Weedbusters - Activities, Information and ... - Weeds Australia

Weedbusters – Activities, Information and Curriculum LinksWeeds and biodiversityIn a natural area on land or in the water, numerous animals and plants live together. The more typesof animals and plants the greater the biodiversity. When weeds take the place of indigenous plants,biodiversity of indigenous plants is reduced. The animals that rely on these indigenous plants mayalso disappear.Example:Weeds can slowly destroy the habitat ofnative animalsHow might weeds effect akookaburra?Kookaburras need foodThey eat lizards, grasshoppers and insects.Some of these insects need native plantsfor food. Kookaburras cannot hunt wherevegetation is so thick that they cannot seetheir prey on the ground.Kookaburras need a place to nestThey nest in hollows in old trees. There iscompetition between native and introduced birdsfor nesting hollows. Introduced birds may bemore comfortable with weeds than native birds.Kookaburras need a place to sit whilewatching for preyHow canweeds affectother nativeanimals?The open branches of gum trees are ideal forthis. Introduced trees and shrubs often havemuch leafier, thicker canopies.Write about, or draw a picture or series ofpictures of, or make a play or video about,a family of kookaburras whose home is beinginvaded by weeds and the problems they face.45www.gould.edu.auwww.weeds.org.au