Rainforest on Fraser
Rainforests are a specialised ecosystem which require very specific conditions to survive. For a rainforest to form, two factors must be present:
1. High level of rainfall
2. Nutrient rich soils
Adaptations of plants in a rainforest:
- Trees are very tall and straight so they can access sunlight. They have very few lower branches so they can put their energy into growing up towards the sun. The top branches spread like an umbrella to form a canopy
- Very little sunlight penetrates the canopy thus, species of plants on the floor of the rainforest have adapted to poor light conditions
- Generally, species have leaves that are structured to divert all water to their root system
Fraser Island RainforestThe rainforest on Fraser only cover a small area of the island and usually occur in small pockets that are protected by high dunes. Fraser Island is especially significant due to the fact that the rainforest grows in sand - a very unlikely soil for such a vegetation community. Some rainforest plants found on Fraser Island include hoop pine, king fern, tree ferns, strangler figs, blue quandong trees, piccabeen palms and Cyprus pine trees. Fraser Island is home to one rainforest species that dates back to the days of the dinosaurs, the king fern, commonly seen around Wanggoolba Creek