public read cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all cn=pn_vc_tall_eucalypt,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read Professor David Lindenmayer Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University Principal Investigator

Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University Frank Fenner Building (Building 141), Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200

02 61250654 david.lindenmayer@anu.edu.au 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 in1983, 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://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/victorian-tall-eucalypt-forest Fauna Stagwatch Stag-watching Keywords List Mammals LTERN Monitoring Themes 0501 Ecological Applications 0602 Ecology 0608 Zoology ANZSRC-FOR Codes Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Mammals GCMD Science Keywords CC-BY-4_0 Special Condition Co-authorship with the data provider (Professor David Lindenmayer) of any publication of research utilising this data is an expected outcome. The data provider requests consultation, including a summary of the proposed research and intended use before publication of research utilising this data is possible. Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia 145.477922 146.195374 -37.342523 -37.919069 Species Acrobates pygmaeus Species Aegotheles cristatus Species Antechinus agilis Species Cervus unicolor Species Gymnobelideus leadbeateri Species Isoodon obesulus Species Ninox novaeseelandiae Species Petauroides volans Species Petaurus australis Species Petaurus breviceps Species Pseudocheirus peregrinus Species Rattus fuscipes Species Trichosurus cunninghami Species Tyto tenebricosa Species Wallabia bicolor 2013 2014 1397610412979 Mr Lachlan McBurney Fenner School of Environment and Society Plot network contact

Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200

0401 124 929 lachlan.mcburney@anu.edu.au Mr David Blair Fenner School of Environment and Society Plot network contact

Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200

03 5962 4043, 0439 660 996 david.blair@anu.edu.au

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.

Assistance by 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.

Assistance from volunteers.

Field proformas were used.

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. Each long term monitoring site is 3 hectares. 1409718906120 Plot network contact 1409718747274 Plot network contact lvic_arboreal_marsupials_stagwatch_2013_p211t469.csv lvic_arboreal_marsupials_stagwatch_2013_p211t469.csv 1 0 \r\n column , ecogrid://knb/ltern2.181.5 cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all cn=pn_vc_tall_eucalypt,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read cn=allusers,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read visitcode Visit code from “Stagwatch Visit Table” Character survey_year Year of survey Character tree_code Tree code Character time_of_emergence Time of emergence Character emerg_location Location of animal upon emergence Character fauna_descriptor Animal species recorded Character sumofabundance Sum of abundance for total survey. Includes emergent, offsite and onsite animals. number real emergent_ Emergent from watched hollow Character on_site_ On Site? Character comments Comments Character lvic_arboreal_marsupials_stagwatch_2013_site_infor_p211t470.csv lvic_arboreal_marsupials_stagwatch_2013_site_infor_p211t470.csv 1 0 \r\n column , ecogrid://knb/ltern2.182.3 cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all cn=pn_vc_tall_eucalypt,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read cn=allusers,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read visitcode Visit code from “Stagwatch Visit" table Character survey_year Year of survey Character sitecode Site code Character surveydate Date of observation YYYY/MM/DD wind Wind 1 Calm 2 Light 3 Moderate 4 Windy precipitation Precipitation 0 Nil 1 Light rain 2 Heavy rain moon Moon 0 Nil 1 1/4 2 1/2 3 3/4 4 Full nightlight Nightlight 1 Dark 2 Unspecified 3 Unspecified 4 Bright weather Weather 1 Fine 2 Cloudy 3 Fog/ mist 4 Rain 5 Snow comments Comments Character http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/victorian-tall-eucalypt-forest