LTERN Data Portal

Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna): Terrestrial Vertebrate Monitoring, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, 1996–2009

Citation: Gillespie, G; Director of National Parks (Parks Australia) (): Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna): Terrestrial Vertebrate Monitoring, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, 1996–2009. Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern.61.32/html

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Metadata
Data 1

Identifier

docid: ltern.61.32

Data Creators

Individual: Dr Graeme Gillespie

Position: Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Organization: Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government

Organization: Director of National Parks (Parks Australia)

Abstract: This Terrestrial Vertebrate Monitoring data package comprises data for a sub-sample of the 133 plots situated in Kakadu National Park. Terrestrial mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians are sampled in a 50 x 50 m plot adjacent to each fire plot monitoring site (below). Each vertebrate plot is sampled every five years. Within each five yearly-interval plots are sampled in different months over a three-year period. Each individual plot is always sampled in the same month. The plots are assessed for fire occurrence at least annually by means of on-ground visits by ranger staff. This record is used, in conjunction with aerial surveys, to assess the reliability of the fire history which has been developed from satellite imagery. A photo record assembled for field visits to Kakadu National Park (and Nitmiluk National Park) visits spanning 1995-2004 has also been used to develop a practical field-based index of fire severity. The Three Parks Savanna Plot Network’s full program uses a total of 220 permanent monitoring plots established in the Kakadu, Litchfield and Nitmiluk National Parks which commenced in 1994-1995. The research is aimed at improving our understanding of impacts associated with imposed fire on vegetation structure, plant species and vertebrate fauna, in order to improve our knowledge and management of fire in tropical savanna landscapes. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Three Park Savanna's full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/three-parks-savanna.

Contacts for Questions on the Use and Interpretation of Data

Individual: Dr Graeme Gillespie

Position: Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Organization: Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government

Address: PO Box 496
Palmerston. Northern Territory 55099
Australia

Phone

voice: 08 8995 5025

Email Address: graeme.gillespie@nt.gov.au

Project Information and Data Owners

Title: Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network

Personnel

Role: Plot Leader

Individual: Professor Jeremy Russell-Smith

Organization: Charles Darwin University

Role: Principal Investigator

Individual: Dr Graeme Gillespie

Position: Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Organization: Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government

Funding: National Environmental Research Program. 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. This project has also recieved funding through Parks Australia, NT Parks & Wildlife Service, Tropical Savannas CRC, and Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research (Charles Darwin University).

Methods and Sampling Information

Methods

Method Step 1

Description: Set up

Fauna survey sites (50x50 m) are set up adjacent (preferably to the left) of the fixed vegetation monitoring plots.

Instrument

Cage traps = 4–6 (one on each corner of the trapping quadrat = 50 x 50 m, and additionally for helicopter surveys one in middle of two sides)
Elliott traps = 20/30 (vehicle surveys/helicopter surveys) evenly spaced around the perimeter
Pit falls = 3 (3 fences, 18 pegs, 3 buckets)
Funnels = two if possible and four extra pegs to secure them against one of the fences

Method Step 2

Description: Data collection

The fauna survey protocol comprises searches and trapping over a 72 hour period, including

(i) eight “instantaneous” counts (predominantly in the early morning) of birds present in a 1 ha plot

(ii) two nocturnal spotlighting searches each for 10-minutes of a 50 m x 50 m plot within the 1 ha plot, for frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals

(iii) three 10-minute day-time searches for reptiles, frogs and mammals in the 50 m x 50 m plot

(iv) an array of 20 Elliott traps (metal box traps 30 cm x 7 cm x 7 cm) and four cage traps (65 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm) evenly spaced along the perimeter of the 50 m x 50 m plot (mostly to sample small mammals), baited with a mixture of peanut butter, honey and oats, and checked early every morning

(v) two pitfall traps (20 L plastic buckets dug into the ground), with 8 m of 30 cm high flywire drift-line netting. For each species, an abundance value is calculated as the sum of all individuals captured or reported in searches.

Instrument

Habitat assessment proforma x 1
Fauna summary sheet x 1

Sampling

Study Extent Description: The monitoring program was designed originally to sample vegetation. Its applicability for the monitoring of fauna was recognised subsequently. As a consequence, the monitoring of fauna generally has lagged behind the vegetation monitoring program. Whereas all 133 monitoring plots in Kakadu have been sampled for vegetation four times over the period 1995-2009 (and the fifth resampling commenced April 2013), sampling for fauna has been far less substantial and regular: 15 of the Kakadu plots have been monitored for fauna four times, 121 plots three times, 39 plots only twice, and 6 plots have not been sampled at all.

