Victorian Alpine Plot Network (Alpine Summit Plots): Lowland-to-highland Roadside Transects 4WD Tracks Data, South-East Highlands, Australia, 2014

Abstract: This Victorian Alpine Plot Network Road Transects 4WD Track Data Package comprises transect-based vegetation data for 5 Lowland-to-highland 4WD Roadside Transects in the South-East Highlands, Australia. These data have been used against background quadrat data to test a hypothesis about roads as vectors for dispersal of invasive species. Plots are located at altitudinally stratified intervals along five altitudinally-stratified transects. The transects follow major roads and management tracks in the Victorian Alps. Each track is divided into 20 altitudinal sectors in which a single plot is situated. Within each plot, all species are identified and are assigned abundance and cover scores. The Alpine Summit plots study, which commenced in 2001, forms part of the collection of data packages by the Victorian Alpine Plot Network. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Alpine Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c11c3d283b0e. Sampling method: The data collection protocol follows the guidelines of the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN; http://www.mountaininvasions.org/). The aim is to determine which exotic (and native) species are where on mountain roadsides and are using these data against background quadrat data collected over past years and decades to test hypotheses about roads as vectors for dispersal of invasive species. Study extent: These data aim to document the distribution of exotic (and native) species from foothills to mountain summits along transport corridors. Project funding: Parks Victoria, Mt Hotham Alpine Resort. Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN). LTERN is a Facility within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)
Type
collection
Title
Victorian Alpine Plot Network (Alpine Summit Plots): Lowland-to-highland Roadside Transects 4WD Tracks Data, South-East Highlands, Australia, 2014
Alternate Title
Victorian Alpine Plot Network: Lowland-to-highland Roadside Transects — 4WD Summit Plots, 2014
Collection Type
Dataset
Access Privileges
Long Term Ecological Research Network
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
10.25911/5c11ced59e324
Metadata Language
English
Data Language
English
Brief Description
This Victorian Alpine Plot Network Road Transects 4WD Track Data Package comprises transect-based vegetation data for 5 Lowland-to-highland 4WD Roadside Transects in the South-East Highlands, Australia. The Alpine Summit plots study, which commenced in 2001, forms part of the collection of data packages by the Victorian Alpine Plot Network. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Alpine Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c11c3d283b0e.
Full Description
Abstract: This Victorian Alpine Plot Network Road Transects 4WD Track Data Package comprises transect-based vegetation data for 5 Lowland-to-highland 4WD Roadside Transects in the South-East Highlands, Australia. These data have been used against background quadrat data to test a hypothesis about roads as vectors for dispersal of invasive species. Plots are located at altitudinally stratified intervals along five altitudinally-stratified transects. The transects follow major roads and management tracks in the Victorian Alps. Each track is divided into 20 altitudinal sectors in which a single plot is situated. Within each plot, all species are identified and are assigned abundance and cover scores. The Alpine Summit plots study, which commenced in 2001, forms part of the collection of data packages by the Victorian Alpine Plot Network. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Alpine Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c11c3d283b0e. Sampling method: The data collection protocol follows the guidelines of the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN; http://www.mountaininvasions.org/). The aim is to determine which exotic (and native) species are where on mountain roadsides and are using these data against background quadrat data collected over past years and decades to test hypotheses about roads as vectors for dispersal of invasive species. Study extent: These data aim to document the distribution of exotic (and native) species from foothills to mountain summits along transport corridors. Project funding: Parks Victoria, Mt Hotham Alpine Resort. Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN). LTERN is a Facility within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)
Methods
Plot Setup
1
The sampling regime consists of five altitudinal transect with plots located at altitudinal intervals along the transects. The transects follow major roads and management tracks in the Victorian Alps.The five road-side transects are:
1) Bluff
2) Cobbler
3) Mt Murray
4) Stirling
5) Wonnangatta
Each 4WD track is divided into 20 altitudinal sectors. These are spaced according to a simple formula: (highest altitude - lowest altitude) /19
In each sector, one quadrat, 2 m x 50 m, is placed parallel to the 4WD track. Abundance and cover scores are measured for all plant species in each plot.
Data Collection
2
Within each quadrat, we identify all species and assign an abundance score (where 1 = 1-10 individuals, 2 = 10-100 individuals, 3 = >100 individuals) and a cover score (1 = <1%, 2 = 1-5% and 3 = >5%).
