Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network: Herpetofaunal Search Data, Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay Territory, 2003-2010

Abstract: This herpetofaunal search data package for the Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network comprises herpetofaunal survey data recorded along permanent 100 m transects. Up until December 2010, pitfall traps were used to capture small reptiles and frogs; from 2011, sites were surveyed for reptiles and frogs using artificial substrates (tiles, tins, and wooden sleepers), and by performing time-controlled active searches. The plot network was established in 2002 in Booderee National Park in the Jervis Bay Territory, south-eastern Australia. The study location is a floristically diverse area in which fire history has been well-documented over several decades. The plot network’s objectives involve quantifying the inter-relationships between natural disturbance and/or management intervention (including weed and feral animal control and prescribed burning) and the reciprocal changes in vegetation condition and biodiversity response. This particular study forms part of the collection of data packages from the Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c3c070a5ee94 Sampling method: Since March 2007, surveying has taken place at a total of 130 sites. These include the original 110 permanent sites in the study at Booderee National Park, as first delineated in 2002, using two stratifying variables: (1) broad vegetation type (heathland, forest, woodland, etc.); and (2) past fire history – classified into four classes of time since the last fire (0-10 years, 11-20 years, 21-30 years and >30 years). Also included since March 2007 are 20 extra sites, set up as part of the “Bitou experiment”. Study extent: There is a small number of bycatch (non-herpetofaunal species) records in the survey data. In particular, for those pertaining to the Funnel-web Spider, the scientific name of Atrax robustus is used, although it is possible individuals are Illawarra wisharti (a species of Funnel-web described in 2010) or an as yet undescribed species (probably of genus Hadronyche). Other bycatch records occurring in the data include observations for animals with the following common names: Bush Rat, Crab, Eastern Pygmy Possum, Long-nosed Bandicoot, and Short-beaked Echidna. Surveys commenced in 2003, and up until December 2010, pitfall traps were used to capture small reptiles and frogs. From 2005, each site was trapped at least annually in December (data collection in previous years did not occur according to this pattern). Six pitfalls were placed each 20 m along a 100 m transect. Pitfalls were opened for three consecutive nights. From 2011, spring and summer surveys were conducted, and sites were surveyed for reptiles and frogs using artificial substrates, supplemented by time-controlled active searches every 1–2 years. With the artificial substrates, two sheets of corrugated iron, four roof tiles and four ‘half length’ railway sleepers were placed at the 20 m and 80 m points of the transect. Project funding: Up until 2012 this project was funded by an ARC Linkage Grant and industry partners Parks Australia and the Department of Defence. 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
Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network: Herpetofaunal Search Data, Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay Territory, 2003-2010
Alternate Title
Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network: Herpetofaunal Search Data, 2003-2010
Collection Type
Dataset
Access Privileges
Long Term Ecological Research Network
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
10.25911/5c41483026010
Metadata Language
English
Data Language
English
Brief Description
This herpetofaunal search data package for the Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network comprises herpetofaunal survey data recorded along permanent 100 m transects between 2003 and 2010. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c3c070a5ee94
Full Description
Abstract: This herpetofaunal search data package for the Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network comprises herpetofaunal survey data recorded along permanent 100 m transects. Up until December 2010, pitfall traps were used to capture small reptiles and frogs; from 2011, sites were surveyed for reptiles and frogs using artificial substrates (tiles, tins, and wooden sleepers), and by performing time-controlled active searches. The plot network was established in 2002 in Booderee National Park in the Jervis Bay Territory, south-eastern Australia. The study location is a floristically diverse area in which fire history has been well-documented over several decades. The plot network’s objectives involve quantifying the inter-relationships between natural disturbance and/or management intervention (including weed and feral animal control and prescribed burning) and the reciprocal changes in vegetation condition and biodiversity response. This particular study forms part of the collection of data packages from the Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c3c070a5ee94 Sampling method: Since March 2007, surveying has taken place at a total of 130 sites. These include the original 110 permanent sites in the study at Booderee National Park, as first delineated in 2002, using two stratifying variables: (1) broad vegetation type (heathland, forest, woodland, etc.); and (2) past fire history – classified into four classes of time since the last fire (0-10 years, 11-20 years, 21-30 years and >30 years). Also included since March 2007 are 20 extra sites, set up as part of the “Bitou experiment”. Study extent: There is a small number of bycatch (non-herpetofaunal species) records in the survey data. In particular, for those pertaining to the Funnel-web Spider, the scientific name of Atrax robustus is used, although it is possible individuals are Illawarra wisharti (a species of Funnel-web described in 2010) or an as yet undescribed species (probably of genus Hadronyche). Other bycatch records occurring in the data include observations for animals with the following common names: Bush Rat, Crab, Eastern Pygmy Possum, Long-nosed Bandicoot, and Short-beaked Echidna. Surveys commenced in 2003, and up until December 2010, pitfall traps were used to capture small reptiles and frogs. From 2005, each site was trapped at least annually in December (data collection in previous years did not occur according to this pattern). Six pitfalls were placed each 20 m along a 100 m transect. Pitfalls were opened for three consecutive nights. From 2011, spring and summer surveys were conducted, and sites were surveyed for reptiles and frogs using artificial substrates, supplemented by time-controlled active searches every 1–2 years. With the artificial substrates, two sheets of corrugated iron, four roof tiles and four ‘half length’ railway sleepers were placed at the 20 m and 80 m points of the transect. Project funding: Up until 2012 this project was funded by an ARC Linkage Grant and industry partners Parks Australia and the Department of Defence. 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 setup
1
Originally, in 2002, 110 permanent sites were identified for the study at Booderee National Park using two stratifying variables: (1) broad vegetation type (heathland, forest, woodland, etc.); and (2) past fire history – classified into four classes of time since the last fire (0-10 years, 11-20 years, 21-30 years and >30 years).
