Location

The Daintree Rainforest Observatory is located at 40m (~130ft) elevation in lowland tropical rainforest at Cape Tribulation, 140 kilometres (~87 miles) north of Cairns in Queensland Australia (16° 06’ 14.8” S, 145° 26’ 58.0” E). The site is adjacent to the Daintree National Park. The Daintree rainforest has the highest biodiversity anywhere in Australia and has a unique Gondwanan flora.

In 1988 the rainforests among which the crane is situated were declared the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. This is one of the few areas in the world where the reef meets the rainforest, and the only place where two World Heritage Areas sit side by side. The site is flanked to the west by coastal ranges rising to more than 1400m (~4600ft) and by the Coral Sea to the east.

Maps

Location

Satellite View

Climate

Annual average rainfall is approximately 3500mm (~137in) and is strongly seasonal with 70% falling during the wet season which runs from December to April. Summers are often hot and humid with the mean daily temperature in January around 28°C / 82°F. However, temperatures up to 36°C / 97°F are not unusual during the summer months. Winters are mild and dry with the mean daily temperature in July around 22°C / 72°F.

Northern Australia is subject to tropical cyclones in the wet season and their occurrence is unpredictable. The impact of these severe tropical storm systems are regarded as a natural phenomenon and a key evolutionary factor in shaping the ecology of Queensland’s tropical lowland rainforests.

History

The area in which this site is located was selectively logged in the late 1950s and early 1960s. There are however standing specimens of Toona ciliata (Red Cedar) in the area, which suggests that this logging was probably not intensive.

Extreme disturbance due to storm damage (tropical cyclones) is common in the area on a cycle of approximately 50 years. On the 11th of February 1999, tropical cyclone Rona (category 3) passed over the Cape Tribulation area causing widespread major damage. Wind gusts of up to 170km/hr (~105mph), local flooding and storm surges of up to 1.4m (~4ft 7in) were recorded in the area. The canopy crane site was severely damaged, as approximately 10% of the trees were felled and 50% of the trees suffered complete crown loss on the research plot. The past 10 years has shown profound recovery of the forest.

Flora

The vegetation at the Daintree Rainforest Observatory is complex mesophyll vine forest. There are a large range of botanical structural features represented including buttress and spur roots, a tall but irregular canopy with indistinct stratification of sub-canopy (saplings/seedlings/ground cover layers) and irregular stem diameters. There are a variety of robust woody lianas, vascular epiphytes, palms (both feather and fan), zingibers and aroids prominent on the site. The canopy is irregular, varying from 25 to 40 metres (82 to 131 feet), with dominant canopy trees belonging to the Proteaceae, Meliaceae, Sapindaceae, Apocynaceae, Lauraceae and Myrtaceae families.

Fauna

The surrounding forests support around eight hundred species of vertebrates, a number of which are endemic. Mammals observed on the site include Bennett’s tree-kangaroo, prehensile-tailed rat, long-tailed pygmy possum, striped possum, giant white-tailed rat, Cape York and bush rats, fawn-footed Melomys, long-nosed bandicoot and a variety of bats. A wide range of birds including several dove species, five species of honeyeaters, Victoria’s riflebird, orange-footed scrubfowl, spotted catbirds, lesser sooty owls, ospreys, grey and brown goshawks and parrots have been recorded at the site. Also present on site are several frog species and reptiles including Boyd’s forest dragon, eastern water dragon, carpet and amethystine pythons and two colubrid snakes.