The alps
Old Snow Gum. Photo: Mark Antos
5 months ago from Parks Victoria
Location: The alps
Bogong High Plains. Photo: Mark Antos
5 months ago from Parks Victoria
Location: The alps
Koala
5 months ago from Parks Victoria
Location: The alps
Alpine Ash sappling. Photo: Mark Antos
5 months ago from Parks Victoria
Location: The alps
The alps are characterised by granite and sandstone peaks with rounded mountain tops and plateaus.
The highest mountain areas support a rich mosaic of heathland, grassland and alpine bog communities.
At slightly lower altitudes these ‘treeless islands’ give way to subalpine woodlands comprising small, multi-stemmed, snow gums usually less than 10m tall.
More about the alps
- A mere 0.5 per cent of Australia is truly ‘treeless’ alpine.
- Climatic conditions are harsh
- Typically covered in snow for more than a third of the year
- Plants and animals have evolved to cope with environmental extremes – low temperatures, high winds, snow cover for long periods and seasonal inundation
- Many species are found only in the alpine area including several species at risk of extinction, such as the Baw Baw Frog, Alpine Water Skink, Mountain Pygmy-possum and Stirling Stonefly.
Key Threats
Alpine-adapted species are vulnerable to:
- Climate change impacts such as changes in snow cover, streamflows and frequency of large scale wildfire
- Weed invasion
- Grazing by exotic animals and predation by foxes.
Where to see the alps
Rabbit control team makes an impact at Lake Hindmarsh
27 Apr 2012
More than 3,000 rabbit warrens have been destroyed as Parks Victoria embarks on an extensive rabbit control program in the Wimmera, with a major focus on the Lake Hindmarsh Lake Reserve. Stuart Lardner, Parks Victoria Ranger in Charge for Little Desert-Lowan said the current rabbit control program is supported by the …
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