Brief description
Rainforest vertebrates have been monitored at this permanent site at dates available in the dataset according to amphibians, mammals, reptiles and birds.
Full description
Amphibians Amphibians were sampled using either microhylid ( species) or stream survey ( species) techniques. Microhylid surveys consisted of a nocturnal, slow‐paced walk (∼10 min duration) along a 50‐m transect through rain forest. All calls were identified to species, and counts were made of number of individuals calling within 10 m on either side of the transect. Because detection probability was dependent on calling males, surveys were timed to coincide with known months of breeding. In all, 25 of the 27 dated breeding records compiled for microhylid species in the region are from the late dry to the early wet seasons (Hoskin 2004). Surveys for microhylid species were thus exclusively confined to this time period. Surveys were also conducted only on wet, humid nights (>80% relative humidity). These conditions are known to be conducive to calling activity. Subsets of abundance counts using the same standardized technique have been used in analyses elsewhere (Shoo and Williams 2004). Stream surveys consisted of a 200‐m nocturnal transect along rain forest streams. All individuals were located and identified visually (usually by eye‐shine reflection) and/or acoustically (by call). Counts were made of any individual located within the stream itself or along adjacent streamside embankments. This methodology is consistent with those previously employed within the region (e.g., Hodgkison and Hero 2002). Mammals Nocturnal visual counts of mammals were made in 1,000‐m spotlighting transects along old unused logging tracks, with 1 h of search effort, using a combination of one observer with a 30‐W handheld spotlight and another observer with a low‐power head torch. This combination maximizes efficiency, as the powerful spotlight is best for detecting arboreal mammals and owls, while the low‐power head torch is better for detecting geckos and frogs (Williams 1995). Reptiles Reptiles were counted during 1 person‐hour, and the search was restricted to a 50‐m radius of active diurnal examination of the forest floor and vegetation, as well as shelter sites, such as under logs. Surveys were conducted only under warm (air temperature, >22°C) or sunny conditions and never during rain. Sampling criteria were based on regression tree analysis of reptile abundance and environmental conditions (S. E. Williams, unpublished data). Birds Bird surveys consisted of walking for exactly 30 min along a 150‐m transect (measured using a hip chain) through the rain forest, using both visual observations and bird calls to identify species. Only calls made within ∼50 m of the transect line were recorded. As much care as possible was taken to avoid double‐counting of calling individuals. Surveys were conducted only if environmental conditions on the sampling day were suitable enough to ensure that daily conditions did not bias the results; for example, no surveys were conducted in rain or strong winds. Subsets of abundance counts using the same standardized techniques have been used in analyses elsewhere (Shoo et al. 2005a, 2005b; Williams and Middleton 2008)
Created: 2012-10-16
Data time period: 1994 to 31 12 2009
text: Site location is approximately 21km south-west of Port Douglas
text: east=145.305701; north=-16.577648
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- Local : researchdata.jcu.edu.au//published/cf50b9dd37955f5e50d6725f56b6034d
- Local : jcu.edu.au/tdh/collection/752b8bb4-bf0a-4158-8983-011812168eab
- Local : c7c53128a5ef51fbaca588f347c54034
