BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 217          Total No. of Sites: 0
Survey/Project Name: Mistletoe and Brushtail Possum Monitoring (Clare Valley)
Abstract: Some areas of remnant native woodland in the Clare Valley are percieved to be under threat due to mistletoe infestation. This monitoring is looking at the decline of Brushtail possums which are now considered rare in the Mid North due to loss of hollows and tree clearance. The Brushtail possums may have a regulating effect on the Mistletoe population which is one of their favoured foods.
 
Start Date: 01/01/2005      End Date: 01/01/2010
Survey Type: Vegetation and Fauna
   
Study Area Description: *** No study area description recorded
Objectives
         Vegetation: The four sites of remnant native woodland used in this survey have previously been surveyed by members of the Mistletoe Action Group (MAG) and have been identified as areas under threat by mistletoe infestation. One transect is established at each of the four sites, 1-2 km in length. At 5 points along each transect (0.2 km, 0.4 km, 0.6 km, 0.8 km and 1 km) the closest 20 trees are identified to species, height recorded, presence/absence mistletoe recorded, number of mistletoe counted, whether mistletoe is juvenille/ adult and each tree is assigned an infestation class based on the Native Vegetation Council guidelines. Observations on fire scars, herbivory on mistletoe and number of hollows is also recorded. Density of understorey species are estimated by measuring the distance from each tree to the nearest shrub, then from that shrub to the shrub nearest to the first one, with the restriction that the angle from the tree to the first shrub to the second shrub must be greater than 90 degrees.
         Fauna: The same four sites have been surveyed by DEH staff for the presence of Brushtail possums. The same transects are used as for the mistletoe but where transects are 2 km in length the presence of Brushtail possums are only recorded for the first 1 km of the transect.
Methodology
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation methodology recorded
         Fauna: *** No vertebrate methodology recorded

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Vegetation : Distribution - Vegetation/Fauna species (ie ad-hoc opportunistic species records - not usually re-visited) NOTE:NON Std Svy methodology
Fauna : Rare and Threatened Species Protection Strategies. - Standard Survey methodology used.
Information Authority: Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:Northern & Yorke) - Clare Office - Regional Ecologist