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Victoria's 9 Main Ecosystems

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Victoria's 9 Main Ecosystems VICTORIA’S 1 2 3 4 VICTORIA’S 9 MAIN PROTECTED ECOSYSTEMS The Alps Grasslands Heathlands The Mallee PLACES 5 6 7 8 9 Parks Victoria is a State Government organisation that cares for more than 3,000 parks and reserves in Dry Forests Wet Forests Inland Waters The Coast Marine and Woodlands and Rainforests and Wetlands Victoria. These protected places make up 18 per cent of Victoria’s landmass, 75 per cent of Victoria’s wetlands and 70 per cent of Victoria’s coastline. Rangers and scientists, in partnership with Traditional Owners, are responsible for managing our protected places. Together, they decide what actions to take to ensure Victoria’s protected places remain healthy. A healthy ecosystem supports Victoria’s unique native plants and animals as well as vital ecosystem services such as clean air and clean water. Victoria’s protected places are also home to important cultural heritage. Aboriginal people have been connected to the land and sea for tens of thousands of years. Parks Victoria supports this continued connection to Country and partners with Traditional Owners to care for Victoria’s cultural landscapes. Victoria’s protected places safeguard our unique ecosystems and cultural heritage, whilst also providing all visitors the opportunity to enjoy and experience our precious natural spaces. Defines Parks Victoria’s protected places Victoria’s network of parks and reserves are an integral part of Aboriginal cultural landscapes. Parks Victoria respects the deep and continuing connection that Traditional Owners have to these landscapes and recognises their ongoing role in caring for Country. HELMETED LEADBEATER’S WEEDY VICTORIA’S HONEYEATER POSSUM SEADRAGON The striking yellow, olive Victoria’s very own The delicate and shy FAUNAL and black Helmeted forest fairy, the critically Weedy Seadragon can VICTORIA’S EMBLEMS Honeyeater is the endangered Leadbeater’s be found among the only bird species Possum, needs hollow kelp forests and seagrass endemic to the state trees in old wood beds off the coast of Victoria. It relies on eucalypt forests to of Victoria. However, PROTECTED streamside swamp forests build their bark nests. their camouflage makes PLACES to breed and thrive. them hard to spot! VICTORIA’S 9 MAIN ECOSYSTEMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 What is an ecosystem? An ecosystem is made up of all the living and non-living things in an area. The living parts of ecosystems include all the plants, animals, bacteria and fungi. The non-living parts of The Alps Grasslands Heathlands The Mallee Dry Forests Wet Forests Inland Waters The Coast Marine ecosystems include things like sunlight, water, The Alps are characterised Grasslands consist of many Heathlands are character- Mallee ecosystems take and Woodlands and Rainforests and Wetlands Powerful waves, salty A useful way to distin- winds and unstable sandy guish marine ecosystems by rocky peaks with interesting and varied ised by dense, low shrubs their name from the There are many types The cool mountains and Victoria has a wide soils make the coast a is by separating them into soil, air and temperature. rounded mountain tops species of grasses. These and scattered, twisted Aboriginal word Mallee, of dry open forests and gullies of Victoria is where variety of inland and difficult environment for marine habitats. A marine and plateaus. The highest grasses have adapted to trees. Their stunted which describes a group woodlands across Victoria. you can find wet eucalypt aquatic environments, living things to survive in habitat is a place where mountain areas support survive severe weather growth is a result of the of eucalypts with enlarged, Each type is dominated forests and rainforests. including flowing waters Victoria’s landscape has been shaped by as it is constantly changing. certain animals and plants the growth of heathland, changes such as temporary harshness of the environ- woody bases called by different species of such as creeks, streams Our wet eucalypt forests can be found together. grassland and alpine bogs. flooding in winter and ment in which they live. lignotubers that are found Eucalyptus tree, such as and rivers and standing Plants such as banksias, geological movement, weathering and human have the world’s largest