TUSSOCK RESEARCH AIDED BY TRUST

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30593, 9 November 1964, Page 11

TUSSOCK RESEARCH AIDED BY TRUST

Two Canterbury scientists have received fellowships from the Miss E. L. Hellaby Indigenous Grassland Research Trust, according to the journal of the Tussock Grasslands and Mountains Lands Institute. They are Mr C. J. Burrows, who is a lecturer in botany at Canterbury University, and Mr D. G. Lloyd, also of the botany department of the university. By a deed of trust, Miss E. L. Hellaby, of Auckland, established a fund to promote research into the indigenous grasslands of New Zealand in December, 1959. The objects of the gift were to encourage scientific work in the university, to assist in the training of young scientists and to produce information of value to the primary industries of New Zealand. The income of the trust is to be applied mainly to provide fellowships to enable suitably qualified graduates to work for 'research degrees in New Zealand universities on problems connected with the tussock grasslands. The scientific policy of the trust is decided by an advisory board of which Dr. L. J. Wild, of Otaki Beach, is chairman, and consisting also of Dr. E. J. Godley, director of the Botany Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Lincoln, and Dr. G. T. S. Baylis, professor of botany at the University of Otago. Snow Tussock Study

The first fellowship for three years was awarded to Dr. A. F. Marks, who made

his headquarters at the University of Otago and was given the status there of lecturer with leave of absence to work fulltime for the trust. His work has dealt with the ecology of the narrow-leaved snow tussock in Otago. Some features of this tussock which are of practical significance for both the runholder and the soil conservator have come from this work. In particular, the effects of burning and/or grazing indicate that the tussock shows certain adaptations to fire. These adaptations can, however, be counteracted by grazing during the recovery period and the degree of damage seems to be directly related to the intensity of grazing during this period. The second fellowship, for 1964, is held by Mr Burrows. This will enable him to complete work for a doctorate thesis started in 1960. Mr Burrows has been investigating the ecology of the alpine grasslands. The journal says that the results of this study should significantly increase the very limited knowledge of these important mountain grasslands. Mr Lloyd has been awarded a fellowship for three years from this month. He recently studied at Harvard University under a Frank Knox Fellowship and has lately been visiting institutions in Britain and Europe. He intends to investigate the pollination, fertilisation and seed production of several species of grasses in the tussock grassland.