Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network: Plot-based Vegetation Sampling Data, Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-2016
Abstract: The Three Parks Savanna Fire-Effects Network was established in 1994 with the primary aim of training management staff and assisting with the development of adaptive approaches to conservation-based fire management in regional savanna systems. This dataset comprises the vegetation sampling data from the 220 plots located across the Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network, of which 133 are in Kakadu National Park, 41 in Litchfield National Park and 46 in Nitmiluk National Park. The vegetation data consists of the quantitative assessment of all species in three major strata within 800 square meter plots. Plots are positioned to investigate environmental changes in areas of interest by land managers and may reveal environmental dynamics. Plots are located in a variety of landform and vegetation type / habitats and conditions, and may be in vicinity of intensively managed sites such as camp grounds and other tourist attractions. Areas also include ecotones and patches of fire-sensitive vegetation such as stands of Callitris and sandstone heaths. The full program assesses fire regimes and their impacts on plant and vertebrate biodiversity components. The program consists of two complementary elements – mapping of fire histories based upon interpretation of satellite imagery, and assessment of vegetation and faunal components at a large series of permanent monitoring plots located across respective parks. *Note: Plots are located within a National Park and physical access to the plots is restricted.
Sampling method: Monitoring plot establishment and resampling exercises are conducted either at the end of the wet season period to facilitate flora identification (i.e. before herbaceous plants wither, or the vegetation is burnt), or late dry season due to access logistical restictions, for example floodplain sites. Sampling is designed to assess all levels of habitat strata including non-woody and woody species diversity.
This package has chosen to use the following names from the NTFlora database:
• Fimbristylis miliacea (instead of Fimbristylis quinquangularis)
• Fimbristylis pterygosperma (instead of Fimbristylis pterigosperma)
• Sauropus lissocarpus (instead of Phyllanthus arnhemicus)
• Sauropus lissocarpus instead of Phyllanthus arnhemicus
• Cartonema sp. antrorse
• Cartonema sp. pedicellate
• Haemodorum sp. red flowers (instead of Haemodorum sp. Red flowers)
• Utricularia nivea (instead of Utricularia sp. Small white)
• Antidesma ghesaembilla (instead of Antidesma ghaesembilla)
• Melastoma malabathricum • Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum (instead of Melastoma affine)
Study exten: The plots were established in 1995 at the end of the wet season period to facilitate flora identification before herbaceous plants senesce. The full floristic sampling is timetabled to occur every five years. There have been up to 5 different time sets of data collected but not every site has been revisited each time. Fire recording by photo and ground observation is undertaken at the end of every fire season early, late and wet season.
**Note plot 95 in Kakadu National Park was lost after the first visit (T1).
Project funding: SBetween 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.
This project has also received funding through Parks Australia, NT Parks & Wildlife Service, Tropical Savannas CRC, and Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research (Charles Darwin University).
Type
collection
Title
Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network: Plot-based Vegetation Sampling Data, Northern Territory, Australia, 1994-2016
Alternate Title
Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network: Plot Based Vegetation Sampling Kakadu, Litchfield, Nitmiluk, 1994-2016
Collection Type
Dataset
Access Privileges
Long Term Ecological Research Network
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
10.25911/5c3d75bbca1c0
Website Address
https://datacommons.anu.edu.au/
Metadata Language
English
Data Language
English
Brief Description
The Three Parks Savanna Fire-Effects Network was established in 1994 with the primary aim of training management staff and assisting with the development of adaptive approaches to conservation-based fire management in regional savanna systems. This dataset comprises the vegetation sampling data from the 220 plots located across the Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network, of which 133 are in Kakadu National Park, 41 in Litchfield National Park and 46 in Nitmiluk National Park. The vegetation data consists of the quantitative assessment of all species in three major strata within 800 square meter plots. Plots are positioned to investigate environmental changes in areas of interest by land managers and may reveal environmental dynamics. Plots are located in a variety of landform and vegetation type / habitats and conditions, and may be in vicinity of intensively managed sites such as camp grounds and other tourist attractions. Areas also include ecotones and patches of fire-sensitive vegetation such as stands of Callitris and sandstone heaths. The full program assesses fire regimes and their impacts on plant and vertebrate biodiversity components. The program consists of two complementary elements – mapping of fire histories based upon interpretation of satellite imagery, and assessment of vegetation and faunal components at a large series of permanent monitoring plots located across respective parks.
