Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network: Arboreal Marsupial (Stag-watch) Data, Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia, 2012-2016

Abstract: The Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network Arboreal Marsupial Data contains plot-based arboreal marsupial fauna data collected intermittently at a rotating subset of 40 sites taken from the complete pool of 175 permanent plots studied by the plot network in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. Arboreal marsupials are counted using the stag-watching method (direct counts of nocturnal animals emerging from tree hollows at dusk). Hollow bearing trees or stags located within the 1 ha area are also measured, mapped and monitored over time. Each site is surveyed from dusk for approximately 1 hour. The stag-watching method uses one volunteer/ watcher per tree on site. A site with 30 trees requires 30 people. Animals are recorded as they emerge, noting; species, abundance, time, which tree they emerged from or whether it was just “on site”, whether it came from “off-site”, the type of hollow it emerged from and the tree number. Animals heard in the distance are also noted. This is part of a much larger dataset that began in 1983, when the Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network research plots commenced. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://doi.org/10.25911/5c3c278c59da2 Sampling method: Each long term monitoring site is 3 hectares. Study extent: Each monitoring site is 3 hectares, with monitoring occurring only on the central hectare which is usually square, measuring 100 x 100 m or occasionally sites measuring 200 x 50 m where they interface gullies. Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN). This work was supported by the Australian Government’s Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (www.tern.org.au) – an Australian research infrastructure facility established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and Education Infrastructure Fund–Super Science Initiative through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. Other funding agencies supporting this research project for various periods include: Parks Victoria (2004-2019); Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (2004-2005); Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2006-2011); Thomas Foundation (2009); Australian Research Council Discovery Program DP1097170 (2010-2015); National Environmental Research Program, Environmental Decisions Hub (2011-2014); Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries (2014-2018); Graeme Wood Foundation (2015-2017); and National Environmental Science Program, Threatened Species Recovery Hub (2015-2020).
Type
collection
Title
Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network: Arboreal Marsupial (Stag-watch) Data, Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia, 2012-2016
Alternate Title
Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network: Arboreal Marsupial (Stagwatch), 2012-2016
Collection Type
Dataset
Access Privileges
Long Term Ecological Research Network
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
10.25911/5c4445118125d
Metadata Language
English
Data Language
English
Brief Description
The Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network Arboreal Marsupial Data contains plot-based arboreal marsupial fauna data collected intermittently between 2012 and 2016, at a rotating subset of 40 sites taken from the complete pool of 175 permanent plots studied by the plot network in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://doi.org/10.25911/5c3c278c59da2
Full Description
Abstract: The Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network Arboreal Marsupial Data contains plot-based arboreal marsupial fauna data collected intermittently at a rotating subset of 40 sites taken from the complete pool of 175 permanent plots studied by the plot network in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. Arboreal marsupials are counted using the stag-watching method (direct counts of nocturnal animals emerging from tree hollows at dusk). Hollow bearing trees or stags located within the 1 ha area are also measured, mapped and monitored over time. Each site is surveyed from dusk for approximately 1 hour. The stag-watching method uses one volunteer/ watcher per tree on site. A site with 30 trees requires 30 people. Animals are recorded as they emerge, noting; species, abundance, time, which tree they emerged from or whether it was just “on site”, whether it came from “off-site”, the type of hollow it emerged from and the tree number. Animals heard in the distance are also noted. This is part of a much larger dataset that began in 1983, when the Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network research plots commenced. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://doi.org/10.25911/5c3c278c59da2 Sampling method: Each long term monitoring site is 3 hectares. Study extent: Each monitoring site is 3 hectares, with monitoring occurring only on the central hectare which is usually square, measuring 100 x 100 m or occasionally sites measuring 200 x 50 m where they interface gullies. Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN). This work was supported by the Australian Government’s Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (www.tern.org.au) – an Australian research infrastructure facility established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and Education Infrastructure Fund–Super Science Initiative through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. Other funding agencies supporting this research project for various periods include: Parks Victoria (2004-2019); Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (2004-2005); Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2006-2011); Thomas Foundation (2009); Australian Research Council Discovery Program DP1097170 (2010-2015); National Environmental Research Program, Environmental Decisions Hub (2011-2014); Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries (2014-2018); Graeme Wood Foundation (2015-2017); and National Environmental Science Program, Threatened Species Recovery Hub (2015-2020).
