Brief description
The LTERN Tropical Rainforest Plot Network Rainforest Tree Demographic Data contains stem measurement data for 1 of 20, 0.5 ha (100 m x 50 m) permanent rainforest plots in Northern Queensland, Australia from 2011 to 2013. This is part of a much larger dataset that spans from 1971 to 2013 that is managed by CSIRO. This data publication refers specifically to observations made at Plot EP29, and this data is accessible as a composite data package at the following location: Metcalfe, D; Murphy, H; Bradford, M; Hogan, D; Ford, A (2014): Tropical Rainforest Plot Network: Rainforest Tree Demographic Data, Northern Queensland, Australia, 2011-2013. Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern2.90.42/html The CSIRO permanent rainforest plots are located within 60 km of the north Queensland coast between Mackay (21.5ºS, 149ºE) and the Iron Range on Cape York Peninsula (12.5ºS, 143ºE). The plots have a rainfall range of 1200 to 3500 mm, represent eleven vegetation types, six parent materials, and range from 15 m to 1200 m above sea level. Except for minor disturbances associated with selective logging on two plots, the plots were established in old growth forest and all plots have thereafter been protected. Plots were regularly censused and at each census the diameter at breast height (DBH) of all stems ≥10 cm DBH is recorded. Due to the wide geographical range of the plots, no species dominate, although the families Lauraceae, Rutaceae and Myrtaceae contribute a large number of species. The data collected from the 20 plots provides an insight into the floristical composition, structure and long term forest dynamics of Australian tropical rainforests and allows direct comparisons to be made with long-term monitoring plots at a global scale (Bradford, M.G., Murphy, H.T., Ford, A.J., Hogan, D. and Metcalfe, D.J. (2014). Long term stem inventory data from tropical rainforest plots in Australia. Ecology 95:2362. http://www.rainforest-crc.jcu.edu.au/publications/permanent_plots1.pdf. This is part of a much larger dataset that spans from 2004 to 2014; a synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Tropical Rainforest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/tropical-rainforest.Data time period: 2011 to 2013
text: The CSIRO permanent rainforest plots are located within 60 km of the north Queensland coast between Mackay (21.5ºS, 149ºE) and the Iron Range on Cape York Peninsula (12.5ºS, 143ºE). North-eastern Australia is topographically diverse, and the plots span much of the geographical variation in environmental gradients across the study area. The climate is tropical with mean annual rainfall ranging from 1200 mm to over 8000 mm on the higher coastal ranges. Seventeen of the plots are located within the Wet Tropics Bioregion (sensu Department of Environment 2013) between 19.4ºS, 146.5ºE and 15.7ºS, 145.3ºE.
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