Australia

By: Melissa Hernandez, Kaylee Rodriguez, and Rodrigo Hernandez Pons

What is Australia? What biomes are incorporated within it?

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Australia is a country and continent surrounded by the Pacific and Indian oceans. The nation of Australia includes three biomes: Tropical, Savanna, and Desert.

3 biomes:

Tropical- rainforest-like area. Includes: Peppermint stick insect, green tree frog, The Southern cassowary - only 1200 left in Australia, Spectacled Flying Fox (our closest living relative in Australia), colony of spectacled flying foxes, green ant mimicking spider.

Savanna- a grassland area. Usually includes: emus, red kangaroos, rabbit bandicoots, and parrots.

Desert- are with poor vegetation and dry surroundings. Inhabitants include: devil lizards, and parakeets. The desert isolates the four corners of Australia.

What is the weather like in these biomes? How much precipitation do these biomes receive annually?

Tropical- rainforest: The tropical rainforests in Australia have about 120 days of rain per year, with an average of 2013 mm falling per year. It's weather is usually tropical, since its near the equator.

Savanna: The savannas in Australia receive less than 60 mm of rainfall per year. Also, the average temperature per year is about 78° F. The wet season is during the summer. It is warmer in the rainy season than the dry season, because it is humid.

Desert: Australia's deserts usually receive less than 250 millimeters a year. Today, 70% of Australia is semi arid to arid desert. ). Occasionally, they may climb into the low 50's.

A MORE INSIDE LOOK...

Plants found in Australia

Proteaceae (Banksia)

Myrtaceae (Eucalyptus -gum trees)

Fabaceae (Acacia - wattle)

Proteaceae (Banksia):

South western Australia contains the greatest diversity of banksias.
Found in the arid regions of Australia or in the rainforests of the eastern coast.
The flower heads are made up of hundreds of tiny individual flowers grouped together in pairs.
The colour of the flower heads usually ranges from yellow to red.
Many species flower over autumn and winter.

https://www.anbg.gov.au/banksia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksia

Myrtaceae (Eucalyptus -gum trees):

is primarily harvested for use in the construction industry.
Wood from these trees is used for heavy construction
relatively plentiful and inexpensive
produce wood that is distinct in color and smell, which makes it valuable for aesthetic uses as well as commercial and industrial uses.
Wood from these trees is red to rusty brown
Found in tropical rainforests

https://www.reference.com/home-garden/uses-eucalyptus-wood-c61245132b1c2cb3

Fabaceae (Acacia - wattle):

Found in Australia's savannas
Its leaves take the form of small finely divided leaflets that give the leafstalk a feathery form
Are also distinguished by their small
Usually yellow or white
Have many stamens apiece

https://www.britannica.com/plant/acacia

Australian Animals.

Emu bird:

The emu stands as tall as a man, on two skinny scaly legs, with a shaggy sheepdog-like plumage, long neck, sharp beak and large orange eyes.
The emu is the tallest bird in Australia and the second tallest bird in the world
The emu belongs to a group of birds with flat breastbones, known as ratites. This bird family also included cassowaries, kiwis and ostriches.
Emus are found throughout most of Australia and are not considered endangered. They live for ten to twenty years.
Emus are omnivores - they eat both animals and plants. Most of their diet, however, is vegetation. Emus forage for food during the day.

Kangaroos are large hopping marsupials that live in Australia. They have an upright posture supported by two disproportionately large hind legs and feet, small forelimbs and a large thick tail.
Kangaroos are herbivores. They eat mostly grass but they also eat flowers, leaves, ferns, moss and even insects.

Kangaroo

Koala:

tree-dwelling plant-eating Australian marsupial with grey fur, a big black nose and large fluffy ears. It has long arms and legs with very sharp claws which it uses to cling onto trees and branches.
The koala was hunted to near extinction in the early 20th century. Only about 300,000 survive in the wild today.
The Koala is a nocturnal tree-dwelling herbivore whose diet is primarily the leaves of eucalyptus trees.

Tasmanian tiger:

The Tasmanian Tiger or Thylacine was the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world until it was hunted to extinction by humans.
The Tasmanian Tiger had thick, short, coarse yellowish-brown fur with 15 to 20 prominent dark brown stripes across its back
Its preferred habitat was open forest and grasslands but with European settlement it withdrew more and more into the dense forests of south-eastern Tasmania.
The exact nature of their diet is not known. It is believed that they only ate small animals of no more than 5 kgs such as wallabies, bandicoot, possums, other small animals and birds.

