Granite outcrops of Western Australia

Granite outcrops of Western Australia are inselbergs and monoliths made from granite that are found across much of Western Australia. Rising abruptly from the surrounding landscape they create a variety of microhabitats for plants, and provide seasonal resources and refuge for a range of animals. These areas thus have rich biodiversity and many endemic species. They are significant locations that tie in with the Aboriginal and European cultural heritage of Western Australia.

A number of animals are restricted to granite outcrops, including four species of reptile, the mygalomorph spider "Teyl luculentus", and the larvae of the chironomid fly "Archaeochlus". They are also an important habitat of rock-wallabies such as the Black-flanked Rock-wallaby, and "Ctenophorus ornatus", the Ornate crevice-dragon.

Rock pools, also known as gnammascite journal|last=Main|first=Barbara|date=September 1, 1997|title=Granite outcrops: A collective ecosystem|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia |issue=80|pages=113-122|url=http://www.ecu.edu.au/pa/rswa/content/work/journals/PDF/80(3)/80(3)yorkmain.pdf|accessdate=29 September, 2008] , often form on the granite after winter rains and provide freshwater for at least 230 aquatic invertebrates, of which at least 50 are endemic to these pools. [cite journal|title=Small signs of a salty past|last=Halse|first=Stuart|journal=ECOS|issue=105|date=October 2000|publisher=CSIRO|url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=EC105p15.pdf|accessdate=2007-01-07] The variable rock surfaces and soil types create niches for many plants. At least 1300 plant species occur on granite outcrops in Western Australia, with many endemics.

Wheatbelt region of Western Australia

* Baladgie Rock
* Beringbooding Rock
* Bruces's Rock
* Corrigin Rock
* Eaglestone Hill
* Elachbutting Rock
* Gorge Rock coord|32|27|S|118|00|E
* Hunts soak
* Jilakin Rock coord|32|40|S|118|19|E
* King Rock
* Kokerbin Rock also known as Kokerbin Hill coord|31|53|S|117|42|E
** Wave Wall, Dog Rock, Devil’s Marbles.
* Mount Walker coord|32|01|S|118|45|E
** nderson Reserve, Twine Reserve and Roe Dam
* Sandford Rocks
* The Humps coord|32|19|S|118|57|E
* Wave Rock
** Wave Rock, a granite cliff, is 15 metres high & 110 metres long.
* Westonia Common
** Boodalim Soak

ee also

* Geography of Western Australia
* List of rocks in Western Australia‎

References

# Bayly, I.A.E. "Rock of ages : human use and natural history of Australian granites" Nedlands, W.A.: Tuart House, 1999.ISBN 1-876268-29-8
# "Granite Outcrops Symposium, September 14-15, 1996".p.87-237.Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia,vol.80, pt.3 (September 1997)

Further reading

* Hopper, S.D., Brown, A.P. and Marchant, N.G. (1997) Plants of Western Australian granite outcrops, "Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia", vo.80:141-158
* Withers, P.C. and Edward D.H. (1997) Terrestrial fauna of granite outcrops in Western Australia, "Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia", vol.80:159-166

External links

* [http://www.wheatbelttourism.com/en/Attractions/Granite+Outcrops.htm Wheatbelt Outcrops]
* [http://westonia.wa.gov.au/places_to_visit/granite_outcrops.html Elachbutting Rock]
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