Summary of Sites on Saxby Downs Station

Summary of Sites on

Saxby Downs Station

June 2013

Bauhinia woodland, Saxby Downs Station

Acknowledgments

Ausplots Rangelands gratefully acknowledges the McClymont family and AJM pastoral for allowing access to property and for their help and support during the project Thanks to the staff from the Queenslands Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, in particular, Selwyn Counter and Nicholas Goodwin for their help and support. Thanks also to the many other volunteers who have helped with data curation and sample processing. Thanks also to the staff from the QLD Herabrium for undertaking the plant indentications.

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 Lidar ...... 4 Potential Uses for AusPlots Data from Saxby Downs Station ...... 5 For more information ...... 5 Appendices ...... 6

Appendix 1. Summary of AusPlots data and samples from Saxby Downs Station ...... 6 Appendix 2. Plot locations ...... 7 Appendix 3. Point intercept data ...... 8 Appendix 4. Substrate and Growth Form ...... 9 Appendix 5. Structural summary ...... 10 Appendix 6. Soil Classification ...... 11 Appendix 7. Bulk density ...... 12 Appendix 8. Plant collection ...... 13

Introduction In June 2013, AusPlots, part of the Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (TERN), undertook surveys Saxby Downs Station, Queensland. 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 Saxby Downs 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. AusPlots plot network LandSat Image used courtesy of the Commonwealth Department of the Environment

Figure 2. AusPlots Rangelands plot locations Saxby Downs Station 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 QLD herbarium. Much of the material is then lodged at the QLD 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 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 Saxby Downs Station 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.

Lidar The plots on Saxby Downs were done in collaboration with staff from Queenslands Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation. As a a result of their work, detailed terrestrial LIDAR imagery is available for the sites on Saxby Downs Station.

4 Potential Uses for AusPlots Data from Saxby Downs Station 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 Saxby Downs Station 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 Saxby Downs Station 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]

5 Appendices

Appendix 1. Summary of AusPlots data and samples from Saxby Downs Station

AusPlots Data and Samples Count Total Collections 136 Total Leaf Tissue Samples 208 Total number of soil samples 72 Total weight of soil (kg) 72 Number of sites with Bulk Density data 2 Number of Sites with LAI 2 Number of Sites with Basal wedge 2 Total metagenomic samples 27 Total metagenomic weight (kg) 14

6 Appendix 2. Plot locations

Plot Name Date Location latitude longitude About 5kms north of Saxby Downs (110kms northwest of QDAGUP0004 26-Jul-13 Richmond). -20.01373333 142.4778889 Saxby downs station. 9 km north of homstead. 115km north QDAGUP0005 18-Jun-13 west of Richmond. -19.99137222 142.46505 Saxby Downs about 15kms north of homestead and about QDAGUP0006 26-Jul-13 80kms north of Maxwellton. -19.95565 142.4021028

7 Appendix 3. Point intercept data

Plot name Herbarium ID Common name Approx. % cover

QDAGUP0004 Lysiphyllum cunninghamii 11.49

QDAGUP0004 Terminalia aridicola subsp. aridicola 3.56

QDAGUP0004 Acacia torulosa Torulosa Wattle 1.39

QDAGUP0005 Melaleuca citrolens 31.78

QDAGUP0005 Lysiphyllum cunninghamii 5.84

QDAGUP0005 Carissa lanceolata 2.97

QDAGUP0006 Lysiphyllum cunninghamii 8.51

QDAGUP0006 Melaleuca citrolens 4.46

QDAGUP0006 Carissa lanceolata 3.37

QDAGUP0006 Archidendropsis basaltica Dead Finish 2.18

QDAGUP0006 Terminalia aridicola subsp. aridicola 1.88

8 Appendix 4. Substrate and Growth Form

Plot Name Substrate Approx. % substrate Plot Name Growth Form Approx. % of Growth Forms

QDAGUP0004 Leaf litter 49.52 QDAGUP0004 Tree/Palm 66.41 QDAGUP0004 Bare ground 48.45 QDAGUP0004 Shrub 28.97 QDAGUP0004 Coarse woody debris 1.93 QDAGUP0004 Tussock grass 4.62 QDAGUP0004 Cryptogam 0.10 Plot Name Substrate Approx. % substrate Plot Name Growth Form Approx. % of Growth Forms

QDAGUP0005 Leaf litter 78.54 QDAGUP0005 Tree/Palm 60.21 QDAGUP0005 Bare ground 19.12 QDAGUP0005 Shrub 39.45 QDAGUP0005 Cryptogam 1.12 QDAGUP0005 Tussock grass 0.35

QDAGUP0005 Coarse woody debris 1.03 Plot Name Substrate Approx. % substrate Plot Name Growth Form Approx. % of Growth Forms

QDAGUP0006 Bare ground 51.88 QDAGUP0006 Tree/Palm 53.74 QDAGUP0006 Leaf litter 46.87 QDAGUP0006 Shrub 46.26 QDAGUP0006 Coarse woody debris 0.77 QDAGUP0006 Cryptogam 0.48

9 Appendix 5. Structural summary

Plot name Structural description

Lysiphyllum cunninghamii low woodland with Terminalia aridicola subsp. aridicola. The mid stratum dominated QDAGUP0004 by Acacia torulosa with some Carissa lanceolata and a sparse ground stratum of mixed tussock grasses.

