Compiled By Mr Rafei

Australia breaks from Antarctica

 Australia was part of Pangaea; towards the bottom of the

land mass.
 When Pangaea broke into two continents, Australia stayed
with Gondwana.
Australia breaks from Antarctica

 Australia was connected to Antarctica around 125 million

years ago. The continent was almost covered in water
separating it into four land masses.
 More land was exposed as the sea level dropped around 85
million years ago.
 Around 40 millions years ago, Australia broke free from
Antarctica when the South Tasman Rise separated from
Antarctica making Australia a island continent.
Australia breaks from Antarctica
Australia breaks from Antarctica

 When Australia separated from Antarctica, a new current

formed. It was called the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
 This cold current caused South Australia to become drier as
the water was locked up in Antarctic ice sheets.
 As Australia moved upwards, the northern parts of
Australia became warmer.
Australia’s flora and fauna

 Since its separation from Antarctica, Australia was isolated

for 40 million years.
 This led to the evolution of unique flora/plants and
fauna/animals that adapted to the climate of this continent.
 Australia is a home to 200 species of marsupials.
 70 species are found around the world, mostly in South
America.
 Echidna and platypus are unique to Australia.
Australia’s flora and fauna

 As Australia drifted north, the climate became drier.

 The dry Nullarbor plain was formed.
 This dry climate led to the development of unique native
plants adapted to that climate.

Brachyscome tatei Mulla mulla

Australia’s flora and fauna

Kangaroo paw
red flowering gum
Australia’s flora and fauna

Banksia

Sturt’s desert pea

Australia’s flora and fauna

Bottle brush
Hakea Laurina
Australia’s flora and fauna

Royal Bluebell

Scarlet ribbon
Leucospermum
Australia’s biodiversity

 With the arrival of indigenous Aborigines in Australia, the

biotic environment increased in its biodiversity.
 Landscape burning (fire-stick farming) served to provide
favourable habitats for herbivores.
 It also served to increase local abundance of food plants.
 Aborigines fire regime was critical in the maintenance of at
least one species of tree Callitris intratropica- Cypress pine
Australia’s biodiversity

 Aboriginal burning resulted in geographic range and

demographic structure of many types of vegetation such as
the eucalyptus.
 It also helped with the maintenance of habitats for small
mammals.
 Fuel loads comprised of leaf litter and grass. Burnt sites
attracted animal food resource such as large macropods.
Australia’s biodiversity

 Suppression of fuels such as perennial grasses reduces

wildfire risks and maintain diverse habitats.
European Seasons

 A season is a division of the year marked by a change in

the weather, ecology and hours of daylight.
 Seasons result from the yearly orbit of the earth around the
sun and the tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis.
 European calendar is comprised of four seasons:

Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn
European Seasons

 Winter – is the coldest temperate season.

 It is caused by the axis of the earth in that hemisphere
being oriented away from the sun.
 Winter is associated with snow and freezing temperatures.
 Winter solstice is when the sun’s elevation with respect to
the north or south pole is at its most negative value.
European Seasons

 Migration is a common effect of winter upon animals,

notably birds; however, the majority do not migrate.
 Hibernation is a state of reduced metabolic activity adopted
by some animals such as snakes, frogs and bats.
 Some animals store food to live on it during winter. They
include beavers, raccoons, skunks.
European Seasons

 Some animals resist winter by changing colour of their fur

or plumage (crypsis) such as weasel, arctic fox, mountain
hare and white-tailed jackrabbit.
 Mice and voles take shelter under the insulating snow.
 Some plants (henbane) require winter to complete their life
cycle.
European Seasons

 Spring – is the second temperate season.

 For the relevant hemisphere, the weather begins to warm
causing growth to ‘spring forth’.
 It is one of the two times when the earth’s axis is not tilted
towards or away from the sun.
 Around the 22nd of September, an event known as the
‘vernal’ equinox takes place. This is where the day and
night are of almost equal length.
European Seasons

 Farmers and gardeners plant their seeds.

 Many flowering plants begin to bloom at this time of year.
 Any snow begins to melt, swelling streams with run-off.
 Flooding is most common near mountainous areas.
 Many animals give birth in the spring, while those that
travelled to warmer regions return.
European Seasons

 Summer – is the hottest of the four temperate seasons.

 It is caused by the axis of the earth in that hemisphere
being oriented towards the sun.
 At summer solstice, the days are longer and the nights are
shorter.
 Most fruiting trees bloom and grow very quickly.
 Sun’s heat is essential for vegetation and growing food
crops.
European Seasons

 Most animals reproduce, hunt and store energy for colder

seasons.
 Birds breed intensely in summer, battle for territory, nest
and gather food.
 They increase their body fat as a energy source before their
migration in autumn.
 By the end of the season they start to grow new feathers in
preparation for the colder season ahead.
European Seasons

 Autumn – marks the transition from summer to winter.

 the temperature cools down considerably.
 Around 20 March autumnal equinox takes place. The
northern and southern hemispheres are equally illuminated.
 Vegetative growth decreases.
 In response to chilly temperatures and changes in daylight,
leaves stop producing chlorophyll, while
carotenoids(yellow/orange pigments) shine through the
leaves’ washed out green.
 Red colour comes from anthocyanins.
European Seasons

 Farmers harvest their crops as it is the end of the growing

season.

