LTERN Data Portal

• The over-all Plot size is 40 x 20 metre. The plot is permanently located by a central metal star picket and GPS waypoint. Plots relocated by helicopter have a round large white lid on top to assist sighting the plot from air.

• A permanent photo picket with number plate is placed 10 metre inside the plot parallel with the plot sides.

• The corners and inner transects are marked by metal droppers.

• The inner 40 x 10 metre plot is delineated with measuring tapes. Two 50 metre tapes are layed out 5 metre either side of of central photo picket, parallel to the longer central axis,

• starting at zero on the left hand side heading to the back of the plot,

• again at zero on the right hand side heading to the top of the plot. (See figure in plot diagrams file).

Nb: some plots are not strictly 40 metre due to plot landscape constraints. Refer to Plot_details table for actual plot area.

The photo is taken looking down the long axis of the plot from centre front picket toward the plot number plate – see figure in plot diagrams file.

• Trees are defined as any woody species with diameter at breast height (DBH) > 5cm.

• All stems occurring within the whole plot are labelled with numbered metal tags and identified to species.

• Only one tag is required per tree, not per stem. Multi-stemmed trees will have more than one dbh per tree.

• The canopy top height in metres of each tree is estimated visually or with a clinometer.

• Scarring from fires is recorded on the following scale:

o 0 = no scarring;

o 1 = charcoal on surface of bark only;

o 2 = scarring damage to cambium;

o 3 = scarring on trunk over large area

o 4 = severe scarring on trunk over large area likely to result in death.

o 5 = dead

Fire scars are recorded only once per tree.

• DBH is measured for each separate stem that has > 5 cm DBH. DBH is the vertical height measured at 1.3 metres from the level of the base of the tree. DBH is measured using a diameter tape or calipers.

*Note: Check plot area in plot details table. Due to logistical constrains there is some variation in size of plots.

• A woody shrub is a woody species with DBH less than 5cm.

• All Woody shrub individuals are counted in 3 height classes

o < 50 cm;

o 50 cm to 2 m;

o > 2 m and < 5 cm DBH.

• Counts of individuals by species height < 50 cm class are undertaken along 1 m wide transects that define the ground stratum quadrats for the length of the plot.

• Use 1 metre poles to measure the 1 x 1 metre quadrats along the length of the tapes along the inside of the tape.

• For consistency shrubs in the < 50 cm height class should only be recorded along the entire 1 m transects defining the ground stratum quadrats.

• Counts of individuals of each species height 50cm-2m and >2m are undertaken in the internal area of the plot equivlent to 40 x 10 m.

*Note: refer to plot details table for actual plot area sampled.

• Forty 1m x 1m quadrats, systematically located every second metre along inner transects. The quadrat transects are always on the side of a measuring tape and orientated towards the centre of the plot (see Figure 2).

• Use 1 metre poles to measure the 1 x 1 metre quadrats along the length of the tapes along the inside of the tape.

• Woody species are not recorded in the quadrat data.

Parameters assessed in each quadrat include

• total percentage foliage cover of non-woody species,

• total % litter cover

• total % rock cover.

• A tree Canopy Closure Index (CCI) is assessed as follows:

o 0 = zero cover over quadrat;

o 1 = partial tree cover;

o 2 = > 75% tree canopy cover.

• The percentage cover of each grass or herb species present in each quadrat

* note most plot have 40 quadrats on either side of the plot, however there is some variation due to rocks & other limitations.

Ground logs (Heavy woodies debri) are sampled for within the whole area of the main plot. Logs recorded are any dead stems > 5 cm diameter on the ground. If lengths are > 5m long then sampling is undertaken in sections.

Refer to proform to assist how the measurement is done.

• The length is measured in ranges:

o 0-50cm,

o 50cm-1m,

o 1-2m,

o 2-3m,

o 3-4m,

o 4-5m.

• The diameter of each stem is measured in ranges:

o 5-10cm,

o 10-15cm,

o 15-20cm,

o 20-25cm,

o 25-30cm,

o 30-35cm,

o 35-40cm,

o 40-45cm,

o 45-50cm,

o > 50cm.

• The solid volume of stem material is allocated to 4 classes:

o a. 90-100%;

o b. 75-90%;

o c. 50-75%;

o d. < 50%.

One metre wide transects along the inside of the subplot tapes, are sampled for coarse woody debri. All coarse woody debri > 6 mm diameter and < 5 cm diameter are collected and weighed; a bulked sub-sample is collected and weighed and kept to later dry and re-weigh to give a % moisture to calculate dry weight.

FPC is measured using point step method and a densitometer. The FPC is only recorded for cover intercepted from trees (those with a diameter >5cm DBH). The transects walked will optimally follow the sides of be within the area across the plot. Atleast 200 points; one metre apart must be collected and at each point a recorded indicating

• Sky

• Green

• Branch

• dead

• in_crown