QCC Nature Quiz Results

These are the answers for our nature quiz. If you haven't tested your knowledge yet, do so by clicking here. 

 


QUESTION 1:

When it comes to plant and animal species, which of the following is true for Queensland?

  1. We have almost as many species of plant and animal as any other state or Territory, just behind WA.
  2. We have more plant and animal species than any other state or Territory, due to our size and the diversity of landscapes across our state.
  3. We’re somewhere in the middle when it comes to plant and animal species, but there’s plenty more being discovered all the time.

ANSWER:

B is correct. Queensland has more species of plant and animals than any other state in the country.  

Queensland is home to an abundance of plant and animal life. 

 

QUESTION 2:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommends conserving at least 30% of our planet by the year 2030 to halt biodiversity loss, and recommends achieving this through the declaration of protected areas like national parks.

Where does Queensland sit in comparison to other States and Territories when it comes to reaching that target?

  1. We’re the lowest in the country, with only 8.24% of the state declared as protected areas.
  2. We’re somewhere in the middle of all the states and territories- we have 12% protected.
  3. We’re leading the way in protecting nature, beating even Tasmania and getting really close to that IUCN target now.

ANSWER:

A is the answer. Queensland has the lowest amount of area designated ‘protected’ out of all the States and Territories. Protected areas in Queensland include national parks and private protected areas like special wildlife reserves and nature refuges. Together, they cover about 8.2% of Queensland’s total landmass, so we’re falling well short of the 30% target. There have been a number of national park declarations made recently, so some progress is being made.

 

QUESTION 3:

Which of these animals is found only in Queensland?

  1. Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo
  2. Mahogany Glider
  3. Bridled Nail-Tailed Wallaby
  4. All of the above
  5. None of the above

ANSWER:

D is the answer. These species are all endemic to (found only in)  Queensland.

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo, found only on the Atherton Tableland near Cairns

 

QUESTION 4:

When it comes to land-clearing, it’s no secret Queensland has a bad historic record. Which of the following statements is now true?

  1. Yes, we are now a national leader in protecting and conserving our native forests.
  2. Unfortunately not, we’re still national leader when it comes to bulldozing our forests, with rates actually increasing.
  3. Land clearing is now illegal in Queensland.

 

ANSWER: 

B is the answer. Queensland continues to record the highest rate of land clearing in the country, with more than 400,000 hectares destroyed in 2019-20, according to new government data. Read more here.

 

QUESTION 5:

Which of the following statements about Queensland is not true?

  1. Queensland is home to the world’s largest sand island. 
  2. Queensland is three and a half times the size of Texas.
  3. Queensland’s tip is the northernmost point of Australia, the Cape York Peninsula.
  4. Far North Queensland has been described by David Attenborough as his favourite place. 
  5. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system

ANSWER:

B is the answer. Queensland is actually two and a half times the size of Texas.

Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. 

 

QUESTION 7:

What is Queensland’s largest national park?

  1. Diamantina National Park.
  2. Lamington National Park
  3. Great Sandy National Park
  4. Daintree National Park
  5. Munga-Thirri National Park

ANSWER:

E is the answer. Munga-Thirri National Park , formerly known as the Simpson Desert National Park, measures 10,120 square kilometres making it Queensland’s largest national park.

 

Munga-Thirri National Park

QUESTION 8:

Queensland is already seeing the impacts of climate change, with increases in temperature and extreme weather events. Government figures predict future average temperatures to rise by how much by 2070 under a high emissions future?

  1. One degrees
  2. Two degrees
  3. 2.9 degrees
  4. 3.9 degrees

ANSWER:

D is the answer. Under a high emissions future, climate increases of almost 4 degrees celcius are expected by 2070. Source.

 

QUESTION 9 :

Residents of the Sunshine Coast recently campaigned successfully to get the State Government to stop its plans to do what in a local state forest (that’s a known habitat for a number of endangered species):

  1. Building a new bike track
  2. Building a conference centre
  3. Logging
  4. Selling part of the forest for a new housing estate

ANSWER:

  1. Sunshine coast residents campaigned for months to ask the government to cease its plans to log ‘Ferny Forest’, a known habitat for the endangered glossy black cockatoo and greater glider. In December, the government announced it had abandoned the plan. 

 

QUESTION 10:

North Queensland is home to two species of crocodile, the large Saltwater and the smaller Freshwater. Which of the following statements about crocodiles is true?

  1. Crocodiles communicate under the water using grunts and hand gestures.
  2. Crocodiles live in packs and have similar hierarchical systems to dogs, with an alpha male in charge.
  3. Crocodiles are one of the only animals thought to have survived the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.
  4. Crocodiles sharpen their teeth on underwater rocks. 
  5. Crocodiles show genuine emotion, including tears when separated from their children.

ANSWER:

C is the answer. Scientists believe that crocodiles survived the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, along with birds.  Source.