LTERN Data Portal

Originally, in 2002, 110 permanent sites were identified for the study at Booderee National Park using two stratifying variables: (1) broad vegetation type (heathland, forest, woodland, etc.); and (2) past fire history – classified into four classes of time since the last fire (0-10 years, 11-20 years, 21-30 years and >30 years).

When the project started in 2003, it was based on the original number of sites, but in March 2007 the number of sites increased to 130, as a result of including 20 new sites set up as part of the “Bitou experiment”.

Features of the experimental design are: stratified random site selection, replication of classes, replication proportional to area, sampling of the plots both before and after unplanned wildfire, the occurrence of unburned ‘control’ sites and treatment (burned) sites, and continued surveys over time. Commencing at the 0 m point a steel post has been placed at 20 m intervals along a 100 m long transect.

Nocturnal mammals and birds were counted using transect-based spotlighting surveys annually from 2003 to 2007, and biennially thereafter. Each site was spotlit for 20 minutes per 100 m transect (10 minutes up and 10 minutes back). Animals were only counted once per site. Counts were not undertaken in poor weather (rain, fog or high wind). Prior to 2015, the standard practice was one visit per site; from 2015, repeat visits became standard, with two visits to most sites per survey. The abundance of species observed or heard was recorded, and the presence of other species (usually herpetofauna, e.g. frogs and snakes) was also recorded.

At each observation the following were recorded: site, species, abundance, time, distance along the transect; estimated distance from the transect and elevation of animal above the ground and tree species (if known).