Summary of Sites on Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve

S ummary of Sites on Plumridge

Lakes Nature Reserve

th st 30 June – 1 July 2014

Acacia caesaneura / Casuarina pauper low open woodland., Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve

Acknowledgments

Ausplots Rangelands gratefully acknowledge staff from the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW), in particular, Dr Stephen van-Leeuwen and WA Herbarium staff for their help and support of the project and for allowing access to the Park. Thanks to volunteer John Macdonald who contributed to the field data collection and the many other volunteers who helped with curation and publication of the data.

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 Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve ...... 9 For more information ...... 9 Appendices ...... 10

Appendix 1. Summary of AusPlots data and samples from Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve ...... 10 Appendix 2. Plot locations ...... 11 Appendix 3. Point intercept data ...... 12 Appendix 4. Substrate and growth form ...... 13 Appendix 5. Structural Summary ...... 13 Appendix 6. Soil Classification ...... 14 Appendix 7. Bulk Desnity ...... 14 Appendix 8. Plant collection ...... 15

Introduction In June 2014, part of the Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (TERN), undertook surveys on Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve, Western Australia. The surveys involved vegetation and soils work following the AusPlots Rangelands methodology, with 2 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 Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve.

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

Figure 2. AusPlots Rangelands plot locations on Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve Topographic data copyright Geoscience Australia

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 WA herbarium. Much of the material is then lodged at the WA herbarium 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 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 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

3 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 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 withon Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve 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. One of the Photo panorama for each of the plots is shown below.

WAAGVD0001

Regional Context

Figure 3. Modelled 9s elevation Data from: Xu and Hutchinson, 2011. ANUCLIM Version 6.1. Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Australia.

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

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

Potential Uses for AusPlots Data from Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve 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 Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve 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. 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 Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve 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]

Appendices

Appendix 1. Summary of AusPlots data and samples from Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve

AusPlots Data and Samples Count

Total Collections 91

Total Leaf Tissue Samples 138

Total number of soil samples 48

Total weight of soil (kg) 48

Number of sites with Bulk Density data 2

Number of Sites with LAI 2

Number of Sites with Basal wedge 1

Total metagenomic samples 18

Appendix 2. Plot locations

Plot Name Date Location latitude longitude

WAAGVD0001 30-Jun-14 Plumridge Lake Nature Reserve. 150km north north west of Rawlina -29.6692639 125.13025

Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve.178kms west south west of Tjuntjuntjara in WAANUL0003 01-Jul-14 Great Victoria Desert. -29.7187778 125.3158361

Appendix 3. Point intercept data *denotes introduced species

Approx. % Plot name Herbarium ID Common name cover

WAAGVD0001 Senna artemisioides subsp. x petiolaris 6.53

WAAGVD0001 Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia 6.53

WAAGVD0001 Acacia caesaneura Western Blue Mulga 5.54

WAAGVD0001 Casuarina pauper Belah 2.57

WAAGVD0001 Eremophila latrobei Crimson Turkey Bush 2.08

WAAGVD0001 Ptilotus obovatus Cotton Bush 2.08

WAAGVD0001 Alectryon oleifolius subsp. canescens 1.58

WAAGVD0001 Sida ectogama 1.58

WAAGVD0001 Dead Tree/Shrub (dead) 1.19

WAAGVD0001 Acacia burkittii Fine Leaf Jam. 1.09

WAAGVD0001 Paspalidium constrictum Box Grass 0.99

WAANUL0003 Senna artemisioides subsp. x petiolaris 12.48

WAANUL0003 Acacia aneura Mulga 6.04

WAANUL0003 Acacia papyrocarpa Western Myall 6.04

WAANUL0003 Sclerolaena diacantha Grey Copper Burr 3.17

WAANUL0003 Ptilotus obovatus Cotton Bush 2.77

WAANUL0003 Maireana sedifolia Dense Bluebush 2.57

WAANUL0003 Sclerolaena diacantha (dead) Grey Copper Burr 2.08

WAANUL0003 Maireana trichoptera Pink-seeded Bluebush, Downy Bluebush 2.08

WAANUL0003 Paspalidium constrictum Box Grass 1.88

WAANUL0003 Dead Tree/Shrub (dead) 1.09

Appendix 4. Substrate and growth form

Approx. % cover by Plot name Substrate Approx. % substrate Plot name Growth form growth form