When the project started in 2003, it was based on the original number of sites, but in March 2007 the number of sites increased to 130, as a result of including 20 new sites set up as part of the “Bitou experiment”.
Features of the experimental design are: stratified random site selection, replication of classes, replication proportional to area, sampling of the plots both before and after unplanned wildfire, the occurrence of unburned ‘control’ sites and treatment (burned) sites, and continued surveys over time. Commencing at the 0 m point a steel post has been placed at 20 m intervals along a 100 m long transect.
Pitfall traps surveys
2
Traps (buckets, small and large cages, elliotts, and pits)
Until December 2010, pitfall traps were used to capture small reptiles and frogs. Six pitfalls were located at intervals of 20 m along a 100 m transect, and they were opened on three consecutive nights for each survey conducted.
Substrate and active search surveys
3
Substrates (corrugated iron, roof tiles and half-length railway sleepers)
From 2011, sites were surveyed for reptiles and frogs using artificial substrates (tiles, tins, and wooden sleepers). Two sheets of corrugated iron, four roof tiles and four ‘half-length’ railway sleepers were placed at the 20 m and 80 m points of a transect. The transects were checked each year in winter/spring and again in summer. A time-controlled active search along the permanent 100 m-long transect occurred every one to two years.
File Descriptions
ljbb_herp_abundance_data_2012+_p965t1228.csv
a_herp_data_table_comments
definitionComments intended to pertain to the survey data
nominal text definitionCharacter
a_herp_visit_table_comments
definitionComments intended to pertain to the plot or the site
nominal text definitionCharacter
abundance
definitionNumber of animals recorded
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
cloud
definition“Cloud” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
0clear
1scattered
2broken
3overcast
NAnot measured
common_name
definitionCommon name of species recorded
nominal text definitionCharacter
cover
definitionType of substrate
nominal text definitionCharacter
date
date time formatYYYY-MM-DD
definitionSurvey visit date
descriptionSurvey data and visit information for Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Herpetofaunal Search, 2012+
external_grass_cover
definition“Grass cover surrounding survey point” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
0none
1thin
2medium
3thick
NAnot measured
gravid
definitionIf female, is she obviously pregnant?
nominal enumeration codes
NAunknown, or not applicable
Yesgravid
id
definitionAutomatically generated record number
nominal text definitionCharacter
number of records13587
plot_distance
definitionSurvey point on transect
nominal enumeration codes
2020m point
8080m point
INCIncidental record
scientific_name
definitionScientific name of species recorded; blank data represents a nil capture
nominal text definitionCharacter
season
definitionSeason of survey
nominal enumeration codes
AAutumn (Mar,Apr,May)
SSpring (Sep,Oct,Nov)
SmSummer (Dec,Jan,Feb)
WWinter (Jun,Jul,Aug)
site_code
definitionSite code, which identifies the site and encodes its vegetation type
nominal text definitionCharacter
soil_moisture
definition“Soil moisture” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
0dry
1some moisture
2somewhat wet
3wet
NAnot measured
start_time
date time formathh:mm
definitionStart time of survey
survey_day
definitionThere may be a single survey, or multiple surveys, at a given site; this number identifies which survey (1st, 2nd, etc.) it is. A few records have a value of zero, which means the survey day was not recorded (TBC).
