Title of Unit: Unit 2: Discovering Outdoor Environments

Area of study 1: Investigating Outdoor Environments

Key knowledge bullet point
Characteristics of outdoor environments, including alpine, marine, coastal, wetlands, grassland, forest and
arid

The content knowledge required to teach to the bullet point.

Alpine
The word alpine is often used to describe any high mountain area. The term refers to areas above a
certain altitude that are treeless because of prolonged low temperatures. The Victorian alps encompasses
approximately 500,000 hectares of the northeast and east of the state and extend along the Great Dividing
Range, including Isolate plateaus such as Lake Mountain, Mount Baw Baw and Mount Buffalo.
(Gough, Pleasants &Black, 2006)
There are three zones in the alpine environments;
Alpine zone: the elevation above the tree line with mean midsummer temperatures below 10C and very
high precipitation. Alpine zone landforms include rolling summits, exposed ridge lines and rocky outcrops.
Vegetation includes herb fields, grasslands, bogs and fens.

Subalpine zone: Above about 1500 metres there is an abrupt change from tall forests to a low-growing
subalpine woodland dominated by Snow Gums. The plants growing here have to endure low temperatures
all year round, and much of the precipitation is in the form of snow and ice. The trees are stunted and often
twisted away from prevailing winds.

Montane zone: As you move up to the montane slopes where precipitation is higher, the forest generally
becomes taller, wetter, darker and more dense and it is these montane forests which form the most
extensive zone in the Australian Alps. The dominant trees, a mixture of eucalypts, are taller and grow closer
together. The understorey is made up of ferns and small trees.
The Australian Alpine Education Kit, gives more information of these zones as well as a picture graph
showing the Altitude in metres of the specific zones.
(Australian Alps National Parks, 2011)
Other Alpine Characteristics
- only 0.5 per cent of Australia is truly treeless alpine.
- climatic conditions are harsh
- they are typically covered in snow for more than a third of the year
- the Victorian Alps remain largely intact and protected in National Parks, Alpine National Park,
Mount Buffalo National Park and Mt Baw Baw National Park

(Parks Victoria, 2012)

Forests
There are different classifications of forests, dry forests, woodlands, wet forests and rain forests.

Open forests (Dry Sclerophyll): Open Forests occur on the drier north and west-facing steep montane
slopes and gentler lowland hills. They are characterised by fire resistant eucalypts, woody shrubs and
grasses that tolerate drier conditions

Woodland: These occur in the river valleys and foothills or tableland in and around the Australian Alps.
Woodland is an open community of shorter trees (10 30m), with a generally grassy understorey.

Tall open forests (Wet Sclerophyll): Tall open forests occur on the extensive, moist south and east-facing
slopes of the steep montane zone on deep, well-structured soils built up from aeons of deposition from
above and litter induced by high precipitation and moderate temperatures. The environment is moist and
the understorey generally lush and thick and characterised by ferns and other moisture-loving plants. The
plants of this zone are usually fire sensitive.

(Australian Alps National Parks, 2011)

Victorias wet forests and rain forests are found in the southern, central and northwest regions of the state.
They occur in locations such as Otway ranges, East Gippsland, Wilsons Promontory, the Strzelecki ranges
and the Alps. Although rainforest is notionally protected from harvesting many areas of adjacent wet
forests are the focus of intensive timber harvesting.

The Great Dividing Range, forms a barrier across Victoria. It serves to protect many of the north facing
slopes from the cool temperatures, moisture, winds which come up from the Bass Strait and Southern
Ocean. The result of this is the northern slopes and foothills are relatively dry. Therefore the northern
slopes comprise of dry forests and woodlands.
Much of the dry forests and woodlands that would have been around in 1800 are not there because of the
extensive clearing during settlement, gold rushes and the lack of understanding. However further clearing
as happened due to agriculture practices and urban development. Forests include both native and exotic
species and are heavily influenced by human impact.
(Gough, Pleasants &Black, 2006)

