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 Vic 3010 Australia

03 8344 2282 ary@unimelb.edu.au Dr Henrik Wahren La Trobe University

Department of Botany La Trobe University Bundoora Vic 3086 Australia

James Camac Quantitative & Applied Ecology Group, The School of Botany, The University of Melbourne 0400 972 404 james.camac@gmail.com The University of Melbourne Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology, La Trobe University This data package shows the effects of experimental warming on plants in the Victorian Alpine region between 2004–2014. These data are from the Australian Tundra Experiment (ATEX) which is part of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX). The data tables consist of a subset of previously published data packages which have been combined to demonstrate the conclusions discussed on pages 188–191 of the book Lindenmayer et al., 2014. Biodiversity and Environemntal Change: Monitoring, Challenges and Direction (Core Study 4. Climate change experiment in open heathlands/grassland, Bogong High Plains). They also include data which has been collected since the book had been published. This experiment looks at the effects of increasing the near-surface soil temperature by ~1–2°C. As a consequence, the cover of grasses decreased in cover, while both forbs and shrubs increased in cover. Diversity increased as a result of changes in relative abundance and most growth forms increased in height. The ATEX experiment is locate at four sites on the Bogong High Plains, each site comprising multiple 1 square metre plots. The composition of each plot is sample using point quadrats every second snow-free season. 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 Vegetation structure Plant species composition Plant species abundance Individual plants Climate change LTERN Monitoring Themes 0602 ANZSRC-FOR Earth Science > Biosphere > Vegetation GCMD Plant phenology Australian Tundra Experiment ATEX International Tundra Experiment ITEX Keyword list TERN-BY Special conditions Spatial coordinates for site names are available at https://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern6.244/html (Victorian Alpine Plot Network (ATEX): Plot Details - Spatial Coordinates, South-east Highlands, Australia). 2004 2014 Species Acaena novaezelandiae Species Acetosella vulgaris Species Acrothamnus Species Acrothamnus hookeri Species Acrothamnus montanus Species Agropyron velutinum Species Agrostis venusta Species Ajuga australis Species Argyrotegium fordianum Species Argyrotegium mackayi Species Asperula gunnii Species Asterolasia trymalioides Species Australopyrum velutinum Species Brachyscome decipiens Species Cardamine Species Carex Species Carex breviculmis Species Carex hebes Species Carex rara Species Celmisia costiniana Species Celmisia pugioniformis Species Cladonia Species Colobanthus affinis Species Cotula alpina Species Craspedia coolaminica Species Craspedia jamesii Species Deyeuxia Species Deyeuxia monticola Species Erigeron bellidioides Species Erigeron nitidus Species Geranium antrorsum Species Geranium potentilloides Species Goodenia hederacea Species Grevillea australis Species Hovea montana Species Leptinella filicula Species Leptorhynchos squamatus Species Leucopogon hookeri Species Luzula alpina Species Luzula modesta Species Melicytus dentatus Species Microseris lanceolata Species Olearia brevipedunculata Species Olearia phlogopappa Species Oreomyrrhis argentea Species Oreomyrrhis eriopoda Species Pimelea alpina Species Pimelea axiflora Species Pimelea biflora Species Plantago euryphylla Species Poa Species Poa costiniana Species Poa hiemata Species Podolepis Species Podolepis robusta Species Poranthera microphylla Species Prasophyllum tadgellianum Species Ranunculus victoriensis Species Rytidosperma nudiflorum Species Rytidosperma penicillatum Species Scaevola hookeri Species Scleranthus biflorus Species Scleranthus singuliflorus Species Senecio pinnatifolius Species Trachymene humilis Species Trifolium repens Species Trisetum spicatum Species Viola betonicifolia Species Xerochrysum subundulatum Species hypochaeris radicata South-east Highlands 146.41728 147.40598 -36.73575 -37.49639 1435131355716 1435148448619 1434960420939

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, 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 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, 1 m2 plots, seven of which are covered by an OTC, and seven of which are uncovered, controls.

Red gum end-pegs 13 x hexagonal open-topped chambers

The OTCs, which increase ambient temperatures inside the chambers at these sites by about 2 – 2.5°C, are constructed from lightweight, shatter-resistant fibreglass with high light transmittance (86%) and low transmittance of infra-red (<5%). The OTCs for this project are about 50 cm tall, with 110 cm diameter open-tops, and bases 170 cm wide. This size is large enough to accommodate all species to be monitored, without influencing growth habits or reproductive structures via, e.g. edge effects..

Every second snow free season vegetative growth is recorded in seven species by measuring of growth amounts and converting measurements into a relative rate (i.e. relative rate of growth = (ti +1 – ti)/ti, where ti = measurement at time i). Measurements of selected species involved leaves of Carex breviculmis, Poa hiemata (Graminiods) and Celmisia pugioniformis, Erigeron bellidioides, and Plantago euryphylla (Forbs), and stems of Asterolasia trymalioides and Pimelea alpina. By using the relative rate of growth, the effect of initial size on measurements is removed. At the beginning of each growing season, plants are selected randomly for monitoring at every sub-plot within all ATEX plots. The first measurements are taken as soon as the snow melts and sites can be accessed in October or November, the second measurements is taken mid-season in January, and the final measurements is taken in March, the end of the active growing season. For the graminoids and C. pugioniformis, leaves are gathered and the longest live leaf is measured to the nearest 0.25cm for three random individuals of each species per plot. For the forbs, two random leaves on three random individuals of each species per plot are measured for length (from base to tip, excluding petiole) and width (at the widest point) to the nearest 1mm. Older leaves at the base of the rosette are avoided, as they have already grown to their full length. For the shrubs, the lengths of three random new shoots are monitored on three random individuals of each species per plot. The ITEX protocol recommends a variety of vegetative measurements (Molau and Mølgaard 1996), from which a subset of measurements are selected that are appropriate for the species in this study. Further details are in Jarrad et al. (2009). Contact data provider for more information.

