During a walk in the forest, naturalist and internationally celebrated slime mould expert Sarah Lloyd will describe the life cycle of slime moulds and their role in the ecosystem. Sarah will indicate the sort of places slime moulds inhabit, how and where to find them, and outline the difficulties of identifying Australian species, many of which require DNA sequencing to confirm their identity.

We will get the chance to view numerous species under a microscope, and Sarah will demonstrate the photo stacking technique used to view the detail in these mostly small and very beautiful organisms. This is a rare opportunity to walk alongside one of science’s self-taught experts, in an exceptional natural laboratory. Sarah has spent the past 15 years studying and collecting slime moulds (myxomycetes) in the wet eucalypt forest and based on her work, the area is now recognised as one of the world centres of myxomycetes diversity.

Please note: Photography will not be allowed during the tour. There will be a 2.5 km walk (each way) through the forest, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Wear warm clothes and walking shoes or boots. Please bring lunch and, if possible, a 10x hand lens (loupe) and head lamp or torch. If you do not have this equipment, Sarah has a few spares she can lend. This is a small-group tour with a maximum of 10 participants. If you miss out, put your name on the waitlist and we will contact you if a space opens up.

If you'd like to request a free ticket through our A Seat at the Table program, click here.

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