WAAGVD0001 Bare ground 35.64 WAAGVD0001 Shrub 15.45

WAAGVD0001 Leaf litter 31.98 WAAGVD0001 Tree/Palm 6.44

WAAGVD0001 Cryptogam 28.91 WAAGVD0001 Forb 2.28

WAAGVD0001 Coarse woody debris 2.67 WAAGVD0001 Chenopod 2.08

WAAGVD0001 Gravel 0.59 WAAGVD0001 Tussock grass 1.98

WAAGVD0001 Rock 0.20 WAAGVD0001 Shrub (dead) 1.29

WAAGVD0001 Tree/Palm (dead) 0.10

WAAGVD0001 Chenopod (dead) 0.10

Approx. % cover by Plot name Substrate Approx. % substrate Plot name Growth form growth form

WAANUL0003 Leaf litter 50.40 WAANUL0003 Shrub 10.69

WAANUL0003 Bare ground 29.41 WAANUL0003 Chenopod 9.31

WAANUL0003 Cryptogam 18.32 WAANUL0003 Tree/Palm 8.61

WAANUL0003 Coarse woody debris 1.78 WAANUL0003 Forb 3.86

WAANUL0003 Unknown 0.10 WAANUL0003 Tussock grass 3.27

WAANUL0003 Chenopod (dead) 2.77

WAANUL0003 Tree/Palm (dead) 0.99 Tussock grass WAANUL0003 (dead) 0.59

WAANUL0003 Forb (dead) 0.10

WAANUL0003 Shrub (dead) 0.10

Appendix 5. Structural Summary

Plot name Structural description

Acacia caesaneura / Casuarina pauper low open woodland. A mid stratum of Senna artemisioides and a sparse ground layer WAAGVD0001 dominated by Ptilotus obovatus WAANUL0003 Acacia aneura / Acacia papyrocarpa mixed low open woodland to 7m with a mid-stratum of Senna artemisioides subsp. petiolaris, some juvenile Acacia aneura to 2m and Maireana sedifolia to 80cm. Ground stratum of Sclerolaena diacantha, Ptilotus obovatus and Maireana trichoptera.

Appendix 6. Soil Classification

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

WAAGVD0001 Sampled from Pit 0 0.15 A1 Loamy sand 2.5YR36 8.9 0 Non-calcareous

Sampled from Pit B1 Moderately WAAGVD0001 0.15 0.75 Loamy sand 2.5YR46 9.4 0.04 calcareous

WAAGVD0001 Sampled from Pit 0.75 1 2A1 Clayey sand 2.5YR56 9.4 0.63 Highly calcareous

Sampled from WAAGVD0001 Subsite 1 0 0.1 7.8 0.46 not recorded

Sampled from Pit A1 Moderately WAANUL0003 0 0.14 Loamy sand 5YR46 calcareous

Sampled from Pit B2 Sandy clay WAANUL0003 0.14 0.85 loam 5YR58 Very highly calcareous

WAANUL0003 Sampled from Pit 0.85 1 2B1 Sandy loam 5YR68 Very highly calcareous

Sampled from WAANUL0003 Subsite 1 0 0.1 8.2 0.47 not recorded

Appendix 7. Bulk Desnity

Depth Range Fine Earth Plot Name (m) Bulk Density g/cm³

WAAGVD0001 0.00 - 0.10 1.91

WAAGVD0001 0.10 - 0.20 2.32

WAAGVD0001 0.20 - 0.30 2.4 WAANUL0003 0.00 - 0.10 1.52

WAANUL0003 0.10 - 0.20 1.5

WAANUL0003 0.20 - 0.30 1.56

Appendix 8. Plant collection * Denotes introduced species

Plot name Family Herbarium determination Common name

WAAGVD0001 Malvaceae Abutilon cryptopetalum Hill Lantern-flower

WAAGVD0001 Fabaceae Acacia burkittii Fine Leaf Jam.

