Biotic Factors
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Mountain Ash - (Eucalyptus regnans)
Mountain Ash is the world's tallest flowering plant as well as the world's tallest hardwood tree. The tree can grow over 100m tall and can live to over 500 years old. At one stage, Victoria had the biggest trees in the world until they either burnt down in the bushfires or were cut down. Although fire can easily burn the Mountain Ash trees down, forests also needs fire to regenerate. The Mountain Ash bark can be many different colours black, brown, cream and grey. Mountain Ash normally has stringy bits of bark hanging off the tree. It produces 2-3 times the amount of tree litter than any other eucalyptus. Mountain Ash is normally found in fire sensitive, cool temperature rainforests such as Toolangi State Forest and many different forests across Australia. Mountain Ash is very useful to the Leadbeater's Possum as it uses the Mountain Ash for its nest. Mountain Ash is also useful for birds as the Mountain Ash provides nectar and seeds for them as well as leaves for caterpillars.
Mountain Ash is the world's tallest flowering plant as well as the world's tallest hardwood tree. The tree can grow over 100m tall and can live to over 500 years old. At one stage, Victoria had the biggest trees in the world until they either burnt down in the bushfires or were cut down. Although fire can easily burn the Mountain Ash trees down, forests also needs fire to regenerate. The Mountain Ash bark can be many different colours black, brown, cream and grey. Mountain Ash normally has stringy bits of bark hanging off the tree. It produces 2-3 times the amount of tree litter than any other eucalyptus. Mountain Ash is normally found in fire sensitive, cool temperature rainforests such as Toolangi State Forest and many different forests across Australia. Mountain Ash is very useful to the Leadbeater's Possum as it uses the Mountain Ash for its nest. Mountain Ash is also useful for birds as the Mountain Ash provides nectar and seeds for them as well as leaves for caterpillars.
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The Fairy (Leadbeater) Possum - (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)
The Toolangi State Forest is the perfect habitat for the endangered species of Fairy (Leadbeater's) Possums.
The Fairy Possum is smaller than a human hand and is notoriously shy but very fast. It measures to be around 150 - 170mm long. The tail measures to be around 145 - 160mm long. The Fairy Possum's diet includes saps and gums, honeydew and a variety of arthropods (which are invertebrates with jointed legs).
Surveys show that approximately 1,500 Fairy Possums are left in the world. Toolangi State Forest is the perfect habitat for the Fairy Possum. Even though Toolangi State Forest is a popular place for these Fairy Possums, their existence is being threatened by the logging of the forest. The main factor leading to the extinction of the Fairy Possums is the loss of their habitat which can be caused by logging or bushfires.
There are a great number of people, protesting against the logging of the trees in the Toolangi State Forest to help prevent the extinction of the Fairy Possum.
The Toolangi State Forest is the perfect habitat for the endangered species of Fairy (Leadbeater's) Possums.
The Fairy Possum is smaller than a human hand and is notoriously shy but very fast. It measures to be around 150 - 170mm long. The tail measures to be around 145 - 160mm long. The Fairy Possum's diet includes saps and gums, honeydew and a variety of arthropods (which are invertebrates with jointed legs).
Surveys show that approximately 1,500 Fairy Possums are left in the world. Toolangi State Forest is the perfect habitat for the Fairy Possum. Even though Toolangi State Forest is a popular place for these Fairy Possums, their existence is being threatened by the logging of the forest. The main factor leading to the extinction of the Fairy Possums is the loss of their habitat which can be caused by logging or bushfires.
There are a great number of people, protesting against the logging of the trees in the Toolangi State Forest to help prevent the extinction of the Fairy Possum.
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The Superb Lyrebird - (Menura novaehollandiae)
The Toolangi State Forest is one of the many homes to the Superb Lyrebird.
There are 2 different species of Lyrebirds in Australia but the Superb Lyrebird is found specifically along the eastern seaboard of Australia. Lyrebirds are shy and wary birds. They are fast on their feet and their wings help them to jump and dodge.
The Lyrebird is a chicken sized bird with different shades of brown all over its body and it has a long tail of feathers. But the most extraordinary thing about this bird is its mimicking ability. Lyrebirds are good at impersonating a whole range of birds as well as car noises, chainsaws, dogs and a whole lot more! Lyrebirds feed on the ground, raking, looking for worms, spiders, snails, insects etc. The male Lyrebird is the third largest songbird with a length of 80 to 98 centimetres. The female Lyrebird is just a little smaller than the male with a length of 74 to 84 centimetres.
