The Unique Australian Environment

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The Unique Australian Environment
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The formation of the Australian environment

• Australia was once part of a massive land mass
  known as Pangaea.
• The great ice age peaked around 280 million years
  ago.
• Ongoing activity in the earth caused a split in
  Pangaea Laurasia and Gondwana (160 million
  years ago)
• Gondwana comprised of Australia, New Zealand,
  Africa, South America, India, Antarctica and
  parts of South East Asia.

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Gondwana

• Gondwana began breaking up 140 million years ago.
• Australia seperated from Antarctica around 40-50
  million years ago.
• The original landmasses still share some of the
  plant and animal species i.e. Banksia,
  emu/ostrich.

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Australia

• Over time, variations in temperature and sea
  level have changed the biodiversity of Australia.
  This will continue to change as we drift towards
  the equator.

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How is Australia Unique?

• The uniqueness of Australia has been shaped by
  three main factors
• Biological isolation flora and fauna have been
  able to evolve in isolation.
• Geological stability volcanoes are stabilised,
  no glaciers, therefore no new nutrients provided
  for the soil.
• An erratic climate el nino extreme climate.