S ummary of Sites on Murray Sunset

National Park

January 2015

Lake Crosbie, Murray Sunset National Park

Acknowledgments

TERN Ausplots gratefully acknowledges staff from the Parks for allowing access to the park. Thanks, are also to volunteer Lachlan Pink who helped out with the field work and the many others who have assisted with the curation and processing of the data and samples. Thanks to the staff at the National Herbarium of Victoria for undertaking the identification.

Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Accessing the Data ...... 3 Point intercept data ...... 3 Plant collections ...... 3 Leaf tissue samples ...... 3 Site description information ...... 3 Structural summary ...... 3 Leaf Area Index ...... 3 Basal area ...... 3 Soil classification ...... 4 Soil meta barcoding samples ...... 4 Soil bulk density ...... 4 3D Photo Panorama ...... 4 Regional Context ...... 6 Potential Uses for AusPlots Data from the Murray Sunset National Park ...... 8 For more information ...... 8 Appendices ...... 9

Appendix 1. Summary of AusPlots data and samples from on the Murray Sunset National Park ...... 9 Appendix 2. Plot locations ...... 10 Appendix 3. Point intercept data ...... 11 Appendix 4. Substrate and growth form ...... 12 Appendix 5. Structural Summary ...... 13 Appendix 6. Soil Classification ...... 14 Appendix 7. Bulk density ...... 14 Appendix 8. Plant collection ...... 15

Introduction In January 2015, AusPlots, part of the Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (TERN), undertook surveys on Murray Sunset National Park. The surveys involved vegetation and soils work following the AusPlots Rangelands methodology, with 3 plots completed. The plots are part of over 580 plots completed nationally. Figure 1 shows the national AusPlots plot network, and Figure 2 shows the locations of the plots on the Murray Sunset National Park.

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. AusPlots plot network LandSat Image used courtesy of the Commonwealth Department of the Environment

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Figure 2. AusPlots Rangelands plot locations on Murray Sunset National Park Topographic data copyright Geoscience

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Accessing the Data All of the data the AusPlots 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 National Herbarium of Victoria. Much of the material is then lodged at the National Herbarium of Victoria or at the Ausplots 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 Ausplots 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 site. This includes measures of slope an aspect, surface strew and lithology, and information on the grazing and fire history of the site. The sites 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 site. When combined with the height and cover information from the point intercept data it enables the creation of structural description compatible with an 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 2m. 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

3 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 Soils descriptions i.e. information recorded, number of recordings and coverage of locations, are generally poor across the rangelands region of Australia. The plot descriptions and soil characterisations collected 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 9 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. All of the Ausplots on the Murray Sunset National Park have 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 solid in soil 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.

3D Photo Panorama AusPlots uses a three-dimensional method for photographing the site. This involves taking three 360-degree panoramas in a triangular pattern. This allows the creation of a 3D model of the vegetation within the site 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. Photo panoramas for a selection of the plots are shown below.

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VCAMDD0001

VCAMDD0002

VCAMDD0003

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Regional Context

Figure 3. Mean annual temperature Data from: Xu and Hutchinson, 2011. ANUCLIM Version 6.1. Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Australia.

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Figure 4. Mean annual Precipitation Climate Data from: Xu and Hutchinson, 2011. ANUCLIM Version 6.1. Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Australia.

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Potential Uses for AusPlots Data from the Murray Sunset National Park The AusPlots survey method was developed out of a dire need for consistent, national scale ecological data and surveillance monitoring. As such, the data can be used in a range of ways both on the Murray Sunset National Park but also to allow comparisons across the continent. Currently, a range of researchers and land managers make use of the data and samples. Some example applications that may be applicable within the region are listed below.

• Assessing vegetation change using the AusPlots methodology as both a baseline and a continued surveillance monitoring tool. • Detecting the impact of invasive species based on soil and vegetation data. • Ground-truthing satellite derived vegetation and soil data • Soil carbon analysis using the soil bulk density samples • Mapping soil phosphorus, nitrogen and other nutrients using soil pit and subsite samples • Assessing fuel loading using the basal area and leaf area data. • Use of the leaf tissue samples for genetic and isotopic analysis.

