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Long-term Changes in Vegetation and Soil Stability, Macquarie Island

Entry ID: ASAC_2317

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Summary

Abstract: The project is a longterm monitoring program which commenced in 1980. The aim was to monitor vegetation and erosion changes on Macquarie Island (tall tussock vegetation on the steep coastal slopes, erosion on the coastal slopes (landslips) and mid-altitude plateau) and document changes as a result of changing impacts from feral rabbits and, if possible, as a result of climate change.

Data sets ... consist of the following: 1. 27 vegetation monitoring sites set up in 1980 on steep coastal slopes around Macquarie Island, disturbed by landslipping and/or rabbit grazing, containing 200 permanent vegetation plots including 30 undisturbed control plots. 2. 48 erosion monitoring sites with varied origins and erosion histories set up in 1980 on mid-altitude plateau sites around Macquarie Island. 3. Two 5 x 5m rabbit exclusion plots set up in 1990 to monitor vegetation changes. 4. Series of photopoints along two sections of west coast set up to monitor large scale vegetation change resulting from changes in rabbit populations since 1980 (Mawson Point to Aurora Point, 7 km) and since 1990 (Davis Point to Cape Toutcher, 4 km). 5. Over 100 photopoints documenting changes in vegetation, erosion and landscape around Macquarie Island since 1980.

The download file consists of 12 excel spreadsheets and 2 word documents detailing the contents of the excel files. These files are associated with part 1, detailed above '27 vegetation monitoring sites...'.

This project is an updated version of ASAC_76, 'Effects of Feral Rabbits, Native Fauna and Humans on Vegetation and Soil Stability, Macquarie Island'. The project was continued in 2002-2003 under a new project number - 2317 (ASAC_2317) and new title - 'Longterm Changes in Vegetation and Soil Stability, Macquarie Island'.

Taken from the 2008-2009 Progress Report:
Project objectives:
This project aims to resurvey long-term monitoring sites on Macquarie Island and ultimately document the recovery of ecosystems post-eradication of rabbits and rodents. The specific objectives of the project are:

(1) Re-survey of steep coastal slopes. Re-measure sites established on Macquarie Island in 1980-81 to monitor changes in vegetation in 2008-09 (pre-eradication) and then in 2013-14 and 2018-19 (post-eradication).
(2) Re-photograph two stretches of steep coastal slopes on the west coast, between Mawson Point and Aurora Point (7 km) and between Davis Point and Cape Toutcher (4 km) in 2008-09 (pre-eradication) and then in 2013-14 and 2018-19 (post-eradication).
(3) Resurvey the known populations of the rare plant Poa litorosa at the south end of the island in 2008-09 (pre-eradication) and then in 2013-14 and 2018-19 (post-eradication). This objective is linked with the Poa litorosa monitoring objective of Project 1015.
(4) Re-photograph over 100 fixed photo-points documenting the extent of vegetation, erosion and landscape change since 1980 in 2008-09 (pre-eradication) and then in 2013-14 and 2018-19 (post-eradication).

Progress against objectives:
(1) Fieldwork undertaken as proposed.
(2) Fieldwork undertaken as proposed.
(3) Fieldwork not undertaken.
(4) Fieldwork undertaken as proposed.

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: Download point for the data - excel files and word documents

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE

Description: Public information for ASAC project 76

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE

Description: Public information for ASAC project 2317

Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION

Description: Citation reference for this metadata record and dataset

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: -54.6

S: -54.7

E: 158.9

W: 158.8

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 2002-09-30

Stop Date: 2003-03-31

Start Date: 2008-09-30

Stop Date: 2009-03-31

Location Keywords

OCEAN > ARCTIC OCEAN

OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN

OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN > MACQUARIE ISLAND

GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR

Data Resolution

Latitude Resolution: 10 m
Longitude Resolution: 10 m

Science Keywords

BIOSPHERE > VEGETATION > RECLAMATION/REVEGETATION/RESTORATION

HUMAN DIMENSIONS > HABITAT CONVERSION/FRAGMENTATION > RECLAMATION/REVEGETATION/RESTORATION

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA

ENVIRONMENT

Platform

FIELD SURVEYS

Instrument

CAMERAS

Quality Values provided in temporal coverage are approximate only.

