BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 1145          Total No. of Sites: 1
Survey/Project Name: Identification & analysis of paleobotanical remains -Robertson Caves sediments
Abstract: This project aims to study the floral remains of Australian Quaternary ecologies, and thus create a picture of the vegetation mosaic of the region and how it has changed over the past 75 000 years, in the Naracoorte Caves National Park, South Australia. OBJECTIVES: 1. Identify plant remains found in Robertson Cave Entrance; 2. Use these plant remains to predict past climates and their variability; 3. Analyse direct ecological aspects such as what animals were eating using scat material.
 
Start Date: 01/01/2009      End Date: 31/12/2020
Survey Type: Vegetation Only
   
Study Area Description: Study area is the Robertson Cave Entrance dig, a project completed by Dr. Liz Reed under project number 1054.
Objectives
         Vegetation: Refer to Abstract.
         Fauna: *** No fauna survey objectives recorded
Methodology
         Vegetation: Sediments will be sorted using a paintbrush and separated into the following categories: bones, rocks, insects, plant remains and scats. The former three will be returned to the Caves while the latter two will be kept at the Unviersity of Adelaide for analysis. Plant remains will be identified using microscopy and digital imaging, these remains will then be measured for climate analyses. These include stomatal measurements to determine maximum potential water loss through time, gross leaf morphological measurements to determine temperature change through time and measurements of tracheids and vessels in wood to determine seasonality of water availability. Scats will be disassociated and analysed for species present and their abundance to identify possum diet in the region over time.
         Fauna: *** No vertebrate methodology recorded

Data Distribution Rules: Sensitive Dataset: Written permission required from Information Authority
Project Basis: Vegetation : Fossil excavation
Fauna : Diet related investigations
Information Authority: University of Adelaide