STAGE 3. Copyright Department of Environment & Conservation 2004 Minnamurra Rainforest Centre

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1 1 STAGE 3 OUTCOMES These outcomes are from all KLAs and may be encounted while studying this case study. TS3.1 Communicates effectively for a range of purposes and with a variety of audiences to express well-developed, well-organised ideas dealing with more challenging topics. TS3.2 Interacts productively and with autonomy in pairs and groups of various sizes and composition, uses effective oral presentation skills and strategies and listens attentively. WS3.9 Produces a wide range of well-structured and wellpresented literary and factual texts for a wide variety of purposes and audiences using increasingly challenging topics, ideas, issues and written language features. WS3.11 Spells most common words accurately and uses a range of strategies to spell unfamiliar words. DS3.1 Displays and interprets data in graphs with scales of many-to-one correspondence. MS3.3 Selects and uses the appropriate unit to estimate and measures volumes and capacity, including the volume of rectangular prisms. MS3.5 Uses twenty-four hour time and am and pm notation in real-life situations and constructs timelines. SGS3.3 Uses a variety of mapping skills. CCS3.1 Explains the significance of particular people, groups, places, actions and events in the past in developing Australian identities and heritage. ENS3.5 Demonstrates an understanding of the interconnectedness between Australia and global environments and how individuals and groups can act in an ecologically responsible manner. ENS3.6 Explains how various beliefs and practices influence the ways in which people interact with, change and value their environment. LTS3.3 Identifies, describes and evaluates the interactions between living things and their effects on the environment. PPS3.4 PSS3.5 Identifies and applies processes involved in manipulating, using and changing the form of energy. Creates and evaluates products and services, demonstrating consideration of sustainability, aesthetic, cultural, safety and functional issues. ESS3.6 Recognises that the earth is the source of most materials and resources, and describes phenomena and processes, both natural and human, that form and change the earth over time. INVS3.7 Conducts their own investigations and makes judgements based on the results of observing, questioning, planning, predicting, testing, collecting, recording and analysing data, and drawing conclusions. INS3.3 Acts in ways that enhance the contribution of self and others in a range of cooperative situations. SLS3.13 Describes safe practices that are appropriate to a range of situations and environments. VAS3.1 Investigates subject matter in an attempt to represent likenesses of things in the world.

2 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Minnamurra Rainforest is located approximately 130km south of Sydney or 15km west of Kiama. It is within an easy 2 hour drive from Sydney along the Princes Highway, turning off at either Albion Park or Kiama. Minnamurra Falls consist of two levels: the upper and lower, the lower falls, 50 metres high and the upper falls, 25 metres high, were the features that first impressed visitors to the park. The existence of these beautiful falls was probably known to the early cedar cutters who no doubt in their search for the supply of these trees went further back from the coast to the head waters of the Minnamurra River. Today the lower falls walk is closed due to rock falls which occurred in 1989 as a result of the Newcastle earthquake. The National Parks and Wildlife Service built two walks to enable visitors to view the park and prevent disturbance of the natural vegetation. The 1.6km elevated boardwalk travels through a diverse range of rainforest types including subtropical and warm temperate. The 2.6km walk to the Upper falls consists of both non slip pavers and boardwalk, this walk was opened on the 20th of May The cost of these constructions was $3.1 million and was funded by the NSW state government, the Commonwealth Government s - National Rainforest Conservation Program and the NPWS Foundation - through corporate sponsorship. Minnamurra is at the southern most limit (34ºS latitude) and is an example of remnant subtropical rainforest from the ancient super-continent Gondwana. Sub tropical rainforest has survived on Australia s east coast in areas where the climatic conditions are suitable for their continued growth. CLIMATE The microclimate of this rainforest is created by the high horse shoe shaped, north east facing escarpment. This natural barrier shuts out cold and desiccating (dry) winds of the south west and west. The average height of the escarpment is 701 meters which enables it to act as a giant scoop which collects, the warm moisture-laden sea breezes from the coast creating rainfall (orographic rain) suitable to support the fragile rainforest ecosystem. Orographic rainfall is very a important element in the creation of this microclimate but so too is the moist spray from the falls, coupled with evaporation from the Minnamurra River all of which ensure the humidity within the canopy is similar to an artificial fernhouse. The humidity which is trapped under the canopy of trees and vines is on average 20% higher in sub-tropical rainforest than in the surrounding area of dry sclerophyll eucalypt forests. The average mean temperature in January is 23.3 C while the average mean temperature in July is 13.6 C.

