Desert Ecology Plot Network: Vegetation Plot-data, Simpson Desert, Western Queensland, 1993-2018

Abstract: This vegetation data package comprises structure and floristic data for selected points across grids described in related data packages collected between 1993 and 2018. Vegetation attributes were recorded in an area occupying 2.5 m radius around six traps on each trapping grid and have been aggregated to grid level data. Percentage cover of all plant species, flowering index and seeding index (from 0-5, where 0 is no flowering or seeding and 5 is maximal flowering/seeding) were recorded and are presented here as plot averages which represent the mean amount of flowering or seeding per species. The network program uses a core of 12 sites which are sampled every April-May. The trapping survey aims to quantitatively track long-term shifts in biodiversity and ecological processes in relation to key drivers, including unpredictable rainfall and droughts, fire, feral predators and grazing. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Desert Ecology's full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c13171d944fe. Sampling method: The network program uses a core of 12 sites which are spaced at least 15 km apart, each comprising two 1-ha trapping grids, or plots which are spaced between 0.5-2 km apart. The project involved sampling vegetation structure and plant species composition on the live-trapping grids (used for mammal and reptile sampling) in the Simpson Desert since 1990. Vegetation attributes (plant species occurrence and cover estimates) are recorded in a 2.5 m radius around six pitfall traps on each vertebrate trapping grid (one trap/line, selected at random - see Figure 6.5). The same traps on each grid are re-surveyed each trip; in general, these surveys are conducted around two traps each on the swale, side and crest of the dune. The core of 12 sites are sampled every April-May. Other elements of the plot network’s full program share the sampling structure and core sites/plot/grid configuration of the study design. Study extent: There are often changes to the scientific names due to revisions of their taxonomy. These data have chosen to maintain the use of older taxonomies to ensure consistency with previous data in the time series. Please note the following taxonomic revisions (the former name is the name used in these data): [1] Acacia hookeri -> Acacia ericifolia; [2] Adriana hookeri -> Adriana tomentosa var. hookeri; [3] Helipterum molle -> Leucochrysum molle; [4] Helipterum floribundum -> Rhodanthe floribunda; [5] Helipterum moschatum -> Rhodanthe moschata; [6] Mukia maderaspatana -> Cucumis althaeoides; [7] Myriocephalus stuartii -> Polycalymma stuartii; [8] Othonna gregorii -> Senecio gregorii; [9] Psoralea eriantha -> Cullen patens; [10] Ptilotus atriplicifolius -> Ptilotus sessilifolius; [11] Ptilotus exaltatus -> Ptilotus nobilis subsp. nobilis; [12] Rulingia loxophylla -> Androcalva loxophylla; [13] Salsola kali -> Salsola australis; [14] Trianthema pilosa -> Trianthema pilosum Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of, and funded through the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) a facility within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.
Type
collection
Title
Desert Ecology Plot Network: Vegetation Plot-data, Simpson Desert, Western Queensland, 1993-2018
Alternate Title
Desert Ecology Research Group Plot Network: Vegetation, 1993+
Collection Type
Dataset
Access Privileges
Long Term Ecological Research Network
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
10.25911/5c355ce264ffe
Metadata Language
English
Data Language
English
Brief Description
This vegetation data package comprises structure and floristic data for selected points across grids described in related data packages collected between 1993 and 2018.
Full Description
Abstract: This vegetation data package comprises structure and floristic data for selected points across grids described in related data packages collected between 1993 and 2018. Vegetation attributes were recorded in an area occupying 2.5 m radius around six traps on each trapping grid and have been aggregated to grid level data. Percentage cover of all plant species, flowering index and seeding index (from 0-5, where 0 is no flowering or seeding and 5 is maximal flowering/seeding) were recorded and are presented here as plot averages which represent the mean amount of flowering or seeding per species. The network program uses a core of 12 sites which are sampled every April-May. The trapping survey aims to quantitatively track long-term shifts in biodiversity and ecological processes in relation to key drivers, including unpredictable rainfall and droughts, fire, feral predators and grazing. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Desert Ecology's full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c13171d944fe. Sampling method: The network program uses a core of 12 sites which are spaced at least 15 km apart, each comprising two 1-ha trapping grids, or plots which are spaced between 0.5-2 km apart. The project involved sampling vegetation structure and plant species composition on the live-trapping grids (used for mammal and reptile sampling) in the Simpson Desert since 1990. Vegetation attributes (plant species occurrence and cover estimates) are recorded in a 2.5 m radius around six pitfall traps on each vertebrate trapping grid (one trap/line, selected at random - see Figure 6.5). The same traps on each grid are re-surveyed each trip; in general, these surveys are conducted around two traps each on the swale, side and crest of the dune. The core of 12 sites are sampled every April-May. Other elements of the plot network’s full program share the sampling structure and core sites/plot/grid configuration of the study design. Study extent: There are often changes to the scientific names due to revisions of their taxonomy. These data have chosen to maintain the use of older taxonomies to ensure consistency with previous data in the time series. Please note the following taxonomic revisions (the former name is the name used in these data): [1] Acacia hookeri -> Acacia ericifolia; [2] Adriana hookeri -> Adriana tomentosa var. hookeri; [3] Helipterum molle -> Leucochrysum molle; [4] Helipterum floribundum -> Rhodanthe floribunda; [5] Helipterum moschatum -> Rhodanthe moschata; [6] Mukia maderaspatana -> Cucumis althaeoides; [7] Myriocephalus stuartii -> Polycalymma stuartii; [8] Othonna gregorii -> Senecio gregorii; [9] Psoralea eriantha -> Cullen patens; [10] Ptilotus atriplicifolius -> Ptilotus sessilifolius; [11] Ptilotus exaltatus -> Ptilotus nobilis subsp. nobilis; [12] Rulingia loxophylla -> Androcalva loxophylla; [13] Salsola kali -> Salsola australis; [14] Trianthema pilosa -> Trianthema pilosum Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of, and funded through the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) a facility within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.