WAAGVD0001 Fabaceae Acacia caesaneura Western Blue Mulga

WAAGVD0001 Fabaceae Acacia nyssophylla Pin Bush

WAAGVD0001 Fabaceae Acacia oswaldii Boree

WAAGVD0001 Fabaceae Acacia tetragonophylla Kurara

WAAGVD0001 Sapindaceae Alectryon oleifolius subsp. canescens

WAAGVD0001 Loranthaceae Amyema fitzgeraldii Pincushion Mistletoe

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Aristida contorta Bunched Kerosene Grass

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Austrostipa eremophila Desert Spear-grass

WAAGVD0001 Asteraceae Brachyscome sp.

WAAGVD0001 Casuarinaceae Casuarina pauper Belah

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium curvispicatum Cottony Saltbush

WAAGVD0001 Asteraceae Chrysocephalum puteale

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Cymbopogon obtectus Silky Heads

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Digitaria brownii Cotton Grass

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Enneapogon caerulescens

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Enneapogon polyphyllus Leafy Nineawn

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Eragrostis eriopoda A love grass

WAAGVD0001 Scrophulariaceae Eremophila georgei

WAAGVD0001 Scrophulariaceae Eremophila latrobei Crimson Turkey Bush

WAAGVD0001 Scrophulariaceae Eremophila serrulata Green Fuchia Bush

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Eriochiton sclerolaenoides Woolly Bindii

WAAGVD0001 Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia tannensis subsp. eremophila

WAAGVD0001 Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia verrucitesta

WAAGVD0001 Goodeniaceae Goodenia havilandii Hill Goodenia

WAAGVD0001 Haloragaceae Haloragis gossei

WAAGVD0001 Loranthaceae Lysiana murrayi Mulga Mistletoe

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Maireana georgei Golden Bluebush

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Maireana pentatropis Erect Mallee Bluebush

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Maireana planifolia Low Bluebush

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Maireana sedifolia Dense Bluebush

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Maireana trichoptera Pink-seeded Bluebush, Downy Bluebush

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Maireana triptera Three-wing Bluebush

WAAGVD0001 Apocynaceae Marsdenia australis Doubah

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Monachather paradoxus Bandicoot Grass

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Neurachne sp.

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Paspalidium constrictum Box Grass

WAAGVD0001 Agaricaceae Podaxis pistillaris

Plot name Family Herbarium determination Common name

WAAGVD0001 Asteraceae Podolepis capillaris Invisible Plant

WAAGVD0001 Amaranthaceae Ptilotus obovatus Cotton Bush

WAAGVD0001 Amaranthaceae Ptilotus polystachyus Prince of Wales Feather

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Rhagodia drummondii

WAAGVD0001 Apocynaceae Rhyncharrhena linearis Purple Pentatrope

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Salsola australis

WAAGVD0001 Santalaceae Santalum spicatum Sandalwood

WAAGVD0001 Goodeniaceae Scaevola spinescens Currant Bush

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena convexula Tall Copperburr

WAAGVD0001 Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena diacantha Grey Copper Burr

WAAGVD0001 Fabaceae Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia

WAAGVD0001 Fabaceae Senna artemisioides subsp. x artemisioides

WAAGVD0001 Fabaceae Senna artemisioides subsp. x petiolaris

WAAGVD0001 Fabaceae Senna artemisioides subsp. x sturtii

WAAGVD0001 Malvaceae Sida ectogama

WAAGVD0001 Malvaceae Sida sp. dark green fruits (S. van Leeuwen 2260)

