Strangler figStrangler figs and other strangler species are found all over the world in tropical forest, they grow on host trees which most commonly results in the host’s death. The strangler starts of as sticky seed left on a tree by an animal, it starts to live on the trees surface. As it grows, its roots wrap around the trunk of the tree until it reaches the soil on the ground, it continues to do this creating aa sheath around the trunk of the host tree. The fig foliage shades the trees canopy, the trees trunk is constricted by the root sheath as its own root system starts to compete with the strangling figs system. The host eventually dies from either the process or being older that the fig tree dies and rots away. The fig tree is left behind with a system of roots as its trunk. The large hollowed holes in the strangler trees are important to the ecosystem as it provides shelter for the bats, birch and other small animals.
|
Rainforest GingerRainforest gingers are found in Asia, Australia, Africa and south and North America. They are shrubs with no single trunk but several large stems that develop into large leaves. The stems are underground and are thick and used for flavouring. The Wild ginger produces white flowers used for ornamental displays, their leaves are used for food wrapping and a few species are used for flavouring.
|
Fauna
CassowaryCassowaries stand between 1.5-2m in height, compared to other animals both male and female and very similar in appearance. Adults have dark black feathers with bright blue and red around their neck. The female has a more aggressive nature and is larger different to the male. Cassowaries are the heaviest bird in Australia. They are found around New Guinea and in northeast Queensland. Urbanisation has negatively affected the Cassowaries habit in these areas.
|
|
Spectacled Flying FoxSpectacled Flying Foxes are important to the ecosystem as the disperse pollins and seeds around the forest. They have the smallest distribution population of the four Australian mainland flying foxes. They have a distinctive colouring around their eyes which gives them their name. They have pale fur around the shoulder area and weigh around 500-1000g, they reach 220-240mm in body length.
|
Ulysses ButterflyThe Ulysses Butterfly is found on most continents. In Australia, it is found in mostly tropical areas like northern Queensland and the northern islands. The live below the canopy in rainforests. When flying they can be seen easily because of their bright colours. They can easily camouflage when their wrings are closed. Their wingspan is 100-130 mm, the adults have a metallic blue colour on their wrings and black boarder around their wrings, and younger ones have dull brown under their wrings.
|
JabiruThey live around freshwater and wetlands in northern rivers in Australia. They are black headed stalk and the largest wading bird in Australia. It stands 1.3-1.5m tall and its wingspan in 2.3m. Its head has glossy feathers that are either black with blue of green with purple. They have long red legs and a straight black bill, which is useful when foraging for food.
|
Key Facts· The forest is through to be around 165 million years old.
· The wet environment is home around 1000 species, including 230 butterfly species, 633 vertebrate species, 135 dung beetle species, 222 species of land snail species. · The idiot fruit (Idiospermum Austrialense) was thought to be extinct until 1971 when it was re-discovered, it’s a primitive flower that was around when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, it’s an extremely rare flower. · Chocolate fruit is an exotic rainforest fruit that is available at the forest. · Kaku Yalangi is the native people of the area and have lived there for thousands of years. · Richard Daintree a 19th century photographer, has the forest in his name. |
Things to doWhen visiting the Daintree Rainforest there are certain things that are necessary to do:
· Visiting Cape Tribulation, found between the Daintree and the Great Barrier Reef it is the spot were the two World Heritage sites meet. Cape Tribulation offers beachfront accommodation offering the option between dorms and cabins. There are many things to do at this resort such as; walking up to the lookout where you can over the beach and rainforest, snorkelling on the beach, bush walks through the rainforest, nature tours throughout the rainforest and beach, horse rides on the beach and fruit tasting tours are offered at the resort. · Cruise walk combination, the walk takes you through habitats of crocodiles and cassowaries. You go on a walk through the bush for around 2 hours then cruise through mangroves on search for the elusive crocodiles. · Visit the Daintree Wild Zoo, watch rare and endangered species such as the Golden Shouldered Parrot |
Biography
Destinationdaintree.com, (2015). Destination Daintree Visitors Guide - Daintree Accommodation, Tours and Attractions - Daintree Village, Cape Tribulation & Cow Bay. [online] Available at: http://www.destinationdaintree.com/ [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Daintree.com, (2015). Daintree Weather & Climate. [online] Available at: http://www.daintree.com/daintree-weather.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Daf.qld.gov.au, (2015). Yellow mangrove. [online] Available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/fisheries/habitats/marine-plants-including-mangroves/common-mangroves/yellow-mangrove [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Wildlife.org.au, (2015). Wildlife Queensland - Spectacled Flying Fox. [online] Available at: http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife/speciesprofile/mammals/flyingfox/spectacled_flyingfox.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Shoalhaven.net.au, (2015). Ulysses Butterfly. [online] Available at: http://www.shoalhaven.net.au/~michelle/butterfly.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015
].