Dingo

-they live in wet and dry tropics of Queensland

-The dingo is equipped with strong jaws, a large head, alert, almond-shaped eyes, erect ears, narrow chest and shoulders, a proportionate body and a bottle-shaped tail for balance. In all, the characteristics for a successful hunter.

-They eat a variety of animals but the majority of their diet is wallaby and kangaroo but they are also known to prey on rabbits, possums, gliders, rats and mice.

-They live in the out doors because in the Miami zoo the weather.

Animal Comparisons-

Emu Birds: Emu birds are constantly compared or mistaken for the ostrich. Both are the tallest birds in the world. Both have extremely strong and small amount of toes which allow them to run up 30/40 mph. Both are farmed for its leather and meat.

Koalas: Koalas and pandas are similar in many different ways. Both are native to Australia and china. Baby koalas are called "joeys" and baby pandas are called "cubs". Both are herbivores so they both eat mostly plants. Both are found mainly in forest or where there are a lot of plants. Both are endangered animals.

Kangaroos: Kangaroos and Wallaby have many similarities and differences. Both have extremely large feet which is used for jumping which is their only form of locomotion. Both have front opening pouches for their babies. A kangaroos diet is grass and A Wallaby is leaves. Both live in the same habitat which is mainly in Australia.

Tigers: Tigers and Lions are probably the most compared animals ever for how similar they are but they have their differences as well. They both have no predators and they are both the top of the food chain. Both are carnivores meaning they eat meat. Tigers are endangered and lions are near threatened.

Dingo: Dingo's are not really compared much but when they are they are compared to German Shepard. Both are extremely strong mammals. Both can live wet or dry lands. Dingo's unlike a German Shepard are not pet friendly and are not common to be kept as pets. A Dingo's diet is Wallaby and Kangaroo.

Plant Comparisons-

Proteaceae, Myrtaceae, Fabaceae are all plants found in Australian biomes. These plants are not found anywhere else. These plants cannot be transferred over continents but can we re planted in new soil. For example, in Zoo Miami, these plants give the animals a better feel of home.

Weather Comparisons-

Tropical rain forests: The Australian and New Zealand tropical rain forests are constantly compared. Both have related temperatures in the forests. In both it obviously has a lot of rainy days.

Savannas: Australia savannas and Africa savannas are the most commonly compared savannas. Australia, unlike Africa, do not have large animals. In Australia most of the plant material is eaten or re-cycled by insects.

Desert: The comparison of the Australian deserts and Thar desert. Australian deserts have some large deserts but some if you over analyze it are not large at all. Thar desert is the 7th subtropic desert in the world it is also the most dense populated desert in the world. Australian deserts are known for having the driest deserts for the reason being that Australia is the driest place on Earth right after Antarctica.

Request to Zoo....

Dear Zoo,

We know you have many animals already that you have to take of and are in charge of. But,in other continents there is many endangered species of animals that can use your help! My group and I have done our research, and we were hoping you would take this inconsideration. In Australia, Green and Golden Bell Frog could really use your help. These tiny creatures are facing many hardships and are threatened and are close to extinction. These frogs contribute a huge meaning to the Australian community. These tinted green and gold creatures, like Australia’s national sporting colors, are an important national symbol. The Australian community would highly appreciate if you would help these amphibians have a safer place to call home. They would need somewhat of a wetland environment. I hope you could help these frogs!!

Sincerely,

Melissa, Kaylee, and Rodrigo

Sources:

Difference Between Emu And Ostrich. (2015, June 18). Retrieved March 29, 2017, from http://www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-emu-and-ostrich/
Frequently Asked Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2017, from http://www.savanna.org.au/all/faq.html
Kangaroo vs Wallaby. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2017, from http://www.diffen.com/difference/Kangaroo_vs_Wallaby
Says, J. L., Says, V., Says, A., Says, C., Says, G. M., Says, S. L., . . . Says, J. M. (n.d.). Deserts of the World | The 7 Continents. Retrieved March 29, 2017, from http://www.whatarethe7continents.com/deserts-of-the-world/

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