Professional Teachers' Council of New South Wales


Adaptations of native plants to bushfires

by W. Sommerville

Introduction · rubric · conclusion · teacher's guide

Fire resistant characteristics of plants · Regrowth after bushfires · Tips on writing essays

Introduction

We all know how devestating bushfires can be to the countryside, yet not all that long after a bushfire, plants are seen regrowing in that area.

Australian native plants have adapted to bushfire conditions over millions of years, and this activity will lead you to discover these adaptations, and hopefully, appreciate their unique place in this part of your scientific investigations.

Use the links below to explore the topic, your interests, and those important questions of yours. The Web will offer some unique resources that might not be available anywhere else so dig deep and see what you find.


Internet Links

Fire resistant characteristics of plants

A list of the more fire resistant plants
Here are the names of some fire resistant plants. You can search for more information about them on the internet or botany books.

Eucalypts and Bushfires
Scroll to this heading to see some fire resistant characteristics of Eucalypts.

Fire resistance
Some native plants and their fire resistant characteristics.

Fire ecology
More examples of adaptations and the plants that use them.

Adaptation to fire
Fire resistant characteristics are outlined here with links to more detail.

Plant response to bushfire
Check that you have listed the adaptations described here.

Regrowth after bushfires

Banksia canei
How one native regrows after a fire

Regrowth management
Look at the examples of regrowth after fire in the fourth paragraph.

The Passage of fire
This article has some important background and then examples of regrowth due to the fire resistant adapations.

Tips on writing essays

Essay writing
Some good tips here to help planning an essay

Essay writing
A clear, concise guide to essay writing


Conclusion



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email: glenwood@tpg.com.au
http://ptc.nsw.edu.au/members/bsommerv1/natives/hotlist.htm