The Toolangi State Forest is one of the many homes to the Superb Lyrebird.
There are 2 different species of Lyrebirds in Australia but the Superb Lyrebird is found specifically along the eastern seaboard of Australia. Lyrebirds are shy and wary birds. They are fast on their feet and their wings help them to jump and dodge.
The Lyrebird is a chicken sized bird with different shades of brown all over its body and it has a long tail of feathers. But the most extraordinary thing about this bird is its mimicking ability. Lyrebirds are good at impersonating a whole range of birds as well as car noises, chainsaws, dogs and a whole lot more! Lyrebirds feed on the ground, raking, looking for worms, spiders, snails, insects etc. The male Lyrebird is the third largest songbird with a length of 80 to 98 centimetres. The female Lyrebird is just a little smaller than the male with a length of 74 to 84 centimetres.
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The Sooty Owl - (Tyto tenebricosa)
The Sooty Owl which is also know as the Greater Sooty Owl, can be found in the south-eastern regions of Australia. It is a medium to large sized owl with a dark body with white spots covering it. The female Sooty Owls are more lightly coloured compared to the male Sooty Owl. The females body length is 44-51cm long and weighs 750-1000gm while the males body length is smaller with a body length of 37-43cm long and weighs 500-700gm. The wing length of both male and female is 30-40cm. The Sooty Owl has extremely dark and piercing eyes that sit on the brown and grey facial disk. The call of this owl is a 'piercing shriek' that can last for many seconds. The Sooty Owl tends to breed within the seasons of winter-autumn. The Sooty Owl is a nocturnal animal and it sleeps in the hollows of the Mountain Ash.
The Sooty Owl which is also know as the Greater Sooty Owl, can be found in the south-eastern regions of Australia. It is a medium to large sized owl with a dark body with white spots covering it. The female Sooty Owls are more lightly coloured compared to the male Sooty Owl. The females body length is 44-51cm long and weighs 750-1000gm while the males body length is smaller with a body length of 37-43cm long and weighs 500-700gm. The wing length of both male and female is 30-40cm. The Sooty Owl has extremely dark and piercing eyes that sit on the brown and grey facial disk. The call of this owl is a 'piercing shriek' that can last for many seconds. The Sooty Owl tends to breed within the seasons of winter-autumn. The Sooty Owl is a nocturnal animal and it sleeps in the hollows of the Mountain Ash.
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Silver Wattle - (Acacia dealbata)
Silver Wattle is a tall, fine and fast growing tree with a smooth bark and yellow flowers. Silver Wattle regenerates quickly and so when bushfires go through forests, and the Mountain Ash does not have time to recover before another bushfire comes though, you may find that the Silver Wattle grows in place of the Mountain Ash . Silver Wattle can live to up to 30 years and often, the cause of its death is insect infestation. In aboriginal times, the aboriginals crushed the Silver Wattle's bark and used it as fish poison. Nowadays, Silver Wattle still has many uses. It is edible and so animals and insects are able to retrieve food from it. Silver Wattle is also important for the Leadbeater's Possum as it feeds on the sap that the Silver Wattle produces. Humans can also benefit from this plant. The sap of the plant can be combined with wood ash to make a glue that can fix things like spear heads.
Silver Wattle is a tall, fine and fast growing tree with a smooth bark and yellow flowers. Silver Wattle regenerates quickly and so when bushfires go through forests, and the Mountain Ash does not have time to recover before another bushfire comes though, you may find that the Silver Wattle grows in place of the Mountain Ash . Silver Wattle can live to up to 30 years and often, the cause of its death is insect infestation. In aboriginal times, the aboriginals crushed the Silver Wattle's bark and used it as fish poison. Nowadays, Silver Wattle still has many uses. It is edible and so animals and insects are able to retrieve food from it. Silver Wattle is also important for the Leadbeater's Possum as it feeds on the sap that the Silver Wattle produces. Humans can also benefit from this plant. The sap of the plant can be combined with wood ash to make a glue that can fix things like spear heads.