LTERN Data Portal

Transects were established as a natural experiment - to provide infrastructure to validate the findings from the ATEX manipulated, experimental plots. The aim is to describe the phenological responses of alpine plants to environmental variables and assess the usefulness of this measure to assess vulnerability to changing abiotic (e.g. climate) and biotic (e.g. invasive species) factors. The Victorian Alpine Plot Network research plots commenced in 1996 and were revisited annually for 3 years and then on a decadal basis.

These new transects were established in November 2011 to cover a range of elevations. On the Bogong High Plains one set of six transects runs from Buckety Plain to Mt Nelse and another set of plots from Wild Horse Creek to Mt Nelse, with the Mt Nelse point common to both sets. Five sampling transects were also established at Mount Hotham. There are 18 transects in total, which range in altitude from 1400 m to 1880 m. At each site a permanent transect has been established with a geo-located red gum peg marking the start. Transects are sampled on the same dates, three times a year: early season (Bogong High Plains 10-13 November, Hotham 15 November), mid-season (BHPs 17-20 December, Hotham 22 December) and late season (BHPs 18-22 February, Hotham 24 February).

Sampling area within transect: A 30 m tape is run from the red gum peg with the temperature sensors in the direction given in Table 1. Each transect is a minimum of 10 m and is mostly be run out to 30 m. Species are recorded along the tape and where necessary within 1 m each side of the tape. If a larger search area is required we continue beyond 30 m and a greater distance either side of the tape. The search area is variable in area so that each species on the data sheet is located, and to ensure that sufficient numbers of individuals are sampled at each site to estimate flowering time.