Unit 2, Outcome 1

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• Unit 2, Outcome 1
• DISCOVERING OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS

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2.1.1Types and characteristics of
selected outdoor environmentsAustralians are
the custodians of some of the most diverse
ecosystems on the planet. Our continent is one of
the worlds 12 biologically mega-diverse
regions, with a high proportion of endemic
species those that are found nowhere else in
the world. For example, 93 of our marsupial
species and 88 of our native rodents are endemic.
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• Victorias land area supports a wider range of
  broad ecosystems than any area of a similar size
  in Australia Alpine, marine, coastal,
  heathlands. wetlands, grasslands, forest and
  arid.
• Each have specific features/characteristics that
  make them unique and different from others.
• These environments support at least 3140 native
  species of vascular plants, 111 mammals, 447
  birds, 46 freshwater and 600 marine fish, 133
  reptiles, 33 amphibians and 750 mosses.
• This richness in the number of different
  ecosystems and different species, and the genetic
  variety they exhibit is what we call
  biodiversity.

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KEY CONCEPT

• Victoria contains a variety of natural
  environments that have evolved and developed over
  millions of years.

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• KEY CONCEPT
• The specific type of environment you find
  yourself in in dependent on a number of factors.
• These include
• Geology
• Climate
• Position Aspect

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GEOLOGY

• The influence of Geology can be seen in an area
  by the type of rock found there, the soil
  characteristics and drainage.
• Soil changes occur through the parent rock, the
  elements (wind/rain/sun), living and decomposing
  plants, and groundwater.
• The shape of the land (topography) is also
  important, such as is found at the Cathedral
  Range (upswept rocks).

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CLIMATE

• Annual rainfall, extremes in temperature, and
  average daylight hours are examples of climatic
  factors that can affect a landscape. HOW?
• Other aspects include wind patterns, evaporation,
  ground temperature, frost frequency and snow
  cover.
• Australian rainfall is seasonal and erratic,
  producing extended periods of drought.

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POSITION ASPECT

• Geographic location is very important when
  determining the development of environment types.
  In physical geography, aspect generally refers to
  the horizontal direction to which a mountain
  slope faces.
• Aspect can have a strong influence on
  temperature. This is because aspect affects the
  angle of the sun rays when they come in contact
  with the ground, and therefore affects the
  concentration of the sun's rays hitting the
  Earth.
• The aspect of a slope can make very significant
  influences on its local climate. The sun's rays
  are in the west at the hottest time of day in the
  afternoon, in most cases a west-facing slope will
  be warmer than a sheltered east-facing slope

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• Example
• In Australia, remnants of rainforest are almost
  always found on east facing slopes which are
  protected from dry westerly wind.
• In eastern Australia, southerly and easterly
  aspects receive
• - Lower radiation loads, resulting in reduced
  water-loss
• - Are fire protected, thus permitting the
  survival of rainforest species.

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• Factors affecting natural environments.
• Read pages 61 62
• Complete a table in your workbook like this
• Summarise as many key points as you can from the
  text which influence the characteristics of
  Australian outdoor environments.

Factors affecting natural environments Environmental influences of each factor
GEOLOGY
CLIMATE
POSITION AND ASPECT
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Different types of outdoor environments.

• Research and map Activity 1
• Work with a partner to create a poster depicting
  the
• characteristics of a specific outdoor
  environment.
• See Mrs. G for a detail handout of the
  topic.
• 2. Present your poster to the class in pairs.
  Individuals will
• be required to take notes for their -
  Biodiversity table of
• Victorian Ecosystems.

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Activity 2

• To expand your understanding of the different
  types of outdoor ecosystem, use Victorias
  Biodiversity Our living Wealth or Viridians
  to complete an unfinished sections of your
  Biodiversity table of Victorian Ecosystems.
• http//www.nre.vic.gov.au/plntanml/biodiversity/we
  alth/contents.htm
• or
• http//www.viridans.com/ECOVEG/

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Activity 3

• On a large map of Victoria, outline the main
  environment types and their distribution.
• Make sure you follow appropriate mapping
  conventions (BOLTSSD) where possible.
• (Viridians website will be useful here)

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Dry forest woodlands
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Dry forest woodlands

• The Great Dividing Range forms a barrier across
  Victoria.
• It protects many north-facing slopes from the
  cool/moist winds sweeping from Bass Straight.
• This results in the northern foothills being
  relatively dry.
• Different forest ecosystems include
• Stringybark forests (these dominate the
  near-coastal landscape east of Western Port)
• Red gum forests survive along major rivers in the
  north of the State
• BoxIronbark forests lie in a wide arc from west
  of Stawell to east of Wangaratta

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Box-Ironbark forest
Red-Gum Forest
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Stringy Bark Forest
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Dry forest woodlands

• Most of the dry forest woodlands that would
  have been found are now gone due to clearing.
• Dry forests and woodlands are biologically
  diverse and support a variety of plants and
  animals, included some vary rare flowers and
  birds.
• Habitat modification, vegetation clearance, weed
  invasion, feral predators and loss of
  hollow-bearing trees are significant concern.