*Note: Plots are located within a National Park and physical access to the plots is restricted.
Full Description
Abstract: The Three Parks Savanna Fire-Effects Network was established in 1994 with the primary aim of training management staff and assisting with the development of adaptive approaches to conservation-based fire management in regional savanna systems. This dataset comprises the vegetation sampling data from the 220 plots located across the Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network, of which 133 are in Kakadu National Park, 41 in Litchfield National Park and 46 in Nitmiluk National Park. The vegetation data consists of the quantitative assessment of all species in three major strata within 800 square meter plots. Plots are positioned to investigate environmental changes in areas of interest by land managers and may reveal environmental dynamics. Plots are located in a variety of landform and vegetation type / habitats and conditions, and may be in vicinity of intensively managed sites such as camp grounds and other tourist attractions. Areas also include ecotones and patches of fire-sensitive vegetation such as stands of Callitris and sandstone heaths. The full program assesses fire regimes and their impacts on plant and vertebrate biodiversity components. The program consists of two complementary elements – mapping of fire histories based upon interpretation of satellite imagery, and assessment of vegetation and faunal components at a large series of permanent monitoring plots located across respective parks. *Note: Plots are located within a National Park and physical access to the plots is restricted.
Sampling method: Monitoring plot establishment and resampling exercises are conducted either at the end of the wet season period to facilitate flora identification (i.e. before herbaceous plants wither, or the vegetation is burnt), or late dry season due to access logistical restictions, for example floodplain sites. Sampling is designed to assess all levels of habitat strata including non-woody and woody species diversity.
This package has chosen to use the following names from the NTFlora database:
• Fimbristylis miliacea (instead of Fimbristylis quinquangularis)
• Fimbristylis pterygosperma (instead of Fimbristylis pterigosperma)
• Sauropus lissocarpus (instead of Phyllanthus arnhemicus)
• Sauropus lissocarpus instead of Phyllanthus arnhemicus
• Cartonema sp. antrorse
• Cartonema sp. pedicellate
• Haemodorum sp. red flowers (instead of Haemodorum sp. Red flowers)
• Utricularia nivea (instead of Utricularia sp. Small white)
• Antidesma ghesaembilla (instead of Antidesma ghaesembilla)
• Melastoma malabathricum • Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum (instead of Melastoma affine)
Study exten: The plots were established in 1995 at the end of the wet season period to facilitate flora identification before herbaceous plants senesce. The full floristic sampling is timetabled to occur every five years. There have been up to 5 different time sets of data collected but not every site has been revisited each time. Fire recording by photo and ground observation is undertaken at the end of every fire season early, late and wet season.
**Note plot 95 in Kakadu National Park was lost after the first visit (T1).
Project funding: SBetween 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.
This project has also received funding through Parks Australia, NT Parks & Wildlife Service, Tropical Savannas CRC, and Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research (Charles Darwin University).
Methods
Plot set-up
1
Metal star pickets
GPS
50 metre measuring tapes
GPS
50 metre measuring tapes
The overall plot size is 40 x 20 metre. The plot is permanently located by a central metal star picket and GPS waypoint. Plots relocated by helicopter have a round large white lid on top to assist sighting the plot from air.
A permanent photo picket with number plate is placed 10 metre inside the plot parallel with the plot sides.
The corners and inner transects are marked by metal droppers.
The inner 40 x 10 metre plot is delineated with measuring tapes. Two 50 metre tapes are laid out 5 metres either side of the central photo picket, parallel to the longer central axis, starting at zero on the left hand side heading to the back of the plot, again at zero on the right hand side heading to the top of the plot.
Nb: some plots are not strictly 40 metres long due to plot landscape constraints.
A permanent photo picket with number plate is placed 10 metre inside the plot parallel with the plot sides.
The corners and inner transects are marked by metal droppers.
The inner 40 x 10 metre plot is delineated with measuring tapes. Two 50 metre tapes are laid out 5 metres either side of the central photo picket, parallel to the longer central axis, starting at zero on the left hand side heading to the back of the plot, again at zero on the right hand side heading to the top of the plot.
Nb: some plots are not strictly 40 metres long due to plot landscape constraints.
Photo
2
Digital camera
The photo is taken looking down the long axis of the plot from centre front picket toward the plot number plate.