Coastal
Victoria has 2000km of coastline, ranging from sheltered bays and inlet to rugged eroded cliffs. Exposure to
the power of large waves generated in the Southern Ocean has produced the rugged, eroded landforms
that characterise much of the western coastline. Some of the other factors that influence coastal
vegetation are related to wind, salt and natural land instability. Primary dunes are colonised by grasses and
herbs, whilst salt marsh and mangroves.
Much of the Victorian coast has been reserved as public land. Some regions like Wilsons Promontory,
Croajingalong and the Twelve Apostles have been National Parks for some years. The largest threat to
coastal areas comes from urban development, and the associated issues of introduced weeds and animals,
which readily adapt to this ecosystem.
(Gough, Pleasants &Black, 2006)

Marine
Victorias marine water area covers some 10,000 square km, extending 3 nautical miles offshore. They
include water adjacent to the open ocean and Victorias bays, inlets and estuaries.

Southern Australias marine communities are unique. Many of our marine plants and animals are found
nowhere else. This is a result of our long south- facing coastline, a history of geological isolation and limited
influence by major ocean currents.

Victorias marine waters are a special part of this unique realm. Cold waters from the Antarctic influence
marine waters of western Victoria while the warmer waters moving down Australias east coast influence
the marine waters of eastern Victoria. Most of Victorias waters are shallow, but in some areas depths
reach 90 metres or more. Rocky reefs and sandy seafloors, spectacular underwater canyons and plunging
cliffs, intertidal mudflats and tidal channels and sheltered bays are all part of Victorias diverse marine
environment. We know that over 12,000 marine animals and plants live in Victorian waters. For too long
this has been a hidden natural treasure.

In November 2002, the Victorian Parliament passed legislation to create a system of marine national parks
and marine sanctuaries to protect representative examples of this priceless asset.
Thirteen marine national parks and eleven marine sanctuaries were established on 16 November 2002.
They are located from Discovery Bay, found west of Portland to Cape Howe in the far east of the State.
Together the parks and sanctuaries will cover nearly 54 000 hectares or 5.3 % of Victoria's marine waters.

(Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2011)

Arid
Approximately 4 million years ago, a vast inland sea covered what we now call the Mallee and the north
western part of Victoria. After a succession of arid and wet phases, the area has been left with a legacy of
sand and shallow soils that covers the ground today. Low, unreliable rainfall, high summer temperatures
and poor fertility of the sandy soils are a key characteristic of the arid environment.
Significant areas of arid and semi-arid environments, particularly in the north, have been affected by
agricultural practices and subsequent issues such as salinity.
(Gough, Pleasants &Black, 2006)

Grasslands
Less than 1 percent of Victorias native grasslands remain intact today and these mostly occur in small
areas, which are at risk of urban developments, weed invasion, salinity and agricultural practices. Prior to
European settlement, grasslands covered the plains between the Murray Valley and the Great Dividing
Range. It was the open environment made it particular attractive to European explorers and settlers.
They frequently lie over heavy soils which become waterlogged in winter but dry and crack in summer.
Some of the best known vegetation in this environment are kangaroo grass, wallaby grasses and spear
grasses

While trees and shrubs are only occasionally present, they are floristically rich, not only in grasses but also
in colourful plants from the orchid, daisy, pea and lily families that flower in spring and early summer.

(Gough, Pleasants &Black, 2006)

Ideas on relevant school based learning activities;

1. Brainstorm
At the start of the class for this bullet point, get the students to brain storm all the different environments
they have been too and what other environments they know off.
Think, Pair and Share thinking tool, could be a way of administering this brainstorm.

2. Posters
In partners create a poster of one of the characteristics of the outdoor environment. Include elements such
as history (if applicable), location, specific types of flora and fauna found in environment, rainfall, climate
and human impact on the area. Hang these posters in the classroom so students can refer to them
throughout the year. Following the poster, students should present there poster to the class as the expert
learners for this area. While students are presenting their environment, students can be filling out a table
of the environment and the characteristics of them for their own reference. Or students presenting,
present a worksheet or a factual sheet of their given environment.

