S ummary of Plots on Mt Lyndhurst

Station

2013- 2018

Sunset, Mount Lydnhurst Station.

Acknowledgments

TERN gratefully acknowledges owners of Mount Lyndhurst for their support of the project and for allowing access to their property. Thanks also to volunteers Mark Crowder and Helen Lucas who helped to collect the field data and the many others who have helped curate and process the data and samples. Thank you to the South Austrlian herbarium for undertaking the plant identifications.

Contents

Introduction ...... 4 Accessing the Data ...... 6 Point intercept data ...... 6 Plant collections ...... 6 Leaf tissue samples ...... 6 Site description information ...... 6 Structural summary ...... 6 Leaf Area Index ...... 6 Basal area ...... 7 Soil classification ...... 7 Soil meta barcoding samples ...... 7 Soil bulk density ...... 7 Co-location with existing plots ...... 7 3D photo panorama ...... 8 Regional Context ...... 9 Uses of TERN AusPlot Data from Mount Lydnhurst Station ...... 13 Assessing drought sensitivity in plants using stable carbon isotopes ...... 13 Potential decoupling of plant and ant communities under climate change ...... 13 Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots Rangelands ...... 13 Floristic and structural assessment of Australian rangeland vegetation with standardized plot based surveys ...... 13 Variation in chain-length of leaf wax n-alkanes in plants and soils across Australia...... 13 The Biomes of Australian Soil Environments ...... 14 The extent of forest in dryland biomes ...... 14 Herbarium Collections ...... 14 For more information ...... 14 Appendices ...... 15

Appendix 1. Summary of the TERN AusPlots data and samples from Mount Lydnhurst Station ...... 15 Appendix 2. Plot locations ...... 15 Appendix 3. Point intercept data ...... 16 Appendix 4. Substrate and growth form ...... 16 Appendix 5. Structural Summary ...... 17 Appendix 6. Soil Classification ...... 18 Appendix 7. Plant collection ...... 19

Introduction Beginning in 2012 the Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (TERN), undertook a survey on Mount Lydnhurst Station, South Australia. The surveys involved vegetation and soils work following the AusPlots Rangelands methodology, with 2 plots completed. The plots were revisted in 2018. The plot is part of over 650 plots completed nationally. Figure 1 shows the TERN plot network, and Figure 2 shows the locations of the plots on Mount Lydnhurst Station.

This report provides a snapshot of some of the data which was collected during the survey work. A more detailed description of the methods used can be found online in our AusPlots Rangelands Survey Protocols Manual (White et al. 2012), available from our website www.AusPlots.org.

Figure 1. TERN plot network

AusPlots on Mt Lyndhurst Station

AusPlots Site

Figure 2. TERN AusPlots Rangelands plot location on Mount Lydnhurst Station (c) Copyright 1999. Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources, South Australia.

Accessing the Data All of the data the TERN collects is freely available online through the AEKOS data portal at www.aekos.org.au. It can also be viewed on the Soils to Satellites website which contains a range of useful visualisations sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia. At http://www.soils2satellites.org.au/.

Point intercept data The point intercept method is a straightforward method that is readily repeatable and requires little instruction to produce reliable plot information. It provides accurate benchmark data at each plot including substrate type and cover; as well as species structural information such as growth form, height, cover and abundance and population vertical structure. The demographic information produced at each plot can be compared spatially to indicate plot differences, and temporally to indicate change over time. Additionally, the cover data collected at each plot can be used to validate cover data extrapolated through remote sensing techniques.

Plant collections Each species that is found within the plot has a herbarium grade sample taken. These have all been formally identified by the SA Herbarium. Much of the material is then lodged at the SA Herbarium or at the TERN facility in Adelaide.

Leaf tissue samples All of the above samples also have leaf tissue samples taken. This involves placing leaf samples from each species into a cloth bag and drying them on silica desiccant. All of the dominant species have an extra 4 samples collected. These samples are available for use on application to the TERN facility in Adelaide. They are able to be used for genetic analysis, isotopic composition and range of other uses.

Site description information Contextual information is also collected at each plot. This includes measures of slope an aspect, surface strew and lithology, and information on the grazing and fire history of the site. The plots location is also recorded with a differential GPS and the plot corners and centres (with landholder permission) marked with a star picket.