Melaleuca citrolens low woodland to tall open shrubland with some Lysiphyllum cunninghamii. A mid stratum QDAGUP0005 dominated by Carissa lanceolata and a sparse ground stratum with assorted tussock grasses mainly Aristida spp.

Lysiphyllum cunninghamii, Melaleuca citrolens Archidendropsis basaltica and low woodland to tall open QDAGUP0006 shrubland with understratum of Carissa lanceolata and Acacia colei var. colei. Ground stratum mostly bare.

10 Appendix 6. Soil Classification

Colour Lower Plot name Upper depth Horizon Texture when ph EC effervescence depth wet

QDAGUP0004 0 0.2 A11 Sand 10YR36 8.2 0.05 Non-calcareous

QDAGUP0004 0.2 0.55 A12 Sand 7.5YR44 8.4 0.03 Non-calcareous

QDAGUP0004 0.55 0.85 A13 Sand 10YR56 8.4 0.03 Non-calcareous

QDAGUP0004 0.85 1.1 A14 Sand 10YR58 8.4 0.05 Non-calcareous

QDAGUP0005 0 0.1 A1 Sand 75YR33 7 0.02 Non-calcareous

QDAGUP0005 0.1 1.1 A3 Loamy sand 10YR58 7.1 0.05 Non-calcareous

QDAGUP0006 0 0.3 A11 Sand 7.5YR43 10.3 0.04 Non-calcareous

QDAGUP0006 0.3 0.9 A12 Sand 7.5YR56 9.6 0.12 Non-calcareous

11 Appendix 7. Bulk density

Plot name Sample depth Fine earth weight Fine earth bulk density

QDAGUP0004 0.00 - 0.10 382.65 1.83

QDAGUP0004 0.10-0.20 368.97 1.76

QDAGUP0004 0.20-0.30 360.34 1.72

QDAGUP0005 0.00 - 0.10 401.21 1.92

QDAGUP0005 0.10-0.20 370.76 1.77

QDAGUP0005 0.20-0.30 347.32 1.66

QDAGUP0006 0.00 - 0.10 367.95 1.76

QDAGUP0006 0.10-0.20 361.91 1.73

QDAGUP0006 0.20-0.30 357.26 1.71

Appendix 8. Plant collection * Denotes introduced species

Plot name Family Herabarium determination Common Name

QDAGUP0001 Acacia shirleyi Lancewood

QDAGUP0004 Malvaceae Abutilon fraseri subsp. fraseri

QDAGUP0004 Malvaceae Abutilon hannii

QDAGUP0004 Fabaceae Acacia holosericea Candelabra Wattle

QDAGUP0004 Fabaceae Acacia platycarpa Ghost Wattle

QDAGUP0004 Fabaceae Acacia torulosa Torulosa Wattle

QDAGUP0004 Amaranthaceae Achyranthes aspera Chaff Flower

QDAGUP0004 Fabaceae Archidendropsis basaltica Dead Finish

QDAGUP0004 Poaceae Aristida holathera Erect Kerosene Grass

QDAGUP0004 Poaceae Aristida ingrata

QDAGUP0004 Sapindaceae Atalaya hemiglauca Cattle Bush

QDAGUP0004 Apocynaceae Carissa spinarum

QDAGUP0004 Myrtaceae Corymbia polycarpa Long-fruited bloodwood

QDAGUP0004 Cyperaceae Cyperus conicus Cyperus Conicus

QDAGUP0004 Celastraceae Denhamia cunninghamii

QDAGUP0004 Ebenaceae Diospyros humilis Queensland Ebony

QDAGUP0004 Sapindaceae Dodonaea physocarpa

QDAGUP0004 Poaceae Enteropogon ramosus Curly Windmill Grass

QDAGUP0004 Poaceae Eragrostis eriopoda A love grass

QDAGUP0004 Poaceae Eriachne obtusa Northern Wanderrie Grass

QDAGUP0004 Phyllanthaceae Flueggea virosa subsp. melanthesoides

QDAGUP0004 Proteaceae Grevillea striata Beef Oak

QDAGUP0004 Malvaceae Grewia retusifolia Dogs Nuts

QDAGUP0004 Loranthaceae Lysiana subfalcata

QDAGUP0004 Fabaceae Lysiphyllum cunninghamii

QDAGUP0004 Apocynaceae Marsdenia muelleri

QDAGUP0004 Myrtaceae Melaleuca citrolens

QDAGUP0004 Myrtaceae Melaleuca nervosa Paperbark

QDAGUP0004 Myrtaceae Melaleuca viridiflora Broad Leaved Tea Tree

QDAGUP0004 Meliaceae Owenia acidula Emu Apple

QDAGUP0004 Rubiaceae Psydrax oleifolia

QDAGUP0004 Malvaceae Sida rohlenae Shrub Sida

QDAGUP0004 Combretaceae Terminalia aridicola subsp. aridicola

QDAGUP0004 Fabaceae Vachellia farnesiana Mimosa Bush