Every second year vegetation is sampled by point quadrats using a 4 mm diameter steel pin, inserted vertically at 10 cm intervals within a grid of 100 points defined by a 1 m2 point-frame. At each point the top, intermediate and bottom species; canopy height; and condition of ground surface (bare soil, attached live or dead vegetation, loose litter) are recorded.

See: Molau U, Mølgaard P (1996) 'International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) Manual.' (Danish Polar Center: Copenhagen, Denmark) Jarrad FC, Wahren C, Williams RJ, Burgman MA (2009) Subalpine plants show short-term positive growth responses to experimental warming and fire. Australian Journal of Botany 57(6), 465-473. Wahren C-H, Camac JS, Jarrad FC, Williams RJ, Papst WA, Hoffmann AA (2013) Experimental warming and long-term vegetation dynamics in an alpine heathland. Australian Journal of Botany 61(1), 36-51. As for Study Extent Description. 1435148514986 Data Owner 1434960420939 Plot Leader 1435131355716 Data Provider 1435148448619 Data Content Speacialist Funding for collection of these data prior to 2012 was provided through an Australia Research Council Linkage Grant, partnered through the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), ES Link Services Pty Ltd, Mt Hotham Resort Management and Parks Victoria. These data were curated and published with strategic funds from a TERN initiative to publish long term data packages from the book Lindenmayer et al. 2014 Biodiversity and Environmental Change: Monitoring, Challenges and Direction. Since 2012 the Victorian Alpine Plot Network 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 project established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and Education Infrastructure Fund–Super Science Initiative through the (now) Department of Education and Training. vatx_grid_height_details_2004-2014_p592t906.csv Tree heights in ATEX plots vatx_grid_height_details_2004-2014_p592t906.csv 30957 1 #x0A column , ecogrid://knb/ltern6.247.1 cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all cn=pn_vic_alpine,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read cn=allusers,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read pq_date Date of observation YYYY-MM-DD site_name Point quadrat site Character pq_plot Point quadrat plot identifier Character pq_treatment Point quadrat treatment OTC Open-topped chamber CTL Control plot (no treatment) pqhta Height of cover grid corner "A" of quadrant. The four corners A–D are arraged clockwise with corners A and B runing West to East, B and C run North to South, etc., with minor variations to account for terrain. millimeter whole pqhtb Height of cover grid corner "B" of quadrant. The four corners A–D are arraged clockwise with corners A and B runing West to East, B and C run North to South, etc., with minor variations to account for terrain. millimeter whole pqhtc Height of cover grid corner "C" of quadrant. The four corners A–D are arraged clockwise with corners A and B runing West to East, B and C run North to South, etc., with minor variations to account for terrain. millimeter whole pqhtd Height of cover grid corner "D" of quadrant. The four corners A–D are arraged clockwise with corners A and B runing West to East, B and C run North to South, etc., with minor variations to account for terrain. millimeter whole 399 vatx_height_ground_cover_2004-2014_p592t862.csv Type of ground cover, and the distance from the overlying grid to the top of the vegetation and to the ground. vatx_height_ground_cover_2004-2014_p592t862.csv 3316340 1 #x0A column , ecogrid://knb/ltern6.248.1 cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all cn=pn_vic_alpine,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read cn=allusers,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read pq_date Date of observation YYYY-MM-DD site_name Point quadrat site Character pq_plot Point quadrat plot identifier Character row Point quadrat row Character column Point quadrat column Character pq_top Distance from overlying grid (approximately 1 metre above the ground surface) down to the top of tallest plant at this point millimeter 5 integer pq_bottom Distance from overlying grid (approximately 1 metre above the ground surface) down to the ground surface at this point millimeter 5 whole pq_cover_type Type of ground cover at point BG Bare ground BGD Bare ground with a dense cover (depends on species, but mostly ≥10 leaves) BGM Bare ground with a medium cover (4 to 9 leaves) BGS Bare ground with a sparse cover (1-3 leaves) FIXEDL Fixed litter FLL Fine loose litter (litter <5 mm thick) FLLD Fine loose litter with a dense cover FLLM Fine loose litter with a medium cover FLLS Fine loose litter with a sparse cover PROBE Temperature sensor TLL Thick loose litter (litter ≥5 mm thick) TLLD Thick loose litter with a dense cover TLLM Thick loose litter with a medium cover TLLS Thick loose litter with a sparse cover comments Comments Character 39739 vatx_species_composition_2004-2014_p592t905.csv Species composition in ATEX plots vatx_species_composition_2004-2014_p592t905.csv 12247871 1 #x0A column , ecogrid://knb/ltern6.246.1 cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all cn=pn_vic_alpine,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read cn=allusers,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org read pq_date Date of observation YYYY-MM-DD site_name Site name Character pq_plot Point quadrat point Character row Point quadrat row Character column Point quadrat column Character species Species recorded Character pq_status Plant status (alive or dead) Character pq_hit_type Order of plant Character 122316 http://www.ltern.org.au/ltern-plot-networks/victorian-alpine This data package is comprised of data from the book Lindenmayer et al. 2014 Biodiversity and Environmental Change: Monitoring Challenges and Direction