WAAGVD0001 Malvaceae Sida spodochroma Limestone Sida

WAAGVD0001 Solanaceae Solanum cleistogamum

WAAGVD0001 Solanaceae Solanum lasiophyllum Flannel Bush

WAAGVD0001 Solanaceae Solanum orbiculatum subsp. orbiculatum

WAAGVD0001 Poaceae Triodia basedowii Buck Spinifex

WAAGVD0001 Zygophyllaceae Zygophyllum ovatum Dwarf Twin-leaf

WAANUL0003 Malvaceae Abutilon cryptopetalum Hill Lantern-flower

WAANUL0003 Fabaceae Acacia aneura Mulga

WAANUL0003 Fabaceae Acacia aptaneura Slender Mulga

WAANUL0003 Fabaceae Acacia nyssophylla Pin Bush

WAANUL0003 Fabaceae Acacia papyrocarpa Western Myall

WAANUL0003 Sapindaceae Alectryon oleifolius subsp. canescens

WAANUL0003 Poaceae Aristida contorta Bunched Kerosene Grass

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Atriplex vesicaria Bladder Saltbush

WAANUL0003 Poaceae Austrostipa acrociliata Graceful Spear-grass

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium curvispicatum Cottony Saltbush

WAANUL0003 Asteraceae Chrysocephalum puteale

WAANUL0003 Asteraceae Cratystylis conocephala Blue-bush Daisy

WAANUL0003 Poaceae Cymbopogon obtectus Silky Heads

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Enchylaena tomentosa var. tomentosa

WAANUL0003 Poaceae Enneapogon avenaceus Bottle Washers

WAANUL0003 Poaceae Enneapogon caerulescens

WAANUL0003 Poaceae Enneapogon cylindricus Jointed Bottlewashers

WAANUL0003 Scrophulariaceae Eremophila latrobei Crimson Turkey Bush

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Eriochiton sclerolaenoides Woolly Bindii

WAANUL0003 Geraniaceae Erodium sp. Heron's-bill

Plot name Family Herbarium determination Common name

WAANUL0003 Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia sp. Milkweed

WAANUL0003 Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia tannensis subsp. eremophila

WAANUL0003 Goodeniaceae Goodenia pinnatifida Cut-leaf Goodenia

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Maireana georgei Golden Bluebush

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Maireana pentatropis Erect Mallee Bluebush

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Maireana sedifolia Dense Bluebush

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Maireana trichoptera Pink-seeded Bluebush, Downy Bluebush

WAANUL0003 Apocynaceae Marsdenia australis Doubah

WAANUL0003 Poaceae Paspalidium constrictum Box Grass

WAANUL0003 Asteraceae Podolepis capillaris Invisible Plant

WAANUL0003 Amaranthaceae Ptilotus nobilis Regal Foxtail

WAANUL0003 Amaranthaceae Ptilotus obovatus Cotton Bush

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Rhagodia spinescens Berry Saltbush

WAANUL0003 Asteraceae Rhodanthe floribunda Common White Sunray

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Salsola australis

WAANUL0003 Santalaceae Santalum acuminatum Quandong

WAANUL0003 Asteraceae Schoenia ayersii

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena diacantha Grey Copper Burr

WAANUL0003 Chenopodiaceae Sclerolaena obliquicuspis Limestone Bindii

WAANUL0003 Fabaceae Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia

WAANUL0003 Fabaceae Senna artemisioides subsp. x petiolaris

WAANUL0003 Malvaceae Sida calyxhymenia

WAANUL0003 Malvaceae Sida fibulifera Pin Sida

WAANUL0003 Malvaceae Sida spodochroma Limestone Sida

WAANUL0003 Solanaceae Solanum cleistogamum

WAANUL0003 Solanaceae Solanum lasiophyllum Flannel Bush

WAANUL0003 Zygophyllaceae *Tribulus terrestris Bindi-eye

WAANUL0003 Asteraceae Vittadinia eremaea

WAANUL0003 Zygophyllaceae Zygophyllum ovatum Dwarf Twin-leaf