What is biodiversity?
Arid Australia
Approximately one-third of Australia is classified as arid. This means it receives, on average, less than 250mm of rainfall per year. Yet some plants and animals thrive in arid Australia.
Many arid zone species survive because they are able to make the most of the wet times and survive through the dry. Some species that cannot move very far, like frogs, may lie dormant underground until rain comes to stimulate them. Some species that can move long distances, like certain birds, can fly to where there is water. Water often only lasts a short time in arid zones, so species have to react quickly to take advantage of their brief opportunity for reproduction.
Mound springs
In the barren landscape of the desert near Lake Eyre, there are oases of life called mound springs. The water feeding the springs comes from the Great Artesian Basin, deep under the ground. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind sediments and salts, which form into mounds.Mound springs harbour a rich variety of both plants and animals that are found nowhere else.
Mound springs were the only source of water in this area before bores were drilled. They have played a key role for Indigenous Australians, early settlers and farmers. Nowadays, the existence of mound springs is threatened by humans using too much artesian water which dries up the springs. Furthermore, cattle trample the area around the springs and destroy both the springs, and their unique animals and plants.