3 3 SOILS AND LAND FORMATION There is a 25 km stretch of volcanic rock, of Permian origins, flows from the escarpment running in a south easterly direction, north west of the falls and south east to Gerringong. This occurrence of igneous (volcanic) rock has produced the soil type high in elements such as calcium, this type of soil is associated with the growth of sub-tropical rainforest, in particular the presence of calcium is required for the growth of the large fig trees present at Minnamurra. Although these mineral and nutrient rich volcanic soils are essential for the growth of sub-tropical rainforest, they become leachate within an old established rainforest area. Leachate soils occur when vegetation consumes all the available nutrient and are relying on the decomposition of the humus (leaf litter) material for the recycling of nutrients. Once rainforest is cleared for farming the soils are found to be very poor in nutrient value as the nutrient recycling no longer occurs. VEGETATION Emergent layer is the forest canopy consisting of the Red Cedar and the Strangler Fig which has a very noticeable buttress root system. The giant stinging tree also mingles with these other two trees to spread its leafy canopy to the sun. The Red Cedar, now a rarity,grows well here at Minnamurra. So too are the following trees which make up Canopy : Coachwood, Pigeon Berry Ash, Beef Wood, Sycamore - and the Illawarra Flame tree. Lianas grow in profusion hanging from the branches and trunks of these giants, while in many forks and branches epiphytes cling such as Birds Nest Ferns, Elk Horns and Rock Orchid. In the understorey, trees such as the Sandpaper Fig, Red Fruited Olive Plum, Black Plum and many of the regenerating trees in their younger stages, such as Lilly Pilly and Coachwood, White Cedars, Brush Cherry. The Forest Floor, grows many of the ground covers: ferns and mosses. The ferns in the Minnamurra Falls area are prolific and 91 varieties are to be found here. Tree ferns form a protective canopy over their lesser counterparts, Birds Nests, Rasp fern, Water Fern and the fragrant fern and a host of others. Fungi grows in many shapes and colours, sprouting from decaying logs or on the sides of living trees.

4 4 Origins of Rainforests The shape of Australia as it appears on a modern map has not always looked like this and the living and non-living things found within have also undergone significant changes million years ago no life existed on land and the only life forms in the sea were of the simplest structure. The land and its features looked very different to how it appears today. Much of the western parts of Australia existed during this part of history and made up part of a larger landmass, Pangea. Pangea split in two. The continent that was found in the south was called Gondwana and it contained Australia, New Guinea, Antarctica, India, South America, Africa, Madagascar, Arabia and New Zealand. Rainforest covered much of Gondwana, but Gondwana moved around a lot and this led to the break up of the different continents and a change in weather conditions. Australia became cooler and drier and rainforests moved to more moist areas. 65 million years ago rainforest covered almost 85% of Australia, this was then reduced by 22% just prior to European settlement. Since European settlement the destruction rate of rainforest has been increased. Where is the Minnamurra Rainforest located? Hemisphere? Continent? State? Nearest town? Nearby important landforms? Which ocean is directly east of Minnamurra Rainforest?

5 5 What are all the lines on this map? Why are they important? On the above map circle in red the Kiosk and circle in blue the Minnamurra Falls. Place a north indicator (an arrow pointing towards north). Construct a sketch map of your school, include important buildings, stairs and any other important parts of the school. Title:

6 6 Label the different parts of a tree on the picture below. Use the words: BRANCHES LEAVES TRUNK ROOTS TWIGS Plants do not eat, they are able to make their own food. Using a process called PHOTOSYNTHESIS. To be able to do this, plants need WATER, SUN, AIR, and NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL. Describe the job each of the parts of the plant has to help the whole plant live. Roots Leaves Trunk