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Ord Victoria Plain

February 13, 2023

Not to be confused with Victoria Plains tropical savanna.

The Ord Victoria Plain, an interim Australian bioregion, is located in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, comprising 12,540,703 hectares (30,988,750 acres).[1][2]

Ord Victoria Plain
Australia
The interim Australian bioregions,
with the Ord Victoria Plain in red
Area125,407.03 km2 (48,419.9 sq mi)
Localities around Ord Victoria Plain:
Northern Kimberley Victoria Bonaparte Daly Basin
Central Kimberley Ord Victoria Plain Sturt Plateau
Great Sandy Desert Tanami Tanami

The bioregion draws its name from the Ord River and the Victoria River.

Location and description

This is an area of large plains of dry grassland lying between the Tanami Desert to the south and the wetter, greener grassland to the north towards the coast. Sandstone outcrops rise from the grassland, the most famous of which is the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park. The grasslands have long been used for cattle grazing. The climate is wetter in the north (ave annual rainfall 1200mm), which receives some coastal monsoonal rain, and drier in the south (ave 600mm). The rainy season is between November and March and the whole area is almost completely dry for the rest of the year and the climate is hot with maximum temperatures between 25 °C and 35 °C year round.

Flora

The plain is largely covered with Mitchell grass scattered with bloodwood Eucalyptus / Corymbia trees, native bauhinia (Bauhinia cunninghamii) and large patches of lancewood acacia (Acacia shirleyi) woodland. The sandstone outcrops have thinner cover of eucalyptus over hummock grass or heathland scattered with Grevillea and Acacia trees. Riverine ecosystems around permanent water courses consist of paperbark (Melaleuca), river redgum (Eucalyptus) and river pandanus (Pandanus).

Fauna

There are few endemic species as these grasslands are typical of much of northern Australia at this latitude but the grasslands are nonetheless largely intact and rich in wildlife. Mammals include the large eastern wallaroo, northern nail-tail wallaby (Onychogalea unguifera), and the long-tailed planigale which is the smallest marsupial in the world. The lancewoods are home to the spectacled hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus), while the Bungle Bungle has some unique plants and an endemic Lerista skink lizard the Lerista bunglebungle. Mammals that have become depleted or disappeared from these grasslands include the bilby (Macrotis lagotis), northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) and golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus).

Birds include Australian bustards, singing bushlark, and red-backed fairy-wren while there are important populations of purple-crowned fairywren (Malurus coronatus) along the rivers especially the Victoria. The eucalyptus trees are habitat for lorikeets, friarbirds, and honeyeaters. Termites are a source of food for many of these birds and animals. The wildlife of the grasslands is still being researched so for example a new species of Ctenotus skink has been discovered quite recently.

Threats and preservation

In general this is a large area of relatively unspoilt grassland used for grazing cattle. Some damage results from intensive cattle ranching leading to overgrazing and disrupting the traditional Aboriginal fire regimes in which the grasslands are systematically burnt and allowed to regenerate. Woodlands next to rivers and other water sources were severely altered when ranching began, causing siltation along the Ord River and destroying important habitat of the white-browed robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa) and the purple-crowned fairywren. Habitats have also been damaged by introduced species of plants such as bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypifolia), and castor oil plant (Ricinus communis). There are some protected areas, mainly other types of habitat rather than grazing land. Areas such as the caves of Gregory National Park are still being researched by botanists and zoologists.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Environment Australia. . Department of the Environment and Water Resources, Australian Government. Archived from the original on 5 September 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
  2. ^ IBRA Version 6.1 data
  3. ^ "Victoria Plains tropical savanna". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.