Structural summary Detailed structural summary information is also collected at each plot. When combined with the height and cover information from the point intercept data it enables the creation of structural description compatible with and NVIS level 5 description.

Leaf Area Index In plots where a mid and/or upper canopy is present a measure of Leaf Area is recorded. The tool used is an LAI- 2200 and it captures LAI measurements in a range of canopies using one or two sensors attached to a single data logger (LI-COR 1990). The LAI data has a range of potential application such as studies of canopy growth, canopy productivity, woodland vigour, canopy fuel load, air pollution deposition, modelling insect defoliation, remote sensing, and the global carbon cycle.

Basal area Basal area measurements are collected across plots where woody biomass is taller than 2 m. Basal area measurements provide information useful for calculating biomass and carbon levels and for structural studies. The wedge aperture, the length of string – 50 cm (and hence the distance from the eye and subsequent angle from the eye to the edges of the wedge aperture) and species count are all important in calculations. Algorithms developed for use with the basal wedge include the above data to calculate plant basal area on a per hectare basis even though species are counted outside the one-hectare plot area. The method is plotless but used because it is based on the concept of circles (trunks/basal area) within circles (circular plots) – the area of one varies proportionally to the change in the area of the other. Use of the basal wedge may be superseded by further improvement of the 3D photo point method and development of algorithms to provide information on vegetation community structure.

Soil classification Description of soils, including basic information on the information that has been recorded, the number of recordings and the coverage of locations, are generally poor across the rangelands region of Australia. The plot descriptions and soil characterisations collected by AusPlots will substantially alleviate this paucity of information. The data collected can also be used to increase the reliability of the rangelands component of the Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia, produced by the TERN facility consistent with the Global Soil Map specifications. Analyses of the collected samples will greatly enhance the level of knowledge (e.g. nutrient and carbon levels) and hence understanding of rangelands soils and how they will respond to climate change and management options. It is hoped to eventually be able to analyse all nine of the soil pits from within the plot using a number of different methods e.g. wet chemistry, MIR or NIR (mid infrared spectrometry or near infrared spectroscopy) either individually to provide a measure of variation of the parameter being measured across a plot or bulked together and a sub-sample extracted and analysed to provide a mean value for that parameter across a plot.

Soil meta barcoding samples Metagenomics is the study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples. Soil metagenomics provides the opportunity to understand what organisms are present at survey plots and provides an indication on their abundance. The collection techniques result in a bias towards higher order organisms. The AusPlots on Mount Lydnhurst Station has soil meta barcoding samples collected.

Soil bulk density The soil bulk density (BD), also known as dry bulk density, is the weight of dry soil divided by the total soil volume. The total soil volume is the combined volume of solids and pores which may contain air or water, or both. The average values of air, water and solids in the sample are easily measured and are a useful indication of a soils physical condition. Soil test results are most often presented either as a percentage of soil (e.g. % organic carbon) or as a weight per unit of soil (e.g. nitrogen, mg/kg). As bulk density is a measure of soil weight in a given volume, it provides a useful conversion from these units to an area basis unit (e.g. t/ha). The resulting number gives an easily understandable idea of the carbon storage or nutritional status of the soil on an area basis.

Co-location with existing plots TERN works on a mix of both new plots (where this is little existing monitoring infrastructure) and co-location with existing plots. The plots on Mount Lydnhurst Station forms part of the Transect for Environmetnal Decsision-Making (TREND). This transect straddles the rainfall and temperature gradient that runs from Deep Creek on the Fleurieu Peninsula to the plains north of the Flinders Ranges.

3D photo panorama The TERN AusPlots method uses a three-dimensional method for photographing the site. This involves taking three 360-degree panoramas in a triangular pattern. This allows for the creation of a 3D model of the vegetation within the plot which can be used to monitor change over time, track plot condition as well as providing a unique, fast measurement of basal area and biomass. A subset of these photo panoramas is shown below.