quick drying soil in summer. in these dry environments. Messmate or Red Ironbark. waters such as lakes Moonah, tea-trees, dune The nine main Marine At lower altitudes small, Fire is important to the flowering plant, a majestic and wetlands. scrub, succulents and habitats are: Subtidal interaction over hundreds of thousands beautifully coloured snow In spring and early summer health of the heathland The lignotubers store The understory contains eucalypt called Mountain saltbushes have adapt- rocky reefs, Intertidal gums are found. These grasslands put on a colour- ecosystem as it improves carbohydrates and water, a variety of grasses, herbs Ash, reaching 100 metres These waters can be ations that help them cope rocky reefs, Sponge of years. Today Victoria is home to nine trees will only grow to ful display with grasses, soil quality for plant and allow the tree to and some of the State’s in height and 15 metres permanent or temporary, with this challenging Gardens, Kelp forests, 10 metres tall because the orchids, daisies, bush peas growth and it clears the reshoot from the base rarest orchids. in circumference. plants that live in or environment. Mangroves, Mudflats, main ecosystems, which are all unique environment is so harsh. and lilies all flowering. dense shrub layer to if stems are destroyed by In comparison Victoria’s nearby have adapted Hollows that form in dead Open water, Sandy plains allow smaller plants to fire. The Mallee’s sandy rainforests feature non- to changing water levels. Coastal environments Animals such as the The critically endangered and old trees are an and Seagrass beds. and important in their own right. Victoria’s put up shoots and flowers. soil supports the growth eucalypt trees, climbers, provide important Baw Baw Frog and the Plains-wanderer forages important feature of this Inland waters and wetlands of saltbush, heathy shrubs, shrubs, ferns and mosses. breeding habitats for The elusive, tri-coloured Mountain Pygmy-possum for seeds and insects The heathlands support ecosystem as they provide provide habitat for a variety protected places aims to safeguard these sedges, grasses and herbs. shore birds such as Pied Burrunan Dolphin can have developed amazing among the grasses of many flowering plants, nesting opportunities for Masterful songbird, the of animals including fish, Oystercatchers and be found in distinct areas ecosystems including the valuable cultural, adaptations to cope short, sparse grasslands. rich bird life and a large The Mallee is home to Brush-tailed Phascogale Lyrebird, can be found invertebrates, amphibians more species of lizards Hooded Plovers. off the coast of Victoria. with the cold, windy, number of small mammals, and many types of scratching through the and birds, which access Burrunan is an Aboriginal scientific and natural beauty they contain. snow-covered habitat. Terrick Terrick National Park such as dunnarts and the than anywhere else in parrots and cockatoos. leaf litter on damp forest the water at different Port Campbell National Park word meaning ‘large sea Craigieburn Grassland New Holland Mouse. Victoria, from tiny geckos floors in search of insects, stages of their life cycle. Nature Conservation to powerful goannas. Croajingolong National Park fish of the porpoise kind’. Alpine National Park Reserve Budj Bim National Park spiders, worms and seeds. Mount Buffalo National Park Cape Conran Coastal Park Corner Inlet Marine and Derrimut Grassland Nature Grampians National Park Kings Billabong Park Coastal Park Baw Baw National Park Conservation Reserve Anglesea Heath Murray-Sunset National Park Wilsons Promontory Marine Brisbane Ranges Kinglake National Park Barmah National Park National Park Jilpanger Nature Hattah-Kulkyne National Park National Park Yarra Ranges National Park Mitchell River National Park Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Conservation Reserve Little Desert National Park Snowy River National Park Twelve Apostles Marine National Park Billy buttons Kangaroo grass Common heath Saltbush Eucalyptus Fern Bulrush Pigface Giant kelp Victoria’s network of parks and reserves are an integral part of Aboriginal cultural landscapes. Parks Victoria respects the deep and continuing connection that Traditional Owners have to these landscapes and Printed on 100% recycled paper recognises their ongoing role in caring for Country..
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