Sampling Description: The network program at Kakadu National Park uses a core of 133 sites to sample a range of landform and vegetation type / habitat conditions. The plots are assessed for fire occurrence at least annually by means of on-ground visits by ranger staff. This record is used, in conjunction with aerial surveys, to assess the reliability of the fire history which has been developed from satellite imagery. A photo record assembled for field visits to Kakadu National Park (and Nitmiluk National Park) visits spanning 1995-2004 has also been used to develop a practical field-based index of fire severity. Where possible fauna survey sites are set up adjacent to the left-hand edge of the fire plots. In the case of creek line site, the fauna quadrat often needs to be upstream or downstream of the site.

Associated Parties

Role: Principal Investigator

Individual: Dr Alaric Fisher

Position: Executive Director

Organization: Flora & Fauna Division Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government

Keywords and Subject Categories

Keywords List

Fire effects
Terrestrial vertebrate sampling
Kakadu
Parks
Savanna

LTERN Monitoring Themes

Fire
Herpetofauna
Birds
Mammals

ANZSRC-FOR

0501
0502
0602

GCMD

Earth Science > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Fire Ecology
Earth Science > Biosphere > Terrestrial Ecosystems > Savannas

Geographic Coverage

Geographic Description: Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

Bounding Coordinates

West: 131.88766 degrees

East: 133.00257 degrees

North: -12.11059 degrees

South: -13.94659 degrees

Temporal Coverage

Date Begin: 1996

Date End: 2009

Taxonomic Coverage and Classification

Classification

Species

Acanthophis species rugosus complex
Species

Accipiter cirrocephalus
Species

Accipiter fasciatus
Species

Accipiter novaehollandiae
Species

Acrocephalus australis
Species

Aegotheles cristatus
Species

Amaurornis cinerea
Species

Amytornis woodwardi
Species

Anhinga novaehollandiae
Species

Anseranas semipalmata
Species

Antaresia childreni
Species

Antechinus bellus
Species

Aprosmictus erythropterus
Species

Apus pacificus
Species

Aquila audax
Species

Ardea intermedia
Species

Ardea modesta
Species

Ardeotis australis
Species

Artamus cinereus
Species

Artamus leucorynchus
Species

Artamus minor
Species

Austrochaperina adelphe
Species

Aviceda subcristata
Species

Aythya australis
Species

Boiga irregularis
Species

Bos taurus
Species

Brachyurophis semifasciatus
Species

Bubalus bubalis
Species

Burhinus grallarius
Species

Cacatua galerita
Species

Cacatua sanguinea
Species

Cacomantis pallidus
Species

Cacomantis variolosus
Species

Calyptorhynchus banksii macrorhynchus
Species

Canis lupus
Species

Caprimulgus macrurus
Species

Carlia amax
Species

Carlia gracilis
Species

Carlia munda
Species

Carlia rufilatus
Species

Carlia triacantha
Species

Centropus phasianinus
Species

Certhionyx pectoralis
Species

Ceyx azureus
Species

Ceyx pusilla
Species

Chaerephon jobensis
Species

Chalcites basalis
Species

Chalcites minutillus
Species

Chalcophaps indica
Species

Chalinolobus gouldii
Species

Chlamydosaurus kingii
Species

Cincloramphus cruralis
Species

Cincloramphus mathewsi
Species

Circus assimilis
Species

Cisticola exilis
Species

Cisticola juncidis
Species

Climacteris melanura
Species

Colluricincla harmonica
Species

Colluricincla megarhyncha
Species

Colluricincla woodwardi
Species

Conilurus penicillatus
Species

Conopophila albogularis
Species

Conopophila rufogularis
Species

Coracina novaehollandiae
Species

Coracina papuensis
Species

Coracina tenuirostris
Species

Corvus orru
Species

Coturnix ypsilophora
Species

Cracticus nigrogularis
Species

Cracticus torquatus
Species

Crinia bilingua
Species

Crinia remota
Species

Cryptoblepharus cygnatus
Species

Cryptoblepharus metallicus
Species

Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus
Species

Cryptophis pallidiceps
Species

Ctenophorus caudicinctus
Species

Ctenotus arnhemensis
Species

Ctenotus borealis
Species

Ctenotus coggeri
Species

Ctenotus essingtonii
Species

Ctenotus gagudju
Species

Ctenotus inornatus
Species

Ctenotus robustus
Species

Ctenotus spaldingi
Species

Ctenotus storri
Species

Ctenotus vertebralis
Species

Cuculus optatus
Species

Dacelo leachii
Species

Daphoenositta chrysoptera
Species

Dasyurus hallucatus
Species

Delma borea
Species

Demansia papuensis
Species

Demansia vestigiata
Species

Dendrelaphis punctulata
Species

Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Species

Dicrurus bracteatus
Species

Diporiphora bennettii
Species

Diporiphora bilineata
Species

Diporiphora magna
Species

