Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network: Arboreal Marsupial (Stag-watch) Data, Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia, 2012-2016

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Abstract: The Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network Arboreal Marsupial Data contains plot-based arboreal marsupial fauna data collected intermittently at a rotating subset of 40 sites taken from the complete pool of 175 permanent plots studied by the plot network in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia.

Arboreal marsupials are counted using the stag-watching method (direct counts of nocturnal animals emerging from tree hollows at dusk). Hollow bearing trees or stags located within the 1 ha area are also measured, mapped and monitored over time. Each site is surveyed from dusk for approximately 1 hour. The stag-watching method uses one volunteer/ watcher per tree on site. A site with 30 trees requires 30 people. Animals are recorded as they emerge, noting; species, abundance, time, which tree they emerged from or whether it was just “on site”, whether it came from “off-site”, the type of hollow it emerged from and the tree number. Animals heard in the distance are also noted.

This is part of a much larger dataset that began in 1983, when the Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network research plots commenced.

A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Tall Eucalypt Forest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://doi.org/10.25911/5c3c278c59da2

Sampling method: Each long term monitoring site is 3 hectares.

Study extent: Each monitoring site is 3 hectares, with monitoring occurring only on the central hectare which is usually square, measuring 100 x 100 m or occasionally sites measuring 200 x 50 m where they interface gullies.

Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN). This work was supported by the Australian Government’s Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network (www.tern.org.au) – an Australian research infrastructure facility established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and Education Infrastructure Fund–Super Science Initiative through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

Other funding agencies supporting this research project for various periods include: Parks Victoria (2004-2019); Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (2004-2005); Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2006-2011); Thomas Foundation (2009); Australian Research Council Discovery Program DP1097170 (2010-2015); National Environmental Research Program, Environmental Decisions Hub (2011-2014); Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries (2014-2018); Graeme Wood Foundation (2015-2017); and National Environmental Science Program, Threatened Species Recovery Hub (2015-2020).

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