LTERN Data Portal

Initially all patches of remnant native vegetation on areas designated for pine plantation were characterised. Fifty remnants were randomly selected with stratification, such as vegetation type, patch size, established year of surrounding pine trees. Fifty-six remnants on adjacent farms to pine plantations were selected to match those 50 remnants, to make sure that remnants from two groups were as similar as possible. Ten sites in cleared paddocks around the woodland remnants on the grazing properties and 10 sites in areas dominated by newly planted radiate pine trees were established as ‘‘landscape matrix’’ sites. Those sites were established in 1998, but a few sites were scrapped due to non-accessibility or vast invasion of weed. To make up for those abandoned sites, additional sites were established within a few years since the first establishment.

For more details, please refer to Lindenmayer, DB, Cunningham, RB, MacGregor, C, Tribolet, C & Donnelly, CF 2001, ‘A prospective longitudinal study of landscape matrix effects on fauna in woodland remnants: experimental design and baseline data’, Biological Conservation, vol 101 no 2, pp. 157-169.

Dawn bird counts are conducted approximately every 2 years using repeated point interval counts. Bird observers count all birds seen and heard over five minute periods at each of the 0 m, 100 m and 200 m posts along a permanent 200 m transect established at each site. Repeated point counts by two different observers on two different days are undertaken. The distance that each bird was heard and seen at is recorded along with bird abundance and any anecdotal comments (e.g. breeding behaviour). Bird species presence/absence or detection rates within 50m of the observer is commonly used for analysis.

The distance that each bird was heard and seen at is recorded along with bird abundance and any anecdotal comments (e.g. breeding behaviour).