3.+Aussie+Animals

=Australian Ecosystems =

Location, altitude, rainfall, soil type and human activity are some of the factors that have influenced the development and distribution of ecosystems in NSW. The word ecosystem refers to a community of plants and animals and the interactions that occur between them and their surrounding environment.

A variety of factors make it possible (or not possible) for something to live in an environment. Rainfall, soil moisture and composition, temperatures, water availability, shade and light influence the distribution of plants and animals. For most plants and animals, the by-products of carrying out their daily lives, creates the conditions for another plant or animal to survive. An insect for example pollinates flowers when it visits to collect nectar; a worm helps break down decaying matter into a form that plant roots can take up. All creatures depend on interactions like these.

These interactions occur within and between ecosystems. Each ecosystem and the species within it are perfectly adapted to suit the conditions where they live. For example there are over 750 recorded species of wattle varying in size from tiny shrubs to large trees, all of which are adapted to suit the conditions where they grow.

Most likely each wattle species also plays host to animal species that are adapted to feed on that particular wattle and so on. NSW is blessed with a huge variety of different ecosystems, varying from semi arid areas to grasslands and rainforests, all of which have developed to suit their local conditions.

Note: some animals are found in more than one type of ecosystem. media type="youtube" key="Zk3pIp5IPMg?rel=0" height="390" width="480"