SATSTP0003

SATSTP0004

Regional Context

Figure 3. AusPlots Rangelands plot locations close to Mount Lydnhurst Station Topographic data copyright Geoscience Australia and South Australian Government

Figure 4. Modelled 9s elevation Data from: Xu and Hutchinson, 2011. ANUCLIM Version 6.1. Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Australia.

Figure 5. Mean annual temperature Data from: Xu and Hutchinson, 2011. ANUCLIM Version 6.1. Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Australia.

Figure 6. Mean annual precipitation Climate Data from: Xu and Hutchinson, 2011. ANUCLIM Version 6.1. Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Australia.

Uses of TERN AusPlot Data from Mount Lydnhurst Station The AusPlots survey method was developed out of a dire need for consistent, national scale ecological data and surveillance monitoring. To date, we have completed over 650 survey plots across the continent, including 42 as a part of the Transect for Ecological Monitoring and Decision Making. The data and samples collected from these surveys are being used in a range of ways to allow comparisons across the state and the continent. Some of the projects that have made use of the data and samples from Mount Lydnhurst Station site are listed below.

Assessing drought sensitivity in plants using stable carbon isotopes (Stefan Caddy-Retalic) In terrestrial plants, there is a trade-off between photosynthetic uptake and water loss. This means that we can use the stable carbon isotope ratio of leaves as a proxy for water stress. Stefan has measured the stable carbon isotope ratios of 151 species of native and invasive plants across a wide aridity gradient, allowing him to rank species by their sensitivity to aridity. This information can be used to predict which plants will be the most and least sensitive to ongoing climate change and can be used for conservation planning and predict how our vegetation will change.

Potential decoupling of plant and ant communities under climate change (Stefan Caddy- Retalic) Under climate change, many species will be forced to migrate to maintain suitable conditions. Plants and ants are two of the dominant groups in terrestrial ecosystems, and have tight linkages through pollination, herbivory, defence and a range of other interactions. Despite these close linkages, plants and ants may be very differently affected by predicted climate change, and forced to migrate in different ways, disrupting species interactions and ecosystem function. Stefan is using the plant and ant composition data collected at Mount Lydnhurst Station and the other Mount Lydnhurst Station sites, combined with high resolution climate projections, to predict whether these terrestrial systems are likely to remain intact or degrade over the next century.

Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots Rangelands (Greg Guerin)

How species abundance distributions (SADs) vary over climatic gradients is a key question for the influence of environmental change on ecosystem processes. Greg Guerin is a researcher based at the University of Adelaide. He first set up the plots some of the plots on Mount Lydnhurst Station prior to the AusPlots visit. Greg has undertaken analysis on the entire plot network (Including Mount Lydnhurst Station) He has found linear relationships between SAD shape and rainfall within grassland and shrubland communities, indicating more uneven abundance in deserts and suggesting relative abundance may shift as a consequence of climate change, resulting in altered diversity and ecosystem function.

Floristic and structural assessment of Australian rangeland vegetation with standardized plot based surveys (Zdravko Baruch)

Vegetation classification at a continental scale has been lacking over the rangelands in Australia due to a lack of consistent data beyond state and regional levels. Zdravko undertook an integrated and comparative environmental, floristic and structural description of rangeland vegetation based on the AusPlots Surveys. His results offer a tentative classification scheme that is novel, ecologically sound and coherent in terms of floristic composition and structural attributes.

Variation in chain-length of leaf wax n-alkanes in plants and soils across Australia (Sian Howard) Leaf waxes are produced by plants to protect their leaves and one of their dominant components, n-alkanes, preserve well in soils and sediments and are readily used for reconstructing past vegetation and climate. Using plants and soils from Mount Lydnhurst Station and other sites, Sian found that longer-chained n-

alkanes were associated with grasses and shorter-chained n-alkanes were associated with trees but that the n-alkanes in the soils were not related to that of the current dominant vegetation. This lack of correlation between current vegetation and soils suggests that n-alkanes may travel large distances and/or be retained in the surface soil despite a change in the local vegetation community.

