PUBLIC donations have helped Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation pay for a greenhouse on French Island and support research into protecting bryozoan reefs.

Like corals, bryozoans are invertebrate animals, and have established reefs unique to Western Port.

Biosphere foundation CEO Mel Barker said the money being used for the two projects resulted from the recent $50,000 in 50 days fundraising campaign.

Barker said the donated money would pay for a greenhouse to be used by French Island Landcare to establish a nursery and community garden.

While in the marine environment the money would go towards a research project into protecting the bay’s bryozoan reefs.

“These are projects with significant environmental merit that our campaign enabled us to we support,” Barker said.

“We have been very pleased to be able to notify our donors so quickly about how their money is being put to good use in promoting biodiversity and developing strategies to protect our most valuable natural assets.”

The greenhouse for French Island will be a polytunnel which will be used to grow indigenous tube stock, bush foods, vegetable seedlings, ferns and local orchids.

It will support the island Landcare group’s revegetation and shelter- belt projects.

The money will also enable scientists to expand their research into Western Port’s bryozoan reefs.

“In a wondrous underwater environment that is out of sight of all but the most experienced divers, the bryozoa that comprise these reefs are non-photosynthetic filter feeders commonly referred to as lace corals,” Barker said.

“The Western Port bryozoans are special because they are shallow, large and form contiguous reefs providing important habitat for a multitude of marine species including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and worms.

“They also provide shelter for some species from the strong currents that are typical of this marine waterway. Historically, they and the marine species they have nurtured and protected have been damaged by dredging and other human activities.”

The reef research led by La Trobe University and marine consulting and research firm, Fathom Pacific, will quantify the extent of the fragile reefs, processes that threaten and make them vulnerable and will shed light on their growth rate.

First published in the Western Port News – 16 August 2022

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