LTERN Data Portal

Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna): Terrestrial Vertebrate Monitoring, Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, 1995–2011

Citation: Gillespie, G; Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government (): Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna): Terrestrial Vertebrate Monitoring, Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, 1995–2011. Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern.97.28/html

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Metadata
Data 1

Identifier

docid: ltern.97.28

Data Creators

Individual: Dr Graeme Gillespie

Position: Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Organization: Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government

Organization: Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government

Web Address: http://www.lrm.nt.gov.au/

Abstract: This Terrestrial Vertebrate Monitoring data package comprises data for a sub-sample of the 41 plots situated in Litchfield 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 0831
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: Data Owner

Organization: Northern Territory Government Department of Land Resource Management

Web Address: http://www.lrm.nt.gov.au/

Role: Plot Leader – fauna

Individual: Dr Graeme Gillespie

Position: Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Organization: Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government

Role: Plot Leader – flora

Individual: Professor Jeremy Russell-Smith

Organization: Charles Darwin University

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 received 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; and

(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: There were four terrestial vertebrate surveys conducted during this temporal range - 1995/1996, 2001/2002, 2006 and 2011.

Sampling Description: Some of the species listed in the taxonomic coverage were by-catch (i.e. they were not recorded using the described collection protocols). The monitoring program was designed originally to sample vegetation. Its suitability for the monitoring of fauna was recognised at a later date. As a consequence, the monitoring of fauna generally has lagged behind the vegetation monitoring program. Sampling in Litchfield surveyed 40 of the 41 plots in 1995/96 and 2001, 37 sites in 2006 and 32 sites in 2011

Associated Parties

Role: Data Owner

Organization: Northern Territory Government Department of Land Resource Management

Web Address: http://www.lrm.nt.gov.au/

Role: Land Managers

Organization: Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory

Web Address: http://www.parksandwildlife.nt.gov.au/

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

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
Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates

Keywords List

Fire effects
Terrestrial vertebrate sampling
Litchfield
Parks
Savanna

Geographic Coverage

Geographic Description: Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Bounding Coordinates

West: 130.68445 degrees

East: 130.9701 degrees

North: -13.038 degrees

South: -13.52589 degrees

Temporal Coverage

Date Begin: 1995

Date End: 2011

Taxonomic Coverage and Classification

Classification

Species

Acanthophis species rugosus complex
Species

Accipiter cirrocephalus
Species

Accipiter fasciatus
Species

Aegotheles cristatus
Species

Anseranas semipalmata
Species

Antechinus bellus
Species

Aprosmictus erythropterus
Species

Apus pacificus
Species

Aquila audax
Species

Ardea modesta
Species

Artamus cinereus
Species

Artamus minor
Species

Aspidites melanocephalus
Species

Austrochaperina adelphe
Species

Boiga irregularis
Species

Bos taurus
Species

Brachyurophis semifasciatus
Species

Bubalus bubalis
Species

Burhinus grallarius
Species

Cacatua galerita
Species

Cacatua sanguinea
Species

Cacomantis variolosus
Species

Calyptorhynchus banksii macrorhynchus
Species

Canis lupus
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

Chalcites basalis
Species

Chalcites minutillus
Species

Chlamydosaurus kingii
Species

Cisticola exilis
Species

Climacteris melanura
Species

Colluricincla harmonica
Species

Colluricincla megarhyncha
Species

Colluricincla woodwardi
Species

Conopophila albogularis
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

Crocodylus johnstoni
Species

Cryptoblepharus carnabyi
Species

Cryptoblepharus cygnatus
Species

Cryptoblepharus metallicus
Species

Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus
Species

Ctenophorus caudicinctus
Species

Ctenotus borealis
Species

Ctenotus decaneurus
Species

Ctenotus essingtonii
Species

Ctenotus hilli
Species

Ctenotus inornatus
Species

Ctenotus robustus
Species

Ctenotus storri
Species

Cuculus optatus
Species

Dacelo leachii
Species

Daphoenositta chrysoptera
Species

Dasyurus hallucatus
Species

Delma borea
Species

Delma tincta
Species

Demansia olivacea
Species

Dendrelaphis punctulata
Species

Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Species

Dicrurus bracteatus
Species

Diporiphora albilabris
Species

Diporiphora bennettii
Species

Diporiphora bilineata
Species

Diporiphora magna
Species

Dromaius novaehollandiae
Species

Ducula bicolor
Species

Elseya dentata
Species

Entomyzon cyanotis
Species

Eolophus roseicapillus
Species

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Species

Equus caballus
Species

Eremiascincus isolepis
Species

Eudynamys orientalis
Species

Eurostopodus argus
Species

Eurystomus orientalis
Species

Excalfactoria chinensis
Species

Falco berigora
Species

Furina ornata
Species

Gallirallus philippensis
Species

Gehyra australis
Species

Gehyra nana
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

Haliaeetus leucogaster
Species

Haliastur sphenurus
Species

Hamirostra melanosternon
Species

Heteronotia binoei
Species

Hydromys chrysogaster
Species

Isoodon macrourus
Species

Ixobrychus flavicollis
Species

Lalage leucomela
Species

Lalage sueurii
Species

Leggadina lakedownensis
Species

Lerista orientalis
Species

Lialis burtonis
Species

Liasis olivaceus
Species

Lichenostomus unicolor
Species

Lichenostomus virescens
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 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 robustus
Species