Further reading

  • Thackway, R and I D Cresswell (1995) An interim biogeographic regionalisation for Australia : a framework for setting priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative Program Version 4.0 Canberra : Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Reserve Systems Unit, 1995. ISBN 0-642-21371-2

February 13, 2023
victoria, plain, confused, with, victoria, plains, tropical, savanna, interim, australian, bioregion, located, northern, territory, western, australia, comprising, hectares, acres, australiathe, interim, australian, bioregions, with, redarea125, localities, ar. Not to be confused with Victoria Plains tropical savanna The Ord Victoria Plain an interim Australian bioregion is located in the Northern Territory and Western Australia comprising 12 540 703 hectares 30 988 750 acres 1 2 Ord Victoria Plain AustraliaThe interim Australian bioregions with the Ord Victoria Plain in redArea125 407 03 km2 48 419 9 sq mi Localities around Ord Victoria Plain Northern Kimberley Victoria Bonaparte Daly BasinCentral Kimberley Ord Victoria Plain Sturt PlateauGreat Sandy Desert Tanami TanamiThe bioregion draws its name from the Ord River and the Victoria River Contents 1 Location and description 2 Flora 3 Fauna 4 Threats and preservation 5 See also 6 References 7 Further readingLocation and description EditThis is an area of large plains of dry grassland lying between the Tanami Desert to the south and the wetter greener grassland to the north towards the coast Sandstone outcrops rise from the grassland the most famous of which is the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park The grasslands have long been used for cattle grazing The climate is wetter in the north ave annual rainfall 1200mm which receives some coastal monsoonal rain and drier in the south ave 600mm The rainy season is between November and March and the whole area is almost completely dry for the rest of the year and the climate is hot with maximum temperatures between 25 C and 35 C year round Flora EditThe plain is largely covered with Mitchell grass scattered with bloodwood Eucalyptus Corymbia trees native bauhinia Bauhinia cunninghamii and large patches of lancewood acacia Acacia shirleyi woodland The sandstone outcrops have thinner cover of eucalyptus over hummock grass or heathland scattered with Grevillea and Acacia trees Riverine ecosystems around permanent water courses consist of paperbark Melaleuca river redgum Eucalyptus and river pandanus Pandanus Fauna EditThere are few endemic species as these grasslands are typical of much of northern Australia at this latitude but the grasslands are nonetheless largely intact and rich in wildlife Mammals include the large eastern wallaroo northern nail tail wallaby Onychogalea unguifera and the long tailed planigale which is the smallest marsupial in the world The lancewoods are home to the spectacled hare wallaby Lagorchestes conspicillatus while the Bungle Bungle has some unique plants and an endemic Lerista skink lizard the Lerista bunglebungle Mammals that have become depleted or disappeared from these grasslands include the bilby Macrotis lagotis northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus and golden bandicoot Isoodon auratus Birds include Australian bustards singing bushlark and red backed fairy wren while there are important populations of purple crowned fairywren Malurus coronatus along the rivers especially the Victoria The eucalyptus trees are habitat for lorikeets friarbirds and honeyeaters Termites are a source of food for many of these birds and animals The wildlife of the grasslands is still being researched so for example a new species of Ctenotus skink has been discovered quite recently Threats and preservation EditIn general this is a large area of relatively unspoilt grassland used for grazing cattle Some damage results from intensive cattle ranching leading to overgrazing and disrupting the traditional Aboriginal fire regimes in which the grasslands are systematically burnt and allowed to regenerate Woodlands next to rivers and other water sources were severely altered when ranching began causing siltation along the Ord River and destroying important habitat of the white browed robin Poecilodryas superciliosa and the purple crowned fairywren Habitats have also been damaged by introduced species of plants such as bellyache bush Jatropha gossypifolia and castor oil plant Ricinus communis There are some protected areas mainly other types of habitat rather than grazing land Areas such as the caves of Gregory National Park are still being researched by botanists and zoologists 3 See also Edit Western Australia portal Environment portal Geography of AustraliaReferences Edit Environment Australia Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia IBRA and Development of Version 5 1 Summary Report Department of the Environment and Water Resources Australian Government Archived from the original on 5 September 2006 Retrieved 31 January 2007 IBRA Version 6 1 data Victoria Plains tropical savanna Terrestrial Ecoregions World Wildlife Fund Further reading Edithttps web archive org web 20100506065506 http www anra gov au topics rangelands overview wa ibra ovp html Thackway R and I D Cresswell 1995 An interim biogeographic regionalisation for Australia a framework for setting priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative Program Version 4 0 Canberra Australian Nature Conservation Agency Reserve Systems Unit 1995 ISBN 0 642 21371 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ord Victoria Plain amp oldid 1105700942, 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