Brief description
Sandy beaches on the north and west coasts of Tasmania, and on Flinders and King Islands were sample between October 1996 and August 1997. At each of 102 sites the strandline fauna was sampled using pitfall traps set overnight during the low tide period. A number of physical and biotic characteristics of each beach were also measured.Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: The macro-invertebrate fauna of the upper zone of beaches is almost entirely made up of species that are active on the sand surface, usually at night. Since the habitat is spatially homogenous, pitfall trapping was used. Smple traps were used, consisting of a 7.5cm diameter plastic drinking cup dug into the sand, containing about 25ml of ethylene glycol, a non-volatile preservative.
The traps were set in three groups of five. Each beach was divided into three zones: the middle zone (Zone 2) was defined as the strandline, Zone 1 was located immediately seaward of the strandline, while Zone 3 was defined as the belt between the upper limit of the strandline, and the seaward edge of terrestrial, woody vegetation.
A number of physical and biotic characteristics of each beach were recorded, in particular the parameters required to calculate McLachlan's (1980) index of exposure. the profile of the beac h was sketched and the slope estimated by eye. A sand sample was collected from each zone, and the percentages of carbonate and organic matter were estimated gravimetrically after acid digesition and combustion for 4 hrs at 450oC, respectively. Particle size was determiend by hand sieving using Endicott sieves, and recorded in seven phi classes. The beach type was classed according to the scheme of Short & Wright (1983) and in addition the following was scored by eye: kelp and driftwood deposition, marram grass abundance, and the overall percentage plant cover in zone 3. Any birds present were identified and counted, and the species and cover of all plants in Zone 3 were recorded. Any factors causing potential disturbance were noted.
The traps were set out in the evening of days when there was an overnight low tide, and collected again before the lower traps were flooded. The traps were open for a minimum of 10 hrs and a maximum of 16 hrs. The catch was transferred to specimen vials and returned to the laboratory for preservation in 70% ethanol and later identification.
Most beaches were sampled on a single night, however if disturbance by humans or animals or if the traps were filled with drifting sand, the beach was sampled a second time.
Notes
CreditNational Estate Grants Program
Credit
Roy Swain
Roy Swain
Credit
Colin Shepherd
Colin Shepherd
Purpose
To identify biodiverse sites for listing in the National Estate.
To identify biodiverse sites for listing in the National Estate.
Created: 05 10 2011
Data time period: 01 10 1996 to 31 08 1997
text: westlimit=144.50; southlimit=-44.00; eastlimit=148.50; northlimit=-39.00
Subjects
Arachnids |
Biological Sciences |
Crustaceans |
Ecology |
Insects |
Mollusc |
Myriapods |
Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Invertebrates |
Sandy beaches |
Strandline |
Terrestrial Ecology |
biota |
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Identifiers
- global : 885014fb-5c1a-4eb4-a1ee-b425f6c4f0c2
