AUSTRALIAN
Chenopod (saltbush) shrublands

The low chenopod shrublands are one of the most challenging habitats in Australia...

Other arid habitats that may be adjacent include: the arid Eucalypt woodlands found in gorges and along dry rivers, the spinifex grasslands found on rocky and sand dunes, and the Mulga shrublands. 

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Unlike many other arid areas in the world, in Australia the rainfall is not always received in annual cycles, but often follows longer term non-annual events. There is a boom-and-bust pattern that occurs over many years, and can be unpredictable, with little rain for many years, and then a huge amount at once with subsequent flooding.

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The Chenopodiaceae is an important and diverse group in the Australian arid regions because it contains widespread salt-tolerant groups such as Ptilotus, and the Samphires & Bluebushes. 

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Except for one species, the 'Samphires' are found only in Australia. They are small shrubs. Their leaves and stems have a jointed segmented appearance and are fleshy. These plants are found in and adapted to high salt situations, such as the edge of mangroves, mudflats, saline and dry lakes, and deserts.

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Chats are a type of honeyeater that has evolved to feed on the ground of arid areas, where they feed on the nectar on low flowers, but where they also catch a lot of invertebrates.

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