INVESTIGATING THE AUSTRALIAN SAVANNA - AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH

The Savanna lands of Australia cover a large area of the tropical north. In response to requests this unit has been rewritten to provide smaller units of a more manageable size. This approach is an ecosystem approach which is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle where elements of the ecosystem are studied and then interrelationships are recognised and linked. This unit follows on from the introductory unit of climate and adds the environmental link with soil. Other units dealing with vegetation response, land use variations and ecosystem modification will follow. This unit is aimed mainly at middle to upper Secondary levels. Those looking for materials on world climatic environments leading on to examinations of response to climate will find this Australian series useful. A colour and black and white attachment is provided which can be distributed as a worksheet/classroom/out of class worksheet. The complete unit on the Australian savanna will provide a comprehensive analysis of this Australian environment. It could also be linked with the parallel 14 units of the savanna areas of Arnhem Land.