Australian Alps montane grasslands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australian Alps montane grasslands |
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montane grassland at Kosciuszko National Park
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The subalpine region of mainland Australia (not including Tasmania)
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Australasian |
| Biome | montane grasslands and shrublands |
| Borders | Eastern Australian temperate forests and Southeast Australia temperate forests |
| Geography | |
| Area | 12,330 km2 (4,760 sq mi) |
| Country | Australia |
| States | Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Relatively stable/intact |
| Protected | 7,888 km² (64%) |
The Australian Alps montane grasslands is a special natural area in south-eastern Australia. It's a type of grassland found in the mountains. This area is usually above 1300 metres high. That's higher than where Snow Gum trees usually grow.
Where are the Australian Alps?
The Australian Alps cover a small part of Australia. They stretch for 600 kilometres. You can find them near Canberra, along the borders of the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Victoria. The highest point is Mount Kosciuszko, which is 2,228 metres tall.
These mountains are part of Australia's Great Dividing Range. They are very important because Australia is mostly flat and dry. The Alps get a lot of rain, providing water for almost half of Australia's people. Winters here are cold and windy, with lots of snow. Mount Kosciuszko, for example, only has about 10 days without frost each year!
At lower elevations, the Australian Alps montane grasslands are surrounded by Southeast Australia temperate forests.
Plants of the Alps
The montane grasslands are a mix of different habitats. You'll find grasslands, heathlands, and bogs. Many unique plants live here. They are specially adapted to the cold weather, snow, and dry winters.
The area can be divided into three height zones:
- Montane zone: Between 1,100 and 1,400 metres high.
- Subalpine zone: Between 1,400 and 1,850 metres high.
- Alpine zone: Usually above 1,850 metres high.
In the lower parts, you can see different types of eucalyptus trees. These include Mountain Ash trees. Higher up, in the subalpine areas, you'll find Snow Gum trees and Black Sallee trees. The ground is covered with heath shrubs.
Above 1600 to 1800 metres, trees stop growing. This is called the tree line. In the highest alpine areas, the plants are mostly alpine flora. You'll see lots of Poa (snow grass). There are also shrubs like orites, Grevillea, Prostanthera, and Hovea.
In very high areas, or where snow stays late into summer, you might find special plant communities. Sphagnum bogs are also found in wet, low-lying areas. These bogs have plants like Sphagnum cristatum and Empodisma minus.
Animals of the Alps
Even though it's a tough environment, many unique animals live in the Alps. Some of these animals are found nowhere else in the world!
Here are a few examples:
- The Alpine thermocolour grasshopper (Kosciuscola tristis). This grasshopper can change its colour like a chameleon!
- The mountain pygmy possum (Burramys parvus). This tiny possum is very rare.
- The corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree). This frog has bright yellow and black stripes.
- The Baw Baw frog (Philoria frosti). This frog only lives in one small area called the Baw Baw Plateau in Victoria.
Larger animals found in the lower parts of the Alps include:
- Red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)
- Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
- Common wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
- Tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)
- Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
- Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
Protecting the Alps
For a long time, the Australian Alps were mostly untouched. But after Europeans arrived, things changed. Grazing animals and more fires caused damage to the plants and bogs. It takes a long time for these areas to recover.
Luckily, most of the Alps are now protected as national parks. This helps to save the important water sources and the unique wildlife. These parks include:
- Brindabella
- Namadgi National Park
- Bimberi
- Scabby Range Nature Reserves (near Canberra)
- Kosciuszko (in New South Wales)
- Alpine
- Snowy River National Parks
- Avon Wilderness Park (in Victoria)
Even with protection, these parks face challenges. Things like litter, people walking off paths, and building ski resorts can harm the environment. It's important for everyone to help protect these special places.
