Flora and Fauna

Flora and puppet 10/3/2013 Outline Australias whimsical botany and wolf Australia has a large variety of odd plant and tool spread all(a)(prenominal) over the continent, from coast to coast, including in the ocean. More than 80 per cent of the argonnas flowering plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs argon unique to Australia, along with most of its fresh water fish and almost half of its birds. Australia is plate to more than than than 140 species of unique marsupials, including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats and the Tasmanian devil, which is now found only in Tasmania. in that respect ar 55 different species of kangaroos and wallabies, autochthonal to Australia.Australias marine environment is home to 4000 fish species, 1700 coral species, 50 types of marine mammals and a wide slog of seabirds. Most marine species found in southern Australian amniotic fluid occur nowhere else. Australia has over 1000 species of Wattle and around 2800 species in the Myrtace ae family, (gum trees and eucalypts). Describe the threats to Australias industrial plant and living creature Extinction Since European settlement of Australia began, a lilliputian over 200 years ago, 18 species of Australian mammals and slightly(predicate) 100 species of intrinsic plants agree become extinct.Currently about 40 species of mammals and many hundreds of species of plants argon jeopardize with quenching. These figures argon among the worst in the world. Extinction is a natural ongoing process. However at the indorsement the majority of defunctnesss ar caused by gentlemans gentleman. We flock clearly tell that it is the humans that ar doing the damage, because of the unusually fast rate of extinction. The current rate of extinction in Australia is 100 times the background rate (naturally occurring rate of extinction). There argon many things that cause extinction, some of these are * Habitat outrage Natural causes (flood, fire, drought) * Introduced spe cies Picture Caption This image shows the crisis that Australian plant and beast are presently in. In this image the more red the surface welkin is, the more species in region are thought to be menace and threatened. As we butt end see the species under the most threat rest around the enceinte cities and the coastal regions. This is because home ground has been clear(p) around the capital cities and high numbers of threatened species. Also over 50% of Australia is uninhabitable so many plants and sentient beings acknowledge in coastal areas because they give the axe non survive in central Australia.That is as rise up as why we might see higher threatened species rates on the coasts of Australia. Habitats under threat Habitat qualifying is before long the briny cause of species extinction in Australia. The main causes of habitat loss in Australia are agriculture, clear for urban living, logging and mining. When an ecosystem has been dramatically changed by human activities, it may no longer be able to lead the food, water and shelter all animals neediness to survive. E real day there are fewer places left, wildlife can call home. Most autochthonous species can non follow outside a natural ecosystem.Australia is unrivaled of the top ten trim clearing nations in the world. While clearing rates are starting signal to decline, we are still clearing more vegetation then we are planting or are able to regrow naturally. This continuous slip threatens Australias environment and flora and fauna species. In addition clearing take increases the incidents of erosion and sedimentation of waterways and reduces water quality, also dramatically change our flora and fauna. Introduced species One of the greatest threats to Australias Flora and Fauna is introduced species. Australia has a large number of introduced mammals and birds.Introduced frog species, have caused extinction of many innate species, due to a massive change in the food pyrami d. A prime use of an animal that is greatly damaging Australias native species is the Cane toad, which was introduced originally to destroy the harmful cane beetle. It is damaging Australias native species, because larger animals see cane toads as prey and and so persist them. When cane toads are ingested, a poisonous toxin is put into the pirana do rapid heartbeat, excessive salivation, swelling and eventually death. The animals that commonly jump out are native reptiles, snakes and crocodiles.Risk of natural hazards It isnt only humans that are causing the irreversible damage to Australias native species. A very small threat to our animals is natural causes. These causes involve fire, erosion, floods, drought, landslide and cyclones. Many of these things are a very common occurrence in Australia. One of the main natural hazards that Australia faces often is fire. Tens of thousands of animals died in the Victorian bushfire. Not including the many thousands that had to be eut hanized afterwards, due to severe burns and dehydration. Most are small, non-flying animals that could not hunt down the flames.Insect populations took the worst hit. Natural factors usually occur at a long-play rate and therefore cause a low extinction rate. gentlemans gentleman activities occur at a faster rate and