LTERN Data Portal

Arboreal marsupial fauna data was collected intermittently at a rotating subset of 40 sites taken from the complete pool of 175 permanent plots studied by the plot network.

Arboreal marsupials are counted using the stag-watching method (direct counts of nocturnal animals emerging from tree hollows at dusk) at a rotating subset of the complete (full) pool of sites each year. Hollow bearing trees or stags located within the 1 ha area are also measured, mapped and monitored over time. A selection of around 40 sites is surveyed for possums and gliders in December through to March every year. The sites are selected on a rotational basis (Lindenmayer DB, Cunningham RB, MacGregor C, Incoll RD, Michael D (2003). A survey design for monitoring the abundance of arboreal marsupials in the Central Highlands of Victoria. Biological Conservation 110(1), 161-167.). Factors guiding site selection include presence of Leadbeater’s possum in the past, numbers of stags and fire severity. Each site is surveyed from dusk for approximately 1 hour. The stagwatch method uses one volunteer/watcher per tree on site. A site with 30 trees requires 30 people. Multiple trees can only be watched by one person if they are a very experienced surveyor and the trees are close to each other. Watchers are placed under their tree by an experienced member of the ANU team, who advises on the best place to sit, where to look and what to look out for.

An informal part of the survey involves ANU team members recording a bird list as dusk approaches.

Before entering the site, a team member gives an overview of what the stagwatch involves, including site specific information. Details of possum/glider calls, silhouettes or possum sizes and the site specific habitat selection or tree use for each animal. Animals are recorded as they emerge, noting; species, abundance, time, which tree they emerged from or whether it was just “on site”, whether it came from “off-site”, the type of hollow it emerged from (branch, top spout, fissure, etc.) and the tree number. Other animals observed or heard in the distance are also noted (owls, gliders, deer etc.). Weather conditions, date, time and volunteers names are recorded. Stag-watching does not occur in heavy rain.

Field proformas were used.