QDAGUP0004 Rhamnaceae Ventilago viminalis Barndaragu

QDAGUP0005 Fabaceae Acacia colei var. colei

QDAGUP0005 Fabaceae Acacia excelsa subsp. excelsa

QDAGUP0005 Amaranthaceae Achyranthes aspera Chaff Flower

Plot name Family Herabarium determination Common Name

QDAGUP0005 Poaceae Aristida sp. Aristida

QDAGUP0005 Sapindaceae Atalaya hemiglauca Cattle Bush

QDAGUP0005 Capparaceae Capparis lasiantha Bush Caper

QDAGUP0005 Apocynaceae Carissa spinarum

QDAGUP0005 Poaceae Chrysopogon fallax Golden Beardgrass

QDAGUP0005 Myrtaceae Corymbia sp.

QDAGUP0005 Cyperaceae Cyperus sp.

QDAGUP0005 Celastraceae Denhamia cunninghamii

QDAGUP0005 Ebenaceae Diospyros humilis Queensland Ebony

QDAGUP0005 Sapindaceae Dodonaea physocarpa

QDAGUP0005 Bignoniaceae Dolichandrone heterophylla Lemon Wood

QDAGUP0005 Scrophulariaceae Eremophila mitchellii Bastard Sandalwood

QDAGUP0005 Proteaceae Grevillea striata Beef Oak

QDAGUP0005 Apocynaceae Gymnanthera oblonga Harpoon Bud

QDAGUP0005 Poaceae Heteropogon contortus Black Speargrass

QDAGUP0005 Fabaceae Lysiphyllum cunninghamii

QDAGUP0005 Apocynaceae Marsdenia muelleri

QDAGUP0005 Myrtaceae Melaleuca citrolens

QDAGUP0005 Myrtaceae Melaleuca viridiflora Broad Leaved Tea Tree

QDAGUP0005 Meliaceae Owenia acidula Emu Apple

QDAGUP0005 Phellinus aff. resinaceus

QDAGUP0005 Poaceae Poaceae sp.

QDAGUP0005 Caryophyllaceae Polycarpaea breviflora

QDAGUP0005 Combretaceae Terminalia aridicola subsp. aridicola

QDAGUP0006 Fabaceae Acacia colei var. colei

QDAGUP0006 Fabaceae Acacia excelsa subsp. excelsa

QDAGUP0006 Amaranthaceae Achyranthes aspera Chaff Flower

QDAGUP0006 Fabaceae Archidendropsis basaltica Dead Finish

QDAGUP0006 Poaceae Aristida holathera Erect Kerosene Grass

QDAGUP0006 Poaceae Aristida pruinosa Gulf Feathertop Wiregrass

QDAGUP0006 Sapindaceae Atalaya hemiglauca Cattle Bush

QDAGUP0006 Capparaceae Capparis lasiantha Bush Caper

QDAGUP0006 Apocynaceae Carissa spinarum

QDAGUP0006 Myrtaceae Corymbia sp.

QDAGUP0006 Cyperaceae Cyperus fulvus Sticky Sedge

QDAGUP0006 Sapindaceae Dodonaea physocarpa

QDAGUP0006 Bignoniaceae Dolichandrone heterophylla Lemon Wood

QDAGUP0006 Scrophulariaceae Eremophila mitchellii Bastard Sandalwood

QDAGUP0006 Poaceae Eriachne obtusa Northern Wanderrie Grass

QDAGUP0006 Myrtaceae Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum

QDAGUP0006 Convolvulaceae Evolvulus alsinoides Tropical Speedwell

QDAGUP0006 Phyllanthaceae Flueggea virosa subsp. melanthesoides

Plot name Family Herabarium determination Common Name

QDAGUP0006 Proteaceae Grevillea striata Beef Oak

QDAGUP0006 Apocynaceae Gymnanthera oblonga Harpoon Bud

QDAGUP0006 Malvaceae Hibiscus sturtii Hill Hibiscus

QDAGUP0006 Convolvulaceae Jacquemontia sp.

QDAGUP0006 Fabaceae Lysiphyllum cunninghamii

QDAGUP0006 Myrtaceae Melaleuca citrolens

QDAGUP0006 Myrtaceae Melaleuca nervosa Paperbark

QDAGUP0006 Myrtaceae Melaleuca viridiflora Broad Leaved Tea Tree

QDAGUP0006 Caryophyllaceae Polycarpaea breviflora

QDAGUP0006 Rubiaceae Psydrax oleifolia

QDAGUP0006 Phyllanthaceae Sauropus trachyspermus Slender Spurge

QDAGUP0006 Malvaceae Sida rohlenae Shrub Sida

QDAGUP0006 Fabaceae Tephrosia sp.

QDAGUP0006 Combretaceae Terminalia aridicola subsp. aridicola

QDAGUP0006 Fabaceae Vachellia farnesiana Mimosa Bush