The significant impacts of the introduced plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi on native Australian vegetation have been well documented, but there is less knowledge of long-term effects. We assessed long-term (26 years) disease progression and impacts on vegetation floristics and structure at a heathy woodland site in the Great Otway National Park, eastern section. Disease progressed dramatically between 1989 and 2005 and by 2015 only 0.08% of the site was non-diseased. There were significant declines in plant species richness and numbers of susceptible species; and increases in percentage cover of resistant sedges and grasses overall, and in cover of Leptospermum continentale (prickly tea-tree) in post-disease areas. There were significant declines of Xanthorrhoea australis (Austral grass-tree), a keystone species that contributes greatly to vegetation structure and fauna habitat. There is an urgent need to map the distribution of P. cinnamomi affected vegetation and identify floristically important non-diseased vegetation in the national park. It is imperative that quarantine of non-infested areas, phosphite application, track closures and vehicle wash-downs be implemented to reduce disease extension and protect the significant biodiversity of the region including species rich heathlands and nationally listed threatened plant and fauna species and their habitats.

中文翻译：

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肉桂疫霉侵染对澳大利亚东南部大奥特威国家公园健康林地的长期影响

引入的植物病原体肉桂疫霉对澳大利亚本土植被的重大影响已有详细记录，但对长期影响的了解较少。我们评估了大奥特威国家公园东部一个健康林地的长期（26 年）疾病进展以及对植被区系和结构的影响。疾病在 1989 年至 2005 年间急剧发展，到 2015 年，只有 0.08% 的地点没有患病。植物物种丰富度和易感物种数量显着下降；抗性莎草和草的整体覆盖百分比增加，以及病后区域的 Leptospermumcontinente（刺茶树）覆盖率增加。Xanthorrhoea australis（澳大利亚草树）的数量显着下降，对植被结构和动物栖息地有很大贡献的关键物种。迫切需要绘制 P. cinnamomi 受影响植被的分布图，并确定国家公园中植物区系上重要的非患病植被。必须对未受侵染的地区实施隔离、施用亚磷酸盐、关闭轨道和冲洗车辆，以减少疾病传播并保护该地区的重要生物多样性，包括物种丰富的荒地和列入国家名单的受威胁植物和动物物种及其栖息地.