MODULE 3 - EVOLUTION OF AUSTRALIAN BIOTA

1. EVIDENCE FOR THE ARRANGEMENT OF CRUSTAL PLATES AND

CONTINENTAL DRIFT INDICATES THAT AUSTRALIA WAS ONCE PART
OF AN ANCIENT SUPER CONTINENT
1.1
IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THE ASSERTION THAT
AUSTRALIA WAS ONCE PART OF A LANDMASS CALLED GONDWANA INCLUDING:
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MATCHING CONTINENTAL MARGINS

Geologists studying the rock strata around the continental margins have found that
they match perfectly in many places, such as between southern Australia and one
section of Antarctica, and between the west coast of Africa and the east coast of South
America.
POSITION OF MID-OCEAN RIDGES
Mid-ocean ridge where two plates are moving apart, a mid-ocean ridge is formed.
Magma wells up and spreads across the ocean floor, moving away from the ridge.
Deep-sea surveys have discovered mid-ocean ridges where the plates are moving
apart.
The weakness in the crust at the boundaries allows molten mantle material to well up,
separating the plates and depositing material, which creates new ocean floor.
The surveys found that the rock that forms the ocean floor is increasingly older the
further away it is from these ridges, indicating that the plates have been moving for a
long time.

SPREADING ZONES BETWEEN CONTINENTAL PLATES

Areas of new ocean floor forming between continental plates are called spreading
zones.
Evidence found supports the theory that Australia was once connected to other
southern continents as part of the super continent Gondwana.

FOSSILS IN COMMON ON GONDWANAN CONTINENTS INCLUDING GLOSSOPTERIS

AND GANGAMOPTERIS FLORA, AND MARSUPIALS
Glossopteris and Gangamopteris are fossil plants found in rocks of the same age in
Australia, Africa, India, South America, Antarctica and New Zealand.
Used to support theory of continental drift.
Fossil plants and animals found in Antarctica, including marsupials, are the same as
those found in Australia in rocks of the same age.

SIMILARTIES BETWEEN PRESENT DAY ORGANISMS ON GONDWANAN CONTINENTS

Ratites (ostrich, emu, rhea, cassowary, kiwi) - suggest that they come from a common
Gondwanan ancestor that existed when the land was joined, and evolved separately
when the continents split apart.
Endemic species native to a particular geographic region
The long isolation of the Australian continent has produced a large number of
plants/animals that are endemic to Australia, resulting in species richness.
Species richness refers to the high number of species in a particular area
Currently extant species are thought to have come from the now extinct species.

1.2
DISCUSS CURRENT RESEARCH INTO EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
EXTINCT SPECIES, INCLUDING MEGAFAUNA AND EXTANT AUSTRALIAN SPEICIES

Palaeobiologists in Australia are currently looking at fossil finds to trace evolutionary

relationships between species that are now extinct and modern forms.
Current research uses traditional paleontological techniques as well as modern genetic
techniques.

Australias megafauna fossil records, particularly for mammals show a decline in

size.
EXTANT SPECIES The evolution of most living organisms can be traced to common
ancestors, through their distribution and fossil record. Some present day organisms
have survived apparently unchanged since ancient times extant species (usually
found in areas where the environmental conditions have not changed for millions of
years)