Methods
Plot set-up
1
pitfall traps capped with metal lids, fence droppers marking each trap
PVC stormwater pipe, 160 mm in diameter and 600 mm deep drift fence of aluminium wire mesh (flyscreen) 30 cm x 2.5 m
The network program uses a core of 12 sites which are spaced at least 15 km apart, each comprising two 1-ha trapping grids, or plots which are spaced between 0.5-2 km apart. Vegetation attributes (plant species occurrence and cover estimates) are recorded in a 2.5 m radius around six pitfall traps on each vertebrate trapping grid.
Data collection
2
None
Percentage cover of all species, flowering index and seeding index (from 0-5, where 0 is no flowering or seeding and 5 is maximal flowering /seeding) are recorded. This index represents the total amount of flowering or seeding per species. For example, a score of 5 is awarded if all plants are flowering or seeding at their greatest extent. Sampling intervals are usually in April-May and samples are taken at the same time as the animal trapping. Data are recorded on paper field sheets.
Trip Report
3
None
Data are entered electronically into an Excel spreadsheet using a customised template that allows for data validation. Data are rechecked for errors in transcribing and for consistency in species names and outlier values. Once verified, data sheets are imported into a database for ease of queries and long-term archive (MS Access). After every field trip, a ‘trip report’ is written to document the activities, and events in the survey. The trip reports can be found at http://www.desertecology.edu.au/
File Descriptions
derg_vegetation_1993+_p903t1208.csv
avg_of_cover
definitionMean percentage cover across grid, calculated from 6 surveys around traps
ratio number typereal
ratio standard unitnumber
avg_of_fl
definitionMean flowering across grid, calculated from 6 surveys around traps (scored on a scale from 0 (none) to 5 (abundant))
ratio number typereal
ratio standard unitnumber
avg_of_seed
definitionMean seeding across grid, calculated from 6 surveys around traps (scored on a scale from 0 (none) to 5 (abundant))
ratio number typereal
ratio standard unitnumber
dead_alive
definitionPlant dead or alive
nominal enumeration codes
AlivePlant is alive
DeadPlant is dead
month_year
date time formatMmm.YY
definitionMonth and year of survey identifier
number of records14356
site_grid
definitionSite and trapping grid code
nominal text definitionCharacter
site_name
definitionName of site
nominal text definitionCharacter
species
definitionScientific name and comments
nominal text definitionCharacter
trip_no
definitionArbitary trip identifer
ordinal text definitionCharacter
year
date time formatYYYY
definitionYear of survey
Contact Email
glenda.wardle@sydney.edu.au; chris.dickman@sydney.edu.au; aaron.greenvile@sydney.edu.au; bobby.tamayo@sydney.edu.au
Contact Address
Heydon-Laurence Building A08 University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, 2006 Australia
Contact Phone Number
+61 2 9351 7113; +61 2 9351 2318; +61 2 9351 8577; +61 425 382 205; +61 420 526 801
Principal Investigator
Glenda Wardle
Supervisors
Chris Dickman
Collaborators
Aaron Greenville; Bobby Tamayo
Fields of Research
0501 - Ecological Applications; 0602 - Ecology
Keywords
GCMD:Earth Science > Biosphere > Vegetation; LTERN Monitoring Theme:Vegetation structure; LTERN Monitoring Theme:Plant species composition; LTERN Monitoring Theme:Plant species abundance; Desert Ecology Research Group; Vegetation
Type of Research Activity
Strategic basic research
Date Coverage
2018
1993
Geospatial Location
Simpson Desert, Western Queensland, Australia
text
northlimit = -23.20549; southlimit = -23.99417; westlimit = 137.86511; eastLimit = 138.6059
iso19139dcmiBox
Date of data creation
2018-10-22
Year of data publication
2018
Creator(s) for Citation
Wardle
Glenda
Dickman
Chris
Greenville
Aaron
Tamayo
Bobby
Publisher for Citation
Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN), ANU Data Commons, The Australian National University
Related Websites
ANU Open Research, Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) collection.
https://hdl.handle.net/1885/130861
Other Related Identifiers
MorphoId:ltern6.195; PackageId:903
Access Rights Type
Open
Rights held in and over the data
Creative Commons Licence (CC BY- Attribution) is assigned to this data. Details of the licence can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Licence Type
CC-BY - Attribution (Version 4)
Licence
LTERN Deed: 24 and 25 Date of execution: 2015-05-28
Retention Period
Indefinitely
Data Management Plan
No
Status: Published
Published to:
  • Australian National University
  • Australian National Data Service
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