BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 781          Total No. of Sites: 7
Survey/Project Name: Bushcheck Biodiversity Program
Abstract: Bushcheck is a community driven monitoring program for assessing Biodiversity. It provides census and mapping data of common birds and vegetation for 15 sites of 2.5 hectares. Districts being monitored are Stirling, East Torrens, Kangarilla, Eden Valley and Tungkillo, Adelaide Hills, South Australia. From this data they hope to identify any trends linking the plant and bird data. Data was collected between 1996 and 1998. However, more data was collected but has not been provided. The objectives of the project were multiple. At one level it was to involve community groups in collecting their own data to give them insight as to whether the rehabilitation work their groups were doing towards biodiversity conservation was working. At another level it was to provide me with data on birds that was accurate enough for modelling how bird communities restructured their abundance relationships as the environment changed. Collecting data on rarer bird species was not important for this work, although of course any such data that was collected has been recorded. Accuracy towards my purpose was increased by using seasonal averages. The resulting mathematical model is now also being applied to the shorebirds in the Coorong but I haven't managed to publish it yet. Prof Chris Daniels and Associate Prof John Boland co-authored a paper of mine which 'bounced'. I'm now working towards another attempt with Assoc Prof Falk Huettmann from the Uni of Alaska at Fairbanks. (source: email from Rob Tanner).
 
Start Date: 01/01/1996      End Date: 31/12/1998
Survey Type: Vegetation and Fauna
   
Study Area Description: Districts being monitored are Strathalbyn, Mylor, Stirling, East Torrens, Kangarilla, Eden Valley and Tungkillo. A total of 7 sites of data was provided which include: B5, B3 (Bushcare sites) and ET1, ET2, ET3, ET4 and ET5 (Treesave Landsave). Other site data is held by Rob Tanner which include locations: B1 (Pound Reserve Ashton - inconsistent data), B2 (Moores Rd, Cherryville), B4 (Mt Barker Rd, Bridgewater), B6 (Stirling Cemetery, Aldgate), B7 (Woorabinda Lake) and B8 (Stirling Linear Park). Also ET6 (Leon Holmes) and ET7 (Sue Holt).
Objectives
         Vegetation: Conduct a census of common birds and plants. All the veg data was collected within about 3 weeks.
         Fauna: Conduct a census of common birds and plants. A time based method was applied. About 5 mins was spent in each of the 16 zones (zones only defined for plants). Although zoning was not helpful to anlaysisng the data the method continued after their original purpose disappeared. It was a Common Bird Census, but over the years the volunteers collecting the data became more expert.
Methodology
         Vegetation: Vegetation surveys of the commonest plant species in the Overstorey, Understorey and in the Groundlayer are recorded in each zone, together with the percentage cover that each species provides. Only common species are recorded so that relationships that are easy to measure can be derived.
         Fauna: Common bird species are recorded for each site.

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Vegetation : Biological Survey of South Australia - Standard Survey methodology used.
Fauna : Biological Survey of South Australia - Standard Survey methodology used.
Information Authority: General Public