BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 1088          Total No. of Sites: 21
Survey/Project Name: Angas River Bioblitz
Abstract: This project aims to survey watercourse vegetation and macroinvertebrates, in the Angas River Catchment, east of Adelaide, South Australia, for monitoring flow, with support from Citizen Science. Surveys were conducted in autumn and spring 2016. This is an ongoing project subject to funding.
 
Start Date: 06/05/2016      End Date: 01/01/2020
Survey Type: Vegetation and Fauna
   
Study Area Description: Angas River catchment, Mt Lofty Ranges
Objectives
         Vegetation: Refer to Abstract.
         Fauna: Refer to Abstract.
Methodology
         Vegetation: The cover of each of the five most dominant species present within the pool and the riffle (where a riffle sampled for macroinvertebrates) was recorded. The aim of this survey was to provide a rapid assessment of the most dominant species within the habitat area that would be inundated if the habitat were filled to enable gross changes in composition to be detected in future. Overhanging vegetation was not included, although if large trees or shrubs were growing in the habitat their basal area could be recorded if it was of significant cover. Open water and bare dirt / mud / rock / litter were recorded to assist assessors estimate the vegetative cover but not included as one of the five species. A vegetation transect survey method was also developed to provide a more quantitative approach to detect changes in vegetation composition at the sites. It was intended that a transect could be recorded for each of the sampled pool and riffle habitats, however time restrictions prevented transects being surveyed at all sites, and in all cases where transects were established only the pool habitat was surveyed. In most cases the transects started at the photo-point post, but in some cases a separate marker was installed as the start point. A tape measure was laid from the start of the transect (ideally sited on the outer edge of the floodplain) across the channel to the far side of the floodplain. The cover of each species occurring in each one square metre along the transect, on the downstream side of the transect, was recorded. For each square metre, the distance along the transect was recorded, and the position (floodplain, bank or channel).
         Fauna: Macroinvertebrates were sampled using the standard EPA method, which is a modification of the AusRivAS method. Sites were defined as a 100 metre stretch of water course that contained both pool and riffle habitat. Two samples were taken (where possible); one sample was comprised of a composite sample from 10 metres of pool edge habitat, while the second was made up of a composite of 10 metres of riffle habitat. If 10 metres of one of the habitats was not present then that habitat was not sampled, i.e. 8 metres was not sufficient. Macroinvertebrates were sorted in the field. Sorters picked through the sample for 30 minutes, taking a representative sample of every new species found for lab identification later.

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Vegetation : Baseline Survey of flora and/or fauna - Standard Biol Survey of SA survey methodology not used.
Fauna : Baseline Survey of flora and/or fauna - Standard Biol Survey of SA survey methodology not used.
Information Authority: Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:Adelaide)
Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management (NRM) Region