Woodland ecosystems fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What are woodland ecosystems?

Woodland ecosystems are places where trees, animals, plants, fungi, soil, sunlight, water, air and climate interact. In Australia, a woodland usually has trees spaced far enough apart that their crowns do not form a closed canopy. This lets more sunlight reach the ground than in many forests.

Many Australian woodland ecosystems are dominated by eucalypt trees, including trees from the genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora. Woodlands can also include native grasses, herbs, shrubs, wattles, fungi, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Woodland ecosystems are different from one place to another. Some are grassy woodlands with many ground layer plants. Others have more shrubs, rocky ground, fallen timber or dry leaf litter. Field of Mars Reserve is mainly described as eucalypt forest, gully forest and wetlands, but students can compare these local ecosystems with woodland ecosystems found in other parts of Sydney and NSW.

A woodland ecosystem.

Open woodland at Narrandera Koala Reserve shows eucalypt trees, sunlight, leaf litter and open space.

Where are woodland ecosystems found?

Woodland ecosystems are found in many parts of Australia. In temperate Australia, they often occur between wetter forest areas and drier inland shrublands or grasslands. The Australian Government describes temperate woodlands as common in areas with about 250 to 800 millimetres of mean annual rainfall, although particular woodland types vary.

In NSW, woodlands occur in coastal valleys, western Sydney, the tablelands, slopes and inland areas. Cumberland Plain woodland is a well-known western Sydney woodland ecosystem. Box gum grassy woodland is another important woodland ecosystem found across parts of NSW and nearby regions.

Cumberland Plain woodland is a western Sydney woodland ecosystem with scattered trees and a grassy ground layer.

What living and non-living features make up woodland ecosystems?

The living features of woodland ecosystems include trees, shrubs, grasses, herbs, fungi, bacteria, insects, spiders, reptiles, birds and mammals. Some species live high in the trees, while others depend on flowers, bark, hollows, fallen logs, grass tussocks, rocks, soil or leaf litter.

The non-living features include sunlight, air, soil, water, rocks, temperature, rainfall, wind and fire patterns. These features affect which plants can grow, how much shade is available, where animals can shelter and how nutrients move through the ecosystem.

Living features such as trees and grasses grow with non-living features such as sunlight, soil, air and open space in woodland ecosystems.

What plants and animals live in woodland ecosystems?

Woodland plants can include eucalypt trees, wattles, native grasses, herbs, orchids, lilies, daisies, shrubs and ground cover plants. In box gum grassy woodland, the understorey can include native tussock grasses and many herbs, with trees such as white box, yellow box or Blakely’s red gum in suitable areas.

Woodland animals may include ants, termites, beetles, native bees, spiders, lizards, snakes, parrots, honeyeaters, owls, gliders, possums, bats, wallabies and many other species. Large old trees, hollows, fallen timber and a diverse ground layer are especially important because they create many different habitats in one ecosystem.

Eastern grey kangaroos feed on grasses and other plants in open grassy ecosystems.

How do living things depend on woodland ecosystems?

Woodland plants are producers. They use sunlight, water, air and nutrients to grow. Leaves, flowers, nectar, pollen, seeds, sap, bark and roots provide food for many consumers, including insects, birds and mammals.

Consumers depend on woodland plants and on each other. A caterpillar may eat leaves, a small bird may eat the caterpillar, and a hawk or owl may hunt the bird. Decomposers such as fungi, bacteria, termites, beetles and worms break down dead leaves, wood and animal waste. This returns nutrients to the soil so plants can keep growing.

Lorikeets feed on nectar from flowering eucalypts, showing how animals depend on woodland plants for food.

How are woodland ecosystems connected to Aboriginal Peoples and Country?

Woodland ecosystems are part of Country for many Aboriginal Peoples. Woodlands can provide food, fibre, medicines, tools, shelter, teaching places and habitats for important plants and animals. Knowledge of woodland plants, animals, seasons, soils and fire is connected to particular Peoples, families and places.

In some places, Aboriginal Peoples use cultural fire practices to care for Country. Cultural fire management is guided by local Aboriginal communities and is not the same as ordinary hazard reduction. It can support cultural responsibilities, protect natural and cultural values, encourage healthy plant growth and help knowledge pass between generations.

