BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 417          Total No. of Sites: 0
Survey/Project Name: Venus Bay CP Vegetation Excolsure
Abstract: Venus Bay Conservation Park vegetation exclosure project used quadrats to gain data of species richness, percent cover of ground layer vegetation, counts of perennial shrubs and photopoints. This is ongoing monitoring that originally happened every two years but now is more like every 5 or 10 year (depending on funding). Collected in 2001 or 2002? , 2003 and 2005, 2009, 2014, 2019. Same methodology used for Coffin Bay NP Vegetation Exclosure Survey 416.
 
Start Date: 01/01/2001      End Date: 01/01/2011
Survey Type: Vegetation and Fauna
   
Study Area Description: *** No study area description recorded
Objectives
         Vegetation: Quadrat data of species richness, percent cover of ground layer vegetation, counts of perennial shrubs and photopoints.
         Fauna: *** No fauna survey objectives recorded
Methodology
         Vegetation: Herbivore exclosures Five sets of exclosures allowing a range of herbivore grazing access were established in Venus Bay Conservation Park to help determine the impacts of different herbivore species (macropods and rabbits) on the landscape, as well as monitor the recovery of a landscape from its pastoral history. Three sites occur inside the predator proof fence area and two sites occur outside the fence (map in Appendix II). Sites inside the predator proof fence include: Piggery, Bettong and Bilby sites. Sites outside the fence include Freeman?s and Bay Road sites. A description of these sites is included in Appendix I. Sites have been monitored biannually, with data collected in the spring of 2003, 2005 and 2007. There are four herbivore grazing access treatments that are monitored at each site: 1. Access to all herbivores (rabbits and macropods) 2. Access to rabbits only (macropods excluded) 3. Access to macropods (rabbits excluded) 4. No grazing access (all herbivores excluded) There are 16 fixed 1x1metre quadrats within each treatment, however due to time constraints, only 8 quadrats (odd numbers) were monitored during each site visit. Attributes recorded include: percentage cover of rock, bare ground, moss/litter/crust, and plant cover (measured as percentages of native/weedy grass, dicots and lilies); species diversity (presence/absence); presence of herbivore dung within the quadrats (recorded and removed at each visit). Perennial counts are also measured within 4 fixed 5x5 metre quadrats for each treatment. The number of individuals and percent cover for each perennial species is recorded. Size class for each species was also recorded in some instances, but inconsistencies in the dataset make it unsuitable for formal analysis. Macropods include both Western Grey Kangaroos and Euros and the grazing impacts of both species on the vegetation are considered the same. It is assumed that for treatments where rabbits have access, that the reintroduced small native mammals (Brush-tailed Bettongs and Greater Bilbies) also have access. Both these species are not strictly grazers and eat a variety of insects, fungi and seeds. Brush-tailed Bettongs have been observed digging up fresh green shoots and feeding on the base (David Armstrong, pers.comm). Further information on the methodology can be found in Peeters (2006) and Baulderstone and Cutten (2002).
         Fauna: Herbivore density survey DEH staff regularly conduct spotlight counts (3 to 5 times per year) along two 12km vehicle transects in the project area, one transect inside and one outside the predator exclusion area (map in Appendix III). Two staff count all individual rabbits, Western Grey Kangaroos, Euros, Bettongs and Bilbies observed along both sides of the road on each transect. A total count for each species along each transect is recorded. Grazing herbivore control Rabbit control has been undertaken in Venus Bay Conservation Park since Brush-tailed Bettongs were first release in the early 1990?s, and a variety of methods have been employed including baiting, warren destruction and shooting. A 1080 baiting program is undertaken annually. In the last 5 years, rabbit control has been often undertaken several times per year (L. Amey pers. comm.) Macropod control has been undertaken in Venus Bay Conservation Park inside the predator proof fenced area since 2003. Macropod populations, with focus particularly on Western Grey Kangaroos, were reduced through an approved culling program in 2003, 2005 and 2009. Some macropod control was also undertaken for animal welfare reasons in 2007 and 2008.

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Vegetation : Unclassified - pending reassessment.
Information Authority: Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:West) - Pt Lincoln Office - Regional Ecologist