How Eucalyptus Dominates Australia

It is widely known that Australia forests are dominated by eucalyptus trees. According to
Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, has covered 101 million
hectares of Australia’s forest or 77% of Australia’s total native forest area with approximately
800 species. Eucalyptus or often called ‘gum tree’ has a characteristic which they shed their bark
in large patches, in strips, from younger stems, etc. depends on the species (Grootemat et al.,
2017). Eucalypts also have an oil-rich leaves that easily burns and they have developed strategies
to survive and recover from fire. Majority of eucalypt species maintains their leaves throughout
the year. But what makes them dominate Australia? Discovering the cause of eucalypts
domination may help other country to propagate them and use the advantage.

According to Bayle (2019), the oil extracted from eucalyptus tree can be used into three
categories (medicinal, industrial, and perfumery). Written in Bennet (2011) study, botanist
Verdinand von Mueller argued that eucalyptus oil could prevent malaria and other tropical
diseases. Eucalyptus flower produces nectar, providing food for pollinators animals such as
honeybees, birds, and mammals. It leaves also a food source for herbivores marsupials especially
koalas. Thornhill (2019) stated that the domination of eucalyptus in Australia started around 20
million years ago when the continent began to dry up and become a suitable habitat for
eucalyptus and its many species. Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the
Environment mentioned eucalyptus evolved from rainforest ancestors and adapt to drought and
nutrient-poor soils. The ability to quickly re-sprout from buds under the bark is what helped them
to survive and dominate Australia’s harsh environments and changing climate over 30 million
years. It leaves are thick, leathery, and tough due to lignin and do not easily wilt which makes
them able to survive hot and dry conditions (Australian Academy of Science). According to
Hyland et al. (2006), tropical and subtropical rainforest areas of the eastern Australian mainland
and the temperate rainforest of victoria and Tasmania are where eucalyptus trees don’t grow.
This tree also absent in the extensive arid zone of inland, mid-southern, and north-western
Australia. There are around 900 of eucalypt taxa and many have their particular edaphic
preferences such as black-soil plains, siliceous or gypseous dunes, sandy soils with lime
contents, sandstone-derived soil, and so on while other species are spread with a tolerance of
various soil types.
 As explained above, what caused the domination of eucalyptus trees in Australia is the
dry environment that Australia has which is suitable for the growth of 800 species eucalyptus
trees. And it is supported by their remarkable adaptability to Australia environment and climate.

References

Australian Academy of Science. (2018, March 23). The Story of Our Eucalypts. Retrieved April
23, 2021, from https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/story-our-eucalypts

Bayle, G. (2019). Ecological and social impacts of eucalyptus tree plantation on the
environment. Journal of Biodiversity Conservation and Bioresource Management, 5(1),
93-104. doi:10.3329/jbcbm.v5i1.42189

Bennett, B. M. (2011). A Global History of Australian Trees. Journal of the History of Biology,
44(1), 125-145.

Grootemaat, S., Wright, I. J., Van Bodegom, P. M., Cornelissen, J. H., & Shaw, V. (2017, July).
Bark Traits, Decomposition and Flammability of Australian Forest Trees. Australian
Journal of Botany, 65(4), 327-338. doi:10.1071/bt16258

Hyland, B., Kleinig, D., Boland, D., Chippendale, G., Turner, J., Brooker, M., . . . Johnston, R.
(Eds.). (2006). Forest Trees of Australia. CSIRO Publishing.

Thornhill, A. (2019, April 12). How eucalypts came to dominate Australia. Retrieved April 23,
2021, from https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/features/comment/why-eucalypt-
trees-dominate-australia#