LTERN Data Portal

Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna): Vertebrate Trapping, Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, 2015

Citation

Gillespie, G (): Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna): Vertebrate Trapping, Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, 2015. Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern2.1079.22/html

Download EML
Identifier
docid
ltern2.1079.22
Data Creators
Individual
Dr Graeme Gillespie
Position
Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems
Organization
Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory Government
Abstract

These data are records of all vertebrates trapped during the 2015 Nitmiluk survey. A total of 220 permanent monitoring plots were established between 1994-2002 across three parks (Kakadu, Litchfield and Nitmiluk) in the top end of the Northern Territory, representing the Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network. A detailed flora and fauna survey has been conducted at each plot on a 5-6 year cycle to monitor biotic changes. Plots represent a variety of landforms and vegetation types. Nitmiluk National Park contains 46 plots, each with a paired plot located within 1 km of the primary plot. In 2015, 23 paired plots were surveyed for terrestrial vertebrate fauna using a range of survey methods. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Three Park Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network’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
Individual
Dr Alaric Fisher
Organization
Flora & Fauna Division Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government
Address
PO Box 496
Palmerston. Northern Territory 0831
Australia
Phone
voice
08 8995 5002
Email Address
alaric.fisher@nt.gov.au
Individual
Luke Einoder
Position
Scientist, Terrestrial Ecosystems, Flora and Fauna Division
Organization
Department of Land Resource Management
Address
PO Box 496
Palmerston. Northern Territory 0831
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 Network Leader (Fauna)
Individual
Dr Graeme Gillespie
Position
Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems
Organization
Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory Government
Funding

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.

Methods and Sampling Information
Methods
Method Step 1
Description
Plot set-up

Nitmiluk National Park contains 46 plots, each with a paired plot located within 1 km of the primary plot. In 2015, 23 paired plots were surveyed for terrestrial vertebrate fauna using a range of survey methods.

Method Step 2
Description
Data collection

The trapping grid at primary plots was set up directly adjacent to the permanent 40 x 20 m flora monitoring plots (marked with a baseline and end-line of star steels and a permanent metal post and metal number tag). The location for the secondary paired plot was found using a handheld GPS, and the waypoint for the site was considered the centre point around which a 50 x 50 m trapping grid was set up. During set up both primary and secondary plots were marked out using flagging tape and a tape measure. The layout of traps at each plot included:

• 16 Elliott traps around the perimeter – 4 on each side, at 8 m apart.

• 8 cage traps – one in each corner, and one mid-way along each edge.

• 4 pit traps scattered within the quadrat. Each pit trap comprises a 20 litre plastic bucket dug into the ground with 10 m of drift-fence set across it to channel small ground-dwelling fauna into the bucket. Pits were located in different microhabitats in the quadrat e.g. in open ground; in dense grass; close to trees; in rocky areas.

• Where pit traps could not be installed (due to rock slab, etc) funnel traps were placed in pairs midway along 10m drift fences, scattered within the quadrat.

The trapping protocol was as follows:

• The location of all traps was marked clearly by tying flagging tape to surrounding vegetation so they can be easily located.

• Elliott and cage traps were baited with a mixture of oats, peanut butter and honey.

• Pitfall and funnel traps were not baited.

• Pitfall traps contain shelter (e.g., sand, leaf litter, and in dry areas should contain a damp cloth).

• Elliott, cage, and funnel traps were placed in situations where they are sheltered from the sun by shrub, grasses, rocks or logs and groundwater by their direction and location in the environment.

Cage and Elliott traps were baited at the end of each day prior to sunset, and checked and closed not more than 1 hr after dawn. Pit traps and funnel traps were checked at dawn, midday, and dusk each day. Mammals and reptiles caught were identified to species level before being released.

Instrument
  • Binoculars and GPS
Associated Parties
Role
Plot Network Leader (Fauna)
Individual
Dr Graeme Gillespie
Position
Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems
Organization
Department of Land Resource Management, Northern Territory Government
Role
Principal Investigator
Individual
Dr Alaric Fisher
Organization
Flora & Fauna Division Department of Land Resource Management Northern Territory Government
Role
Data Collector
Individual
Dr John Woinarski
Organization
Charles Darwin University
Role
Scientist
Individual
Luke Einoder
Position
Scientist, Terrestrial Ecosystems, Flora and Fauna Division
Organization
Department of Land Resource Management
Role
Land Managers
Organization
Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory
Web Address
http://www.parksandwildlife.nt.gov.au/
Keywords and Subject Categories
GCMD
  • Earth Science > Biosphere > Terrestrial Ecosystems > Savannas
  • Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates
LTERN Monitoring Themes
  • Mammals
  • Herpetofauna
Keywords
  • Invasive animals
  • Vertebrates
ANZSRC-FOR
  • 0502
  • 0602
  • 0608
Geographic Coverage
Geographic Description
Nimiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park
Bounding Coordinates
West
132.16505 degrees
 