Handheld GPS used for site locations (approx accuracy 5-15m).

Taken from the 2008-2009 Progress Report:
Variations to work plan or objectives:
Objective 3 was not undertaken, as it was not possible to gain a permit to access the ... Caroline Cove Special Management Area during summer 2008-09 to do the fieldwork required. The consequence is that this aspect of the work, being undertaken jointly with Project 1015, will not progress until it is possible to gain field access to the area. Objective 3 is a minor component of Project 2317 and its non-completion does not affect the main body of the work as outlined in Objectives 1, 2 and 4.

Field work:
For Objective (1) All permanent vegetation plots were re-measured apart from four plots on one site which had been destroyed by accelerated erosion since last measured in 2003. The plots (1 square metre quadrats) are located on 27 (now 26) marked transects distributed around the island on the steep coast-facing slopes. Each of the 196 quadrats is marked with short orange plastic conduit stakes. Vegetation cover-abundance data and associated environmental data were collected from each quadrat by standard visual estimation methods, used throughout the study since 1980 by the same observer (JS).
For Objective (2) West coast photo-points were re-measured. Oblique photos were taken of the steep coastal slopes from a series of fixed photo-points (GPS-located) along the seaward edge of two stretches of the west coast: Mawson Point to Aurora Point, and Davis Point to Cape Toutcher.
For Objective (4) Fixed photo-points: Oblique photos were re-taken from a series of over 100 fixed photo-points documenting vegetation, erosion and landscape features around the island in a variety of habitats, and at 48 erosion monitoring sites on the mid-altitude plateau.

Evaluation: All fieldwork was undertaken as planned, apart from that proposed under Objective 3 (see 1.3 above). It is anticipated that the monitoring undertaken under Objectives 1, 2 and 4 will be repeated in 2013-14 and 2018-19 as outlined in the Project 2317 research proposal, with completion of fieldwork in 2018-19.

Laboratory activity/analysis:
Field results from Objective 1 have been analysed and published up to and including 2003. The field results from 2008-09 will be added to this body of data and further analyses will be written up and published probably as an interim short note, with a fuller publication planned after the next field season in 2013-14 and a final publication after the 2018-19 field season. Field results from Objectives 2 and 4 (photo-monitoring) are in the process of being analysed, with publication within the next two years planned.

Access Constraints These data are not yet publicly available for download.

Use Constraints This data set conforms to the PICCCBY Attribution License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

.

Please contact Investigator (Kirkpatrick) and technical contact/DIF author (Scott) before using data from this project.

Please follow instructions listed in the citation reference provided at http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/metadata/citation.cfm?entry_id=ASAC_2317 when using these data

Ancillary Keywords

rabbits

pest

Data Set Progress

IN WORK

Data Center

Australian Antarctic Data Centre, Australia

Data Center URL: http://data.aad.gov.au

Data Center Personnel
Name: DATA OFFICER AADC Phone: +61 3 6232 3244 Fax: +61 3 6232 3351 Email: metadata at aad.gov.au Contact Address: Australian Antarctic Division 203 Channel Highway City: Kingston Province or State: Tasmania Postal Code: 7050 Country: Australia

Distribution

Distribution Media: HTTP

Distribution Size: 81 kb

Distribution Format: excel, word

Fees: free

Personnel

JENNIFER SCOTT

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Phone: +61 3 6226 2205

Fax: +61 3 6226 2989

Email: jenny.scott at utas.edu.au

Contact Address:

SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

University of Tasmania

PRIVATE BAG 78

City: HOBART

Province or State: Tasmania

Postal Code: 7001

Country: Australia

JAMES KIRKPATRICK

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Phone: +61 3 6226 2460

Fax: +61 3 6226 2989

Email: J.Kirkpatrick at utas.edu.au

Contact Address:

SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

University of Tasmania

PRIVATE BAG 78

City: Hobart

Province or State: Tasmania

Postal Code: 7001

Country: Australia

Publications/References

Kirkpatrick, J.B., Scott, J.J. (2002), Change in undisturbed vegetation on the coastal slopes of subantarctic Macquarie Island, 1980-1995., Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 34, 300-307

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2000-07-18

Last DIF Revision Date: 2011-07-29

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