Evolution and Biogeography of the Australian Fauna

15 important questions on Evolution and Biogeography of the Australian Fauna

What factors influence animal distributions in Australia?

Climate and geography significantly affect where animals can thrive. Key aspects include rainfall and terrain.

How does Australia’s climate influence its terrestrial environments?

Rainfall patterns shape the environment, affecting vegetation and habitat types available for animals.

What is ENSO and how does it affect Australia’s climate?

ENSO influences weather patterns, causing variations in rainfall and temperature across the continent.
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What are the main biogeographic sources of Australian animals?

Australia has its animals from Old Immigrants, New Endemics, and Human Introduced sources.

How has Australia changed from Gondwana to present day?

Geological processes transformed it over millions of years, leading to distinct biogeographic changes.

Name some Australian animal examples from each biogeographic source.

Examples include kangaroos for New Endemics, and wombats as Old Immigrants.

What are some examples of Gondwanan animal lineages?

Platypus and echidnas are notable examples found in Gondwanan lineages.

What are the main groupings of Gondwanan animal lineages in Australia?

They include marsupials, monotremes, and birds with specific Australian examples for each.

How did marsupials exhibit adaptive radiation?

They evolved into various niches, paralleling the placental mammals in other regions.

Provide an example of Australian marsupials and their placental counterparts.

Koalas parallel with sloths, showcasing their respective ecological roles.

Describe the feeding and evolution of koalas.

Koalas evolved to eat eucalyptus, with adaptations in their teeth for processing leaves.

What happens to koalas as they age regarding their diet?

They may struggle to process leaves as their teeth wear down over time.

Explain the feeding and evolution of kangaroos.

Kangaroos have adapted for grazing with distinct morphological features related to their diet.

What are possible causes of megafauna extinction?

Causes may include climate change, human activity, and habitat loss.

Name three Australian megafauna studied in workshops.

Examples include Diprotodon, Thylacoleo, and Megalania based on their teeth morphology.

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