Bacterial communities associated with Persoonia hirsuta, an endangered shrub endemic to the Sydney Basin bioregion, NSW, Australia

Persoonia hirsuta Pers. (Proteaceae) is an Endangered shrub species endemic to the Sydney Basin region of New South Wales. This species has been in significant decline over the past two decades and is presently threatened by urban development, limited seedling recruitment, and observed dieback (a condition in which a plant begins to die from the tips of its leaves or backwards often owing to disease or an unfavourable environment) of a presently unknown cause. Understanding what causes dieback and limits new seedling recruitment is critical for the successful conservation and management of this species. The overarching goal of this research is to address key biological knowledge gaps associated with this species biology and explore potential drivers of dieback with an aim to improve the conservation and management of this species.