Anangu Traditional Owners and scientists join forces to understand mass plant dieback at Uluru

Key points

• Anangu Traditional Owners and plant scientists have identified physiological traits that helped some desert plant species survive a mass dieback at Uluru. The dieback followed a record-breaking hot drought from 2018 to 2019 in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
• Researchers found that plants relying on drought-avoidance kept leaf water content better, which was the trait most closely linked to dieback severity. Neither strategy guaranteed survival under extreme heat and drought.
• Study author Jay Nicholson said the findings show that desert plants can be vulnerable, and that community nurseries and Anangu cultural burning could help reduce drought impacts.