LTERN Data Portal

The over-all plot sizes are 40 x 20 metre. Each 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 metre either side of central photo picket, parallel to the longer central axis, starting at zero on the left hand side heading to the back of the plot, and again at zero on the right hand side heading to the top of the plot.

NB: some plots are not strictly 40 metre due to plot landscape constraints.

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 ltern@anu.edu.au or from the data owner (Dr Russell-Smith).

• 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 to 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 the following scale:

o 0 = no scarring;

o 1 = charcoal on surface of bark only;

o 2 = scarring damage to cambium;

o 3 = scarring on trunk over large area

o 4 = severe scarring on trunk over large area likely to result in death.

o 5 = 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: Check plot area in plot details table. Due to logistical constrains there is some variation in size of plots.

• A woody shrub is a woody species with DBH less than 5cm.

• All Woody shrub individuals are counted in 3 height classes

o < 50 cm;

o 50 cm to 2 m;

o > 2 m and < 5 cm 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 equivlent to 40 x 10 m.

*Note: refer to plot details table for actual plot area sampled.

• 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 (see Figure 2).

• Use 1 metre poles to measure the 1 x 1 metre quadrats along the length of the tapes along the inside 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 % litter cover

• total % rock cover.

• A tree Canopy Closure Index (CCI) is assessed as follows:

o 0 = zero cover over quadrat;

o 1 = partial tree cover;

o 2 = > 75% tree canopy cover.

• The percentage cover of each grass or herb species present in each quadrat

* note most plot have 40 quadrats on either side of the plot, however there is some variation due to rocks & other limitations.