Editing Springbrook National Park (section)

==Environment==

===Landforms===
The southern cliffs in Springbrook and [[Lamington National Park]] are part of the remnants of the northern rim of the huge, ancient [[Tweed Volcano]]. The Springbrook National Park comprises four reserves on and around the plateau: Springbrook Plateau section along the crest of the plateau; Mount Cougal section to the east; and Natural Bridge and Numinbah sections to the west. The cliffs are resistant, volcanic based [[rhyolite]].<ref name="naq">{{cite book |title=Natural Areas of Queensland |last=Shilton |first=Peter |year=2005 |publisher=Goldpress |location=Mount Gravatt, Queensland |isbn=0-9758275-0-2 |pages=186–190}}</ref> Rock overhangs are common and massive rock falls sometimes dislodge house-sized rocks.<ref name="naq"/>

The national park preserves rainforest and eucalypt forests in the cliff-lined headwaters of rivers and creeks flowing to the Gold Coast, in particular, the Nerang River on the plateau's west and Little Nerang River to the east, both of which have eroded less resistant rock.<ref name="naq"/> Where the waterways flow over the escarpment, 16 waterfalls have developed.<ref name="naq"/>

===Flora===
[[File:Springbrook beetle on leaf 1.jpg|thumb|left|Beetle on a leaf near Goomoolahra Falls]]
The flora is highly diverse due to the high rainfall and variety of volcanic soil types. [[Subtropical rainforest]] dominated by [[Argyrodendron actinophyllum|black]] and [[Argyrodendron trifoliolatum|white booyong]] ''[[Argyrodendron]]'' spp. is prominent on [[basaltic]] soils while warm [[temperate rainforest]] that is dominated by [[Ceratopetalum apetalum|coachwood]], occurs on the poorer [[rhyolitic]] soils. [[Lophostemon confertus|Giant brush box]] are found to the east of the plateau and [[Eucalyptus grandis|flooded gums]] may also be found in areas of basalt soils.<ref name="naq"/> One small stand of cool temperate rainforest, dominated by [[Nothofagus moorei|Antarctic beech]], is located at the [[Numinbah Nature Reserve|Best of All Lookout]] just over the border in New South Wales. Some of the beech trees are 3,000 years old.<ref name="xqnp"/> Remarkably the [[Eucryphia jinksii|Springbrook leatherwood]], a tree which grows to 25&nbsp;m in height and is found only in warm temperate rainforest on Springbrook, was not discovered until 1993, by local botanist David Jinks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Forbes |first1=Tom |title=The living fossil discovery overshadowed by the 'iconic' Wollemi Pine |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-22/living-fossil-discovery-overshadowed-by-the-famous-wollemi-pine/10615860 |access-date=22 December 2018 |work=ABC News |date=22 December 2018 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Other more fire-prone areas support open forests dominated by [[Eucalyptus campanulata|New England blackbutt]] and [[Eucalyptus oreades|Blue Mountains ash]].<ref name="naq"/> [[Xanthorrhoea|Grasstrees]] are commonly seen in the park.<ref name="naq"/> Rock outcrops support areas of montane heath or shrubland dominated by species such as ''Leptospermum variable'', ''[[Banksia spinulosa]]'' and ''[[Prostanthera phylicifolia]]''. These heath areas are best appreciated in spring when most of the wildflowers bloom.

===Fauna===
[[File:Litoria pearsoniana 1.JPG|thumb|right|Pearson's tree frog]]
The park is a good location for the sighting of nocturnal animals such as the [[mountain brushtail possum]], the [[ringtail possum]], and the [[sugar glider]].<ref name="epa1">{{cite web |url=http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/culture.html |title=Springbrook National Park — Nature, culture and history |access-date=2009-07-12 |date=2009-04-29 |publisher=The State of Queensland |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324204205/http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/culture.html |archive-date=24 March 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Due to [[land clearing in Australia|land clearing]] in the hinterland district, Springbrook National Park has become a haven for birds.<ref name="discover">{{cite book |title=Discover Australia's National Parks |author=Hema Maps |year=1997 |publisher=[[Random House]] Australia |location=[[Milsons Point, New South Wales]] |isbn=1-875992-47-2 |pages=200}}</ref> In total the park provides habitat for more than a hundred different bird species,<ref name="xqnp"/> including the [[yellow-tailed black cockatoo]], [[rufous fantail]], [[satin bowerbird]], [[whipbird]], and the [[Albert's lyrebird]].<ref name="discover"/>

Long-finned eels are commonly found in the pools of the plateau and there are numerous reptiles such as the [[land mullet]] which is the world's largest species of [[skink]], [[lace monitor]], and amphibious species like the orange-eyed treefrog, and [[great barred frog]].<ref name="epa1"/> The rare [[Richmond birdwing butterfly]], blue spiny crayfish, and glow-worms, the larvae of the [[Arachnocampa flava|fungus fly]], are found in the park. [[Red-necked pademelon]]s and [[koala]]s can also be seen.