Museum. If you are an entomologist and would like to help identify a species we have in the online collection, please contact Jacqueline Manning Jackie.Manning@DPaW.wa.gov.au

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The outcomes of this community based research project will ultimately help us understand and appreciate our natural heritage and also our responsibility in the management of our environment as we become more aware of the factors that affect it.

This web site is a valuable reference for interested readers, students, land managers and scientists to gain a better understating of the invertebrates that are crawling, wiggling and flying around Walpole’s Wilderness with pictures, classifications and details of their habitats. This dynamic database is also being used by the project’s Classification Team as a reference inventory to assist in cataloging invertebrates that continue to be brought in from the field. Even you can do specific queries like “What beetles have been collected?” through the “See what we found” page.

The project has been a joint effort of dedicated volunteers of the Walpole Community and Walpole Nornalup National Parks Association, scientists, University students, DPaW personnel and even international volunteers. This diverse group of people is working to collect and classify specimens from one of WA’s most beautiful wilderness landscapes.

Sponsored by: Gordon Reid Foundation for Conservation, Walpole Nornalup National Parks Association, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Nuyts Wilderness Research and Management Community Trust Fund, Great Southern Development Commission