4.4 Future of Australia S Biota Further Questions and Answers

4.4 Future of Australia’s biota – Further questions and answers

Q1.

Bk Ch4 S4.4 FQ1

Investigate the research that is taking place at one of the following Australian sites: Riversleigh in Queensland, Naracoorte, Murgon or Lightning Ridge in South Australia.

aWhat kind of fossils have been uncovered?

bHow old are the fossils?

cWhat do the fossils suggest about the kinds of environmental conditions that prevailed at the times that different kinds of organisms existed?

A1.

Bk Ch4 S4.4 FA1

Use the name of the fossil site as the key words to research these sites on the Internet.

Example(Naracoorte):

aFossils include various examples of megafauna as well as modern-day species—wallabies; possums; mice; bats; Tasmanian devils; reptiles including snakes, lizards and turtles; also parrots, frogs and the extinct thylacine.

bFossils at the site range in age from 15 000 years old to as much as 280 000 years old.

cFossil types present in the sediment layers together with pollen analysis suggest that environmental conditions have changed cyclically from cooler and wetter to warmer and drier. The ecology appears to have included a period in which eucalypt forests were the dominant vegetation type, giving way to more open woodland.

Q2.

Bk Ch4 S4.4 FQ2

Research the effects of humans on Australian ecosystems over the last 200 years. Include a discussion of:

changes in the amount of forest cover,
changes in aquatic environments, and
effects on native flora and fauna.

A2.

Bk Ch4 S4.4 FA2

Since European settlement in Australia a little over 200 years ago our continental ecosystem has undergone significant change. Clearing of the land to make way for agriculture and urbanisation has been responsible for the removal of around 50% of eucalypt forest and about 75% of rainforests. Clearing of trees and irrigation has resulted in salting of waterways and salination of soil. The increased salinity of the Murray–DarlingRiver system is responsible for the destruction of plants and animals that lived there as well as producing unproductive farmland and water that is unfit for human consumption. Human intervention in the form of hunting is also responsible for the extinction of the thylacine. The introduction of exotic species has also had a negative impact on native plants and animals.

Q3.

Bk Ch4 S4.4 FQ3

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) raises money and community awareness about endangered species. The World Heritage List aims to protect natural wilderness areas from exploitation. The Australian Conservation Foundation raises awareness of conservation issues within Australia. Greenpeace takes action to stop the degradation of the environment.

Choose one of these groups and research the Australian issues on their agenda. The following may help you:

Name the plants, animals or areas with which the organisation is concerned.
Outline the problems that have been identified.
Summarise the recommendations made in relation to the problem.
Are there other ways to solve the problem?
How can members of the public make a difference?

Search the Internet for information. Use the names of the organisations as key words in search engines to locate different organisations.

A3.

Bk Ch4 S4.4 FA3

Example (Australian Conservation Foundation):

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) aims to protect and sustain the environment by addressing a multitude of issues, for example, the preservation of biodiversity; uranium mining; global warming; land management including forest-clearing, rivers and waterways and the problem of salinity; and the greenhouse effect.

The ACF makes submissions to government to raise the profile of environmental issues and make recommendations to alter government policies. For example, in relation to the issue of land-clearing the ACF campaigns to raise community awareness and change government policy to place restrictions on logging and to protect particular areas of forest such as old-growth forest and forests that represent unique habitats for endangered species, such as Leadbeater’s possum in Victoria. Issues related to land-clearing include the greenhouse effect, loss of habitat and loss of biodiversity. Solutions include restricting logging and woodchipping, planting more native trees, using plantation timber, greater emphasis on recycling of materials, raising the profiles of endangered species, and reducing the use of fossil fuels and firewood.

Members of the public can make a contribution to solving environmental problems by making donations that help fund research and campaigns, volunteering services, supporting campaigns for example by writing letters to government departments raising concerns and possible solutions, becoming members of the organisation, recycling materials as much as possible at home, purchasing household goods such as timber furniture and flooring that are not rainforest timbers, and using alternative fuels to fossil fuels and firewood.

Q4.

Bk Ch4 S4.4 FQ4

Choose an extinct or endangered animal species for research. Choose from the list provided, or choose another animal in consultation with your teacher

Extinct / Endangered
Thylacine / Blue whale
Rabbit bandicoot / Leadbeater’s possum
Gastric-brooding frog / Eastern barred bandicoot
KingIsland emu / Green and golden bell frog

aDescribe the organism, its habitat and lifestyle.

bPropose reasons for its extinction or endangered status.

cFor endangered species outline some conservation strategies that are being or could be implemented to improve the situation.

A4.

Bk Ch4 S4.4 FA4

aLeadbeater’s possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri, is a small, nocturnal marsupial measuring about 30 cm in length of which 15 cm is made up of tail. This agile possum is restricted to a relatively small area of mountain ash forest in central Victoria.

bThe dwindling numbers of Leadbeater’s possum are due to habitat loss mainly attributable to logging.

cThe implementation of policies to protect existing habitat for this species as well as breeding programs at zoos such as Healesville Sanctuary represent strategies to improve the outlook for this species.

4.4 Future of biota FQApage 1 of 2