Fire can shape Australian vegetation, but cultural fire management must be guided by Aboriginal communities and local Country.

Why are woodland ecosystems important?

Woodland ecosystems are important because they support biodiversity. One woodland patch can include tall trees, hollows, flowers, shrubs, grasses, leaf litter, logs, rocks and soil habitats. These features help many different plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms survive.

Woodlands also help protect soil, store carbon, support pollination, recycle nutrients and provide places for people to learn about nature. In western Sydney, Cumberland Plain woodland is now critically endangered, and remaining patches are important for conservation, education and scientific research.

Box gum grassy woodland is important because it protects native trees, grasses and habitat for many woodland species.

What threatens woodland ecosystems?

Many woodland ecosystems have been changed by land clearing, farming, urban development and fragmentation. When woodland is broken into small patches, animals may find it harder to move, feed, breed and stay safe. Small patches can also be more exposed to weeds, rubbish, fertiliser run-off, trampling and edge effects.

Other threats can include overgrazing, soil erosion, salinity, rural dieback, introduced predators such as foxes and cats, inappropriate fire patterns and climate change. These threats do not affect every woodland in the same way, so local management needs to match the particular woodland type and condition.

Invasive plants such as African olive can shade out native plants and change woodland ecosystems.

How can you help protect woodland ecosystems?

You can help protect woodland ecosystems by staying on tracks, observing wildlife quietly and leaving flowers, bark, rocks, logs, leaf litter and animals in place. These natural materials may be food, shelter or breeding places for living things.

Schools and communities can help by planting local native species, protecting old trees, keeping cats contained, keeping dogs on leads where required, removing rubbish and joining approved bushcare or citizen science activities. In Sydney, students can also learn about local native plants and animals using tools such as the Atlas of Living Australia or iNaturalist, with adult guidance.

Community planting can help restore habitat, connect ecosystems and support local wildlife.

Related fact sheets

Environments and ecosystems

• Ecosystems and environments fact sheet⁠ – Compare habitats, ecosystems and environments across Field of Mars Reserve, Sydney and NSW.
• Eucalypt forest fact sheet⁠ – Compare woodland ecosystems with a closely related open eucalypt ecosystem.
• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet⁠ – Explore the local reserve, including eucalypt forest, gully forest and wetland environments.

Habitats

• Habitat fact sheet⁠ – Learn how habitats provide food, water, shelter, space and breeding places for living things.
• Tree habitats fact sheet⁠ – Explore how trees provide leaves, flowers, bark, hollows, shade and shelter.
• Ground cover habitats fact sheet⁠ – Learn about low plants that protect soil and shelter small animals.
• Shrub habitats fact sheet⁠ – Explore understorey plants that provide nectar, leaves, shelter and movement pathways.
• Leaf litter habitats fact sheet⁠ – Discover how fallen leaves, bark and twigs support decomposers and small animals.
• Rock and log habitats fact sheet⁠ – Learn how rocks, crevices, fallen logs and dead wood create shelter.

Plants and animals in woodland food webs

• Plant fact sheets⁠ – Explore native plants that produce food, shelter, shade, seeds, flowers and leaf litter.
• Invertebrate fact sheets⁠ – Learn about small animals that pollinate plants, recycle nutrients and support food webs.
• Bird fact sheets⁠ – Explore birds that use trees, shrubs, flowers, hollows, insects and seeds.
• Mammal fact sheets⁠ – Learn about mammals that use trees, hollows, ground cover, leaf litter and other habitats.

Learn with us

Book now

Book a curriculum-aligned excursion or incursion and use this fact sheet to compare woodland, eucalypt forest, grassland and urban environments.

Learning programs

Explore Field of Mars EEC programs that support learning about woodland ecosystems, eucalypt forests, habitat structure and biodiversity.

Learning resources

Use this woodland ecosystem fact sheet to support classroom learning about open tree cover, sunlight, grasses, shrubs and ecosystem interactions.

Flora and fauna fact sheets

Explore plant, animal and habitat fact sheets connected to woodland ecosystems, eucalypts, native grasses, insects, birds and mammals.