BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 166          Total No. of Sites: 2680
Survey/Project Name: Murray River Wetland Ongoing SAMDB NRMB (SA Murray Darling Basin NRM Board)
Abstract: This project aims to conduct an ongoing biological monitoring survey of wetlands along the South Australian section of the River Murray. METHODOLOGY: Data informs day-to-day management of the sites. The methods are documented in the wetland monitoring manual on the Natural Resources South Australian Murray-Darling Basin (NR SAMDB) web site [http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin/home]. Wetlands are visited regularly to monitor the impact of management actions on attributes of water quality, birds, fishes, frogs and vegetation. There are up to 50 wetlands that are monitored for any one of the wetland attributes. Survey was carried out by NR SAMDB staff.
 
Start Date: 01/05/1995      End Date: 01/01/2020
Survey Type: Vegetation and Fauna
   
Study Area Description: MURRAYLANDS: SA River Murray wetlands (border-mouth)
Objectives
         Vegetation: To measure changes in fine scale vegetation due to management. Changes in vegetation zones were monitored to assess changes driven by hydrology. Baseline sampling took place when communities were most diverse ( in late spring , mid October to late November ) depending on location along the River Murray. Monitored after changes in management, at the end of a dry stage, 2 months after inundation ( germination success). Two techniques are used: line intercept surveys identified veg communities/zones across the wetland for 2 m. each side of the line, ie. 4 m. band surveyed; quadrat surveys determined veg composition, lifestage and abundance within each zone.
         Fauna: To assess changes in bird, fish and frog species presence and abundances in response to management actions that affect changes in hydrology. Opportunistic sightings of birds were recorded with a numeric estimate only. Fish sightings are based on net sampling. Frogs were identified by call sound only.
Methodology
         Vegetation: Species within the quadrat are listed, with cover abundance (using Biological Survey of SA classes) and lifestages (using Biological Survey of SA codes). Transect zone data collected is species list and includes a vegetation community definition that is based on the observers definition and not derived in a consistent format.
         Fauna: Frog sightings used a method of listening for frog calls adapted from the Frog Census by EPA. Listening time is around 10 minutes at a site. The method classifies calls into one, few, many and lots. These quantities were converted to numbers based on picking a value in the range - One = number observed of 1, Few = 2-9 = number observed = 2, Many = 10-50 = number observed = 10, Lots = >50 = number observed = 50. Fish observations were made by capturing fish using nets, counting the numbers of each species and measuring the length of the individuals. Bird observations include a number observed in a fixed area. Where length measurements were taken for reptiles, mammals and amphibians they were assumed to be total lengths.

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Vegetation : Monitoring - Vegetation/Ecosystem (ie species records - usually re-visited for ongoing monitoring) NOTE:NON Std Svy methodology may have been used.
Fauna : Monitoring - Vegetation/Ecosystem (ie species records - usually re-visited for ongoing monitoring) NOTE:NON Std Svy methodology may have been used.
Information Authority: Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management (NRM) Region