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
temperature
definition“Temperature” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
1cold
2cool
3mild
4warm
NAnot measured
visit_code
definitionSite visit code, which is the site (minus its "site_" prefix) prefixed by the year and season values, and suffixed by the survey_day number and plot_distance identifier. For example, site="site_2-2", surveyed on 12 December 2012 equal to an incidental record on the second survey day, has a visit_code="2012-Sm-2-2-2-INC".
nominal text definitionCharacter
wind
definition“Wind” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
0calm
1light
2moderate
3windy
NAnot measured
year
date time formatYYYY
definitionYear of survey; ordinarily a calendar year between 2012 and 2017, but the special value of “1314” is used for survey dates occurring during summer 2013–2014; note also that, except for the special value of “1314”, for summer data the year will always be the year corresponding to the December of the summer in which the data capture occurs, even if some or all of the summer data capture ends up occurring in the following January or February; if the true year of data capture for an individual record is wanted use the year value from the "date" column.
ljbb_herp_abundance_data_2011+_p965t1226.csv
a_herp_data_table_comments
definitionComments intended to pertain to the survey data
nominal text definitionCharacter
a_herp_visit_table_comments
definitionComments intended to pertain to the plot or the site
nominal text definitionCharacter
abundance
definitionNumber of animals recorded
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
cloud
definition“Cloud” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
0clear
1scattered
2broken
3overcast
NAnot measured
common_name
definitionCommon name of species recorded
nominal text definitionCharacter
cover
definitionType of substrate
nominal text definitionCharacter
date
date time formatYYYY-MM-DD
definitionSurvey visit date
descriptionSurvey data and visit information for Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Herpetofaunal Search, 2011+
external_grass_cover
definition“Grass cover surrounding survey point” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
0none
1thin
2medium
3thick
NAnot measured
gravid
definitionIf female, is she obviously pregnant?
nominal enumeration codes
NAunknown, or not applicable
Yesgravid
id
definitionAutomatically generated record number
nominal text definitionCharacter
number of records15629
plot_distance
definitionSurvey point on transect
nominal enumeration codes
2020m point
8080m point
INCincidental record
scientific_name
definitionScientific name of species recorded; blank data represents a nil capture
nominal text definitionCharacter
season
definitionSeason of survey
nominal enumeration codes
AAutumn (Mar, Apr, May)
SSpring (Sep, Oct, Nov)
SmSummer (Dec, Jan, Feb)
WWinter (Jun, Jul, Aug)
site_code
definitionSite code, which identifies the site and encodes its vegetation type
nominal text definitionCharacter
soil_moisture
definition“Soil moisture” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
0dry
1some moisture
2somewhat wet
3wet
NAnot measured
start_time
date time formathh:mm
definitionStart time of survey
survey_day
definitionThere may be a single survey, or multiple surveys, at a given site; this number identifies which survey (1st, 2nd, etc.) it is. A few records have a value of zero, which means the survey day was not recorded (TBC).
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
temperature
definition“Temperature” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
1cold
2cool
3mild
4warm
NAnot measured
visit_code
definitionSite visit code, which is the site (minus its "site_" prefix) prefixed by the year and season values, and suffixed by the survey_day number and plot_distance identifier. For example, site="site_10-38", surveyed on 11 August 2011 equal to the first survey day and at the 20m point on the transect, has a visit_code="2011-W-10-38-1-20".
nominal text definitionCharacter
wind
definition“Wind” from look-up list (subjective measure); if NA check comments for possible explanation
ordinal enumeration codes
0calm
1light
2moderate
3windy
NAnot measured
year
date time formatYYYY
definitionYear of survey; ordinarily a calendar year between 2011 and 2017, but the special value of “1314” is used for survey dates occurring during summer 2013–2014; note also that, except for the special value of “1314”, for summer data the year will always be the year corresponding to the December of the summer in which the data capture occurs, even if some or all of the summer data capture ends up occurring in the following January or February; if the true year of data capture for an individual record is wanted use the year value from the "date" column.