These photos are not included as part of this data packages due to the file size, but can be provided on request from the data owner (Dr Russell-Smith).
These photos are not included as part of this data packages due to the file size, but can be provided on request from the data owner (Dr Russell-Smith).
Ground stratum
3
• Forty 1m x 1m quadrats, systematically located every second metre along inner transects. The quadrat transects are always on the side of a measuring tape and orientated towards the centre of the plot.
• One metre poles are used to measure the 1 x 1 metre quadrats inside the plot along the length of the tape.
• Woody species are not recorded in the quadrat data.
Parameters assessed in each quadrat include:
• total percentage foliage cover of non-woody species
• total percentage litter cover
• total percentage rock cover
• A tree Canopy Closure Index (CCI) is assessed and classified into one of three cover classes
• The percentage cover of each grass or herb species present in each quadrat
**Note most plots have 40 quadrats on either side of the plot, however there is some variation due to rocks & other limitations.
• One metre poles are used to measure the 1 x 1 metre quadrats inside the plot along the length of the tape.
• Woody species are not recorded in the quadrat data.
Parameters assessed in each quadrat include:
• total percentage foliage cover of non-woody species
• total percentage litter cover
• total percentage rock cover
• A tree Canopy Closure Index (CCI) is assessed and classified into one of three cover classes
• The percentage cover of each grass or herb species present in each quadrat
**Note most plots have 40 quadrats on either side of the plot, however there is some variation due to rocks & other limitations.
Shrubs
4
Tape measure or measuring stick (height measurement)
A woody shrub is a woody species with DBH less than 5cm.
• All Woody shrub individuals are counted in 3 height classes: < 50 cm; 50 cm - 2 m; > 2 m DBH.
• Counts of individuals by species height < 50 cm class are undertaken along 1 m wide transects that define the ground stratum quadrats for the length of the plot.
• Use 1 metre poles to measure the 1 x 1 metre quadrats along the length of the tapes along the inside of the tape.
• For consistency shrubs in the < 50 cm height class should only be recorded along the entire 1 m transects defining the ground stratum quadrats.
• Counts of individuals of each species height 50cm-2m and >2m are undertaken in the internal area of the plot equivalent to 40 x 10 m.
• All Woody shrub individuals are counted in 3 height classes: < 50 cm; 50 cm - 2 m; > 2 m DBH.
• Counts of individuals by species height < 50 cm class are undertaken along 1 m wide transects that define the ground stratum quadrats for the length of the plot.
• Use 1 metre poles to measure the 1 x 1 metre quadrats along the length of the tapes along the inside of the tape.
• For consistency shrubs in the < 50 cm height class should only be recorded along the entire 1 m transects defining the ground stratum quadrats.
• Counts of individuals of each species height 50cm-2m and >2m are undertaken in the internal area of the plot equivalent to 40 x 10 m.
Trees
5
Diameter tapes (tree diameter measurements)
Sunto Optical height meter (height measurements)
Compass (plot angle measurements)
Sunto Optical height meter (height measurements)
Compass (plot angle measurements)
Trees are defined as any woody species with diameter at breast height (DBH) > 5cm.
• All stems occurring within the whole plot are labelled with numbered metal tags and identified by species.
• Only one tag is required per tree, not per stem. Multi-stemmed trees will have more than one DBH per tree.
• The canopy top height in metres of each tree is estimated visually or with a clinometer.
• Scarring from fires is recorded on a scale of 0 to 5, referring to (in increasing severity) no scarring; charcoal on surface of bark only; scarring damage to cambium; scarring on trunk over large area; severe scarring on trunk over large area likely to result in death; dead. Fire scars are recorded only once per tree.
• DBH is measured for each separate stem that has ≥ 5 cm DBH. DBH is the vertical height measured at 1.3 metres from the level of the base of the tree. DBH is measured using a diameter tape or calipers.
*Note: Due to logistical constraints there is some variation in size of plots.
• All stems occurring within the whole plot are labelled with numbered metal tags and identified by species.
• Only one tag is required per tree, not per stem. Multi-stemmed trees will have more than one DBH per tree.
• The canopy top height in metres of each tree is estimated visually or with a clinometer.