Dromaius novaehollandiae
Species

Ducula bicolor
Species

Egretta garzetta
Species

Egretta picata
Species

Entomyzon cyanotis
Species

Eolophus roseicapillus
Species

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Species

Equus asinus
Species

Equus caballus
Species

Eudynamys orientalis
Species

Eurostopodus argus
Species

Eurystomus orientalis
Species

Excalfactoria chinensis
Species

Falco berigora
Species

Falco cenchroides
Species

Falco longipennis
Species

Falco peregrinus
Species

Felis catus
Species

Furina ornata
Species

Gallirallus philippensis
Species

Gehyra australis
Species

Gehyra nana
Species

Gehyra pamela
Species

Geopelia cuneata
Species

Geopelia humeralis
Species

Geopelia striata
Species

Geophaps smithii
Species

Gerygone albogularis
Species

Gerygone chloronota
Species

Glaphyromorphus darwiniensis
Species

Glaphyromorphus douglasi
Species

Glaphyromorphus isolepis
Species

Grallina cyanoleuca
Species

Grus rubicunda
Species

Haliaeetus leucogaster
Species

Haliastur indus
Species

Haliastur sphenurus
Species

Hamirostra melanosternon
Species

Hemidactylus frenatus
Species

Heteronotia binoei
Species

Heteronotia planiceps
Species

Hipposideros ater
Species

Hipposideros inornata
Species

Hydromys chrysogaster
Species

Isoodon macrourus
Species

Ixobrychus flavicollis
Species

Lalage leucomela
Species

Lalage sueurii
Species

Leggadina lakedownensis
Species

Lerista karlschmidti
Species

Lerista orientalis
Species

Lialis burtonis
Species

Lichenostomus unicolor
Species

Lichmera indistincta
Species

Limnodynastes convexiusculus
Species

Limnodynastes lignarius
Species

Litoria australis
Species

Litoria bicolor
Species

Litoria caerulea
Species

Litoria coplandi
Species

Litoria dahlii
Species

Litoria inermis
Species

Litoria longipes
Species

Litoria meiriana
Species

Litoria microbelos
Species

Litoria nasuta
Species

Litoria pallida
Species

Litoria personata
Species

Litoria rothii
Species

Litoria rubella
Species

Litoria tornieri
Species

Litoria wotjulumensis
Species

Lonchura castaneothorax
Species

Lophognathus gilberti
Species

Lophognathus temporalis
Species

Lucasium stenodactylum
Species

Macroderma gigas
Species

Macropus agilis
Species

Macropus antilopinus
Species

Macropus bernardus
Species

Macropus robustus
Species

Malurus lamberti
Species

Malurus melanocephalus
Species

Manorina flavigula
Species

Megalurus timoriensis
Species

Megapodius reinwardt
Species

Melanodryas cucullata
Species

Meliphaga albilineata
Species

Melithreptus albogularis
Species

Melomys burtoni
Species

Menetia alanae
Species

Menetia greyii
Species

Menetia maini
Species

Merops ornatus
Species

Mesembriomys gouldii
Species

Microeca fascinans
Species

Microeca flavigaster
Species

Milvus migrans
Species

Morelia oenpelliensis
Species

Morelia spilota
Species

Morethia ruficauda
Species

Morethia storri
Species

Mormopterus beccarii
Species

Myiagra alecto
Species

Myiagra inquieta
Species

Myiagra rubecula
Species

Myzomela obscura
Species

Neochmia phaeton
Species

Nephrurus sheai
Species

Ninox connivens
Species

Ninox novaeseelandiae
Species

Notaden melanoscaphus
Species

Notoscincus ornatus
Species

Nycticorax caledonicus
Species

Nymphicus hollandicus
Species

Oedura gemmata
Species

Oedura marmorata
Species

Oedura rhombifer
Species

Oriolus flavocinctus
Species

Oriolus sagittatus
Species

Pachycephala rufiventris
Species

Pachycephala simplex
Species

Pardalotus striatus
Species

Petaurus breviceps
Species

Petrochelidon ariel
Species

Petrochelidon nigricans
Species

Petrogale brachyotis
Species

Petrogale concinna
Species

Petrophassa rufipennis
Species

Petropseudes dahli
Species

Phaps chalcoptera
Species

Phascogale pirata
Species

Philemon argenticeps
Species

Philemon buceroides
Species

Philemon citreogularis
Species

Pipistrellus adamsi
Species

Pitta iris
Species

Planigale maculata
Species

Platalea flavipes
Species

Platycercus venustus
Species

Platyplectrum ornatus
Species

Podargus strigoides
Species

Poecilodryas cerviniventris
Species

Poephila acuticauda
Species

Poephila personata
Species

Pomatostomus temporalis
Species

Proablepharus tenuis
Species

Psephotus dissimilis
Species

Pseudantechinus bilarni
Species

Pseudechis australis
Species

Pseudomys calabyi
Species

Pseudomys delicatulus
Species

Pseudomys nanus
Species

Pseudonaja nuchalis
Species

Pseudothecadactylus lindneri
Species

Psitteuteles versicolor
Species

Pteropus alecto
Species

Pteropus scapulatus
Species

Ptilinopus cinctus
Species

Ptilinopus regina
Species

Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis
Species

Ramphotyphlops diversus
Species

