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Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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Telephone02 9816 1298

Emailfieldofmar-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Eucalypt forest

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.

Gum tree
Image: There are over 700 species of eucalypt trees in Australia.
Eucalypt forest
Image: Eucalypt forest usually have three vegetation layers. The tree canopy layer, a shrub layer and a ground cover layer.
Burnt tree in a forest.
Image: Many species in eucalypt forests require fire to encourage seed germination.

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.

Climate map
Image: 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.

Blue mountains topography
Image: The types of Eucalyptus species found in the sheltered valleys of the Blue Mountains 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 understory. These include banksias, snow wreaths and grass trees. On clay soils, which are generally higher in nutrients, small herbs and grasses often dominate the groundcover layer.

Eucalyptus forest
Image: The soil found in the Field of Mars Reserve is sandy and nutrient poor. Sydney red gums, hairpin banksias and lomandra 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 plants provide tree habitats that many species depend on.

Forests are more than trees. The shrub and ground cover habitats help to make forests the perfect home for many Australian species. 

Plants provide vital food and shelter for fauna found within these envrionments.

Eggs and bacon plant
Image: Eggs and bacon is a type of small shrub found in a eucalypt forest. Pollen is collected from their flowers by pollinating animals.
Native sarspiarilla
Image: Native sarsaparilla is a type of vine that grows up through the branches of shrubs and other plants to reach the light.
Leaf litter
Image: As eucalypt trees grow they drop leaves, branches and bark to the ground. This is called leaf litter and is an important habitat for some animals.
Fungus
Image: Fungi are important decomposers breaking down dead plants and recycling essential nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Wattle
Image: Wattles are a type of shrub that are commonly found growing in eucalypt forests.
Kangaroo grass
Image: Kangaroo grass is another type of plant that provides food and shelter to many species of forest animal.s

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.

Tree canopy layer | YouTube | Field of Mars EEC (1:04 min) | Video transcript

Rainbow lorikeet
Image: Rainbow lorikeets are primarily nectar feeders. Some birds, such as cockatoos also help with dispersing seeds and are pollinators of native plants.

Eucalypt forest digital book
Image: Eucalypt forest digital book

Find out more

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.

This book is designed by teachers to support the NSW Geography K-10 syllabus and Science and Technology K-6 syllabus.

Download free from Apple Books

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We’d like to acknowledge the Wallumedegal Peoples of the Darug Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we stand and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

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