Wallum

Wallum, or wallum country, is an Australian ecosystem of coastal south-east Queensland, extending into north-eastern New South Wales. It is characterised by flora-rich shrubland and heathland on deep, nutrient-poor, acidic, sandy soils, and regular wildfire. Seasonal changes in the water table due to rainfall may create swamps. The name is derived from the Kabi word for the wallum banksia (Banksia aemula).

Wallum heathland
Wallum banksia, Banksia aemula

Threats

Wallum, as with other coastal ecosystems, is highly threatened by the pressure for coastal development. Threats include clearing of land for residential development and pine plantations, alterations to drainage from adjacent developments, nutrients from fertilizers, changes in fire frequency, pollution from mosquito control sprays, and the introduction of weeds.

Species endemic to wallum include some acid frogs – frogs adapted to living and breeding in acidic waters – such as the wallum froglet (Crinia tinnula), wallum rocket frog (Litoria freycineti), and the wallum sedge frog (Litoria olongburensis). In Queensland, the eastern ground parrot appears to be largely restricted to the wallum.

Wallum froglet (Crinia tinnula)
gollark: I like how occasionally quirks of conversations make me seem prescient.
gollark: I wouldn't blame you, really, but still.
gollark: Did you not read the assembly?
gollark: The school establishment.
gollark: It is being held in reserve as a contingency in case they are irritating wrt. phones.

References


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.