Methods
Plot set-up
1
Assistance from volunteers
Arboreal marsupial fauna data was collected intermittently at a rotating subset of 40 sites taken from the complete pool of 175 permanent plots studied by the plot network.
Arboreal Marsupial Survey
2
Assistance from volunteers
Arboreal marsupials are counted using the stag-watching method (direct counts of nocturnal animals emerging from tree hollows at dusk) at a rotating subset of the complete (full) pool of sites each year. Hollow bearing trees or stags located within the 1 ha area are also measured, mapped and monitored over time. A selection of around 40 sites is surveyed for possums and gliders in December through to March every year. The sites are selected on a rotational basis (Lindenmayer DB, Cunningham RB, MacGregor C, Incoll RD, Michael D (2003). A survey design for monitoring the abundance of arboreal marsupials in the Central Highlands of Victoria. Biological Conservation 110(1), 161-167.). Factors guiding site selection include presence of Leadbeater’s possum in the past, numbers of stags and fire severity. Each site is surveyed from dusk for approximately 1 hour. The stagwatch method uses one volunteer/watcher per tree on site. A site with 30 trees requires 30 people. Multiple trees can only be watched by one person if they are a very experienced surveyor and the trees are close to each other. Watchers are placed under their tree by an experienced member of the ANU team, who advises on the best place to sit, where to look and what to look out for.
An informal part of the survey involves ANU team members recording a bird list as dusk approaches.
Before entering the site, a team member gives an overview of what the stagwatch involves, including site specific information. Details of possum/glider calls, silhouettes or possum sizes and the site specific habitat selection or tree use for each animal. Animals are recorded as they emerge, noting; species, abundance, time, which tree they emerged from or whether it was just “on site”, whether it came from “off-site”, the type of hollow it emerged from (branch, top spout, fissure, etc.) and the tree number. Other animals observed or heard in the distance are also noted (owls, gliders, deer etc.). Weather conditions, date, time and volunteers names are recorded. Stag-watching does not occur in heavy rain.
Documentation
3
Field proformas were used.
File Descriptions
lvic_arboreal_marsupial_visit_2012-2016_p926t1242.csv
cloud
definitionCloud category
ordinal enumeration codes
1Cloud category 1
2Cloud category 2
3Cloud category 3
4Cloud category 4
5Cloud category 5
6Cloud category 6
7Cloud category 7
8Cloud category 8
descriptionVisit information for Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Arboreal Marsupial (Stag-watch) Surveys, 2012+
moon
definitionMoon phase
ordinal enumeration codes
0Nil
11/4
21/2
33/4
4Full
night_light
definitionNight light category
ordinal enumeration codes
1Very dark
2Dark, silhouettes only
3Moderately light
4Bright, moon, no cloud
number of records137
precipitation
definitionPrecipitation category
ordinal enumeration codes
0No rain
1Light rain
2Heavy rain
site_code
definitionSite code
nominal text definitionCharacter
survey_date
date time formatYYYY-MM-DD
definitionSurvey visit date
survey_year
date time formatYY_YY
definitionSurvey year (expressed as last two digits of two consecutive calendar years)
visit_code
definitionVisit code from “stagwatch visit" table
nominal text definitionCharacter
weather
definitionWeather category
ordinal enumeration codes
1Fine
2Cloudy
3Fog / mist
4Rain
5Snow
wind
definitionWind category
ordinal enumeration codes
1calm
2light, leaves move
3moderate, canopy moves
4strong
lvic_arboreal_marsupial_data_2012-2016_p926t1241.csv
abundance
definitionCount of species detected at tree
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
animal
definitionAnimal species recorded
nominal text definitionCharacter
descriptionVictorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Arboreal Marsupial (Stag-watch) Survey Data, 2012+
emerg_location
definitionLocation of animal upon emergence
nominal text definitionCharacter
number of records806
on_site
definitionOn site but did not “emerge” from a hollow
nominal text definitionCharacter
time_of_emergence
date time formathh:mm
definitionTime of observation
tree_code
definitionSite tree code
nominal text definitionCharacter
visit_code
definitionVisit code from “stagwatch visit" table, links survey data to visit information
nominal text definitionCharacter
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
Warwick Papst; Melbourne Water; Parks Victoria; Lachlan McBurney; David Blair
Fields of Research
0501 - Ecological Applications; 0602 - Ecology; 0608 - Zoology
Keywords
GCMD:Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Mammals; LTERN Monitoring Theme:Mammals; keyword:Fauna; keyword:Stagwatch; keyword:Stag-watching; Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest; Arboreal Marsupial (Stagwatch)
Type of Research Activity
Strategic basic research
Date Coverage
2016-03-22
2012-04-13
Geospatial Location
Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia
text
northlimit = -37.342523; southlimit = -37.919069; westlimit = 145.477922; eastLimit = 146.195374
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://hdl.handle.net/1885/130861
Other Related Identifiers
MorphoId:ltern7.132; PackageId:926
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
Open
Rights held in and over the data
reative Commons Licence (CC BY) is assigned to this data. Details of the licence can be found at http://creativecommons.org.au/licences.
Licence Type
CC-BY - Attribution (Version 4)
Licence
LTERN Deed: 48 Date of execution: 2017-07-10
Retention Period
Indefinitely
Extent or Quantity
2
Data Management Plan
No

Download data files

Number of files: 2

Size: 59.4 KB

Identifier: anudc:5815

Status: Published
Published to:
  • Australian National University
  • Australian National Data Service
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