Nick Startmann

Did you know plants have secret survival tricks? Every plant you see, from little flowers to towering trees, has special features to help them survive and thrive in its environment. We call these survival tricks adaptations. Some of these adaptations are easy to see, like longer or thicker leaves to store water or tiny leaves to conserve their energy where it is cold. Other plants have special adaptations that we can’t see so easily. These are hidden deep inside the plant in its DNA! By looking at these invisible clues, we can figure out how plants are coping with things like heat, cold, or not enough water. And that helps us protect them as their world changes.  

By looking at these invisible clues inside the DNA, we can find out which plants may need our help, like whether these trees are too hot, too cold, or need more water. By collecting samples from different gumtrees and analysing their DNA in the lab, I can uncover hidden clues about how each tree has adapted to its environment. This helps us understand how gumtrees survive in tough conditions — and how we can protect them as the climate continues to change.