How do kangaroos help the environment?

Answer 1

Kangaroos have many unique adaptations that enable them to live in their habitat, whether that be grasslands, bushland or semi-arid areas. There are some different adaptations between the species: for example, rock wallabies are better suited to rocky, hilly terrain larger their larger cousins, the Red kangaroo and two species of Grey kangaroo. Tree kangaroos have other adaptations again, such as long, partially prehensile tails and stout hind legs that enable them to leap between tree branches. In general, there are some adaptations common to most or all species of kangaroos:

• In many species, the mother kangaroo spends most of her adult life pregnant, but in drought times, she has the ability to indefinitely "freeze" the development of the young embryo until food sources are replenished.
• The mother can also produce two different types of milk to suit the needs of two different aged joeys. She might have a more mature joey that spends less time in the pouch, while a very young embryo has attached itself to a teat. Each joey has different milk requirements - which the mother is able to supply.
• Kangaroos are able to travel long distances at a high speed, expending very little energy. They are very energy-efficient, and this is linked directly to the physical action of bringing their hind legs up with each hop. Every hop literally refills the lungs.
• Kangaroos have large, strong tendons in their hind legs which act as "springs". The springing motion requires less energy than running does, so kangaroos are able to bound for longer distances than other mammals with the standard four legs can run. They have strong back legs and elongated hind feet for bounding.
• Kangaroos are strong swimmers. Many parts of Australia are subject to seasonal flooding rains, but the kangaroo's body shape does not prohibit it from swimming. In fact, kangaroos have been observed swimming to offshore islands off the southern coast. This is the only time the kangaroo's hind legs move independently of each other.
• Kangaroos are more active in the cooler hours of the early morning and the late afternoon. During the heat of the day they are more sedentary, lying around quietly and chewing their cud.
• The teeth of the kangaroo are continuously being worn down by the tough grasses they eat. Instead of continuously growing, once a kangaroo's front teeth are worn down completely, they fall out, and the back teeth move forwards to take the place of the worn front teeth. Kangaroos have four such pairs of chewing teeth.
• Kangaroos have the ability to hear very well: kangaroos can twitch their ears independently around to determine the direction of specific sounds, much as a cat does
• They have long, strong tails for balancing.
• In hot weather, kangaroos use saliva to cool down, licking their forearms where there is little muscle tissue and blood veins run close to the surface. When the saliva evaporates from the fur, it cools down the kangaroo.

Answer 2

Kangaroos benefit their ecosystem in several ways.

• A kangaroo has long, strong feet and these, together with the kangaroo's long tail, help regenerate native grasses by helping to push seeds into the soil.
• Kangaroo urine and faeces helps to naturally fertilise the soil. Unlike stock animals such as cattle and sheep, their waste is not high in nitrogen, and therefore does not pollute the soil and water.
• Kangaroos do not produce methane like stock animals do.
• Although kangaroos do drink water regualrly, they do not need the same amounts as livestock need. They are perfectly suited to the limitations of their environment. Similarly, tey do not graze native grasses right to the roots, as sheep do.

Answer 3

The kangaroo rat, a placental mammal of North America, lives in the desert. (It should not be confused with Australia's rat-kangaroos). Very few animals can live in the arid regions inhabited by this rat, and it fills an important niche by helping to spread seeds of plants as it forages and collects food.