Ecosystem Name: Aeotorea


An example of the subtropical forests of the northern area of Aeotorea.

Location: Aeotorea is a large island located to the south east of Australia.

Climate: The climate of Aeotorea is quite diverse, depending on how far south or north you go. The northernmost parts are often around 18 degrees on average in the winter, with temperatures around 34 in summer. The hot island is benefited by plentiful rain along the western coast, and common snow fall at the high altitudes of the eastern mountains. The southern area is cooler in climate, and can reach temperatures as low as 8 degrees in winter, and up to 16 degrees in summer. Bad weather isn't too bad around Aeotorea, with no natural disasters being overly common. Snowfall never happens on sea level, but is common at higher altitudes.

Geography: Aeotorea has four primary ecozones within the island. The mountains along the west coast reach altitudes of 11 000 feet above sea level, and have snow covered valleys and forests around the peaks. The southern areas have montane plains and foothills, as a transition between the levels of snow and temperate forest. Animals adapted to living in these mountains are very hardy and specialised. Along the northern part of the island, small areas of prairie break up the temperate forests, and are a hub for herbivorous animals. The forests of the north are more lush, with subtropical forests and temperate rainforest creating stunning fantasy-like forests. The area is lusher and warmer than the south. The southern part of the islands forests are quite different, with cooler montane and even coniferous forests covering the many foothills and valleys of the south.

Ecosystem Name: Tasmania


A swamp plain in northern Tasmania.

Location: Tasmania is a large island, one of the largest in Oceania, of the southeastern coast of Australia.

Climate: Tasmania is a wet, warm island that receives common rainfall. Snow is rare and only happens among the highest altitudes. Winters can get as cold as 6 degrees during winter in the southernmost areas, while summer can get as warm as 25 degrees. Rain causes flooding along the coasts and swamps of Tasmania. The warmer areas tend to be around the northern swamp areas and temperate forests, while the southern coast and interior forests of the lower half grow to the colder temperatures.

Geography: Tasmania is a large island and has several plateaus of warm plains dotting the otherwise seamless temperate and subtropical forests. Fern covered, almost primeval forests cover the majority of the northern areas of the island, while dryer temperate forests are more evident in the south. The north western portion of the island is covered in wetland forests with seasonal flooding and swamp plains breaking it up.

Ecosystem Name: Eyre Gulf


Where the gulf meets the mangroves.

Location: The Eyre Gulf is in south central Australia, and is flooded shallow sea that reaches inland.

Climate: The Eyre Gulf is a warm sea, with temperatures ranging from 20 degrees in winter to 45 degrees in summer. Exceptionally hot days can reach 54 degrees. The climate is subtropical, with no snowfall and occasional rainfall. Seasonal flooding occurs due to rain, and coasts can flood several hundred metres inland in the lowland mangrove swamps.

Geography: The Eyre Gulf is the result of extreme climate change, where the sea level rose over 80 metres and flooded Lake Eyre, connecting it to the sea. The waters are warm, despite their somewhat southern coordinates, and are a shallow sea with the lowest depths a mere 60 feet deep. The terrestrial biome surrounding the majority of the gulf is a vast mangrove lowland with seemingly endless tangles of roots. In the actual sea, shallow coral reefs and marine grasslands of sea-grass are the primary biomes, offering life to a wide variety of species.

Ecosystem Name: Darwin Sea



Where sky meets sea; the southeastern coast of the sea where the shore is lined with the Blue Mountains.

Location: The Darwin Sea is in northern Australia, and is a result of Australia colliding with New Guinea.

Climate: The Darwin Sea is another hot area, being in the middle of the tropical zone in Australia. The tropical climate means rainfall is very common, which can cause flooding along the shores. Tropical storms, winds and heavy rain are common in the often mist cloaked sea, creating a magical atmosphere. The sea and it's shores are often hot, with temperatures reaching up to 45 degrees in summer months. In winter, temperatures can lower down to 18 degrees.

Geography:
The Darwin Sea is a shallow sea, but is a lot deeper than the Eyre Gulf. Waters can shift rapidly between depths of a mere 10 feet to depths of 150 feet. Small caverns ripple across the water shores with depths exceeding 200 feet. The deep waters in the freshwater lake offer life to a variety of marine animals. The coastal areas of the sea are surrounded by tranquil rainforests, and small jungle islands dot the waters. Marine biomes differ greatly, from marine grasslands to submerged forests. The sea is a hub for the mingling of salt and freshwater species.

Ecosystem Name: Western Eucalyptus Forest


The Eucalyptus Forest after the rainy season.

Location: The Western Eucalyptus Forest is a relic, only along the western coast in a thin stretch of land.

