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Australian Grasslands
What
are grasslands?
Grasslands are open habitats covered mainly in grass, but also
with other plants, wildflowers and a small number of trees and
low shrubs. They contain many different kinds of grass. Grasslands
contain the most species of plants in Australia.
Grasses
Grasses are found in
every continent except Antarctica. They can be found from the
edge of the sea to the tops of mountains. They are successful
plants because of the way in which they grow: from the base of
the plant rather than from the top. This means if grass is burned
or eaten it is able to grow again easily from the bottom. They
have long, thin leaves so they don't lose moisture quickly, and
their deep, thin roots help them to survive dry periods.
Native grasslands are disappearing
When Captain Cook landed, a carpet of native grasses and colourful flowering herbs covered much of south-eastern Australia, from south-eastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales, Victoria, and into South Australia and Tasmania.
Since European settlement,
most native grassland has been removed or changed by farming
and other development. Vast areas of grassland were cleared for
crops, and introduced grasses were planted on which introduced
animals such as sheep and cattle grazed. Later, towns and cities
spread, and grasslands became further reduced to make way for
them.
have become extinct and many more are now rare or threatened with extinction.
As well as grasses such as wallaby grass and kangaroo grass, endangered grasslands plants include rare native orchids, lilies and pea plant species.
A habitat such as grasslands includes animals that depend on the plants or physical environment. Much of the activity of grasslands occurs at or below ground level. Insects, small marsupials, reptiles and ground dwelling birds live in grasslands. Many of these are also rare, endangered because their habitat has been reduced or damaged.
Another rare grasslands animal is the Striped Legless Lizard. Its grasslands habitat includes kangaroo grass and spear grass. Once fairly common in south-eastern Australia, is typically found where there are deep cracks in clay soil, with volcanic rocks scattered about to provide further hiding places. The cracks in the soil provide shelter from fire and predators, as well as being a place to lay eggs. The Striped Legless Lizard feeds only on invertebrates.
If you use any part of this in your work, list the source in your bibliography like this: Australian Grasslands (2002). [Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
updated AUGUST 2006