Eucalypt forest

Description

Eucalypt forests have an open tree canopy dominated by eucalypt species. Trees are typically taller than 10 metres with crowns that touch. A tree's crown is made up of the top branches and leaves of a tree. The canopy is made up of the tree crowns.

There are over 700 species of eucalypt trees in Australia, commonly referred to in English as gum trees. The Darug name for gum tree is yarra.

Eucalypt forests usually have 3 vegetation layers – the tree canopy layer, a shrub layer and a ground cover layer.

Many species in eucalypt forests require fire to encourage seed germination. The trunk of this eucaplypt shows evidence of a bushfire.

Climate

Eucalypt forests are found in the majority of climate zones around Australia that receive enough rainfall. This includes equatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate areas that are found around the outer part of Australia.

The climate will affect the type of forest that can grow in an area and the species it contains.

Isoline map of Australian climate classifications

Topography

The landscape has an influence on soil depth, exposure to sunlight and moisture availability. Variation in the topography results in different plant habitats and formations of natural environments.

The types of eucalyptus species found in the sheltered valleys of the Blue Mountains National Park is different to those growing on the exposed cliffs and ridge tops.

Soil

Soil has a significant influence on the species of vegetation that grow in a eucalypt forest. On nutrient poor soils, such as sandy soil, hard and often prickly-leaved plants dominate the understorey. These include banksias, snow wreaths and grass trees. On clay soils, which are generally higher in nutrients, small herbs and grasses often dominate the ground cover layer.

The soil found in the Field of Mars Reserve is sandy and nutrient poor. Sydney red gums, hairpin banksias and mat rush all have special adaptations to help them thrive in these areas.

Plants

Eucalypt forests support a range of species from the  Eucalyptus, Corymbia  and  Angophora  genus groups. These trees provide tree habitats that many species depend on for food, nesting and shelter.

Forests are more than trees. The shrub and ground cover layers also provide vital food and shelter for animals such as small birds, ground dwelling mammals such as wallabies and bandicoots, reptiles and a diversity of invertebrates.

Eggs and bacon is a type of small shrub found in a eucalypt forest. Pollen is collected from their flowers by pollinating animals such as bees and birds.

Native sarsaparilla is a type of vine that grows in the ground cover layer up through the branches of shrubs.

As eucalypt trees grow they drop leaves, branches and bark to the ground. This is called leaf litter and is an important habitat for animals such as bush cockroaches, slaters and centipedes.

Fungi are important decomposers breaking down dead plants and recycling essential nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Wattles are a type of shrub that commonly grow in eucalypt forests.

Kangaroo grass in the ground cover layer provides food for seed-eating birds and shelter for lizards.

Animals

Eucalypt forests are home to a rich diversity of fauna including  ringtail possums,  water dragons,  red-crowned toadlets  and  red triangle slugs.

There are many simple and complex interactions between animals and plants that take place within this environment.

Rainbow lorikeets are mainly nectar feeders and help pollinate eucalypts and flowering shrubs. They nest in hollows in tree trunks and branches.

Eucalypt forest digital book

Find out more

Written by teachers, eucalypt forest explores the beautiful natural environment of the Australian eucalyptus forest.

Learn about the interactions between plants and animals in the forest and how people can interact with and care for these special natural areas.

Containing a suite of interactive activities, videos and beautiful images, this book will encourage you to go out and explore your local eucalypt forest.

Download free from Apple Books