Characteristics of Outdoor Environments Unit 2 Outcome 1 Investigating Outdoor Environments Dot Point 1

Characteristics of Outdoor Environments Key Concept Victoria contains a variety of natural Outdoor Environments that have evolved and developed over millions of years Victoria contains a variety of natural Outdoor Environments that have evolved and developed over millions of years With the exception of Antarctica, Australia is the flattest and driest continent on earth, supporting over 3140 native plant species, 111 mammals, 477 birds, 700 marine animals and 133 reptiles With the exception of Antarctica, Australia is the flattest and driest continent on earth, supporting over 3140 native plant species, 111 mammals, 477 birds, 700 marine animals and 133 reptiles Over this unit we are going to explore the different types of environments, what is unique about them and why are they important Over this unit we are going to explore the different types of environments, what is unique about them and why are they important

Types of Outdoor Environments Dry forest woodlands Land north of the great dividing range is usually dry as the rain falls on the range and the clouds rise. Include gums, casuarinas, red-gums, and box ironbark trees. Mid of inland Victoria is this type of forest. Vast areas cleared for logging and mining during early settlement.

Dry Forest Woodlands

Arid and semi-arid areas This dry and harsh environment is the remains of an ancient inland sea that left shallow and sandy soils. Plants and trees living here such as: Mallee scrub, small eucalypts have to be hardy and survive long dry periods. Deeper soils are home to banksias and pine, with more salty areas home to spear grass. The areas are threatened by salinity causing 12 species to be extinct recently Types of Outdoor Environments

Arid and Semi- Arid Areas

Types of Outdoor Environments Grasslands Previous to settlement extensive grasslands covered much of Victoria from dividing range south to the coast. Kooris used fire to burn these areas to keep the areas open and attract grazing animals (Kangaroos). Introduced feral animals threaten adapted animals such a the ‘Bush stone curlew’ and much of this land was used for cropping and grazing as it had few trees, was seen as poor land and thus open to settlers. Less than 1% remains today, and this is why they use fire to open up parts of the prom, and to burn of the invading ‘tea trees’.

Grasslands

Types of Outdoor Environments Heathlands Are found in Vic from the coast to the mountains. With poor acidic soil plants are under 3m in height, effected by fire, and include hardy hard-leaved plants such as banksias, bottlebrushes, and tea trees. Many species of birds and small marsupials inhabit Heathlands. They are threatened by coastal development, weeds and plant diseases.

Heathlands

Types of Outdoor Environments Wet forests and rainforests Found in Otway's, Gippsland, Prom and Alps. The forest contain mountain ash (worlds tallest flowering plant, growing over 100 metres tall), grey gums, and Stringybark. The rare and endangered ‘Leadbeaters possum’ and many birds rely on the older hollow trees for habitat. While rainforest are nationally protected from harvesting, wet-forests are not.

Wet Forest

Types of Outdoor Environments The Alps Alpine refers high mountain areas that treeless due to extended cold and snow periods. Including Tassie this accounts for 0.15% of Aust. Australia’s highest mountain is ‘Kosciuszko’ 2228m, and at 1986m ‘Bogong’ is our highest peak. Australia’s highest mountain is ‘Kosciuszko’ 2228m, and at 1986m ‘Bogong’ is our highest peak. Snow gums are unique trees only growing at higher altitudes and are easy to spot due to their low and twisted branches.

The Alps