The Biomes of Australian Soil Environments (Andrew Bissett) Soil samples from Mount Lydnhurst Station were subjected to DNA metabarcoding, a genetic screening technique for establishing the diversity of bacteria, archaea, eukaryotes and fungi. The BASE project has generated a database of microbial diversity with associated metadata across extensive environmental gradients at continental scale. As the characterisation of microbes rapidly expands, the BASE database provides an evolving platform for interrogating and integrating microbial diversity and function. BASE will evolve as a valuable tool for documenting an often overlooked component of biodiversity and the many microbe-driven processes that are essential to sustain soil function and ecosystem services.

The extent of forest in dryland biomes (Jean-Francois Bastin) The vegetation cover data from Mount Lydnhurst Station was also part of a recent mapping project undertaken by the Food and Agriculture arm of the UN. They were able to show that in 2015, 1327 million hectares of drylands had more than 10% tree-cover, and 1079 million hectares comprised forest. Their estimate is 40 to 47% higher than previous estimates, corresponding to 467 million hectares of forest that have never been reported before. This increases current estimates of global forest cover by at least 9%.

Herbarium Collections The AusPlots program works very closely with state and national herbaria to help augment their collections to enable research and to better understand species distributions. Located in valuable areas of native vegetation, the plant collections made on Mount Lydnhurst Station have been eagerly accepted by the South Australian and National Herbarium. These specimens are currently being professionally mounted and preserved and will form a permanent part of their collection, which is available to botanical researchers globally to support ongoing research.

For more information More information on the AusPlots method can be found on our website www.AusPlots.org

For more information regarding the survey work on the Mount Lydnhurst Station and assistance downloading and utilising the data from AEKOS and Soils2Satellites contact Emrys Leitch, TERN Field Survey Lead, [email protected]

For more information regarding the TERN facility, contact Ben Sparrow, Director, [email protected]

Appendices

Appendix 1. Summary of the TERN AusPlots data and samples from Mount Lydnhurst Station

AusPlots Data and Samples Count

Total Collections 180

Total Leaf Tissue Samples 276

Total number of soil samples 48

Total weight of soil (kg) 48

Total metagenomic samples 46

Total metagenomic weight (kg) 18

Appendix 2. Plot locations

Plot Name Date Location latitude longitude

SATSTP0003 15-Aug-13 Mt Lyndhurst Station about 40 km north of homestead. -29.75528333 138.8491778

SATSTP0004 15-Aug-13 Mt Lyndhurst Station, 40kms north of homestead. -29.79146944 138.8318556