• Scarring from fires is recorded on a scale of 0 to 5, referring to (in increasing severity) no scarring; charcoal on surface of bark only; scarring damage to cambium; scarring on trunk over large area; severe scarring on trunk over large area likely to result in death; dead. Fire scars are recorded only once per tree.
• DBH is measured for each separate stem that has ≥ 5 cm DBH. DBH is the vertical height measured at 1.3 metres from the level of the base of the tree. DBH is measured using a diameter tape or calipers.
*Note: Due to logistical constraints there is some variation in size of plots.
File Descriptions
tpsk_quads_cover_1994+_p831t1063.csv
canopy_closure_index |
| ||||||||||||||
description | Quadrat cover data for Kakadu National Park | ||||||||||||||
number of records | 20596 | ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
percentage_cover |
| ||||||||||||||
percentage_litter |
| ||||||||||||||
percentage_rock |
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plot |
| ||||||||||||||
quadrat |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsk_quads_species_1994+_p831t1064.csv
description | Quadrat species data for Kakadu National Park | ||||||||||||||
genus_species |
| ||||||||||||||
number of records | 82860 | ||||||||||||||
occurrence |
| ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
quadrat |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsk_shrubs_1994+_p831t1065.csv
count_50cm-2m |
| ||||||||||||||
count_greater_than_2m |
| ||||||||||||||
count_less_than_50cm |
| ||||||||||||||
description | Shrub data for Kakadu National Park | ||||||||||||||
genus_species |
| ||||||||||||||
number of records | 9383 | ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsk_trees_1994+_p831t1066.csv
dbh1 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
dbh2 |
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dbh3 |
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dbh4 |
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dbh5 |
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dbh6 |
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dbh7 |
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dbh8 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
dbh9 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
description | Tree data for Kakadu National Park | ||||||||||||||||||
fire_scar |
| ||||||||||||||||||
genus_species |
| ||||||||||||||||||
height_m |
| ||||||||||||||||||
is_the_tree_dead |
| ||||||||||||||||||
number of records | 15868 | ||||||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||||||
tag_no |
| ||||||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsk_visit_date_1994+_p831t1067.csv
comments |
| ||||||||||||||
date |
| ||||||||||||||
description | Visit date table for Kakadu National Park | ||||||||||||||
number of records | 571 | ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsl_quads_cover_1994+_p831t1121.csv
canopy_closure_index |
| ||||||||||||||
description | Quadrat cover data for Litchfield National Park | ||||||||||||||
number of records | 6057 | ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
percentage_cover |
| ||||||||||||||
percentage_litter |
| ||||||||||||||
percentage_rock |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
quadrat |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsl_quads_species_1994+_p831t1122.csv
description | Quadrat species data for Litchfield National Park | ||||||||||||||
genus_species |
| ||||||||||||||
number of records | 35884 | ||||||||||||||
occurrence |
| ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
quadrat |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsl_shrubs_1994+_p831t1123.csv
count_50cm-2m |
| ||||||||||||||
count_greater_than_2m |
| ||||||||||||||
count_less_than_50cm |
| ||||||||||||||
description | Shrub data for Litchfield National Park | ||||||||||||||
genus_species |
| ||||||||||||||
number of records | 3070 | ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsl_trees_1994+_p831t1124.csv
dbh1 |
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dbh2 |
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dbh3 |
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dbh4 |
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dbh5 |
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dbh6 |
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dbh7 |
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dbh8 |
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description | Tree data for Litchfield National Park | ||||||||||||||||||
fire_scar |
| ||||||||||||||||||
genus_species |
| ||||||||||||||||||
height_m |
| ||||||||||||||||||
is_the_tree_dead |
| ||||||||||||||||||
number of records | 9357 | ||||||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||||||
tag |
| ||||||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsl_visit_date_1994+_p831t1125.csv
comments |
| ||||||||||||||
date |
| ||||||||||||||
description | Visit date table for Litchfield National Park | ||||||||||||||
number of records | 203 | ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsn_quads_cover_1994+_p831t1126.csv
canopy_closure_index |
| ||||||||||||||
description | Quadrat cover data for Nitmiluk National Park | ||||||||||||||