 Birds migrate to warmer locations.

Aboriginal Seasons

 Australian aboriginal calendar comprises between four and

thirteen seasons depending on the traditional groups.
 The Nyoongar group identifies six seasons:
 Birak – first summer;
 Bunuru – second summer;
 Djeran – autumn;
 Makuru – the first rains;
 Djilba – the second rains;
 Kambarang – the flowering.
Aboriginal Seasons
Aboriginal Seasons

 Birak – first summer; the rains ease up and the warm

weather takes hold.
 This is the fire season; the time to burn the country in
mosaic pattern.
 Reasons for burning include:

Fuel reduction,

Increasing the grazing pastures for some animals,

Aiding in seed germination for some plants, and

Ease of mobility across the country.
Aboriginal Seasons

 As for the animals, there are many fledglings now

venturing out of nests.
 Reptiles are looking to shed their old skin for a new
one.
 With the rising temperatures and the decreasing
rainfall, it's also time for the baby frogs to complete
their transformation into adulthood.
Aboriginal Seasons

 Bunuru – second summer; hottest time of the year with

little to no rain.
 Hot easterly winds followed by sea breeze in the afternoon
make this season an ideal time to live by the coast, river
and estuary.
 Freshwater foods and seafood make up major part of diet.
Aboriginal Seasons

 White flowering gums are in full blooms such as Marri,

Jarrah and Ghost gum.
 The Macrozamia riedlei with masses cotton wool-like
substance.
 The ripening of the seeds are attractive to the emu that will
eat the toxic outer layer.
Aboriginal Seasons

 Djeran – ant season; a break in the hot weather brought by

cool nights and dewy presence in the morning.
 Light breeze from southerly direction with flying ants
cruising in the light winds.
 Time of red flowers from Red Flowering Gum and
Summer Flame.
 Seed cones form on the Sheoaks;
Aboriginal Seasons

 Banksia start to display their flower, providing nectar for

many birds and small mammals.
 Traditionally, foods at this time of year included the seeds
that had been collected and stored for treatment from the
Zamia last season along with the root bulbs of the Yanget
(Bullrushes), fresh water fish, frogs and turtles.
Aboriginal Seasons

 Makuru – fertility season; coldest and wettest time of the

year.
 Food sources changed from seafood to grazing animals
such as kangaroo, which provided meat and skin cloaks
(bookas) for the cold nights. Even bones were used for
spears.
Aboriginal Seasons

 Pairing of animals such as the raven in preparation for

breeding in the coming season.
 Upon the rivers and lakes of the south west, a large influx
of Black Swans is seen as they prepare to nest and breed.
 Flowers that start to emerge are those of the Blueberry
Lilly and the Purple Flags.
Aboriginal Seasons

 Djilba – the growing season; transitional time of the year

with cold & clear days combining with rainy & windy days
mixing with occasional few sunny days.
 This is the start of massive flowering explosion seen in the
South West, which include the creamy coloured acacias.
 The main food sources included many of the land-based
grazing animals from the season before: kangaroo
(Yongar), emu (Waitj) and the possum (Koomal).
Aboriginal Seasons

 As the days start to warm up we start to see and hear the

first of the newborns.
 The swooping protective behaviour of the Magpie
(Koolbardie), Willy Wag Tail (Djidy Djidy ) and Wattle
birds (Chuck-a-Luck).
 As the season progresses and temperature continues to rise,
the flower stalk of the Balgas emerge in preparation for the
upcoming Kambarang season.
European and Aboriginal Seasons

 Kambarang – season of birth; abundance of flowers and

colours. The yellows of many acacias continue to abound
as well as the Kangaroo Paw and Orchids. Balgas start to
flower.
 The most striking displays belongs to the Christmas tree
(Mooja). The bright orange/yellow flowers signal the heat
season is on its way.
European and Aboriginal Seasons

 Longer dry periods signal a warming trend.

 Reptiles awaken from their hibernation and make use of the
warm season to look for food.
 Young families of birds will be singing out for their parents
to feed them.
Aboriginal Seasons

 Seasons were identified by:


Change in the tides,

Changes in animal behaviour,

Availability of crops;
 Indigenous people of Australia only spent two months in
one area, then they moved to another. For example, in
Birak, they go to the coast, next they move to the hills.
 This way they never deplete a resource on one area.
 http://education.abc.net.au/home#!/media/1771788/indigenous-seasons-across-
northern-australia