Appendix 3. Point intercept data

Plot name Herbarium ID Common name Approx. % cover SA Cons. Status

SATSTP0003 Eragrostis setifolia Bristly Love-grass 5.74

SATSTP0003 Enneapogon avenaceus (dead) Bottle Washers 2.08

SATSTP0003 Annual Grass (dead) 1.98

SATSTP0003 Calotis hispidula Bindy eye 1.98

SATSTP0003 Astrebla pectinata Barley Mitchell Grass 1.29

SATSTP0003 Atriplex holocarpa Pop Saltbush 1.09

SATSTP0004 Senna artemisioides subsp. x petiolaris 9.11

SATSTP0004 Annual Grass (dead) 6.73

SATSTP0004 Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata 6.34

SATSTP0004 Eragrostis setifolia Bristly Love-grass 4.46

SATSTP0004 Acacia victoriae subsp. victoriae 4.16

SATSTP0004 Zygophyllum apiculatum Callweed 3.37

SATSTP0004 Sida intricata Neverfail 2.57

SATSTP0004 Dead Tree/Shrub 1.98

SATSTP0004 Annual Forb (dead) 1.68

SATSTP0004 Enneapogon cylindricus (dead) Jointed Bottlewashers 1.49

SATSTP0004 Acacia tetragonophylla Kurara 1.49

SATSTP0004 Einadia nutans subsp. eremaea 1.39

SATSTP0004 Maireana pyramidata Black Bluebush 1.29

SATSTP0004 Rhagodia spinescens Berry Saltbush 1.19

Appendix 4. Substrate and growth form

Plot Name Substrate Approx % substrate Plot Name Growth Form Approx % of Growth Forms SATSTP0003 Bare ground 42.67 SATSTP0003 Tussock grass 7.43 SATSTP0003 Gravel 38.51 SATSTP0003 Forb 4.26 SATSTP0003 Leaf litter 18.32 SATSTP0003 Chenopod 2.38 SATSTP0003 Cryptogam 0.40 SATSTP0003 Shrub 0.20 SATSTP0003 Rock 0.10 Plot Name Substrate Approx % substrate Plot Name Growth Form Approx % of Growth Forms SATSTP0004 Leaf litter 59.50 SATSTP0004 Shrub 13.76 SATSTP0004 Bare ground 36.14 SATSTP0004 Forb 9.21 SATSTP0004 Cryptogam 2.87 SATSTP0004 Tussock grass 5.25 SATSTP0004 Coarse woody debris 1.49 SATSTP0004 Chenopod 3.47

Appendix 5. Structural Summary

Plot name Structural description

SATSTP0003 Eragrostis setifolia low sparse tussock grassland with Calotis hispidula and scattered Astrebla pectinata.

SATSTP0004 Senna artemisioides subsp. petiolaris / Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata / Acacia victoriae subsp. victoriae low open shrubland with scattered Santalum lanceolatum. A ground stratum of Eragrostis setifolia, Zygophyllum apiculatum and Sida intricata.

Appendix 6. Soil Classification

Sample Colour Upper Lower Plot name Horizon when pH EC Effervescence depth depth moist

SATSTP0003 Sampled from Pit 0 0.08 A1 2.5YR36 8.1 4.92 Non-calcareous

SATSTP0003 Sampled from Pit 0.08 0.25 B1w 2.5YR48 8.5 9.14 Highly calcareous

SATSTP0003 Sampled from Pit 0.25 0.9 B2w 2.5YR46 8.2 11.8 Highly calcareous

SATSTP0003 Sampled from Pit 0.9 1.1 B21w 2.5YR46 7.4 9.64 Highly calcareous

SATSTP0004 Sampled from Pit 0 0.15 A1 7.5YR46 8.3 0.18 Highly calcareous

SATSTP0004 Sampled from Pit 0.15 0.55 B1w 7.5YR56 8.6 0.15 Very highly calcareous

SATSTP0004 Sampled from Pit 0.55 1.1 B2w 7.5YR58 6.8 0.14 Very highly calcareous

Appendix 7. Plant collection

* Denotes introduced species

Plot name Herbarium determination Common name SA Cons. Status

SATSTP0003 Acacia tetragonophylla Kurara

SATSTP0003 Acacia victoriae subsp. victoriae

SATSTP0003 Aristida contorta Bunched Kerosene Grass

SATSTP0003 Astrebla pectinata Barley Mitchell Grass

SATSTP0003 Atriplex holocarpa Pop Saltbush

SATSTP0003 Brachyscome ciliaris var. lanuginosa

SATSTP0003 Calotis hispidula Bindy eye

SATSTP0003 Daucus glochidiatus Australian Carrot

SATSTP0003 Dichromochlamys dentatifolia

SATSTP0003 Einadia nutans subsp. nutans

SATSTP0003 Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa

SATSTP0003 Enneapogon avenaceus Bottle Washers

SATSTP0003 Eragrostis setifolia Bristly Love-grass

SATSTP0003 Eremophila duttonii Budda

SATSTP0003 Eremophila freelingii Limestone Fuchsia

SATSTP0003 Eriochiton sclerolaenoides Woolly Bindii

SATSTP0003 Erodium crinitum Blue Storkbill

SATSTP0003 Euphorbia drummondii Balsam

SATSTP0003 Euphorbia tannensis subsp. eremophila

SATSTP0003 Gnephosis eriocarpa Mat Yellow-heads

SATSTP0003 Goodenia fascicularis Silky Goodenia

SATSTP0003 Leiocarpa websteri

SATSTP0003 Lotus cruentus Red Bird's-foot Trefoil

SATSTP0003 Maireana ciliata Fissure Weed

SATSTP0003 Maireana villosa Silky Bluebush

SATSTP0003 Malvaceae sp.

