Wallum
Encyclopedia
Wallum, or Wallum country, is an Australia
n ecosystem
of coastal south-east Queensland
, extending into north-eastern New South Wales
. It is characterised by floristically-rich shrubland
and heathland
on deep, nutrient-poor acidic sandy soils and regular wildfire
. Seasonal changes in the water-table due to rainfall may create swamps. The name is derived from the Kabi
word for the Wallum Banksia (Banksia aemula
).
of land for residential development and pine plantations, alterations to drainage from adjacent developments, nutrients from fertilizers, changes in fire frequency, pollution from mosquito control sprays, and the introduction of weeds.
Species endemic to Wallum include some acid frogs – frogs adapted to living and breeding in acidic waters – such as the Wallum Froglet
(Crinia tinnula), Wallum Rocket Frog (Litoria freycineti), and the Wallum Sedge Frog
(Litoria olongburensis). In Queensland the Eastern Ground Parrot appears to be largely restricted to the Wallum.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
of coastal south-east Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, extending into north-eastern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. It is characterised by floristically-rich shrubland
Shrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...
and heathland
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
on deep, nutrient-poor acidic sandy soils and regular wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
. Seasonal changes in the water-table due to rainfall may create swamps. The name is derived from the Kabi
Kabi
The Kabi people are an Aboriginal Goori people of Australia, and corresponding language group of the South East Queensland coast, stretching from Brisbane up to Bundaberg. In their language, "Kabi" means "No"....
word for the Wallum Banksia (Banksia aemula
Banksia aemula
Banksia aemula, commonly known as the wallum banksia, is a lignotuberous shrub of the Proteaceae family. Found from Bundaberg south to Sydney on the Australian east coast, it is encountered as a shrub or a taller tree to 8 m in coastal heath on deep sandy soil, known as Wallum...
).
Threats
Wallum, as with other coastal ecosystems, is highly threatened by the pressure for coastal development. Threats include clearingLand clearing in Australia
Land clearing in Australia describes the removal of native vegetation and deforestation and in Australia. Land clearing involves the removal of native vegetation and habitats, including the bulldozing of native bushlands, forests, savannah, woodlands and native grasslands and the draining of...
of land for residential development and pine plantations, alterations to drainage from adjacent developments, nutrients from fertilizers, changes in fire frequency, pollution from mosquito control sprays, and the introduction of weeds.
Species endemic to Wallum include some acid frogs – frogs adapted to living and breeding in acidic waters – such as the Wallum Froglet
Wallum Froglet
The Wallum Froglet is a species of ground-dwelling frog native to the east coast of Australia, from southeast Queensland to Kurnell, NSW. It is strongly associated with Wallum swampland.-Physical description:...
(Crinia tinnula), Wallum Rocket Frog (Litoria freycineti), and the Wallum Sedge Frog
Wallum Sedge Frog
The Wallum Sedge Frog , also known as the Olongburra Frog or the Sharp-snouted Reed Frog, is endemic to Australia. Varying in color from brown to dark green it inhabits the thick and often acidic marshes of the Wallum along the coast of Queensland and New South Wales. Mating season comes in early...
(Litoria olongburensis). In Queensland the Eastern Ground Parrot appears to be largely restricted to the Wallum.