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Aboriginal Australians co-existed with the megafauna for at least 17000 years Australia was once home to giant reptiles, marsupials and birds known as megafauna - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 10 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 10
Aboriginal Australians co-existed with the megafauna for at least 17000 years Australia was once home to giant reptiles, marsupials and birds known as megafauna. Ma... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Aboriginal Australians co-existed with the megafauna for at least 17000 years Australia was once home to giant reptiles, marsupials and birds known as megafauna - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 10 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify that First Australians burnt the landscape/hunted
Answer
The First Australians engaged in regular landscape burning, which was intended to promote new plant growth and attract prey. This practice not only altered the ecosystem but also had far-reaching implications for the megafauna that depended on the original landscape for food and habitat. Burning the land, therefore, directly contributed to the changes in the availability of food resources for megafauna.
Step 2
Description of consequences of this action, such as the large flightless bird laid eggs on the ground
Answer
The alteration of the environment due to burning likely impacted the nesting sites and food availability for species like the large flightless bird, Genyornis newtoni. With vegetation changed and food resources diminished, the survival chances for these birds and other megafauna decreased significantly, leading to their eventual extinction.
Step 3
Acknowledge how the model is supported, such as this led to the extinction of the large flightless bird
Answer
Evidence supports the rapid extinction model by indicating that the drastic ecological changes — largely induced by human activity — contributed to the extinction of giant species. For example, the heavy hunting of Genyornis newtoni and similar creatures, combined with habitat degradation, suggests a direct link between human actions and the decline of these species.
Step 4
Evidence
Answer
- No bottleneck seen in fire-sensitive plants - The burning of landscape did not disturb the ecology significantly.
- Some megafauna was extinct before arrival of First Australians - Suggests that other factors were at play prior to human arrival.
- The First Australians coexisted with megafauna for 17,000 years - Indicates a long-term interaction rather than immediate extinction.
- The population of First Australians was low - This suggests that the pressure on megafauna was not overwhelming.
Step 5
Justification
Answer
- Burning of landscape not causing ecology to be disturbed - Supports that the ecological change was gradual and less catastrophic than proposed.
- The First Australians were not responsible for rapid megafauna extinction - Highlights the role of pre-existing environmental changes.
- The small population is unlikely to kill off megafauna as it is not putting pressure on resources - Suggests more sustainable interaction.