The alps
Old Snow Gum. Photo: Mark Antos
1 year ago from Parks Victoria
Location: The alps
Bogong High Plains. Photo: Mark Antos
1 year ago from Parks Victoria
Location: The alps
Koala
1 year ago from Parks Victoria
Location: The alps
Alpine Ash sappling. Photo: Mark Antos
1 year 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
Parks Victoria says 'thanks a million' to our volunteers at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary
10 May 2013
Parks Victoria is saying a special thank you to its many volunteer groups across the state as part of National Volunteer Week, which runs from 13-19 May 2013. At Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary the Marine Care Ricketts Point (MCRP) friends group works hard to help protect and preserve the natural environment …
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