Characteristics of outdoor environments

Question 1

Alpine

Answer 1

The alpine environment is often used to describe any high mountain area. Theoretically, the term refers to areas above a certain altitude that are treeless because of prolonged low temperatures. In Australia, the environments that regularly experience snow for an extended period occur in the elevated regions of the Australian Alps. An endangered species in the alpine environment is the Mountain Pygmy-possum.

Question 2

Marine

Answer 2

The marine environment includes a wide variety of ecosystems such as subtidal and intertidal rocky reefs, sponge gardens, kelp forests, mangroves, mudflats, open water, sandy plains and seagrass beds. Victoria’s marine environments are among the most biologically diverse in the world with over 90% of Victoria’s marine organisms found nowhere else on Earth. An endangered species in the marine environment is Blue Whales.

Question 3

Coastal

Answer 3

Coastal environments relate to areas linking the land and the sea; however, the characteristics of these landscapes vary greatly – from beaches to dune systems to woodland, dry forests and rocky coastal cliffs. Victoria has 2000 kilometres of coastline, ranging from sheltered bays and inlets to rugged eroded cliffs. An endangered species in the coastal environment is the Hooded Plover.

Question 4

Grassland

Answer 4

Grasslands are defined as ecological communities where grass species dominate the area and there is less than 10% natural tree or shrub cover. Grasslands are located in flat to gently undulating landscapes at low altitudes below 700 metres, with low to medium rainfall areas of 400–1000 millimetres per year. An endangered species in the grassland environment is the Numbat.