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Ecology of Sydney

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In 1820s, Peter Cunningham described the western plains of Sydney as "a fine timbered country, perfectly clear of bush...without any impediment in the shape of rocks, scrubs, or close forest".[1]

The ecology of Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia, is diverse for its size,[2] featuring biomes such as wet and dry sclerophyll forests or woodlands, shrublands, subtropical and evergreen temperate rainforests, heathlands, wetlands and grasslands,[3][4] with the combination of climate, topography, moisture, and soil influencing the dispersion of these ecological communities across a height gradient from 0 to 200 metres (0 to 700 ft).[5] There are many hiking trails, paved and unpaved roads for exploring the many different biomes and ecosystems.[6][7][8]

Dry sclerophyll forests, the most predominant biome in the region, mainly occur in the Cumberland Plain west of Sydney CBD and would contain eucalyptus trees that are usually in open woodlands with dry shrubs and sparse grass in the understory, reminiscent of Mediterranean forests.[9] On the other hand, wet sclerophyll forests, which are Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, part of Eastern Australian temperate forests, have narrow, relatively tall, dense trees with a lush, moist understorey of fleecy shrubs and tree ferns, which are found in the cooler or wetter areas such as Northern Suburbs, Forest District, North Shore and in the Blue Mountains.[10]

The Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest, one of six main indigenous forest communities of Sydney, is an example of a dry sclerophyll forest, containing trees around 20–30 metres tall, with ground cover composed of flowering shrubs and native grasses.[11] The Blue Gum High Forest, strictly found in northern parts of Sydney, is a wet sclerophyll forest example, where the annual rainfall is over 1100 mm (43 in), with its trees between 20 and 40 metres tall.[12]

The first European settlers saw Sydney's vegetation as "extremely barren, poor, hungry sand, thickly studded with rocks, growing nothing but a few miserable stunted gums and dwarf underwood".[13] It has been calculated that around 98,000 hectares of native vegetation remains in the Sydney metropolitan area, shaping the geography of Sydney, about half of what is likely to have been existing at the time of European arrival.[14]

Biomes

Biomes
A warm-temperate rainforest in Ku-ring-gai, which harbours palm trees.
Grassy woodland in Pemulwuy, western Sydney.
Heathland on a road in Botany Bay National Park.
Blue Gum Walk, a wet sclerophyll forest in Berowra Valley National Park

Complete list

Biomes Eco-communities

Rainforests

  • Illawarra Escarpment Subtropical Rainforest
  • Coastal Sandstone Gallery Rainforest
  • Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest
  • Hinterland Dry Rainforest
  • Coastal Dune Littoral Rainforest
  • Coastal Escarpment Littoral Rainforest
  • Wet Sclerophyll Forests
  • Blue Gum High Forest
  • Coastal Enriched Sandstone Moist Forest
  • Coastal Shale-Sandstone Forest
  • Sydney Foreshores Shale Forest
  • Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest
  • Pittwater Spotted Gum Forest
  • Grassy Woodlands
  • Cumberland Moist Shale Woodland
  • Cumberland Shale Hills Woodland
  • Cumberland Shale Plains Woodland
  • Cumberland Shale-Sandstone Ironbark Forest
  • Coastal Grasslands
  • Beach Spinifex Grassland
  • Coastal Headland Grassland
  • Dry Sclerophyll Forests
  • Castlereagh Ironbark Forest
  • Castlereagh Shale-Gravel Transition Forest
  • Coastal Enriched Sandstone Dry Forest
  • Coastal Sandstone Foreshores Forest
  • Coastal Sandstone Riparian Forest
  • Coastal Sandstone Gully Forest
  • Hornsby Enriched Sandstone Exposed Woodland
  • Southern Sydney Sheltered Forest
  • Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland
  • Castlereagh Swamp Woodland
  • Coastal Sand Bangalay Forest
  • Heathlands
  • Coastal Headland Clay Heath
  • Coastal Sand Tea-tree-Banksia Scrub
  • Coastal Foredune Wattle Scrub
  • Coastal Headland Banksia Heath
  • Coastal Sandstone Heath-Mallee
  • Coastal Sandstone Rock Plate Heath
  • Freshwater Wetlands
  • Coastal Upland Damp Heath Swamp
  • Coastal Freshwater Wetland
  • Estuarine Reedland
  • Coastal Sand Swamp Scrub
  • Forested Wetlands
  • Cumberland Riverflat Forest
  • Cumberland Swamp Oak Riparian Forest
  • Estuarine Swamp Oak Forest
  • Hinterland Riverflat Eucalypt Forest
  • Coastal Swamp Paperbark-Swamp Oak Scrub
  • Sandstone Cliff-face Soak
  • Saline Wetlands
  • Estuarine Mangrove Forest
  • Estuarine Saltmarsh
  • Seagrass Meadows
  • Vegetation

    Tree species
    Sydney red gum, a common woodland and forest tree of Eastern Australia.
    Grey box, a medium-sized to occasionally tall tree with rough, persistent bark on the lower trunk.
    White feather honeymyrtle, a paperbark tree with lance-shaped leaves that is covered with creamy-coloured flowers in summer.
    Casuarina trees are the most widespread in Sydney after the eucalyptus.
    Narrow-leaved bottlebrush is a shrub which has a rigid point, and red flower spikes in late spring or early summer.
    The curtain fig is one of the most common street trees in Sydney and is used as a shade tree.
    A commonly sighted tree, the Australian silver oak displays yellowish orange, or sometimes reddish flowers in spring.

