Western Australia’s southwestern region is one of the thirty-four biodiversity hotspots across the world, by virtue of its distinct array of flora. Each floral species yields a unique chemical barcode; a signature of biosynthesised compounds associated with its metabolome for growth, development, communication, defence and adaptation to environmental stressors. The Gastrolobium genus, a group of purportedly toxic pea flowers, is native to the southwest of WA. These peas are well documented for their accumulation of the naturally occurring toxin fluoroacetate, better known in its sodium salt form, 1080. 1080 is used extensively in feral baiting population control landscape management in Au and NZ. It is theorised that the toxin is accumulated as the plants chemical defence; however, how and why remains a mystery. Interestingly, the greater phytochemical composition of Gastrolobium remains relatively unexplored, including the detection of fluoroacetate in many species.
While currently in the early stages, this research aims to combine analytical chemistry with ecophysiology to explore the comprehensive metabolome of Gastrolobium species collected across the state and ex situ glasshouse experiments. Preliminary studies will include a comparison of extraction methods and untargeted high-resolution analysis via nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to characterise, quantify, and compare the metabolome of these peas.Many Gastrolobium species are listed as protected under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and listed as critically endangered or threatened with continuing decline of area and quality of habitat. These threats are listed in interim and national recovery plans as Phytophthora dieback, recreation, fire, drought, and foraging. Understanding Gastrolobiums chemical response to threatening impacts is key to future conservation strategies, restoration, translocation opportunities, and broadening the ecological knowledge of the species.