You are here

Home > Park management > Environment > Ecosystems > Marine > Sandy plains

Sandy plains

Smooth Stingray (Photo: Mark Norman)

1 year ago from Parks Victoria

Location: Sandy plains

Common Stargazer (Photo: William Boyle)

1 year ago from Parks Victoria

Location: Sandy plains

Heart Urchin (photo: William Boyle)

1 year ago from Parks Victoria

Location: Sandy plains

Dumpling Squid (photo: William Boyle)

1 year ago from Parks Victoria

Location: Sandy plains

Play the slideshow

Sandy habitats are far from being deserts and have a surprising wealth of life. These areas are home to a range of tiny plants and animals that can live in the spaces between the sand grains while larger animals hide beneath the sand.

Scientific surveys have shown that some Victorian sandy environments have the highest levels of animal diversity in the sea ever recorded. In the area around the Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park in Gippsland more than 600 different marine animal species, many of them very small, have been found within an area of 10 square metres.

Animals found in Sandy Plains include Smooth Stingray (Dasyatis brevicaudata), Pipi (Plebidonax deltoids), Dumpling Squid (Euprymna tasmanica), Common Stargazer (Kathetostoma leave) and Heart Urchin (Echinocardium cordatum).

Key Threats

  • Fishing or removal of animals and plants
  • Oil and chemical pollution
  • Marine pests which compete for food or space such as the Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis) or the Japanese Kelp (Undaria pinnatifida)
  • Climate change effects including sea level rise, warming sea surface temperatures, and increasing ocean acidity.

Where to see sandy plains

Related links

Click to view the news RSS feed.

Barriers shore up the future of the rare Shaw Galaxias

09 May 2013

A partnership between Government agencies, volunteers and scientists has installed barriers to save a rare alpine fish that was in danger of extinction. Parks Victoria, the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI), West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA), VRfish and the Australian Trout Foundation …

View all latest news

What's on

Click to view RSS Feed

Botanical Drawing and Painting Art classes

11 May 2013 10:00am - 8 Jun 2013 2:30pm

This course is an intensive introduction to Botanical Drawing and Painting. Develop observation skills and learn about tonal values, pencil and ink rendering, composition, colour, watercolour and gouache' Explore, develop and understand a variety of techniques to create your own detailed botanical studies. Time: Saturdays 11 May to 8 June, 5 x 4.5 hours = 20 …

Click to view RSS Feed

Million Paws Walk

19 May 2013 8:00am-3:00pm

An annual event where pets take their owners for a walk around the lake to raise funds to support RSPCA services.

Click to view RSS Feed

Monthly Flying Fox Count

22 May 2013 5:15pm-6:15pm

The bat count is held once a month at dusk when the whole colony of 10,000 -20,000 bats fly out to feed around Melbourne’s suburbs. New counters are very welcome and much appreciated. Experience is not necessary as training is provided on the night. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, dress …

Click to view RSS Feed

Friends of Glen Nayook Working Bee

26 May 2013 9:00am-11:00am

Join the Friends of Glen Nayook for a working bee. Morning tea provided.