Ramphotyphlops guentheri
Species

Ramphotyphlops tovelli
Species

Ramphotyphlops unguirostris
Species

Ramsayornis fasciatus
Species

Rattus colletti
Species

Rattus rattus
Species

Rattus tunneyi
Species

Rhinella marina
Species

Rhipidura dryas
Species

Rhipidura leucophrys
Species

Rhipidura rufiventris
Species

Saccolaimus flaviventris
Species

Scythrops novaehollandiae
Species

Smicrornis brevirostris
Species

Sminthopsis bindi
Species

Sminthopsis virginiae
Species

Sphecotheres vieilloti
Species

Stegonotus cucullatus
Species

Stiltia isabella
Species

Strophurus ciliaris
Species

Sus scrofa
Species

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Species

Tachyglossus aculeatus
Species

Taeniopygia bichenovii
Species

Taphozous georgianus
Species

Threskiornis molucca
Species

Threskiornis spinicollis
Species

Tiliqua scincoides
Species

Todiramphus macleayii
Species

Todiramphus pyrrhopygius
Species

Todiramphus sanctus
Species

Trichoglossus haematodus
Species

Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis
Species

Tropidonophis mairii
Species

Turnix castanotus
Species

Turnix maculosus
Species

Tyto novaehollandiae kimberli
Species

Uperoleia arenicola
Species

Uperoleia inundata
Species

Uperoleia lithomoda
Species

Varanus baritji
Species

Varanus glebopalma
Species

Varanus gouldii
Species

Varanus mertensi
Species

Varanus mitchelli
Species

Varanus panoptes
Species

Varanus scalaris
Species

Varanus tristis
Species

Vespadelus caurinus
Species

Vespadelus finlaysoni
Species

Zosterops luteus
Species

Zyzomys argurus
Species

Zyzomys maini

Intellectual Rights, Licence and Usage Conditions: CC-BY-4_0 Special Conditions: Prior to publication of research utilising these data — the data provider must be consulted and provide consent. Spatial coordinates for plots are available at http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern6.93/html (Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network: Plot Details - Spatial Coordinates, Northern Territory, Australia).

Data Table

tpsk_terrestrial_vertebrate_monitoring_p86t51.csv

Name: tpsk_terrestrial_vertebrate_monitoring_p86t51.csv

Attribute Information

Name: id

Definition: Record identifier

Measurement Type: ordinal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Number

speciesid

Name: speciesid

Definition: Identifier given to vertebrate species

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

species

Name: species

Definition: Scientific name

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

common_name1

Name: common_name1

Definition: Common name

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

surveysite

Name: surveysite

Definition: Identifier for the survey site

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

survey

Name: survey

Definition: The park the survey was conducted in

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

site

Name: site

Definition: site

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: site

round

Name: round

Definition: Each survey site has a date and year, and is surveyed every five years. Each of these 5-yearly rounds of sampling is a “round”.

Measurement Type: interval

Measurement Domain

Standard Unit: number

Number Type: natural

date

Name: date

Definition: The survey date

Measurement Type: dateTime

Measurement Domain

Format: YYYY-MM-DD

abundance

Name: abundance

Definition: Occurrence count of the species

Measurement Type: ratio

Measurement Domain

Standard Unit: number

Number Type: real

Physical Structure Description

Object Name: tpsk_terrestrial_vertebrate_monitoring_p86t51.csv

Text Format

Number of Header Lines: 1

Number of Footer Lines: 0

Record Delimiter: \r\n

Attribute Orientation: column

Simple Delimited

Field Delimiter: ,

Distribution

Online

URL: ltern.62.2

Access

Access Control

Auth System: knb

Order: allowFirst

Allow:

Permission	Principal
[read]	uid=fisher,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[read]	uid=gillespie,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[read]	uid=wu,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[read]	uid=wansbrough,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[all]	cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[read]	cn=nesp,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org

Additional Metadata Links

Access

Access Control

Auth System: knb

Order: allowFirst

Allow:

Permission	Principal
[read]	public
[read]	uid=gillespie,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[read]	uid=fisher,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[all]	cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org