SATSTP0003 Minuria cunninghamii Bush Minuria

SATSTP0003 Pimelea simplex subsp. continua

SATSTP0003 Plantago drummondii Dark Plantain

SATSTP0003 Polycalymma stuartii Poached-eggs Daisy

SATSTP0003 Pterocaulon sphacelatum Applebush

SATSTP0003 Rhagodia spinescens Berry Saltbush

SATSTP0003 Rhodanthe floribunda Common White Sunray

SATSTP0003 Rhodanthe moschata

SATSTP0003 Rhodanthe pygmaea Pigmy Sunray

SATSTP0003 Salsola australis

SATSTP0003 Sclerolaena brachyptera

SATSTP0003 Sclerolaena diacantha Grey Copper Burr

Plot name Herbarium determination Common name SA Cons. Status

SATSTP0003 Sclerolaena eriacantha Tall Bindii

SATSTP0003 Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia

SATSTP0003 Senna artemisioides subsp. x petiolaris

SATSTP0003 Sida fibulifera Pin Sida

SATSTP0003 Sida trichopoda High Sida

SATSTP0003 Sporobolus actinocladus Fairy Grass

SATSTP0003 Stenopetalum anfractum

SATSTP0003 Streptoglossa cylindriceps

SATSTP0003 Streptoglossa liatroides Wertaloona Daisy

SATSTP0003 Tetragonia eremaea Desert Spinach

SATSTP0003 Triraphis mollis Feather Top

SATSTP0003 Vittadinia eremaea

SATSTP0003 Zygophyllum prismatothecum Square Twin-leaf

SATSTP0004 Acacia oswaldii Boree

SATSTP0004 Acacia tetragonophylla Kurara

SATSTP0004 Acacia victoriae subsp. victoriae

SATSTP0004 Brachyscome ciliaris var. lanuginosa

SATSTP0004 Convolvulus angustissimus subsp. peninsularum

SATSTP0004 Convolvulus remotus Grassy Bindweed

SATSTP0004 Dissocarpus paradoxus Cannonball Burr

SATSTP0004 Einadia nutans subsp. eremaea

SATSTP0004 Enchylaena tomentosa var. glabra

SATSTP0004 Enneapogon cylindricus Jointed Bottlewashers

SATSTP0004 Eragrostis falcata Sickle Lovegrass

SATSTP0004 Eragrostis setifolia Bristly Love-grass

SATSTP0004 Eremophila longifolia Berrigan

SATSTP0004 Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata

SATSTP0004 Eriochiton sclerolaenoides Woolly Bindii

SATSTP0004 Erodium crinitum Blue Storkbill

SATSTP0004 Euphorbia drummondii Balsam

SATSTP0004 Goodenia fascicularis Silky Goodenia

SATSTP0004 Leiocarpa websteri

SATSTP0004 Lysiana subfalcata

SATSTP0004 Maireana pyramidata Black Bluebush

SATSTP0004 *Malvastrum americanum var. americanum

SATSTP0004 Pimelea simplex subsp. continua

SATSTP0004 Polycalymma stuartii Poached-eggs Daisy

SATSTP0004 Pterocaulon sphacelatum Applebush

SATSTP0004 Rhagodia spinescens Berry Saltbush

SATSTP0004 Rhodanthe floribunda Common White Sunray

SATSTP0004 Rhodanthe pygmaea Pigmy Sunray

SATSTP0004 Santalum lanceolatum Blue Bush

Plot name Herbarium determination Common name SA Cons. Status

SATSTP0004 Sauropus trachyspermus Slender Spurge

SATSTP0004 Sclerolaena diacantha Grey Copper Burr

SATSTP0004 Sclerolaena patenticuspis Spear-fruit Saltbush

SATSTP0004 Senecio anethifolius subsp. brevibracteolatus

SATSTP0004 Senecio lanibracteus Desert Groundsel

SATSTP0004 Senna artemisioides subsp. x petiolaris

SATSTP0004 Sida fibulifera Pin Sida

SATSTP0004 Sida intricata Neverfail

SATSTP0004 *Sonchus oleraceus Annual Sowthistle

SATSTP0004 Swainsona flavicarinata Yellow-keeled Swainsona

SATSTP0004 Tetragonia eremaea Desert Spinach

SATSTP0004 Vittadinia eremaea

SATSTP0004 Zygophyllum apiculatum Callweed

www.tern.org.au