1. The River Red Gum Ecosystem Developed by Paul Greenwood REEC and Sara Vanzella, Burrumbuttock Public School, June 2010 http://riverredgumrescue.blogspot.com/2008/09/fact-sheet-river-red-gum-eucalyptus.html

2. Eucalyptus camaldulensis is also known as the River Red Gum. River red gums need 1100mm of water to remain healthy. They grow over much of Australia and can be found along river edges. River red gums can also grow in areas with lower rainfall. They survive off the floodwaters during the winter and spring time.

3. On the flood plains of the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers, River Red Gums grow in large forests called monocultures No other species has adapted to spring flooding and dry summers like the River Red gums.

4. The forests have natural channels called runners. The runners flow across the floodplain. Water flows into these runners in times of flood and spreads over the land

5. There are no shrubs in River Red gum forests. The understory plants have to survive floods and dry periods too Swamp wallaby-grass Sedge Common spike rush Giant rush Plants in the River Red Gum ecosystem

6. Problems in the River Red Gum Ecosystem: 1. Carp feed by sucking up the mud like a vacuum 2. Erodes the river banks 3. The River Red Gum roots become exposed on the bank. 4. Eventually the River Red Gum falls over 5. The banks erode causing turbid water 6. Catfish lay their eggs in pebble beds on the bottom of the river. The sediment settles on the eggs killing the eggs

7. Animals Mammal populations in red gum ecosystems include: Terrestrial species Yellow-footed antechinus Eastern grey kangaroo Many reptile species

8. Amphibian species Perrons tree frog Eastern Banjo Spotted marsh frog Growling Grass frog

9. Arboreal species Superb fairy-wren Thornbills Superb parrot Brush tailed possum Weebill Brown treecreeper Striated pardalote Sulphur-crested White-plumed cockatoo honeyeater

10. Aquatic species Fish- Murray cod Golden perch Catfish Silver perch Purple spotted gudgeon Trout cod Crismon spotted rainbow fish

11. Diagram of River Red Gum Ecosystem 1. Rainfall 4. Water taken up by the roots 5. Transpiration from River Red Gum trees 3. Water soaks down to the water table 2. River rises and floods with spring rains. Runner

12. Definitions Eucalyptus camaldulensis: Is the scientific term for the River Red gum Monoculture: is an area dominated by a single species. For examples lawns and crops. Species: a group of animals or plants. Runners: are the natural flood channels in low lying forests. Ecosystem: A community of interdependent organisms living and Interacting together in their physical environment. Understory: the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height Sediment: matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid. Turbid: having sediment or foreign particles stirred up or suspended. Terrestrial species: animals that live on land. Arboreal species: animals that live in trees. Aquatic species: animals that live in water. Amphibian species: are creatures which spend part of their life in water and part of their life on dry land. Revised by REEC and Sara Vanzella, Burrumbuttock Public School( June 2010)

13. River Red Gum Ecosystems Definitions Eucalyptus camaldulensis: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Monoculture: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Species: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Runners: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ecosystem: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Understory: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sediment: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Turbid: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Terrestrial species: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Arboreal species: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________ Aquatic species: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Amphibian species: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Eucalyptus camaldulensis: Species: Runners: Ecosystem: Understory: Sediment: Turbid: Arboreal species: Aquatic species NAME: