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Ecosystems
Defining, Distribution and Features of the Rainforest
Ecological interactions

Study Tours

  • This trip has been designed for more general interest and younger student groups. It visits a range of iconic regions, from the Great Barrier Reef, to the rainforests and rivers of the Daintree, to the caves and bush of the outback, and to the mountains, lakes and waterfalls of the Atherton Tablelands. We conduct a range of activities within the trip including hikes, ‘bushwalks', boat cruises, snorkeling to wildlife viewing and night-spotlighting. We see tropical rainforest, coal reefs, kangaroos, shops and beaches. With sufficient lead time, the trip can have it's focus and design changed to suit the…

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Plants

Fungi
Fungi actually belong to a completely different kingdom from the animals and the plants and are not particularly related to either. There are thought to be about 250,000 species of fungi in Australia, and thus they far outnumber the regular vascular plants but most of these species are too small to be noticed.
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Birds

Anhingas
Anhingas
Anhingas
The Anhingas were once placed in the same family as the Cormoramts and Shags; they are now recognized as not being as closely related as once assumed. Depending on the author, there are either 2 or 4 species of Anhinga. These birds are found all over the world, and subsequently have quite a few different names. The name ‘Anhinga’ is used mainly in the Americas, and was originally a Brazilian name for the bird. It is now the genus name. It may catch it’s fishy prey with a fast stabbing action of the bill. This behaviour has given the bird the other common name of ‘darter’. When swimming on the surface of the water, their body is usually under the waterline and only it’s neck and head are seen, giving it the appearance of a snake, and thus resulting in another common name ‘Snake bird’.
 

Mammals

Rodents
If there is one group of mammals that is even more successful than the bats, it is the rodents, with about 2000 species worldwide and at least 60 species in Australia, which is again almost a quarter of the mammals of the continent.
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