Data and samples from Murray Sunset National Park currently being used are listed in the table below

AusPlots AusPlotSite Name of Project Project Lead Institution(s) Samples/Data Used VCAMDD0001 Mapping soil phosphorous Mark Westoby Macquarie University Soil Samples Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Presence/Absence Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots data and Point VCAMDD0001 Rangelands Greg Guerin University of Adelaide Intercept Data Food and Agriculture Organization of the United VCAMDD0001 The extent of forest in dryland biomes Jean-Francois Bastin Nations Point Intercept Data VCAMDD0002 Mapping soil phosphorus Mark Westoby Macquarie University Soil Samples Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Presence/Absence Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots data and Point VCAMDD0002 Rangelands Greg Guerin University of Adelaide Intercept Data Food and Agriculture Organization of the United VCAMDD0002 The extent of forest in dryland biomes Jean-Francois Bastin Nations Point Intercept Data VCAMDD0003 Mapping soil phosphorus Mark Westoby Macquarie University Soil Samples Opportunities for Integrated Ecological Analysis across Presence/Absence Inland Australia with Standardised Data from Ausplots data and Point VCAMDD0003 Rangelands Greg Guerin University of Adelaide Intercept Data Food and Agriculture Organization of the United VCAMDD0003 The extent of forest in dryland biomes Jean-Francois Bastin Nations Point Intercept Data

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

For more information regarding the survey work on the Murray Sunset National Park and assistance downloading and utilising the data from AEKOS and Soils2Satellites contact Emrys Leitch, AusPlots Field Survey Officer, [email protected]

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

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Appendices

Appendix 1. Summary of AusPlots data and samples from on the Murray Sunset National Park

AusPlots Data and Samples Count

Total Collections 65

Total Leaf Tissue Samples 98

Total number of soil samples 72

Total weight of soil (kg) 72

Number of sites with Bulk Density data 3

Number of Sites with LAI 2

Number of Sites with Basal wedge 2

Total metagenomic samples 27

Total metagenomic weight (kg) 14

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Appendix 2. Plot locations

Plot Name Date Location latitude longitude

VCAMDD0001 20-Jan-15 Murray Sunset National Park. South western end of Clay Lake. 28km north west of 141.610561 -34.981009 Underbool

VCAMDD0002 20-Jan-15 Murray Sunset National Park, about 26kms north west of Underbool. 141.651481 -34.98229

VCAMDD0003 21-Jan-15 Murray Sunset National Park. 6.5 km north west of Mt Gnarr, 20.5km north west 141.728358 -34.998256 of Underbool

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Appendix 3. Point intercept data * denotes introduced species

Approx. % Plot name Herbarium ID Common name cover

VCAMDD0001 Tecticornia pergranulata 11.29

VCAMDD0001 Tecticornia halocnemoides 7.62

Disphyma crassifolium subsp. VCAMDD0001 clavellatum Jellybeans 4.95

VCAMDD0001 Tecticornia halocnemoides (dead) 1.09

VCAMDD0001 Tecticornia pergranulata (dead) 0.99

Disphyma crassifolium subsp. VCAMDD0001 clavellatum (dead) Jellybeans 0.40

VCAMDD0001 Dead Tree/Shrub 0.10

VCAMDD0002 Atriplex sp. orache 11.49

VCAMDD0002 Casuarina pauper Belah 9.21

Podolepis aristata subsp. affinis VCAMDD0002 (dead) 5.35

VCAMDD0002 Annual Forb 2.67

VCAMDD0002 tomentosa Barrier Saltbush 2.67

VCAMDD0002 Atriplex sp. orache 1.29

VCAMDD0003 socialis subsp. Socialis 29.50

VCAMDD0003 Red 5.05

VCAMDD0003 Red Mallee 3.96

VCAMDD0003 Leptospermum sp. Moonah 1.68

VCAMDD0003 subsp. Dumosa 1.58

VCAMDD0003 scariosa Porcupine Grass 0.69

VCAMDD0003 Barrier Saltbush 0.69

Eucalyptus socialis subsp. socialis VCAMDD0003 (dead) 0.59

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Appendix 4. Substrate and growth form

Approx. % cover by Growth Plot Name Substrate Approx. % substrate Plot Name Growth Form Forms VCAMDD0001 Cryptogam 49.50 VCAMDD0001 Chenopod 18.91 VCAMDD0001 Bare ground 27.92 VCAMDD0001 Forb 2.48 VCAMDD0001 Leaf litter 22.57 VCAMDD0001 Chenopod (dead) 2.08 VCAMDD0001 Forb (dead) 0.20 VCAMDD0001 Shrub (dead) 0.10 Approx. % cover by Growth Plot Name Substrate Approx. % substrate Plot Name Growth Form Forms VCAMDD0002 Leaf litter 69.41 VCAMDD0002 Chenopod 14.46 VCAMDD0002 Cryptogam 14.65 VCAMDD0002 Tree/Palm 9.21 VCAMDD0002 Bare ground 12.97 VCAMDD0002 Forb 3.76 VCAMDD0002 Coarse woody debris 2.87 VCAMDD0002 Forb (dead) 3.56 VCAMDD0002 Chenopod (dead) 1.49 VCAMDD0002 Tussock grass 0.99 Tussock grass VCAMDD0002 (dead) 0.40 VCAMDD0002 Tree/Palm (dead) 0.30 VCAMDD0002 Shrub 0.20 Approx. % cover by Growth Plot Name Substrate Approx. % substrate Plot Name Growth Form Forms VCAMDD0003 Leaf litter 52.97 VCAMDD0003 Tree Mallee 16.14 VCAMDD0003 Bare ground 23.76 VCAMDD0003 Shrub Mallee 9.41 VCAMDD0003 Cryptogam 19.70 VCAMDD0003 Shrub 2.18 VCAMDD0003 Coarse woody debris 3.56 VCAMDD0003 Chenopod 1.19 VCAMDD0003 Hummock grass 0.69 VCAMDD0003 Forb 0.50 VCAMDD0003 Chenopod (dead) 0.20 VCAMDD0003 Unknown 0.30 Shrub Mallee VCAMDD0003 (dead) 0.20 VCAMDD0003 Tree Mallee (dead) 0.20

