BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 430          Total No. of Sites: 2647
Survey/Project Name: Gawler Craton (including adjacent Maralinga Lands)
Abstract: The main aim of this survey was to collect data on the vegetation communities of the Gawler Craton Region to enable the classification & mapping of the floristic composition and structure of the vegetation groups of the area. Sites were selected to sample the range of vegetation associations and landform types occurring throughout the sudy area. The initial 2005 survey encompassed the Yellabinna Regional Reserve and part of the Maralinga Tjarutja Aboriginal Lands. Vegetation was documented with a complete list of plant species within a 100 x 100m quadrat using Braun-Blanquet cover abundance scores. Lifeform and reproductive stage, and site physical data was also recorded. Each site was assigned a structural formation. Rapid assessment sites or veg mapping sites (VMS) will be used extensively throughout this project. A modified standard Biological Survey methodology, Vegetation Mapping methodology, was used during this project at sites identified by the label prefix 'VMS'. At Vegetation Mapping Sites the dominant overstorey and understorey plant species and perennial plant species with a Braun-Blanquet cover abundance score greater than 1 were recorded. Plant height data were not recorded. Either a subset of the complete physical dataset (such as slope, aspect and landform) or no physical data were recorded.
 
Start Date: 07/09/2005      End Date: 30/11/2006
Survey Type: Vegetation and Fauna
   
Study Area Description: The initial study area encompassed the Yellabinna Regional Reserve (Week 1) and the south-east part of the Maralinga Tjarutja Aboriginal Lands surrounding Wilkinson Lakes (Week 2). Visit period 20 - 28 Nov 2006: The main area for this visit was within the Gawler Bioregion and encompassing leasehold land south and west of Coober Pedy to Lake Gairdner region in the south. Pastoral leases surveyed include parts of Ingomar, Bulgunnia, Commonwealth Hill, Mulgathing, Mahanewo, Nonning, Moonaree, Lake Everard, Kokatha, Wilgena, Mobella and Mcdoual Peak Stations, Visit period 27 MAR - 10 APR 2006:The main area for this visit period was within the Nullarbor IBRA Region. It encompassed the Nullarbor National Park and Regional Reserve, part of the Maralinga Tjarutja Aboriginal Lands, the Yalata IPA and some freehold and leasehold land.
Objectives
         Vegetation: MAINTAIN: The main aim of this survey was to collect data on the vegetation communities of the Gawler Craton Region to enable the classification & mapping of the floristic composition and structure of the vegetation groups of the area. The initial 2005 survey encompassed the Yellabinna Regional Reserve and part of the Maralinga Tjarutja Aboriginal Lands. Visit period 20-28 NOV 2006 MAINTAIN: The main aim of this survey was to collect data on the vegetation communities of the Gawler IBRA BioRegion to enable the classification & mapping of the floristic composition and structure of the vegetation groups of the area. The vegetation mapping survey encompassed leasehold land. Visit period 1 - 2 NOV 2006: Vegetation only. Field notes trip. MAINTAIN VISIT PERIOD AS A SURVEY EVENT
         Fauna: Vertebrate records were opportunistic.
Methodology
         Vegetation: Vegetation was documented with a complete list of plant species within a 100 x 100m quadrat using Braun-Blanquet cover abundance scores. Lifeform and reproductive stage was also recorded. Each site was assigned a structural formation. All species were vouchered the first time they were encountered and lodged with the State Herbarium. Physical data such as slope, aspect, landform, surface soil texture and disturbances were collected. The rapid assessment sites or veg mapping sites (VMS) were first tried on this visit and will be used extensively throughout this project. They will capture the same data as the survey methodology, but only perennial species and those with a cover abundance greater than 1. There will also not be height recordings taken. Thus this project includes both project basis BS and VN with slightly different methodology as described. Visit period 27 MAR-10 APR 2006 and Visit period 20-28 NOV 2006: The dominant overstorey and understorey species were recorded at each site and all species that had a cover abundance of "1" or greater using Braun-Blanquet cover abundance scores. Lifeform and reproductive stage was also recorded. Each site was assigned a structural formation. All species were vouchered the first time they were encountered and lodged with the State Herbarium. Physical data such as slope, aspect, landform were collected, but no soil samples were recorded.
         Fauna: *** No vertebrate methodology recorded

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Vegetation : Vegetation Mapping. Standard BSSA methodology used.
Vegetation : Biological Survey of South Australia - Standard Survey methodology used.
Information Authority: Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:S&C Div) - Biological Survey and Monitoring