LTERN Data Portal

The 20 CSIRO permanent plots were opportunistically located ahead of logging operations or in areas of no or minor recent disturbance (EP9 and EP38 showed evidence of slight disturbance in a section of the plot due to selective logging at least 20 years prior to establishment). Where possible, plots were located to represent the major forests and geologies of North Queensland. All plots were surveyed to enclose a projected plan view area of 0.5 ha (100 m x 50 m) with plot boundary distances corrected for slope. Plot boundaries were surveyed with prismatic compasses, 50 m steel survey band and Abney level. The four plot corners were initially marked with treated wooden pegs and subsequently replaced with steel pickets. All plots were subdivided into 16 subplots, each 25 m x 12.5 m with permanent wooden subplot markers. A 20 m buffer area around each plot was established to exclude future human disturbance. A canopy tower was located adjacent to both EP4 and EP33 from establishment until 2005 and focussed on canopy sampling and photosynthetic studies. Data from the towers is not included in this data paper, however, publications resulting from data collected are included in the publications and results section. The plots were established between 1971 and 1980 and were initially censused every two years until 1991. Since 1991 census intervals have ranged between 2-15 years.

The understorey floristic composition was assessed for all plots at establishment. Within each subplot, the presence or absence of each species were assigned numeric classes as follows:

The number 1 was assigned in subplots where individuals were present as ≥ 50 cm to 3 m in height;

The number 2 was assigned in subplots where individuals were present as >3 m in height and <10 cm DBH;

The number 3 was assigned in subplots where individuals were present as both ≥ 50 cm to 3 m in height and >3 m in height and <10 cm DBH;

The number 0 was assigned if species was not present.

A voucher specimen was collected for a representative of each species not present as a stem ≥10 cm DBH on each plot. These vouchers were lodged at the Australian Tropical Herbarium (ATH) and various herbaria around the world. All plots are progressively being re-assessed and vouchers for any new species are collected in a semi-formal manner.