3. Paired mapping
In pairs, on a large map of Victoria, outline the major environment types and their distribution.
Include the following:
 - alpine
- marine
- coastal
- wetlands
- grasslands
- forest
- arid
http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/wild/victorian-environments/
The map on this website will help in knowing where the different environments are located. However, you
could get students to research the different locations of the environments on the internet.
Extension: From the activity above, get students to look at a map which is found on
http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/extent/vic/index.html of Pre- European settlement map of
Victoria and discuss or write answers on how the characteristics of the outdoor environment have changed
over time and maybe the reasons why this is the case.

4. Local Research
Research the area that your school is located in and see what major environment it is and discuss why it is
that certain environment and how it has changed over time.

Ideas on links to practical outdoor experiences;

1. Local visit
Depending on the location of your school, go on a day trip or even just an afternoon and visit that
particular environment.
Alpine zone bushwalk

2. Alpine bush walk

Bush walk to Mt Bogong, the Alpine country. Walk up to Mt Bogong via the staircase, whilst on the walk,
use experiential learning to discuss the different vegetation that grows in alpine country. The staircase is a
great walk because students can experience the 3 different zones of the alpine, by the change in
vegetation. This bush walk would also link in with the other key knowledge bullet points of outcome.

3. Coastal walk
Plan a bush walk along the coast (Wilsons Prom, Surf Coast etc.) and discuss the characteristics of the
coastal environment. Compare and contrast the bush walk with another area, in regards to the
characteristics experienced, what did they learn from each environment, where there some similarities,
differences.

4. Snorkelling/scuba diving trip

Plan a snorkelling/ scuba diving trip to Popes Eye and see the Port Phillip Heads Marine National park,
between Queenscliff and Sorrento. Students can snorkel or even learn to scuba around, looking at the fish,
seals, and its a safe environment. Could also discuss the history of Popes Eye. This would give the students
experiential learning of a Marine National Park. This would link with a few of the dot points in this area of
study, such as the recreational users understanding, effects of natural changes to the environment, land
managers understanding of this specific location and the scientific understanding of the environment.
Notes: When planning for camps and choosing where to go, try and choose places if possible of different
outdoor environments. Where ever you go on an outdoor experience, you can use this key knowledge, to
talk about on either your pre- trip planning but also on the trip. Ask the students about the environment,
why it is alpine, arid, marine etc.

Links to other bullet points within that Unit.

Unit 2 : Investigating Outdoor Environments

This bullet point is the introduction to the other 4 bullets points in this area of study. To be able to have a
clear understanding of recreational users, scientific, land managers understanding of outdoor
environments the students need to have a basic understanding what these outdoor environments are.
Because this bullet point is the introduction of this Unit it means that throughout the Unit and area of study
the students are going to continue to add knowledge to this bullet point as the continue learning about the
other bullet points in the area of study.

Web-links or further resources.

http://www.australianalps.environment.gov.au - Information on the Australian alps

The Australian Alpine Education Kit, gives more information of the Alpine zones as well as a picture graph
showing the Altitude in metres of the specific zones. It also outlines the vegetation on some of the
environments.

http://mesa.edu.au/
http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/wild/victorian-environments/
This website is fantastic , it gives descriptions, maps and pictures of all the different environments. The
maps are great, they show were each of the environments are located in Victoria as well as what it looked
like before settlement. There is a lot of resources on this website, related to this area of study, including
worksheets, see education kits.

http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/coasts

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au
Department of Sustainability and Environment Coasts and Marine Pages;
The recently renamed Department of Natural Resources and Environment website hosts a rage of excellent
resources on Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries. This includes Fact sheets on each of the parks,
image and video collections for downloading

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/learning-and-discovery/ecosystems
Information on all the different outdoor environments.
 References

Australian Alps National Parks.(2011, January).Vegetation in the Australian Alps. Retrieved from
http://www.australianalpa.environment.gov.au/learn/pubs/vegetation.

Department of Sustainability and Environment.(2011, November 18).Coasts and Marine. Retrieved from
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/coastandmarine

Gough,A., Pleasants,K., & Black ,J.(2006). Outdoor and Environmental Studies .(2nd ed.).Melbourne:
Thomas Learning

Parks Victoria. (2012,January). Ecosystems. Retrieved from http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.

Created by: Louise Terpstra

Acknowledgements: Peter Martin and Brendan Hodges