Transcript forestsGEOGRAPHY-Slavkah Popovska

DaNdEnOnG RaNgEs
National Park
BY SLAVKAH POPOVSKA
MAY,2008
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Silvan Road
Mt Dandenong (Dandenong
Ranges National Park)
Silvan Reservoir
Olinda Road
MELBOURNE
Cardinia Reservoir
Olinda
Altona
Williamstown
PORT PHILLIP BAY
Sassafras
Messmate forest environment
Hydrosphere-during
autumn/winter the
hydrosphere is more
dominant (more rainfalls)15%
The rain allows
growing of vegetation,
what makes the
Biosphere the most
dominant sphere-75%
Dominant
Lithosphere (soil
and rocks) allow
vegetation to grow
and animals to live10%
Spheres Work Together
Plants and
trees provide
food and
shelter for
animals
Atmosphere changes
due to the processes
of photosynthesis
(Plants absorb CO2
and release O2),
evaporation and
respiration.
Lithosphere helps
plants to grow.
The more fertile
the soil the more
plants will grow
Hydrosphere
(rain) help
plants to
grow)
Leaves fall down
from trees
In the process of
photosynthesis carbon is
turned into starch.O2 and
water are released into
the air.
Soil organisms
decompose
leaves into carbon
which is taken up
by the tree as
nutrients
CO2 is taken by the
leaves from the air
Rain falls on the
ground
The roots of the tree
absorb the ground
water
2.CO2
absorbed
7.At night trees
by trees
give off C2 as
1.H2O is
3.Leaves fall CO2
released
on the forest
floor
6.As products of the process
of photosynthesis O2 and
water are released
1.C2 from
animal
respiration
3.Water
comes down
in form of
rain, snow or
hail
O2 is released
during the day
and absorbed
during night
2.Water
vapour
5.Carbon is turned into starch
4.Soil organisms
decompose litter
into carbon
5.Trees take up carbon and
water in its system (needed
for the process of
photosynthesis)
4.Water is
absorbed by
plants
ChangeS DuE To BushfireS
Bushfire change the forest environment. It clears up the forest floor,
making space for new plants to grow. It is also good for pods that
need heat in order to open. Trees get burned what makes the
biosphere less dominant and the space covered with the canopy of
trees is reduced what increases the light availability, which is good
for the regrowth of new plants. Bushfires also make the soil more
fertile.
After the bushfire more
space is available for new
plants and more light is
coming in the lower storey
what helps them grow.
Before the bushfire
tall trees were
growing in this area,
the soil wasn’t as
fertile, and there
was less light
availability.
FERN GULLY
The Fern Gully environment is different to the Messmate
forest environment. The Humidity (hydrosphere) is more
dominant than in the Messmate environment. The light
availability is less, as ferns are sensitive to light. The
temperature where we found them was around 80 and the
slope was around 80o. From the spheres the most
dominant is Biosphere (around 70%). The hydrosphere
takes part of 25%, and the lithosphere around 5%.
-CHANGES IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENT-
In the past there were
much more ferns.
When the road was
build many of them
were cut down.
With people
building houses in
this are many ferns
are being
destroyed.
Current
position of the
ferns
Over time with
erosion the ferns will
go down the slope
In autumn and
winter the ferns
are greener. Ferns
are very sensitive
to water
availability and
light exposure.
Impact On:
Fuel Reduction Burns
Bushfire Disaster
Native flora
(Plants)
By doing this, we are getting rid of
the fuel in the leaves (prevent
excessive build up of fuels). It also
clears up the forest what allows
new plants to grow.
It helps the regrowth of plants
(pyrophytes), but if it is not placed
under control it might cause lot of
damage (example the Ash
Wednesday fires)
Native fauna
(Animals)
If the fuel reduction burns get
out of control it might kill
animals. But it also helps the
regrowth of plants what helps
them get more food.
In Bushfire disasters many
native animals get killed.
Sensitive or
endangered
species
If it is well controlled it helps
the regrowth of
endangered plants especially
the pyrophytes. As for the
animals it will provide more
food.
It might help sensitive type of
plants to grow, but it also can
destroy them as well as the
endangered fauna.
Human residents
Usually it doesn’t affect
human residents (except that
the air that we breathe
becomes more polluted from
the smoke)
If the fire isn’t controlled and
people aren’t evacuated on
time a bushfire leads to
human deaths.
Property
The chances of property being Bushfire disasters might
lost or damaged are relatively destroy farming land, houses.
small.
Effectiveness of fuel reduction
strategies

I think that fuel reduction strategies work very
effectively in preventing bushfires. It also
clears up the forest floor, allowing new things
to grow. But if it is not treated carefully the
fuel reduction can cause a major fire what
might cause a lot of damage (human deaths,
property loss).
No animals are
permitted in the
National Park
Plans…
*Firewood and flammable fuels to be stored well away from the house
*Every household should have an accessible ‘fire-cupboard’
*Make sure there are at least two ways in and out of the hose
*Beware that during summer the risk of bushfires is increased
BUFFER ZONE
• STRENGHTS: The buffer zone limits human activity around the
Silvan Dam, preventing pollution of the water. The Silvan Dam is
surrounded by trees which act as natural filter, so when the water
enters the dam it is clear.
• WEAKNESSES: The fence around the Silvan Dam is not high
enough so it doesn’t prevent trespassing and polluting of the dam by
visitors.
Rain falls
on the
ground
Trees and grass act
like filter and clear
the water
Silvan Dam water has
high clearness
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
Disadvantages
Water available during times of drought
Trees and plants get destroyed
More water for drinking
Animals get killed
More water for watering our gardens
Change of natural environment
More water for farming
Unknown outcomes as result of
changing the microclimate
In case water restrictions have to be
introduced they won’t be as tough as
now
Costs a lot of money
1.I did get enough data in the field and that helped me to finish my report
and answer the questions.
2.I enjoyed being in forest environment, looking at the different types of
plants and learning new things about the forests.
3.I least liked that it took us around three hours to get there and come
back, what left us with less time to spend in the Dandenong Ranges.
4.I think a bit more bushwalking would have been good, if the weather
conditions allowed that.
BibLioGraPhy
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www.google.com.au/maps
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
Dandenong Ranges National Park Fieldwork Booklet
Bushfire Booklet
THE
END