BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 88          Total No. of Sites: 130
Survey/Project Name: Northern Adelaide Plains
Abstract: This project aims to conduct a biological survey across the Northern Adelaide Plains, near Adelaide, South Australia, in November 1996, to collect data on remnant vegetation communities. This information will be used to classify and map the floristic structure and composition of the study area. This survey also helped to fill the gaps between the Mid North, Mt Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula and Western Murray Flats surveys.
 
Start Date: 11/11/1996      End Date: 15/11/1996
Survey Type: Vegetation Only
   
Study Area Description: The topography is dominated by plains overlain with enlogated dunes in the north running south to the hilly upland of the Mt Lofty Ranges of north - south quartzite ridgelines in the NW and SE. The southwest consists of gently undulating plains on metasediments or siltstone with wide floodplains. The coastline consists of tidal flats swamps, dunes, sandy beaches backing onto gently sloping plains. Rainfall is 400mm to 600mm north to south. Coastline vegetation consists of mangroves, chenopod of samphire communities. Coastal dunes are composed of coastal wattle, boobialla, sandhill daisy and boxthorn. Eucalyptus socialis and E. gracilis open scrub is found on plains and dunes n north to SW. In Barossa soil support E. odorata Forest / Woodland of E. leucoxylon in Mt Lofty Tanges. Red sandhills support pines. Creeklines support E. camaldulensis. Bounded by the coast in the west, 138 degrees 60 minutes in the north of 138 degrees 15 minutes in the south and forms an L-shape based on 8 1:50 000 mapsheets. Area extends north across the Adelaide Plains from the Light River and northern extent of Mt Lofty Ranges, to Angaston in the east, Hart and Blyth in the north and Hamley Bridge in the south east.
Objectives
         Vegetation: To fill in the gap between the Mid North, Mt Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula and Western Murray Flats surveys. To collect data on the remnant vegetation communities to be used to classify and map the floristic stucture and composition of the study area.
         Fauna: *** No fauna survey objectives recorded
Methodology
         Vegetation: Complete plant lists were recorded in a 30 X 30 metre, (some were resized to 10 X 90 or 50 X 50 metres if vegetation is more sparse such as chenopod shrublands). Cover abundance scores (N, T, 1,2,3,4,5) were recorded (adapted from Braun / Blanquet cover). Data on vegetation structure, landform elements, surface strew, soil type, disturbances and vertebrate presence. Some sites were surveyed as ground truth sites as they were too degraded and the vegetation structure had already been surveyed as a full site. A list of up to 3 dominant overstorey species and / or emergent species and up to 7 understorey species are recorded in a 30 X 30 metre quadrat, including life form and cover abundance. A physical description, structural description of vegetation structure and comments regarding the reason for surveying the site as a ground truth. Photo was also taken.
         Fauna: *** No vertebrate methodology recorded

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: 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