Pre-history
How many phases, periods have been recorded relating to Australia's past
6
Australia is the only continent that .....
is an island
Name the 3 key characteristics that were a feature of Australia before humans
1. Biological isolation
2. Geological stability
3. Climatic Variations
How recent ago did Megafauna roam Australia?
20,000 years ago
Name a metaphor for someone who waterskis on lake Mulwala
The environment as a gymnasium
Name 2 of these periods
The Triassic Period 201-252mya
The Jurassic period, 201-145mya
The Cretaceous Period, 144-66mya:
The Tertiary Period, 65-23mya:
The Neogene Period, 22-2.6mya:
The Quaternary Period, 2.5mya-present day:
Name a species of flora and fauna that is endemic to Australia
could be kangaroo, river red gum, wattles, eucalypts and others
Name the 2 climatic variations and for each what is the influence
La Nina - periods of high rainfall, floods
El Nino - periods of low rainfall, drought
Therefore how long did Megafauna and humans interact in Australia?
at least 20,000
Name a metaphor for someone who climbs Mt Everest
an adversary
What is the name of the theory relating to the movement of land
Continental drift
What % of Australia is made up of mountains
1%
Describe a reason why Australia is Geologically stable
Lies in the middle of a tectonic plate and therefore low movement of the land resulting in minimal to no volcanoes, earthquakes or tsunamis
Name 4 examples of Megafauna that adapted over time and as a result are still seen in Australia
Kangaroo
Wombat
Goannas
Crocodiles
Koala
Name a metaphor for someone who owns a farm
as a resource
Name the
1. Supercontinent
2. The northern land mass after the separation
3. The southern land mass after the separation
1. Pangaea
2. Laurasia
3. Gondwana
Australia is the what in the world? There are 2 responses
Flatest continent in the world and driest inhabited continent in the world
What is the dominant geological process now experienced in Australia
Erosion - water, wind
Name the 2 species of monotremes that exist only in Australia?
What is unique about these
Platypus, Echidna
Only egg laying mammals
Name a metaphor for someone who was anElder of the Pangerang tribe
as a mother
How many years ago did the first humans are believed to arrive in Australia?
55 - 60,000 years ago
After Antartica Australia has the ......
Lowest precipitation of any continent (mean annual rainfall of 465 mm per year)
For each characteristic name a consequence that has occurred to the Australian environment (will accept different answers if correct)
Biological isolation - endemic species
Geographical stability - nutrient poor soils
Climatic variations - periods of drought, bushfires, floods
Describe an adaptation of a species of
a. Flora
b. Fauna
that has occurred over time that allowed them to survive Australian conditions
Will accept a variety but may include
Kangaroos hopping
Koalas only having a diet of eucalypt leaves
Eucalypt leaves hanging vertically to avoid loss of moisture
What are the 3 factors that we will study when looking at changing relationships with the outdoor environments?
Perceptions
Iteractions
Impacts