cause higher extinction rates. Human activities are mostly obligated for the present extinction rates. Current policy position Different governments around Australia have miscellaneous pieces of legislation that cheer Australias flora and fauna. The claim governments are responsible for the bulk protection and sustainability of flora and fauna, while the federal government has little power over matters relating to flora and fauna.Many rules/laws on these legislations are very uniform and have a few small differences to fit each state/ territorys needs. However all legislations aim to protect all native species from harm, minimise the loss of habitat and to preve nt extinction. These types of flora and fauna legislations are in place in all states/ territories around Australia. An example of this type of legislation is the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee effect from 1988, which was the first Australian legislation to deal with issues relating to flora and fauna. The Flora and Fauna Guarantee act Victoria (1988) is designed to * Protect species Protect familial material and habitats, * Prevent extinction and * Allow maximum genetic transmutation inside the state of Victoria. Future action plan There are many individuals, groups and governments that are having big impacts on the state of Australias flora and fauna. Some of which are positive and some are negative. The majority are positive however there are more steps that individuals, groups and governments could deem to curb a brighter future for Australian native species. Individuals Wildlife Tourists Wildlife touristry is ceremonial wild animals in their natural habitat.Australia has a large amount of wildlife touristry due to our unique flora and fauna species. These include kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, dingos, platypuses, wallabies and wombats. Animal tourism in Australia is very beneficial not only for the tourists only also for the animals. When tourists come to Australia, they are educated about the animals, their habitat and how important it is to protect these animals. The tourists views and opinions are then changed and they walk away sympathize with more for the animals and plants, as well as the importance of maintaining biodiversity.Secondly a relation of the revenue raised from tourism goes towards more educational projects as well as conservation projects, which are very beneficial to all animals. Wildlife touristry has many positives and the Australian wildlife tourism is moving in the right direction, but there are more highly important steps that need to be taken by the Australian tourism industry, to protect flora and fauna. When build ing accommodation for tourists, animals homes and habitats are often knocked down, causing disturbance to animals and leading to increased vulnerability.As explained earlier habitat loss is one of the major causes of extinction and should be minimised as more than as possible. sort of accommodation should be constructed away from animals habitats, where it does not see them too much. Secondly stricter rules should be in place to prevent the victuals of animals by tourists. Feeding of wildlife by tourists can have severe consequences for brotherly behavior patterns. Artificial feeding can also result in a complete loss of normal feeding behaviors. When feeding of animals lettuce some animals are unable to locate their natural food sources. HuntersHunting is the radiation pattern of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife or barbarous animals, by humans for food, recreation, or trade. Although capture is not very common in Australia, it is still having a big impact on Aus tralias flora and fauna. Hunting is seen by some as good for the environment as well as flora and fauna, because it keeps feral pests in check and leave behinds native animals a chance. The majority of animals hunted, are feral. These include non-native animals such as rabbits, hares, feral goats, pigs, buffalo, feral donkeys, horses and camels, which have been proven to en hazard our native animals.Also the taxes from hunting activities go to the state or federal governments for such purposes such as enhancing wildlife habitat and managing and maintaining national park. These things are beneficial, however it is quite clear, in the case of hunting the negatives outweigh the positives. The main reason is hunters are only allowed to pursue particularised species. Some environmentalists argue that hunting creates an imbalance in the natural elements of the environment. For instance, if an animal that is typically a predator is hunted to lower numbers, their prey pass on increase in number.Nature has a delicate balance and hunting can have an impact on that natural balance. Opponents to hunting claim that animals have their own ways of population control and humans are not needed to aid that process. Groups WIRES WIRES are the largest wildlife rehabilitation charity in Australia. It is not for profit organisation that provides rescue and rehabilitation for all native Australian fauna. All animal rescuers and carers are volunteers. WIRES mostly respond to individual semipublic reports of sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife. WIRES volunteers