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Arid and semi-arid areas
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Arid and semi-arid areas

• Approx. 4 million yrs ago, a vast inland sea
  covered what we now call the Mallee and the
  north-western part of Victoria. This has left
  this area with a legacy of sand and shallow soils
  that cover the area today.
• The area is dominated by low Mallee scrub and
  small eucalyptus that can withstand prolonged dry
  periods and harsh conditions.
• The flora and fauna in this place is remarkably
  diverse this being an area that seems very
  lifeless.

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Grasslands
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Grasslands

• Prior to European settlers arriving in Victoria,
  extensive grasslands covered the plains between
  the Murray Valley and the Great Dividing Range
• Indigenous people had used fire in the past to
  maintain the open nature of the landscape.
• These grasslands contain a variety of floral
  species, kangaroo grass, wallaby and spear grass.
• This environment attracted Europeans for uses in
  cattle grazing, cropping and pasturelands.

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Grasslands

• As a result of these things listed, less than 1
  of Victorias native grasslands remains intact
  today. These areas are however in very small
  areas and therefore face the risk of weed
  invasion, salinity and urban development.

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Heathlands

• Heathlands are found within Vic from the Coast to
  the mountains.
• Characteristically a low and shrubby environment,
  trees twisted by the dry winds they are typically
  subjects to.

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Heathlands

• Nutrient levels in the soil are generally low,
  and the soils are also acidic. These areas have
  a close relationship with fire, some plants
  needing this to re-germinate.
• The grass tree is one example. (Xanthorrhoea
  australias)

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Heathlands

• These environments are dominated by hard-leaved
  plants such as banksias, bottlebrushes, tea trees
  and eucalypts.
• As their name suggest they are also populated by
  a number of heaths.

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Wet Forests and Rainforests

• Victorias wet forests and rainforests are found
  in southern, central and northeast regions of the
  state. They include the Otways, Wilsons Prom,
  and the Alps .
• The worlds largest flowering plant (the Mountain
  Ash) occurs in these ecosystems.

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Wet Forests and Rainforests

• Other plants/trees include manna gum, messmate
  stringybark, mountain grey gum, Blackwood, and
  various tree ferns.
• Several rare mammals including possums and birds
  require hollow trees to nest and habitat.
• Many forest plants have adapted well to fire and
  can re-establish them afterwards, however
  rainforest plants have not adapted well and can
  reduce significantly after a fire.

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The Alps
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The Alps (Alpine)

• The word Alpine is often used to describe any
  high mountain area. Theoretically, the term
  refers to the area above a certain altitude where
  there are no trees because of prolonged cold.
• Snow covered areas of Australia cover approx
  0.15 of the country (11,700 square kms).
• Mt Kosciusko is Australias highest peak (2228 m)
  and Mt Bogong is Victoria's highest (1986 meters).

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The Alps (Alpine)

• Aust. Alps have eroded over 500 million yrs,
  unlike others around the world. This has formed
  rounded mountains and plateaus.
• Sphagnum moss is a
• very unique vegetation that has adapted to suit
  the Victorian Alps.

• Bogong High Plains

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The Coast
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The Coast

• Victoria has over 2000 km of coastline
• It ranges from sheltered bays and inlets to
  rugged eroded cliffs.
• The west coast is sometimes exposed to gale
  forced winds that have contributed to the amazing
  scenery along the Great Ocean Road.
• The coast is constantly changing due to the
  relentless effects of the wind, rain and waves.
• Some factors that influence coastal ve
• getation are related to wind, salt and natural
  land instability.

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The Coast

• Dunes are held together by grasses and herbs,
  while salt marsh and mangroves inhabit the
  mudflats.
• These plants play a crucial role in holding the
  subsoil together in these environments.
• Birds are the most common types of fauna in this
  environment, ranging from Fairy Penguins to a
  large number of migratory birds from Siberia,
  Japan and the North Pacific Ocean.