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Appendix 5. Structural Summary

Plot name Structural description

Tecticornia pergranulata and Tecticornia halocnemoides low chenopod shrubland 20 to 60cm high with Disphyma crassifolium subsp. VCAMDD0001 clavellatum Casuarina pauper mid woodland with 1 or 2 isolated emergent Callitris. A ground stratum of Atriplex sp. and mixed forbs. Isolated VCAMDD0002 shrubs- , Dodonaea viscosa and Alectryon sp. in the mid stratum subsp. socialis, Eucalyptus gracilis and Eucalyptus oleosa low Mallee woodland (4-7m) with mid stratum of juvenile VCAMDD0003 trees and Leptospermum coriaceum (1-3m) and sparse ground stratum of Triodia scariosa.

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Appendix 6. Soil Classification

Colour Upper Lower Plot name Horizon Texture when ph. Ec. effervescence Sample depth depth moist

VCAMDD0001 Sampled from Pit 0 0.03 A1 Sand 10YR53 7.5 2.46 Non-calcareous

VCAMDD0001 Sampled from Pit 0.03 0.35 B21 Medium clay 2.5Y52 8.6 8.67 Non-calcareous

VCAMDD0001 Sampled from Pit 0.35 0.72 B22 Clay loam sandy 2.5Y64 7.8 15.4 Non-calcareous

VCAMDD0001 Sampled from Pit 0.72 1 B23 Not Collected 10YR63 7.5 12.5 Non-calcareous

VCAMDD0002 Sampled from Pit 0 0.33 Loamy sand 7.5YR46 7.3 0.14 Non-calcareous

VCAMDD0002 Sampled from Pit 0.33 0.7 Sandy clay loam 5YR46 8.7 2.02 Non-calcareous

VCAMDD0002 Sampled from Pit 0.7 1 Clay loam sandy 7.5YR56 8.7 3.08 Highly calcareous

VCAMDD0003 Sampled from Pit 0 0.16 Loamy sand 7.5YR44 8.3 0.19 Non-calcareous

VCAMDD0003 Sampled from Pit 0.16 0.24 Sandy loam 5YR44 8.8 0.25 Non-calcareous

Sampled from Pit Moderately VCAMDD0003 0.24 0.45 Sandy clay loam 7.5YR46 8.8 0.6 calcareous

Sampled from Pit Very highly VCAMDD0003 0.45 0.9 Sandy clay loam 7.5YR56 8.9 2.08 calcareous

VCAMDD0003 Sampled from Pit 0.9 1 Light clay 7.5YR56 8.6 3.9 Highly calcareous

Sampled from Subsite 1 6.4 0.42 not recorded

Appendix 7. Bulk density

Plot name Sample depth Fine earth weight Fine earth bulk density

VCAMDD0001 0 to 10cms 335.11 1.6

VCAMDD0001 10 to 20cms 268.08 1.28

VCAMDD0001 20 to 30cms 290.61 1.39

VCAMDD0002 0 to 10cms 346.58 1.66

VCAMDD0002 10 to 20cms 327.18 1.56

VCAMDD0002 20 to 30cms 323.52 1.55

VCAMDD0003 0 to 10cms 314.54 1.5

VCAMDD0003 10 to 20cms 309.26 1.48

VCAMDD0003 20 to 30cms 299.95 1.43

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Appendix 8. Plant collection *Denotes introduced species

Plot name Family Herbarium determination Common name Vic. Cons. Code

VCAMDD0001 Portulacaceae Calandrinia eremaea Small Purslane

VCAMDD0001 Aizoaceae Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum Jellybeans

