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, Australian National University Principal Investigator

Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Frank Fenner Building (Building 141), Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601

+61 2 6125 0654 david.lindenmayer@anu.edu.au Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP) http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/ Land manager Melbourne Water http://www.melbournewater.com.au/Pages/home.aspx Land manager Parks Victoria http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/ Land manager 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 in 1983, 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 Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Mammals GCMD Science Keywords 0501 0602 0608 ANZSRC-FOR Codes Mammals LTERN Monitoring Themes Fauna Stagwatch Stag-watching Keywords List 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. Spatial coordinates for site codes are available at https://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern2.184/html (Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network: Plot Details - Spatial Coordinates, Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia) Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia 145.477922 146.195374 -37.342523 -37.919069 2012-04-13 2016-03-22 Species Acrobates pygmaeus Species Aegotheles cristatus Species Antechinus agilis Species Antechinus swainsonii Species Canis lupus Species Gymnobelideus leadbeateri Species Isoodon obesulus Species Ninox novaeseelandiae Species Ninox strenua Species Perameles nasuta Species Petauroides volans Species Petaurus australis Species Petaurus breviceps Species Pseudocheirus peregrinus Species Rattus fuscipes Species Rusa unicolor Species Trichosurus cunninghami Species Tyto tenebricosa Species Wallabia bicolor Mr Lachlan McBurney Fenner School of Environment and Society Plot network contact

Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601

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 Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601

+61 3 5962 4043, +61 439 660 996 david.blair@anu.edu.au 1397610412979

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 from 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. 1397610412979 Data Owner 1409718906120 Plot network contact 1409718747274 Plot network contact 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. Other funding agencies supporting this research project for various periods include: Parks Victoria (2004-2019); Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (2004-2005); Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2006-2011); Thomas Foundation (2009); Australian Research Council Discovery Program DP1097170 (2010-2015); National Environmental Research Program, Environmental Decisions Hub (2011-2014); Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries (2014-2018); Graeme Wood Foundation (2015-2017); and National Environmental Science Program, Threatened Species Recovery Hub (2015-2020). lvic_arboreal_marsupial_visit_2012+_p926t1242.csv Visit information for Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Arboreal Marsupial (Stag-watch) Surveys, 2012+ lvic_arboreal_marsupial_visit_2012+_p926t1242.csv 8614 1 #x0A column , ecogrid://knb/ltern7.133.1 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 visit_code Visit code from “stagwatch visit" table Character survey_year Survey year (expressed as last two digits of two consecutive calendar years) YY_YY site_code Site code Character survey_date Survey visit date YYYY-MM-DD wind Wind category 1 calm 2 light, leaves move 3 moderate, canopy moves 4 strong precipitation Precipitation category 0 No rain 1 Light rain 2 Heavy rain cloud Cloud category 1 Cloud category 1 2 Cloud category 2 3 Cloud category 3 4 Cloud category 4 5 Cloud category 5 6 Cloud category 6 7 Cloud category 7 8 Cloud category 8 moon Moon phase 0 Nil 1 1/4 2 1/2 3 3/4 4 Full night_light Night light category 1 Very dark 2 Dark, silhouettes only 3 Moderately light 4 Bright, moon, no cloud weather Weather category 1 Fine 2 Cloudy 3 Fog / mist 4 Rain 5 Snow 137 lvic_arboreal_marsupial_data_2012+_p926t1241.csv Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Arboreal Marsupial (Stag-watch) Survey Data, 2012+ lvic_arboreal_marsupial_data_2012+_p926t1241.csv 52255 1 #x0A column , ecogrid://knb/ltern7.134.1 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 visit_code Visit code from “stagwatch visit" table, links survey data to visit information Character tree_code Site tree code Character time_of_emergence Time of observation hh:mm emerg_location Location of animal upon emergence Character animal Animal species recorded Character abundance Count of species detected at tree number whole on_site On site but did not “emerge” from a hollow Character 806 http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/victorian-tall-eucalypt-forest