number of records | 9078 | ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
percentage_cover |
| ||||||||||||||
percentage_litter |
| ||||||||||||||
percentage_rock |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
quadrat |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsn_quads_species_1994+_p831t1127.csv
description | Quadrat species data for Nitmiluk National Park | ||||||||||||||
genus_species |
| ||||||||||||||
number of records | 48820 | ||||||||||||||
occurrence |
| ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
quadrat |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsn_shrubs_1994+_p831t1128.csv
count_50cm-2m |
| ||||||||||||||
count_greater_than_2m |
| ||||||||||||||
count_less_than_50cm |
| ||||||||||||||
description | Shrub data for Nitmiluk National Park | ||||||||||||||
genus_species |
| ||||||||||||||
number of records | 2306 | ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsn_trees_1994+_p831t1129.csv
dbh1 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
dbh2 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
dbh3 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
dbh4 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
dbh5 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
dbh6 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
dbh7 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
dbh8 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
description | Tree data for Nitmiluk National Park | ||||||||||||||||||
fire_scar |
| ||||||||||||||||||
genus_species |
| ||||||||||||||||||
height_m |
| ||||||||||||||||||
is_the_tree_dead |
| ||||||||||||||||||
number of records | 6633 | ||||||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||||||
tag_no |
| ||||||||||||||||||
visit |
|
tpsn_visit_date_1994+_p831t1153.csv
comments |
| ||||||||||||||
date |
| ||||||||||||||
description | Visit date table for Nitmiluk National Park | ||||||||||||||
number of records | 229 | ||||||||||||||
park |
| ||||||||||||||
plot |
| ||||||||||||||
visit |
|
Contact Email
jeremy.russell-smith@cdu.edu.au;
peter.jacklyn@cdu.edu.au
Contact Address
Charles Darwin University
Darwin NT 0909
Australia
Contact Phone Number
+61 8 8995 5035;
+61 447 200 927
Principal Investigator
Jeremy Russell-Smith
Supervisors
Jeremy Russell-Smith
Collaborators
Australian Government Parks Australia;
Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research, Charles Darwin University;
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission;
Graeme Gillespie;
Peter Jacklyn
Fields of Research
0602 - Ecology;
0501 - Ecological Applications;
0502 - Environmental Science and Management
Keywords
GCMD:Biosphere > Terrestrial Ecosystems > Savannas;
GCMD:Biological Classification > Plants, Biosphere > Vegetation;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Vegetation structure;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Plant species composition;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Plant species abundance;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Individual plants;
LTERN Monitoring Theme:Invasive plants;
keyword:Savanna;
keyword:Parks;
keyword:Fire;
keyword:Flora;
keyword:Shrubs;
keyword:Trees;
keyword:Kakadu;
keyword:Litchfield;
keyword:Nitmiluk;
Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects;
Kakadu, Litchfield, Nitmiluk;
Plot Based Vegetation Sampling
Type of Research Activity
Strategic basic research
Date Coverage
2016
1994
Geospatial Location
Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
text
northlimit = -12.11059; southlimit = -13.94659; westlimit = 131.88766; eastLimit = 133.00257
iso19139dcmiBox
Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
text
northlimit = -13.038; southlimit = -13.525891; westlimit = 130.684447; eastLimit = 130.9701
iso19139dcmiBox
Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
text
northlimit = -13.81268; southlimit = -14.39819; westlimit = 132.16505; eastLimit = 132.74043
iso19139dcmiBox
Date of data creation
2017-10-18
Year of data publication
2017
Creator(s) for Citation
Russell-Smith
Jeremy
Jacklyn
Peter
Publisher for Citation
The Australian National University Data Commons
Other Related Identifiers
MorphoId:ltern6.92;
PackageId:831
Access Rights
Special Conditions: Prior to publication of research utilising these data - the data provider (De Jeremy Russell-Smith) requests consultation
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: 45
Date of execution: 2017-02-06
Data Location
https://datacommons.anu.edu.au
Retention Period
Indefinitely
Data Management Plan
No
Status: Published
Published to:
Published to:
- Australian National University
- Australian National Data Service
Related items
- hasAssociationWith:
Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network data packages, 1994-2018 [anudc:5553] - hasAssociationWith:
Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research, Charles Darwin University [anudc:5632] - hasAssociationWith:
Graeme Gillespie [anudc:5588] - hasAssociationWith:
Jeremy Russell-Smith [anudc:5595] - hasAssociationWith:
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission [anudc:5638] - hasAssociationWith:
Australian Government Parks Australia [anudc:5630]