Malurus lamberti
Species

Malurus melanocephalus
Species

Manorina flavigula
Species

Megalurus timoriensis
Species

Melithreptus albogularis
Species

Melomys burtoni
Species

Menetia alanae
Species

Menetia greyii
Species

Menetia maini
Species

Merops ornatus
Species

Mesembriomys gouldii
Species

Microcarbo melanoleucos
Species

Microeca flavigaster
Species

Morelia spilota
Species

Morethia ruficauda
Species

Morethia storri
Species

Myiagra alecto
Species

Myiagra inquieta
Species

Myiagra rubecula
Species

Myzomela obscura
Species

Neochmia phaeton
Species

Ninox connivens
Species

Ninox novaeseelandiae
Species

Ninox rufa
Species

Notaden melanoscaphus
Species

Notoscincus ornatus
Species

Nycticorax caledonicus
Species

Oedura marmorata
Species

Oedura rhombifer
Species

Oriolus flavocinctus
Species

Oriolus sagittatus
Species

Pachycephala rufiventris
Species

Pardalotus striatus
Species

Petaurus breviceps
Species

Petrochelidon nigricans
Species

Petrogale brachyotis
Species

Petrogale concinna
Species

Phaps chalcoptera
Species

Philemon argenticeps
Species

Philemon citreogularis
Species

Pitta iris
Species

Planigale maculata
Species

Platycercus venustus
Species

Platyplectrum ornatus
Species

Pluvialis squatarola
Species

Podargus strigoides
Species

Poephila acuticauda
Species

Pomatostomus temporalis
Species

Proablepharus tenuis
Species

Pseudantechinus bilarni
Species

Pseudechis australis
Species

Pseudomys calabyi
Species

Pseudomys delicatulus
Species

Pseudomys nanus
Species

Pseudonaja nuchalis
Species

Psitteuteles versicolor
Species

Pteropus alecto
Species

Pteropus scapulatus
Species

Ptilinopus regina
Species

Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis
Species

Pygopus steelescotti
Species

Ramphotyphlops kimberleyensis
Species

Ramsayornis fasciatus
Species

Rattus colletti
Species

Rattus rattus
Species

Rattus tunneyi
Species

Rhinella marina
Species

Rhipidura leucophrys
Species

Rhipidura rufiventris
Species

Scythrops novaehollandiae
Species

Smicrornis brevirostris
Species

Sminthopsis bindi
Species

Sminthopsis virginiae
Species

Sphecotheres vieilloti
Species

Sus scrofa
Species

Tachyglossus aculeatus
Species

Taeniopygia bichenovii
Species

Taphozous georgianus
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 maculosus
Species

Uperoleia inundata
Species

Uperoleia lithomoda
Species

Varanus acanthurus
Species

Varanus baritji
Species

Varanus glebopalma
Species

Varanus gouldii
Species

Varanus mertensi
Species

Varanus mitchelli
Species

Varanus panoptes
Species

Varanus primordius
Species

Varanus scalaris
Species

Varanus tristis
Species

Zyzomys argurus

Intellectual Rights, Licence and Usage Conditions: CC-BY-4_0 Special Conditions: Users are required to contact the data provider (Graeme Gillespie) to discuss use of these data, including collaboration or co-authorship where appropriate. Users are also required to seek permission from Northern Territory Government Department of Land Resource to discuss use of this data package. 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

tpsl_terrestrial_vertebrate_monitoring_p88t68.csv

Name: tpsl_terrestrial_vertebrate_monitoring_p88t68.csv

Attribute Information

Name: id

Definition: Record identifier

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

species_id

Name: species_id

Definition: Identifier given to vertebrate species

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

full_name

Name: full_name

Definition: Scientific name

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

common_name

Name: common_name

Definition: Common name

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

survey_site

Name: survey_site

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 identifier

Measurement Type: nominal

Measurement Domain

Text Domain

Definition: Character

date

Name: date

Definition: The survey date

Measurement Type: dateTime

Measurement Domain

Format: YYYY-MM-DD

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: ratio

Measurement Domain

Standard Unit: number

Number Type: natural

abundance

Name: abundance

Definition: Occurrence count of the species

Measurement Type: ratio

Measurement Domain

Standard Unit: number

Number Type: whole

Number Of Records: 4698

Physical Structure Description

Object Name: tpsl_terrestrial_vertebrate_monitoring_p88t68.csv

Size: 547367 byte

Text Format

Number of Header Lines: 1

Record Delimiter: #x0A

Attribute Orientation: column

Simple Delimited

Field Delimiter: ,

Distribution

Online

URL: ltern.98.2

Access

Access Control

Auth System: knb

Order: allowFirst

Allow:

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