ljbb_herp_pitfall_data_2003-2010_p965t1227.csv
abundance
definitionCount of number of animals in the trap
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
age_cohort
definitionCategorisation of observed individual(s) as one of “Adult”, “Juvenile”, or “Subadult”; uncategorised individuals have a blank value
nominal text definitionCharacter
date
date time formatYYYY-MM-DD
definitionSurvey visit date
descriptionSurvey data for Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Herpetofaunal Search, 2003–2010
fence_type
definitionfence_type
nominal text definitionCharacter
id
definitionAutomatically generated record number
nominal text definitionCharacter
number of records3690
recapture
definitionIndicates that an animal was first captured in the current trapping period; a blank value indicates recapture status not recorded
nominal text definitionCharacter
sex
definitionSex of observed individual(s), if determinable
nominal text definitionCharacter
species
definitionScientific name of observed herpetofauna
nominal text definitionCharacter
taxa
definitionCategorisation of species as either “amphibian” or “reptile”
nominal text definitionCharacter
trap_number
definitionTrap number at site
nominal text definitionCharacter
trap_type
definitionType of pitfall trap; value is one of “Bucket”, “Elliott”, “Large Cage”, “Pit”, or “Small Cage”
nominal text definitionCharacter
visit_code
definitionSite visit code, linking survey data to visit table information
nominal text definitionCharacter
ljbb_herp_pitfall_visit_2003-2010_p965t1229.csv
comments
definitionMiscellaneous observations pertaining to the visit (if any)
nominal text definitionCharacter
date
date time formatYYYY-MM-DD
definitionSurvey visit date
date_of_last_fire
date time formatYYYY-MM-DD
definitionDate of last fire at the site
descriptionVisit information for Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Herpetofaunal Search, 2003–2010
id
definitionAutomatically generated record number
nominal text definitionCharacter
num_cages_open
definitionNumber of cage traps found open on trapping night
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
num_elliotts_open
definitionNumber of Elliott traps found open on trapping night
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
num_pitfalls_open
definitionNumber of pitfall traps found open on trapping night
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
number of records3825
site
definitionSite code, which identifies the site and encodes its vegetation type
nominal text definitionCharacter
survey_season
definitionProject-specified code for survey season
nominal text definitionCharacter
survey_year
definitionProject-specified code for survey year
nominal text definitionCharacter
trapping_night
definitionNumber of nights trap open prior to this capture
ratio number typenatural
ratio standard unitnumber
treatment_status
definitiontreatment_status
nominal text definitionCharacter
visit_code
definitionSite visit code, which is the site (minus its "site_" prefix) prefixed by a 3-digit year code (see PDF file that gives the mapping from calendar years to 3-digit visit code prefixes) and suffixed by a trapping_night number. For example, site="site_10-32" surveyed in 2003 on the fourth trapping night has a visit_code="031-10-32-4" ("031" represents the calendar year 2003). Links visit information to survey data.
nominal text definitionCharacter
year
date time formatYYYY
definitionCalendar year
ljbb_herp_pitfall_visit_2003-2010_calendar_year_visit_code_prefix_p965t1252.pdf
descriptionTable showing which survey year codes, survey season codes, and visit code prefixes correpond to which calendar year in the pitfall visit data table (t1229)
Contact Email
david.lindenmayer@anu.edu.au
Contact Address
Fenner School of Environment & Society ANU College of Medicine, Biology & Environment Frank Fenner Building 141 Linnaeus Way CANBERRA, ACT, 0200 Australia
Contact Phone Number
+61 2 612 50654; +61 427 770 593
Contact Fax Number
+61 2 6125 0746
Principal Investigator
David Lindenmayer
Supervisors
David Lindenmayer
Collaborators
Australian Government Parks Australia; Australian Government Department of Defence; Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council
Fields of Research
0501 - Ecological Applications; 0602 - Ecology; 0608 - Zoology
Keywords
GCMD:Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Reptiles; GCMD:Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Amphibians > Frogs/Toads; LTERN Monitoring Theme:Herpetofauna; keyword:Herpetofauna; Jervis Bay Booderee National Park; Herpetofaunal Search Data
Type of Research Activity
Strategic basic research
Date Coverage
2010-12-12
2003-04-02
Geospatial Location
Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay Territory, New South Wales, Australia.
text
northlimit = -35.114116; southlimit = -35.195078; westlimit = 150.590591; eastLimit = 150.76929
iso19139dcmiBox
Date of data creation
2018-10-24
Year of data publication
2018
Creator(s) for Citation
Lindenmayer
David
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://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/130861
Other Related Identifiers
MorphoId:ltern7.110; PackageId:965
Access Rights
Co-authorship with the data provider (Professor David Lindenmayer) of any publication of research utilising this data is an expected outcome. The data provider also requests consultation, including a summary of the proposed research and intended use before publication of research utilising this data is possible.
Access Rights Type
Restricted
Rights held in and over the data
AusGoal Restrictive Licence - This licence has been developed specifically for material that may contain personal or other confidential information. It may also be used for other reasons, including material to be licenced under some form of limiting or restrictive condition
Licence Type
AusGoalRestrictive - AusGoal Restrictive Licence
Licence
LTERN Deed: 48 Date of execution: 2017-07-10 Restrictions: All spatial data and all background data (i.e. data collected prior to 2012) is to be published with mediated access.
Retention Period
Indefinitely
Data Management Plan
No
Status: Published
Published to:
  • Australian National University
  • Australian National Data Service