Learn about the soils of the Alps
Australian Alps Education Kit
Chapter 3 – Soils of the Australian Alps
Australian Alps Liaison Committee, November 2005
Mountains with soil
Vegetation on thin soil, Crosscut
Saw – Alpine National Park
Photo: Australian Alps Liaison
Committee
The Australian Alps are ‘mountains with soil’ as distinct from many ranges overseas which are ‘rock mountains’.
Mountains on other continents are generally younger and steeper, and have been more heavily glaciated, all factors that contribute to the absence of soil.
Glaciation, which has led to the removal of soil by snow, ice, water and wind, has been restricted to a small area at the highest elevations in New South Wales.
Soil is an essential part of any landbased ecosystem. Soil provides:
- an anchor for plants to grow
- nutrients and water for plants
- habitat for micro-organisms and invertebrates.
These plants and animals then become the food source for many other animals, providing the biological support base of all other organisms in the ecosystem. Plants also protect the soil from erosion by providing ground cover.
The stability of Australian mountain ecosystems therefore, depends primarily on good vegetation cover maintaining the health of the soils.
More Information
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