VCAMDD0001 Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia halocnemoides

VCAMDD0001 Chenopodiaceae Tecticornia pergranulata

VCAMDD0002 Sapindaceae Alectryon oleifolius subsp. canescens

VCAMDD0002 Loranthaceae Amyema linophylla Buloke Mistletoe

VCAMDD0002 Chenopodiaceae Atriplex pumilio Mat Saltbush

VCAMDD0002 Chenopodiaceae Atriplex sp. orache

VCAMDD0002 Poaceae Austrostipa sp. (falcate awn group)

VCAMDD0002 Asteraceae Brachyscome ciliaris Variable Daisy

VCAMDD0002 Cupressaceae Callitris gracilis Slender Cypress-pine

VCAMDD0002 Asteraceae Calotis erinacea Tangled Burr-daisy

VCAMDD0002 Casuarinaceae Casuarina pauper Belah

VCAMDD0002 Chenopodiaceae curvispicatum Cottony Saltbush

VCAMDD0002 Crassulaceae Crassula sp. Swamp stonecrop

VCAMDD0002 Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa subsp. Angustissima

VCAMDD0002 Chenopodiaceae Dysphania cristata Crested Crumbweed

VCAMDD0002 Chenopodiaceae Einadia nutans subsp. nutans

VCAMDD0002 Chenopodiaceae Enchylaena tomentosa Barrier Saltbush

VCAMDD0002 Geraniaceae Erodium crinitum Blue Storkbill

VCAMDD0002 Eucalyptus dumosa subsp. dumosa

VCAMDD0002 Agaricaceae Lycoperdon sp.

VCAMDD0002 Chenopodiaceae brevifolia Cottonbush

VCAMDD0002 Myrtaceae Melaleuca lanceolata Moonah

VCAMDD0002 Asteraceae Olearia pimeleoides Burrabunga

VCAMDD0002 Oxalidaceae Oxalis sp. Oxalis

VCAMDD0002 Poaceae Paspalidium constrictum Box Grass

VCAMDD0002 Poaceae *Pentameris airoides

VCAMDD0002 Thymelaeaceae Pimelea microcephala subsp. microcephala

VCAMDD0002 Pittosporaceae Pittosporum angustifolium Weeping Pittosporum

VCAMDD0002 Asteraceae Podolepis aristata subsp. affinis

VCAMDD0002 Asteraceae Podolepis capillaris Invisible Plant

VCAMDD0002 Psathyrellaceae Psathyrella sp.

VCAMDD0002 Polyporaceae Pycnoporus coccineus

VCAMDD0002 Chenopodiaceae Rhagodia spinescens Berry Saltbush

VCAMDD0002 Poaceae Rytidosperma sp. Danthonia

VCAMDD0002 Lamiaceae Salvia verbenaca var. verbenaca

VCAMDD0002 Santalaceae Santalum acuminatum Quandong

VCAMDD0002 Chenopodiaceae obliquicuspis Limestone Bindii

VCAMDD0002 Asteraceae Vittadinia sp.

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Plot name Family Herbarium determination Common name Vic. Cons. Code

VCAMDD0003 Fabaceae lineata Narrow Lined-leaved Acacia rare

VCAMDD0003 Chenopodiaceae Atriplex sp. orache

VCAMDD0003 Poaceae Austrostipa sp.

VCAMDD0003 Asteraceae Brachyscome sp.

VCAMDD0003 Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium desertorum subsp. Desertorum rare

VCAMDD0003 Sapindaceae Dodonaea viscosa subsp. Angustissima

VCAMDD0003 Chenopodiaceae Enchylaena tomentosa Barrier Saltbush

VCAMDD0003 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus costata

VCAMDD0003 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus costata subsp. murrayana

VCAMDD0003 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus dumosa subsp. dumosa

VCAMDD0003 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus gracilis Red Mallee

VCAMDD0003 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus oleosa Red Mallee

VCAMDD0003 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus socialis subsp. Socialis

VCAMDD0003 Dilleniaceae Hibbertia virgata Guinea-flower

VCAMDD0003 Myrtaceae Leptospermum sp. Moonah

VCAMDD0003 Chenopodiaceae Maireana brevifolia Cottonbush

VCAMDD0003 Chenopodiaceae Maireana erioclada Rosy Bluebush

VCAMDD0003 Oxalidaceae Oxalis perennans Woody-root oxalis

VCAMDD0003 Ptilotus seminudus Rabbit Tails

VCAMDD0003 Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena diacantha Grey Copper Burr

VCAMDD0003 Fabaceae Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia

VCAMDD0003 Poaceae Triodia scariosa Porcupine Grass

VCAMDD0003 Asteraceae Vittadinia sp.

VCAMDD0003 Zygophyllaceae apiculatum Callweed

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