File Descriptions
vasp_4WD_track_monitoring_all_abundance_2014_p599t1271.csv
abundance
definitionSpecies abundance score (NA means species not observed)
ordinal enumeration codes
11-10 individuals
210-100 individuals
3>100 individuals
descriptionAbundance score for all sites (Bluff, Cobbler, Mt Murray, Stirling, Wonnangatta)
number of records13600
origin
definitionOrigin of species
nominal enumeration codes
ExoticSpecies is exotic
NativeSpecies is native
site_name
definitionSite identifier
nominal text definitionCharacter
species_name
definitionScientific name
nominal text definitionCharacter
vasp_4WD_track_monitoring_all_cover_2014_p599t1271.csv
cover
definitionSpecies cover score (NA means species not observed)
nominal enumeration codes
1<1%
21-5%
3>5%
descriptionCover score for all sites (Bluff, Cobbler, Mt Murray, Stirling, Wonnangatta)
number of records13600
origin
definitionOrigin of species
nominal enumeration codes
ExoticSpecies is exotic
NativeSpecies is native
site_name
definitionSite identifier
nominal text definitionCharacter
species_name
definitionScientific name
nominal text definitionCharacter
vasp_4WD_track_monitoring_all_env_factors_2014_p599t1271.csv
bare_ground_pc
definitionBare ground cover (%)
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
descriptionEnvironmental factors for all sites (Bluff, Cobbler, Mt Murray, Stirling, Wonnangatta)
disturbance_intensity_categorical
definitionDisturbance intensity
ordinal enumeration codes
1none
2some
3severe
disturbance_type_s
definitionDisturbance type
nominal text definitionCharacter
fenced_yes_no
definitionSite was fenced off or not
nominal enumeration codes
noSite was not fenced off
yesSite was fenced off
fire_history_confidence_pc
definitionConfidence interval percentage for fire history
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
forest_canopy_pc
definitionForest canopy cover (%)
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
herbivore_disturb_cov_class
definitionDisturbance intensity (herbivore disturbance) cover class
ordinal enumeration codes
1none
2some
3severe
herbivores_list_species
definitionHerbivores (list species)
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
number of records100
site_name
definitionSite identifier
nominal text definitionCharacter
vegetation_pc
definitionVegetation cover (%)
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitnumber
year_of_last_fire
date time formatYYYY
definitionYear of last fire
vasp_4WD_track_monitoring_all_site_details_2014_p599t1271.csv
altitude_m
definitionAltitude
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitmeter
aspect_deg
definitionAspect
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitdegree
date
date time formatYYYY-MM-DD
definitionDate of survey
descriptionSite details for all sites (Bluff, Cobbler, Mt Murray, Stirling, Wonnangatta)
geology_cat
definitionGeology (category)
nominal text definitionCharacter
number of records100
plant_community
definitionPlant community
nominal text definitionCharacter
project
definitionProject name
nominal text definitionCharacter
quad_length_m
definitionQuadrat length
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitmeter
quad_width_m
definitionQuadrat width
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitmeter
quadrat_type
definitionQuadrat type
nominal text definitionCharacter
road_type
definitionRoad type
nominal enumeration codes
2wd gravel2WD gravel road
4wd track4WD track road
road_verge_width_m
definitionRoad verge width
ratio number typereal
ratio standard unitmeter
site_name
definitionSite identifier
nominal text definitionCharacter
site_region
definitionSite region
nominal text definitionCharacter
slope_deg
definitionSlope
ratio number typewhole
ratio standard unitdegree
topography_cat
definitionTopography catagory (US = Upper slope, MS = Mid-slope, LS = Lower slope)
nominal text definitionCharacter
vasp_4WD_track_monitoring_abundance_2014_p599t1275.zip
descriptionZIP file of abundance scores in wide format (one CSV file per site)
vasp_4WD_track_monitoring_cover_2014_p599t1276.zip
descriptionZIP file of cover scores in wide format (one CSV file per site)
Contact Email
j.morgan@latrobe.edu.au
Contact Address
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environment La Trobe University Bundoora, VIC., 3086 Australia
Contact Phone Number
+61 3 9479 2226
Principal Investigator
John Morgan
Supervisors
John Morgan
Collaborators
Henrik Wahren; Ary Hoffman; John Morgan
Fields of Research
0602 - Ecology
Keywords
GCMD:Biological Classification > Plants; GCMD:Biosphere > Biosphere > Terrestrial Ecosystems > Alpine/Tundra; LTERN Monitoring Theme:Vegetation structure; LTERN Monitoring Theme:Plant species composition; LTERN Monitoring Theme:Plant species abundance; LTERN Monitoring Theme:Individual plants; keyword:Alpine National Park; keyword:Species richness; keyword:Compositional changes; keyword:Weed invasion; keyword:Altitudinal gradient; Victorian Alpine; Summit Plots; Lowland-to-highland Roadside Transects — 4WD
Type of Research Activity
Pure basic research
Date Coverage
2014-03-14
2014-01-06
Geospatial Location
Victorian Alpine Plot Network Lowland-to-highland 4WD Track Transects Data
text
northlimit = -36.7325; southlimit = -37.13255; westlimit = 146.4542; eastLimit = 147.30667
iso19139dcmiBox
Date of data creation
2015-06-19
Year of data publication
2018
Creator(s) for Citation
Morgan
John
Publisher for Citation
The Australian National University Data Commons
Other Related Identifiers
MorphoId:ltern.133; PackageId:599
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)
Data Location
https://datacommons.anu.edu.au
Retention Period
Indefinitely
Data Management Plan
No
Status: Published
Published to:
  • Australian National University
  • Australian National Data Service
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