Research ecologists from the NSW Department of Primary Industries are travelling skywards to find out how much nectar two species of gum trees produce.

In a research project being conducted for the honey industry, the scientists are using cherry pickers and cranes to reach the canopies of 30 metre tall forests of Spotted Gum and Grey Ironbark on the NSW South Coast.

Nectar production is highly variable in eucalypts and the scientists are examining how nectar production from these two species is affected by tree size, forest age and logging.

Very few studies have been done on nectar from trees because of the difficulty in getting access to flowers at the top of tall trees.

NSW DPI senior research scientist, Brad Law, says the research aims to improve our understanding of how nectar production is affected once a forest is logged.

“It will be used to make recommendations to ensure that there continues to be a supply of nectar for the honey industry as well as the diverse native wildlife that feed on nectar.

“The aim is to ensure that honey production and logging work hand in hand.”

Once data is analysed, a final report will be presented to the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by mid-2006.

This story appears Agriculture Today.