Woody Vegetation in Karawatha Forest Park, South East Queensland Peri-Urban SuperSite, Karawatha, 2009

Brief description

Woody vegetation was surveyed at 33 one-hectare plots in Karawatha Forest Park. The plots are at 500 m intervals in a grid that covers the entire Park. Each plot follows the elevational contour and is 250 m long x 40 m wide. Individual woody plants were tagged, identified to species level and measured for DBH, during January and February 2009. Information about the growth of the trees along the transects can be used to estimate the biomass within Karawatha Forest. This can be used to calculate the carbon sequestration of Karawatha Forest and inform of other characteristics related to the trees themselves.

Full description

Tagging, identification and DBH sampling All woody stemmed trees and shrubs are individually tagged (using aluminium tags) and identified within each 1 hectare plot. Woody stems (trees and shrubs) that were rooted within plots were mapped, species determined and diameters at breast height (DBH) measured. A hierarchical design was used to sample trees of different size classes in order to estimate tree density. Trees with DBH 1cm-10cm and height greater than 1.3m were sampled within 0.1ha (4m x 250m) of the plot. Trees with DBH 10cm-30cm were sampled within 0.5ha (20m x 250m) of the plot. Trees with DBH ≥ 30cm were sampled with 1ha (40m x 250m) of the plot.The DBH of a tree is recorded at 130cm, unless a tree has a disfigurement on the trunk which would cause an irregular DBH measurement. When this occurs the DBH was recorded at 10cm below DBH. When another disfigurement occurs at this height the DBH was recorded 10cm above the DBH. When another disfigurement occurs at this height the DBH is recorded greater then 10cm below or above the DBH. All DBH locations are required and noted on the data sheet e.g.: 10cm above DBH. DBH was measured using veinier callipers or a DBH measuring tape. The method used was noted; e.g. 'C' when using callipers. The DBH measurement on any slope or incline was taken from the lowest side of the tree.If a tree has more than one trunk or branch at DBH height and meets the DBH requirements of it's zone, all trunks and branches will be measured and recorded. Any tree, branch or trunk that is dead will only be measured if it has a DBH of 100mm or greater. A dead tree constitutes a tree without living leaves. The position of the tag resides of the largest living trunk or branch.When a tree has more than one trunk over the specified DBH measurement it must be noted on the data sheet how many trunks and where the trunks are growing from, example: “two trunks from ground”.Distance from the transect involved a measuring tape being held horizontally from the plot midline to the centre of the base of the tree from the point closest to the midline and the point furthest from the midline. When on a slope or incline the measuring tape was kept horizontal from the plot midline to the tree by using poles that were used to lift the tape up from the plot midline or up from the centre of the tree. The distance along the transect is measured by holding a measuring tape at a 90 degree angle to the plot line. and recording the distance along the midline tape.All trees are individually tagged with their own identification number. The identification number consists of the plot code and the tree number eg. F5 – 00001. The identification number is written from left to right starting from the end of the tag to the hole in the tag. Tags are fastened to the trees using either nails or polyethylene tie depending on the size of the tree and where nailing is appropriate. If using a polyethylene, tie to allow growth in thetree. The identification tags are placed at a height of 1.4m above the ground (10cm above DBH).

Notes

Woody vegetation species Diameters at breast height