    The most widespread eucalyptus species in the Sydney region include:[51]

    Non-eucalyptus tree species:

    Common shrub species include, but are not limited to:

    Introduced

    Introduced trees:

    Introduced shrubs (most of are invasive species):[52]

    Wildlife

    Common native species
    Commonly sighted in Sydney, Australian magpies are known for their distinctive, "gargling" calls.
    Noisy miners are ubiquitous in urban, suburban and woodland areas.
    Australian ravens are notable for their screechy, high pitched ah-ah-aaaah calls.
    The pied currawong is a common bird in the plain and is usually seen in urban forests and backyards.
    Grey-headed flying-foxes are found in suburban woods.
    Blue-tongues are the predominant skink species in Sydney.
    Redback spiders, which are venomous, became widespread in the urban areas by the early 20th century.
    Grey butcherbirds, known for their frisky song, are found in woodlands, acacia shrublands and residential townships.
    Crested pigeons are usually found in the open grasslands and wooded areas of the plain.
    The spotted dove is a small, long-tailed pigeon that was introduced in Australia in the 1860s.
    The snake-eyed skink is often seen on vertical surfaces such trees, fences and walls.
    Sydney huntsman spiders are found in tree logs, barks and rock walls.

    The fauna of the Sydney area is diverse and its urban area is home to variety of bird and insect species, and also a few bat, arachnid and amphibian species. Introduced birds such as the house sparrow, common myna and feral pigeon are ubiquitous in the CBD areas of Sydney.[54][55] Moreover, possums, bandicoots, rabbits, feral cats, lizards, snakes and frogs may also be present in the urban environment, albeit seldom in city centers.[56]

    About 40 species of reptiles are found in the Sydney region and 30 bird species exist in the urban areas.[57][58][59] Sydney's outer suburbs, namely those adjacent to large parks, have a great diversity of wildlife.[60] Since European settlement and the subsequent bushland clearing for the increasing population, 60% of the original mammals are now considered endangered or vulnerable, and many reptile species are experiencing population diminution and are becoming elusive.[61]

    Tetrapods

    This list includes bird species that are widespread in the Sydney metropolitan area:[62]

    Although not commonly spotted, these birds are also present in Sydney:[59]

    This list includes mammal, reptile and amphibian species that are spotted in the Sydney urban area:[63][64]

    Arthropods

    This list includes insect, spider and centipede species that are commonly present in Sydney:[65]

    See also

    References

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    2. ^ Benson, D.H. and Howell, J. (2000) Sydney’s Bushland — More than Meets the Eye, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
    3. ^ "The Native Vegetation of the Sydney Metropolitan Area Volume 2: Vegetation Community Profiles" (PDF). NSW Government Catchment Management Authority and Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
    4. ^ Fairley, A.; Waterhouse, D. (2005). West Sydney Wild – Exploring Nature in Sydney’s Western Suburbs. Dural, NSW: Rosenberg Publishing Pty Ltd.
    5. ^ French K, Pellow B and Henderson M 2000, Vegetation of the Holsworthy Military area. Cunninghamia 6(4): 893-939.
    6. ^ SYDNEY WALKS by Sydney.com
    7. ^ The best bushwalks in and around Sydney by The Daily Telegraph
    8. ^ Sydney’s top 5 walks by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
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    10. ^ "Wet sclerophyll forests (grassy sub-formation)". NSW Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
    11. ^ NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change (February 2004). "Endangered Ecological Community Information: Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest" (PDF). NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change website. Ryde City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-07-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    12. ^ "Sydney Blue Gum High Forest" (PDF). Nationally Threatened Species and Ecological Communities. Environment.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    13. ^ The First Fifty Years of Agriculture In New South Wales by C J. King, M.A., B.V.Sc., D.P.A, Chief, Division of Marketing and Agricultural Economics
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    25. ^ "ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION: Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest" (PDF). NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change. Ryde City Council. February 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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    61. ^ Merriam, C. and Wagner, J., 1992. Local extinctions, habitat fragmentation and ecozones. Pp. 150-69 in Landscape Boundaries: Biodiversity and Ecologicy by A. J. Hanron and F. De Castri. Springer: New York.
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