Survey/Project Number: | 104 Total No. of Sites: 887 |
Survey/Project Name: | Flinders Ranges |
Abstract: | This project aims to conduct a biological survey throughout the entire Flinders Ranges, South Australia, and adjacent plains, excluding the Olary Spur, to determine vascular plant species present at each 1 km x 1 km site being sampled for vertebrates. This project also determines vertebrate species present in a variety of common habitats and structural vegetation communities characteristic of the Flinders Ranges region. Reference: Brandle R (2001) A Biological Survey of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia 1997-1999 (Biodiversity Survey and Monitoring, National Parks and Wildlife, South Australia, Department for Environment and Heritage) 455 pages including 36 appendices. https://data.environment.sa.gov.au/Content/Publications/Flinders-Ranges-BioSurvey.pdf Data from previous sources including biological surveys in the region were collated for the analyses. NOTE: Site coordinates were reviewed in 2018. Site was projected against Google Earth imagery and compared with physical and vegetation site data. Original site survey sheets including mud maps were consulted where available. In 2019 locations were either verified or moved the minimum distance required to improve data consistency. All changes were documented within the site audit data. |
Start Date: | 30/03/1997 End Date: 08/04/2007 |
Survey Type: | Vegetation and Fauna |
Study Area Description: | Flinders Ranges - Moolawatana to Crystal Brook. The study area boundaries were defined by Environmental Province 6 (Flinders Ranges) and Environmental Association 3.3.19 (Mt Remarkable) of Environmental Province 3 (Mt Lofty Block), covering a total of 37,090 km2. |
Objectives | |||
Vegetation: | Determine vascular plant species present at each 1km x 1km site being sampled for vertebrates. | ||
Fauna: | Determine vertebrate species present in the variety of common habitats and structural vegetation communities characteristic of the Flinders Ranges region. | ||
Methodology | |||
Vegetation: | Standard Biological Survey vegetation methodology. At each quadrat the primary habitat `patch type was surveyed for vegetation over an approximate 100m x 100m area consistent with the methods section outlined in `A Biological Survey of the South Olary Plains' (Forward and Robinson 1996). Some minor differences have occurred in the adapted BraunBlanquet (Gullen et al. 1976) cover abundance estimates. | ||
Fauna: | Quadrats were sampled for vegetation and vertebrate fauna (birds, reptiles and terrestrial mammals). Frogs and bats were only sampled when and where conditions were suitable. Fauna sampling took place at all of the primary patch types in each quadrat except where extra vegetation quadrats were introduced (ie ARO00901). Sampling at each quadrat involved establishing two sets of pitfall trap-lines consisting of six pits (40cm deep, 15 cm diameter) joined by 50 m of flywire drift-fence. The two traplines were separated by at least 200m. These were used for trapping ground-dwelling vertebrates and macro-invertebrates over four nights. Associated with each pitfall trap-line was a line of 15 baited metal box treadle traps (Elliott Scientific Equipment type A) and two baited wire cage treddle traps (15 cm x 15 cm x 50 cm). Traps were mostly baited with a mixture of peanut butter and rolled oats. Birds were sampled through one hour search efforts in the primary patch type. |
Data Distribution Rules: | Public Dataset |
Project Basis: |
Vegetation
:
Biological Survey of South Australia - Standard Survey methodology used.
Fauna : Biological Survey of South Australia - Standard Survey methodology used. |
Information Authority: | Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:S&C Div) - Biological Survey and Monitoring |