Climate: The Western Eucalyptus Forests have the most diverse temperature range in Australia. The hottest days of summer can have temperatures of 50 degrees, though 42 is the average. In winter, days grow colder with an average of ten, though the coldest days can go slightly below 0. Rain here is occasional, more frequent than the arid regions of Australia but far less than the rainforests. Snow is rare, but happens on occasion in winter. Due to the climate changes, snow seldom lasts longer than a few days before it melts away. This can cause areas of the forests to become marshy.

Geography: These forests reach from former Perth up the western coast, in a small but long stretch of forest. The dry forests are full of bramble, and ferns covering the soil, with towering eucalyptus and gum trees creating arboreal ecosystems for many species of animal. The dry temperate forests become more sparse, hot and dry as they grow east, merging with the Gibson Desert.

Ecosystem Name: Victorian Savannah


A quiver grove in the eastern area of the Victorian Savannah.

Location: The Victorian Savannah is a vast plain that covers the interior area and southern coast of eastern Australia.

Climate: The Victorian Savannah is a hot region, with maximum temperatures of 52 degrees in summer, and winter temperatures down to 19 degrees. Rainfall is sparse and snowfall never happens, and the result is occasional bushfires that can burn for weeks on end. Dust storms and droughts can ravage the ecosystems, and animals adapted to living in this environment are very resilient. Aside from the deserts of the east, the Victorian Savannah is the hottest area of Oceania.

Geography: The Victorian Savannah is a golden plain that makes up the majority of the western part of Australia. The plains are dry and arid, with tall grasses and dry bushes popping out of a blend of red sand and dry soil. As the savannahs transition into forest, the Victorian Savannah turns into dry bush land groves full of low lying trees. The Savannahs of Australia are unique as the trees are mostly made up of grass trees, quiver trees and palms, rather than acacias and thorn trees.

Ecosystem Name: Gibson Desert


A small grove of mulga trees; a haven for wildlife.

Location: The Gibson Desert is parallel to the savannah, making up the central area of western Australia.

Climate: The Gibson Desert is the hottest and most arid area of Australia, where rainfall is minimal and snow is non-existent. Most animals have adapted to get water through foliage or fat reserves, due to the desert having weeks on end without rain. Temperatures here can get up to a blistering 56 degrees in summer. In winter, temperatures cool, but are still hotter than many places in the world, with average temperatures of 20 degrees.

Geography: The Gibson Desert most resembles the stereotypical outback. Deserts of red sand cover the entire region, with yellow grasses, shrubs and thorny groves dotting the rocky landscape. The region is very hilly, with mountains and rocky foothills covering a large area of desert. Animals of this arid land are specially adapted to life with little water. Small groves of grass trees, quiver trees, eucalyptus and mulga serve as small oasis's, where food, shade and shelter are present.

Ecosystem Name: Northern Rainforest


A tranquil pool in former New Guinea.

Location: The Northern Rainforest covers all of New Guinea, and the north eastern area of Queensland. The Great Dividing Range and Darwin Sea both cut through it.

Climate: The Northern Rainforest is a hot and lush rainforest. Rainfall is common, happening more often than not, though the canopy often stops it from reaching the ground. The coasts have a yearly monsoon season, where tropical storms are common natural disasters. Temperatures don't differ too much, with yearly lows in winter going only to 18 degrees, and average summer temperatures around 33.

Geography: The northern rainforest covers New Guinea and northern Australia with lush tropical rainforest. Palms and thick broadleaf trees create thick arboreal and terrestrial ecosystems. As altitudes change, the wet rainforests turn into montane forests cloaked in fog. The lush forests have floors of dark soil, tropical ferns and exotic bushes, creating a region full of diverse and dangerous life.

Ecosystem Name: Great Dividing Range


The sun rises over the Great Dividing Range.

Location: The Great Dividing Range are still in the same place in eastern Australia, but extend up to the eastern portion of New Guinea and where it merges with Australia.

Climate: The temperatures in the lower mountains and higher mountains differ greatly. In summer, the lower mountains seldom go lower than 26 degrees in summer, while the higher mountains only reach 14. In winter, temperatures dip to 12 in the lower mountains and 2 in the higher ones. Despite being mountains, the peaks never get snow and maintain warm temperatures. Rain falls in normal patterns and snow never falls, but the northernmost mountains are often cloaked in fog.

Geography: The Great Dividing Range stand around 6800 feet, with the highest peaks reaching 7400. The mountain range is massive, stretching across the entire length of Eastern Australia. Mountains and plateaus of sandstone and limestone stand tall among the forests surrounding them. Eucalyptus and temperate rainforests cover the majority of the area, with the higher altitudes covered in rocky foothills and dry heathland. The northernmost part of the mountain range in New Guinea is surrounded by montane forest.