will rescue a sick animal, foster it and release it back into the wild.WIRES also educate kids about the importance of native animals and how to act and look after them to ensure they proceed happy, healthy and in abundance. After rehabilitation of animals, WIRES releases animals back into the environment. However as we know, animals have a lower chance of survival after being released as they are not adapted to cert ain ways of living, predators and decision food. They may also be hunted. This is why WIRES needs to develop reserves where the animals can be released and monitored. With no roads and anti-poaching patrols, to ensure the silk hat chance of survival.Green Groups (Australian bush heritage fund) There are many different parkland groups across Australia, dedicated to protecting Australias diverse environment, especially its unique Flora and Fauna. One of these is the Bush Heritage Fund, which is a national, independent, non-profit organisation thats aim is to preserve Australias biodiversity by protecting the bush. It is Australias most widely back up environmental national organisation. The Australian Bush Heritage Fund has a very simple yet effective scheme of protecting the biodiversity of flora and fauna.They do this through the creation of reserves on private land. The land the fund purchases are private and defend, meaning that no one can hunt/degrade habitat on the land. Thi s means animals can live naturally, without harm. For example, the fund now owns Naree station. This reserve in Naree protects many native and impotant plants and animals. These include Animals on protected on the Naree property * Brolga ( open) * Freckled duck (vulnerable) * myopic red flying fox * Pied honeyeater (vulnerable) * Spotted harrier (vulnerable) browned treecreeper (vulnerable) * Kultarr (endangered) The reserve also protects iconic plants such as * Coolabah tree * Bimblebox * Leopardwood * beefwood * Supplejack * Belah The things the fund is doing are great and very beneficial for the flora and fauna of Australia. However, the fund could be doing many other things to protect our native flora and fauna. Firstly they should be conducting more research on the flora and fauna of Australia, to ensure they are purchasing the most important pieces of land, where the most vulnerable species are located.Secondly the fund should introduce education schemes for land owners, te aching them how to best manage their land to protect flora and fauna, as they have more land than the fund and therefore bigger impact on the flora and fauna. Zoos Zoos are defined as a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they are bred. However nowadays zoos are much more than that. Many zoos have now set up conservation societys, such as the Taronga conservation society. There are a number of things zoos conservation societies do to encourage protect animals.This includes educating mess about animals to help them make better decisions, stemma animal populations that are endangered/ critically endangered, to increase their numbers and give the species a better chance of survival and help sick/ under the weather animals to recover with vetinary care. These things are all important, however there is so much more zoos could be doing to ensure the preservation of animals. Firstly when they release animals into the wild, the y may become sick or hunted again. Zoos should therefore establish protected reserves where no hunting/ poaching is allowed and all animals especially re-released ones are safe.Secondly zoos should establish anti poaching patrols to make sure a stripped-down amount of animals are hunted in the first place. Lastly zoos should solicit for better legislation concerning poaching and habitat destruction, as they have a much bigger voice and authority than many other people/groups. Government National parks/ state parks National/ differentiate Parks are large areas of public land set by for native plants, animals and the places in which they live. They also protect places important to Aboriginal people.Because the area in National parks is protected, no habitat is allowed to be cleared as the land is owned by the government. This ensures there is not a loss of habitat leading to vulnerability of certain species of animals and plants. National parks also educate visitors, both adults an d children alike, about the importance of Australias native flora and fauna and what steps need to be taken to ensure they can survive. The education scheme also teaches about how individuals, even children can have an impact on the native species of Australia. These things are all visionary and there was nothing to fault about national arks, until recently. Unfortunately within a few months, we will start seeing hunters being allowed to hunt in national parks. This should be stopped as it is a danger to tourists and native animals that live in the national parks. Also this type of exertion will disrupt the natural food chain that has developed in national parks. This will also mean tourists will be more hesitant to visit national parks due to hunting, leading to less(prenominal) people being educated about Australias flora and fauna and smaller amounts of money being raised, to fund vital environmental schemes.