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Ecosystems!

Ecosystems!. What are they?. Australia’s Diversity. Australia is a very diverse continent. The soil, the rocks, the landscape and the climate differ in each area. Animals and plants are different in each area.

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Ecosystems!

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  1. Ecosystems! What are they?

  2. Australia’s Diversity • Australia is a very diverse continent. • The soil, the rocks, the landscape and the climate differ in each area. • Animals and plants are different in each area. • How the plants, animals, climate, rocks, soil and landscape work together and effect each other is called an ECOSYSTEM. • Australia has many different ecosystems.

  3. Ecosystems

  4. Forest Ecosystems • Are often named after the dominant tree growing there. • The type of tree depends on the climate and the type of soil. • The animals that live in this ecosystem do so because they find shelter and food there.

  5. Rainforest Ecosystems • Rainforest ecosystems are very old. They have complex interactions between the plants and animals in them. • Rainforests make up 0.3% of the total area of Australia.

  6. Wetland Ecosystems • Many are wet all year round and others dry up for weeks, months or years at a time. • Swamps, billabongs, lakes, creeks and rivers are all examples of wetland ecosystems. • Wetland ecosystems can be either a fresh or saltwater environment. • The most famous wetland is Lake Eyre, South Australia.

  7. Desert Ecosystems • Harsh places, where the temperature may reach 50° Celsius during the day and fall to below 0° at night. • Rainfall is usually below 130 millimeters or there may be no rain at all. • There are fewer species of plants and animals than any other ecosystem. • Desert ecosystems make up 35 to 40% of Australia's total land mass.

  8. Alpine Ecosystems • Australia has a small Alpine ecosystem compared to other continents. • Alpine areas are where no trees grow as it is too cold for them. • Only 80sq. Km of land is classified as alpine areas. With global warming these areas will shrink. • Australian alpine areas are covered in snow for six months each year.

  9. Coastal Ecosystems • Australia’s coast is nearly 37,000 km long. • Where the sea and the land meet they affect each other. • Strong salty winds are blown inland. • Silt is washed into the sea, carrying nutrients that can cause dense growth of seaweed. • Different types of coastal zones support different plants and animals.

  10. Coral Reef Ecosystems • Australia has two main coral reefs. • The Great Barrier Reef off Queensland and Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia. • Coral is an excellent example of the interactions that occur between living and non-living parts of a coral reef ecosystem. • Coral reefs have more species of living things than any other marine habitat.

  11. Urban Ecosystems • Towns and cities are urban areas. • Urban areas make up about 3% of Australia’s land mass. • City buildings provide nesting places, power poles provide routes across roads. • Many native animals have disappeared due to the changes to their habitats and been replaced with introduced species.

  12. Farmland Ecosystems • Farmland ecosystems have replaced and altered many natural ecosystems. • Since 1788 about 90% of the native vegetation in the south eastern part of Australia has been cleared for farming. • Many native animal have become extinct or are endangered because of land clearing.

  13. Past, Present and Future • Ecosystems are constant changing. • Between 1000 and 2000 birds permanently lose their habitat for every 100 hectares of woodland cleared. • Some ecosystems are protected better than others. For example coral reefs are protected strongly compared to woodlands and grasslands. • Community groups work to remove weeds and animal pests and to regenerate creeks and hills on private land.

  14. Bibliography • Greg Pyres 2006 Australia Focus Australia’s Ecosystem Echidna books. • Forest ecosystem image http://www.forests.unimelb.edu.au/images/mixed%20species%20forest_forest%20ecosystems.JPG • Rainforest image http://www.educcomp.co.nz/images_product/Macroworks/AR4.jpg • Wetlands image http://www2.mdbc.gov.au/education/encyclopedia/wetlands/images/wet_mac_marshes.jpg • Desert image http://www.desertsworld.com/image/australian.jpg • Coastal image http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0015/13155/image004.jpg • Coral reef image http://www.coralcay.org/images/Coral%20Pix/ph1_46.jpg • Farmland image http://www.umfulana.com/images/400/7.jpg • Future image http://weblog.greenpeace.org/ge/archives/1md.jpg • Alpine image http://www.selecthotels.com/uploads/PensionGrimusEcoThumbnail.jpg • Urban kids image http://www.austmus.gov.au/wild_kids/images/habitats/urban_illus.jpg • Soil and rocks image http://invisibleisland.net/viewfinder/downunder/img/DSC02494a1.jpg • Rainforest, forest and river sounds http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/sounds.html • Lawnmower sounds http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/soundfx/household_sounds/LAWN_MOW_wav.shtml • Alpine http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/soundfx/weather_sounds/wind_storm_wav.shtml • Farm sounds http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/soundfx/PDsoundfx/PDsoundfx_sounds/animal1_sounds/animal_geese_wav.html • Desert wind sand http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/soundfx/ambience/windwindsandwav.html • Coastal sounds http://www.hypnosishealthcare.com/soundsofbeach.html

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