Distribution and abundance of spectacled flying-foxes, Pteropus conspicillatus, in the Wet Tropics Region 2011 - 2014 (NERP TE 3.4, CSIRO)

Brief description

This data set shows the occupancy and size of spectacled flying-fox camps across the distribution of the spectacled flying-fox in the Wet Tropics Region. Camp locations are also provided. Data was collected monthly and all camps in the region were monitored each month. This data was collected to provide information on the dynamics in abundance and distribution of the spectacled flying-fox. It is part of a long term monitoring program that has been running since 2004. For further information see the publicaton: Tait, J., Perotto-Baldivieso, H. L., McKeown, A., & Westcott, D. A. (2014). Are Flying-Foxes Coming to Town? Urbanisation of the Spectacled Flying-Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) in Australia. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109810 This dataset is a subset of the complete time series corresponding to the collection period of the NERP TE program, from June 2011 - Oct 2014. Methods: Monthly surveys were conducted as daytime ground counts and followed the methodology outlined for the National Flying-fox Monitoring Program (Westcott et al. 2011; http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/391f5fed-e287-4dd3-85ac-640037926ef5/files/310112-monitoring-methodology.pdf). Surveys were conducted by a single surveyor. All camps were surveyed over a 2-3 day period. Limitations: This data covers the ‘counted’ population only. An unknown and variable proportion of the population roost in unknown locations. Format: The data is provided as a 28 kb Excel file with camp names, latitude and longitude of camp location and columns for each survey month. Camps are never dropped from the survey so blanks represent camps with no spectacled flying-foxes present during the survey. References: Westcott D. A. & McKeown A. (2004) Observer error in exit counts of flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.). Wildl. Res. 31, 551-8. Westcott D. A., McKeown A., Murphy H. T. & Fletcher C. S. (2011) A monitoring method for the greyheaded flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus. A report to the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. p. 58. CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Atherton, Australia. Westcott D. A., Fletcher C. S., McKeown A. & Murphy H. T. (2012) Assessment of monitoring power for highly mobile vertebrates. Ecol. Appl. 22, 374-83.