East
132.74043 degrees
 
North
-13.81268 degrees
 
South
-14.39819 degrees
 
Temporal Coverage
Date
2015
Taxonomic Coverage and Classification
Classification
  • Species
    Anilios guentheri
  • Species
    Anilios kimberleyensis
  • Species
    Carlia amax
  • Species
    Carlia gracilis
  • Species
    Carlia munda
  • Species
    Carlia triacantha
  • Species
    Chlamydosaurus kingii
  • Species
    Crinia remota
  • Species
    Cryptoblepharus metallicus
  • Species
    Cryptoblepharus ruber
  • Species
    Cryptophis pallidiceps
  • Species
    Ctenotus coggeri
  • Species
    Ctenotus decaneurus
  • Species
    Ctenotus essingtonii
  • Species
    Ctenotus inornatus
  • Species
    Ctenotus robustus
  • Species
    Ctenotus sp
  • Species
    Ctenotus spaldingi
  • Species
    Ctenotus vertebralis
  • Species
    Cyclorana australis
  • Species
    Delma borea
  • Species
    Delma tincta
  • Species
    Diporiphora albilabris
  • Species
    Diporiphora bilineata
  • Species
    Eremiascincus douglasi
  • Species
    Eremiascincus isolepis
  • Species
    Furina ornata
  • Species
    Gehyra australis
  • Species
    Gehyra nana
  • Species
    Glaphyromorphus darwiniensis
  • Species
    Heteronotia binoei
  • Species
    Isoodon macrourus
  • Species
    Lerista orientalis
  • Species
    Litoria nasuta
  • Species
    Litoria tornieri
  • Species
    Lucasium stenodactylum
  • Species
    Melomys burtoni
  • Species
    Menetia alanae
  • Species
    Menetia greyii
  • Species
    Menetia maini
  • Species
    Mesembriomys gouldii
  • Species
    Morethia ruficauda
  • Species
    Morethia sp
  • Species
    Morethia storri
  • Species
    Notaden melanoscaphus
  • Species
    Notoscincus ornatus
  • Species
    Planigale maculata
  • Species
    Planigale species
  • Species
    Platyplectrum ornatum
  • Species
    Proablepharus tenuis
  • Species
    Pseudomys delicatulus
  • Species
    Rattus rattus
  • Species
    Rhinella marina
  • Species
    Sminthopsis bindi
  • Species
    Sminthopsis virginiae
  • Species
    Stegonotus cucullatus
  • Species
    Strophurus ciliaris
  • Species
    Suta punctata
  • Species
    Uperoleia lithomoda
  • Species
    Uperoleia species
  • Species
    Varanus baritji
  • 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 all of these data packages, and Parks Australia prior to use of data packages from Kakadu National Park. 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
tpsn_fauna_terrestrial_vertebrate_trapping_2015_p347t562.csv
Name
tpsn_fauna_terrestrial_vertebrate_trapping_2015_p347t562.csv
Description
Terrestrial vertebrate trapping data for Nitmiluk 2015
Attribute Information
id
Name
id
Definition
Observation identification number
Measurement Type
nominal
Measurement Domain
Text Domain
Definition
Character
species_id
Name
species_id
Definition
Species identification number
Measurement Type
nominal
Measurement Domain
Text Domain
Definition
Character
scientific_name
Name
scientific_name
Definition
Scientific name of observed species
Measurement Type
nominal
Measurement Domain
Text Domain
Definition
Character
common_name
Name
common_name
Definition
Common name of observed species
Measurement Type
nominal
Measurement Domain
Text Domain
Definition
Character
survey_site
Name
survey_site
Definition
Survey identification number
Measurement Type
nominal
Measurement Domain
Text Domain
Definition
Character
survey
Name
survey
Definition
Survey name
Measurement Type
nominal
Measurement Domain
Enumerated Domain
Code Definition
KAKADU
Kakadu National Park
LITCHFIELD
Litchfield National Park
NITMILUK
Nitmiluk National Park
site
Name
site
Definition
Site identification number
Measurement Type
nominal
Measurement Domain
Text Domain
Definition
Character
date
Name
date
Definition
Date of observation
Measurement Type
dateTime
Measurement Domain
Format
YYYY-MM-DD
round
Name
round
Definition
The number of times a site has been monitored. Entries are either 2 or 3, meaning the 2015 survey was either the second or third time sites had been surveyed.
Measurement Type
ordinal
Measurement Domain
Text Domain
Definition
Character
abundance
Name
abundance
Definition
Species abundance
Measurement Type
ratio
Measurement Domain
Standard Unit
number
Number Type
whole
Number Of Records
237
Physical Structure Description
Object Name
tpsn_fauna_terrestrial_vertebrate_trapping_2015_p347t562.csv
Size
24127 byte
Text Format
Number of Header Lines
1
Record Delimiter
#x0A
Attribute Orientation
column
Simple Delimited
Field Delimiter
,
Distribution
Online
URL
ltern2.1087.3
Access
Access Control
Auth System
knb
Order
allowFirst
Allow:
PermissionPrincipal
[all] cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[read] cn=pn_3parks_savanna_fauna,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[read] cn=allusers,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
Access
Access Control
Auth System
knb
Order
allowFirst
Allow:
PermissionPrincipal
[read] public
[all] cn=submitters,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[read] cn=pn_3parks_savanna_fauna,o=unaffiliated,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org