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Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network: Arboreal Marsupial (stag-watch) Data, Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia, 2013–2014
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
Plot set-up
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 Marsupial Stagwatch
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.
Documentation
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.
Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network
1409718906120
Plot network contact
1409718747274
Plot network contact
lvic_arboreal_marsupials_stagwatch_2013_p211t469.csv
lvic_arboreal_marsupials_stagwatch_2013_p211t469.csv
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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
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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