FOSSIL EVOLUTION
8.5 Evolution of
Australian Biota
Contextual
Outline:
The very large southern landmass, Gondwana, persisted for
some time, giving rise to an array of species that spread
across it. When Gondwana broke up, it did so in stages but
eventually the Australian continent was isolated from
Antarctica and South America.
The available evidence suggests that, as Gondwana was breaking up, a number of global climatic changes were also occurring. These changes in environmental conditions impacted on Australian ecosystems and are reflected in the fossil record. As the biotic and abiotic features of ecosystems were altered, those organisms best adapted to these changes survived and passed on their genetic information to their offspring.
The contribution of palaeontology and the study of past environments is important to our understanding of how our present actions may affect our environment and the distribution of flora and fauna in the future.
This module increases students' understanding of the applications and uses of biology, implication for society and the environment and current issues, research and developments in biology.
8.5.2 The changes
in Australian flora and fauna over millions of years have
happened through evolution.
Chances of survival of species when environmental change
occurs.
Identify and describe evidence of changing environments in
Australia over millions of years.
Identify areas with Australia that experience significant
variations in temperature and water availability.
Identify
changes in the distribution of Australian species, as
rainforests contracted and sclerophyll communities and
grasslands spread, as indicated by fossil
evidence.
Discuss current theories that provide a model to account for
these changes.
Gather, process and analyse information from secondary
sources to develop a timeline that identifies key events in
the formation of Australia as in island continent from its
origins as part of Gondwana.
Gather information from secondary sources to describe some
Australian fossils, where these fossils were found and use
available evidence to explain how they contribute to the
development of understanding about the evolution of species
in Australia.
8.5.4 A study of
palaeontology and past environments increases our
understanding of the possible future range of plants and
animals.
Identify the ways in which palaeontology assist
understanding of the factors that may determine distribution
of flora and fauna in present and future
environments.
Gather, process and analyse information from secondary
sources and use available evidence to propose reasons for
the evolution, survival and extinction of species, with
reference to specific Australian examples.
