Survey/Project Number: |
396
Total No. of Sites:
2
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Survey/Project Name: |
Possum spotlighting in Murray River National Park |
Abstract: |
Friends of Riverland Parks conducted spotlighting surveys (began in 2002) to determine the status of the Common Brushtail Possum in the Lock 4 section of the Katarapko National Park and Calperum Station in the Riverland. The first 5 surveys revealed a population density in the area surveyed equivalent to that which other surveys in other parts of Australia have recorded.
In order to establish what animals are present in other parts of the Katarapko National Park, the Friends of Riverland parks have commenced a series of surveys. The Lock 4 section of the park was selected for the first of the possum surveys, to not only record the presence of this marsupial, but also to compare the numbers from two locations in that part of the park.
Glossop High School has a structure on the inlet creek that enables a backwater in the area to be periodically flooded and dried out to resemble the original regime in the backwater. Nearby is the main channel of the River Murray that is now a permanent wetland. Transects have been established adjacent to each of these wetlands to record Brushtail Possums. These counts will also form the basis for monitoring both areas for any differences due to the nature of the adjacent wetland. Monitoring any changes that may result from the different stages of the wetting and drying cycles will also be of interest. |
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Start Date: |
01/03/2002
End Date: 01/03/2013
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Survey Type: |
Fauna only |
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Study Area Description: |
Murraylands, Katarapko National Park. River and Billabong (Ngak Indau) transect locations.
Transects established adjacent to each of the two wetlands. Each transect supports similar vegetation and each follows the edge of its respective wetland. |