Shoalhaven.net.au, (2015). Ulysses Butterfly. [online] Available at: http://www.shoalhaven.net.au/~michelle/butterfly.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Chambers, J. (2015). ! Boyd's Forest Dragon ! Tropical Rainforest, Far North Queensland Australia. [online] Rainforest-australia.com. Available at: http://rainforest-australia.com/Boyd's_Forest_Dragon.htm [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Australianmuseum.net.au, (2015). Green Tree Frog - Australian Museum. [online] Available at: http://australianmuseum.net.au/green-tree-frog [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Murrayriver.com.au, (2015). Australia's river redgums - Eucalyptus camaldelensis. [online] Available at: http://www.murrayriver.com.au/about-the-murray/river-red-gums/ [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Murrayriver.com.au, (2015). Australia's river redgums - Eucalyptus camaldelensis. [online] Available at: http://www.murrayriver.com.au/about-the-murray/river-red-gums/ [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Encyclopedia Britannica, (2014). strangler fig | tree. [online] Available at: http://www.britannica.com/plant/strangler-fig-tree [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Chambers, J. (2015). ! Rainforest Ginger ! Tropical Rainforest, North Queensland Australia. [online] Rainforest-australia.com. Available at: http://rainforest-australia.com/Rainforest_Ginger.htm [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Bushheritage.org.au, (2015). Fan Palm Reserve. [online] Available at: http://www.bushheritage.org.au/places-we-protect/queensland/fan-palm [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Australiazoo.com.au, (2015). Australia Zoo - Birds. [online] Available at: http://www.australiazoo.com.au/our-animals/birds/ratites/cassowary [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Tribulation, T. and House, C. (2015). Things to do in Cape Tribulation - Cape Tribulation Beach House. [online] Cape Tribulation & Daintree Accommodation. Available at: http://www.capetribbeach.com.au/cape-tribulation-things-to-do/#.VbBUsvmqqko [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Smh.com.au, (2015). Idiot fruit holds key to Daintree's ancient past - Queensland - Australia. [online] Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/news/queensland/idiot-fruit-holds-key-to-daintrees-ancient-past/2006/07/07/1152240474684.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Rainforest-australia.com, (2015). ribbonwood. [online] Available at: http://rainforest-australia.com/ribbonwood.htm [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Micallef, J. (2015). Top 10 Interesting Facts about the Daintree Rainforest. [online] Cape Tribulation & Daintree Accommodation. Available at: http://www.capetribbeach.com.au/top-10-interesting-facts-daintree-rainforest/#.VbBQ7_mqqko [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Daintree.com, (2015). Daintree Weather & Climate. [online] Available at: http://www.daintree.com/daintree-weather.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Daf.qld.gov.au, (2015). Yellow mangrove. [online] Available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/fisheries/habitats/marine-plants-including-mangroves/common-mangroves/yellow-mangrove [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Wildlife.org.au, (2015). Wildlife Queensland - Spectacled Flying Fox. [online] Available at: http://www.wildlife.org.au/wildlife/speciesprofile/mammals/flyingfox/spectacled_flyingfox.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Shoalhaven.net.au, (2015). Ulysses Butterfly. [online] Available at: http://www.shoalhaven.net.au/~michelle/butterfly.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015
].
Shoalhaven.net.au, (2015). Ulysses Butterfly. [online] Available at: http://www.shoalhaven.net.au/~michelle/butterfly.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Chambers, J. (2015). ! Boyd's Forest Dragon ! Tropical Rainforest, Far North Queensland Australia. [online] Rainforest-australia.com. Available at: http://rainforest-australia.com/Boyd's_Forest_Dragon.htm [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Australianmuseum.net.au, (2015). Green Tree Frog - Australian Museum. [online] Available at: http://australianmuseum.net.au/green-tree-frog [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Murrayriver.com.au, (2015). Australia's river redgums - Eucalyptus camaldelensis. [online] Available at: http://www.murrayriver.com.au/about-the-murray/river-red-gums/ [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Murrayriver.com.au, (2015). Australia's river redgums - Eucalyptus camaldelensis. [online] Available at: http://www.murrayriver.com.au/about-the-murray/river-red-gums/ [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Encyclopedia Britannica, (2014). strangler fig | tree. [online] Available at: http://www.britannica.com/plant/strangler-fig-tree [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Chambers, J. (2015). ! Rainforest Ginger ! Tropical Rainforest, North Queensland Australia. [online] Rainforest-australia.com. Available at: http://rainforest-australia.com/Rainforest_Ginger.htm [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Bushheritage.org.au, (2015). Fan Palm Reserve. [online] Available at: http://www.bushheritage.org.au/places-we-protect/queensland/fan-palm [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Australiazoo.com.au, (2015). Australia Zoo - Birds. [online] Available at: http://www.australiazoo.com.au/our-animals/birds/ratites/cassowary [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Tribulation, T. and House, C. (2015). Things to do in Cape Tribulation - Cape Tribulation Beach House. [online] Cape Tribulation & Daintree Accommodation. Available at: http://www.capetribbeach.com.au/cape-tribulation-things-to-do/#.VbBUsvmqqko [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Smh.com.au, (2015). Idiot fruit holds key to Daintree's ancient past - Queensland - Australia. [online] Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/news/queensland/idiot-fruit-holds-key-to-daintrees-ancient-past/2006/07/07/1152240474684.html [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Rainforest-australia.com, (2015). ribbonwood. [online] Available at: http://rainforest-australia.com/ribbonwood.htm [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].
Micallef, J. (2015). Top 10 Interesting Facts about the Daintree Rainforest. [online] Cape Tribulation & Daintree Accommodation. Available at: http://www.capetribbeach.com.au/top-10-interesting-facts-daintree-rainforest/#.VbBQ7_mqqko [Accessed 6 Aug. 2015].