public read cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all cn=pn_vic_alpine,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read Professor Ary Hoffmann The University of Melbourne Plot Leader

Bio21 Institute, Departments of Zoology and Genetics The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria 3010

03 8344 2282 ary@unimelb.edu.au This data package contains spatial data and plot details for four sites situated on the Bogong High Plains that form the Australian Tundra Experiment (ATEX). Sites, which comprise multiple 1 square metre plots, are visited every second snow-free season. Responses in the growth and phenology of individual species and life forms, and changes to community composition and diversity are monitored according to internationally agreed-to protocols of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX). Data collected from the plots can then be used to generate predictions, which can be across elevation (and thus temperature) gradients, and assess above ground effects on carbon storage. This is part of a larger dataset that spans from during data collected in 2003 to document long-term effects of climate change (see methods for more information). The Victorian Alpine Plot Network research plots are revisited on a biannual basis, though measurements taken during surveys differ from visit to visit. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Alpine Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/victorian-alpine. Spatial coordinates Plot details Plot setup CC-BY-4_0 Special conditions Data users must request permission from the Data Provider before access to latitudinal and longitudinal data is granted. South-east Highlands, Australia 146.41728 147.40598 -36.73575 -37.49639 1403149765536

Alpine environments globally are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly warming. To examine the effects of climate change on alpine ecosystems, a climate change experiment was established on the Bogong High Plains in 2003. The experiment aims to assess the likely response of vegetation and invertebrates to temperature increases attained via a passive warming experiment. Following the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) protocol (Molau and Mølgaard 1996; Jarrad et al. 2009; Wahren et al. 2013), four open-heathland ATEX field sites, two burnt and two unburnt, were established in the Rocky Knobs area (36.90ºS, 147.27ºE) on the Bogong High Plains in 2003. The burnt and unburnt sites were ca. 1.7 km apart while within burn-type, each of the sites were separated by approximately 0.5 km. At each of the two unburnt sites, 26 x 1 m2 plots are located along permanently marked transects. Transects are 10 m apart, 50 m long, and are marked with sturdy, red gum end-pegs. At each unburnt site, 13 of the plots are covered by a hexagonal perspex open-topped chamber (OTC; base diameter 168 cm, top diameter 110 cm) and the remaining, control plots are uncovered. At each of the two burnt sites there are 14 x 1m2 plots, seven of which are covered by an OTC, and seven of which are uncovered, controls. The chambers change the microclimate of the plots during the growing season – raising the ambient temperature by about 1-1.5°C and reducing soil moisture by 5-10%.

Red gum end-pegs

Data collected at the ATEX sites include vegetation growth, vegetation phenology, plant species composition, climate data and invertebrate diversity.

1403149765536 Principal Investigator Since 2012 this project has been 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. vatx_atex_field_sites_spatial_details_p978t1257.csv vatx_atex_field_sites_spatial_details_p978t1257.csv 5363 1 #x0A column , ecogrid://knb/ltern6.245.1 cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all cn=pn_vic_alpine,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read site_name Point quadrat site Character utm_n Northing (WGS84 Zone 55S) meter whole utm_e Easting (WGS84 Zone 55S) meter whole pq_plot Point quadrat plot identifier Character pq_treatment Point quadrat treatment OTC Open-topped chamber CTL Control plot (no treatment) 81 http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/victorian-alpine