Mobile Phone Coverage

Please don't let this interrupt the training

Please set your phone to silent

The facilitiesPlease advise us

when you are going anywhere offsite –particularly when at Owen Springs.

The facilities here at the Desert Park and at Owen Springs

The Training TeamBen Sparrow – AusPlots Director

Richard Flitton –AusPlots Field Team – Soils Lead

Emrys J Leitch - AusPlots Field Team – Vegetation lead

Christina Pahl – AusPlots Data Curator

Finn Hutchings – AusPlots Field Officer

Sally O’Neill – AusPlots NERP Fauna Lead

Dominic Wundke – AusPlots NERP Condition Officer.

Andrew Tokmakoff – AusPlots Technical Lead

Assisted by:

Caleb Coish

Nikki Thurgate

The Eco-informatics team---

About Our Method

• Practicality/pragmatism has had to prevail

• “It’s not about developing the perfect method, but rather understanding how imperfect the method is.”

• We would prefer to present the formal training (days) regarding the method “as is”.... If you have any ideas or concerns we would be happy to hear/ discuss them each evening

Modularity of Method

• The method has been designed in modules

• Ease of use in the field

• For your own purposes (not AusPlots funded) there is the possibility of only including some modules

• For AusPlots and training purposes we will cover all modules

• Extra modules are likely to be developed in the future and will be covered later in the training

AusPlots Method

Developed initially for rangelands – Now expanding to other regions.

“It’s not about compatible method, but rather compatible data.”

Eg. Wheelpoint v steppoint v method as used here

Eg. Canon vs Nikon

Let’s work together to ensure data compatibility

Structure of each Day7:00 am Breakfast

7:20 am Summary of day

8:00 am Leave homestead

8:30 am Arrive at field sites

10:30 am Morning tea

11:00 am Field Training

12:30 am Lunch on Site

1:15 pm Field Training

3:00 pm Arvo tea

3:30 pm Field Training

5:30 pm Return to Homestead

6:00pm Free time

7:00 pm Dinner

8:00 pm + Free time/ informal discussions on method

AusPlots TrainingOverview

Today – 5 Theory Sessions1st session - Context2nd session - Stratification, Data uses, Manual, Permissions3rd session - Plot layout, Site info, Point Intercept, Basal

Wedge, Structural summary4th Session - Vouchering, Fauna, Photopoints5th Session - Soils, LAI, Slats, The App

Two Methods of learning: Two sides to the one coinLearning about the same method, but learning in different ways – Both ways present issues/ consideration that are not covered by the other way.

AusPlotsSurvey Method

TrainingSession 1

October 5th – 8th – Alice Springs / Owen Springs NT

Ben Sparrow

AusPlots Director

ben.sparrow@adelaide.edu.au : 08 8313 1201

Setting the Scene: A series of short presentations to provide context

TERN Overview

Plot Capabilities

Supersites

LTERN

Transect

AusPlots– Forests

AusPlots – Rangelands

Eco-informatics

AusCover, EMAST, Soils, OzFlux, ACEAS, Coast, Comms

TERN OVERVIEW

Australia’s Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network:Supporting Ecosystem Science and Management

By: Professors Stuart Phinn and Andrew LoweTERN - Associate Science Directors

+ Prof Tim Clancy, Dr Suzanne Long, Dr Bek Christensen, Dr Siddeswara Guru+ TERN Facility Directors

Robson Ck Supersite Sept.2012 – Source S.Long

• TERN’s Vision is for an Australian ecosystem science community that has undergone transformational change - from one in which effort is frequently fragmented, duplicative and short-term, to one that is national, networked, and delivering for Australia’s future.

• Uses for collaborative research infrastructure, TERN’s approach

Get Data

Do fieldwork

Publish Data

Integration and Synthesis

Modelling

Connect

• Australian ecosystems and ecosystem data collection

Sources: NASA, Geosciences Australia, Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO

Land CoverElevationSoilsMean Annual Run-off

• TERN provides “infrastructure” to enable development of a sustainable network of people and ecosystem data collection, discovery and sharing systems for advancing ecosystem science and management in Australia.

• TERN’s Scope

Instruments + Sensors

Policy + Management

Analysis + Synthesis

Modelling

Data Searching

Data Sharing

Data Curation + Publishing

Data Storage

Processing + Analysis

Collection Methods

• TERN’s infrastructure for ecosystem science

Instruments + Sensors

Policy + Management

Analysis + Synthesis

Modelling

Data Searching

Data Sharing

Data Curation+ Publishing

Data Storage

Processing + Analysis

Collection Methods

• Ecosystem science research cycle(s)

•

Storage,

preservation and

discoverability

of data

Data analysis,

integration and

synthesis

r

Ecosystem Science

Data + meta-data,

licensing

Research output:

new data and

publications

Enables large scale and

coordinated data

collection, sharing and

multiple re-uses

Enhanced ability to

revise, question and

expand knowledgeKnowledge gap:

research

questions

Proposal and

planning

Data collection,

verification,

quality assurance

and control

• TERN’s impact on research data sharing – helping change

• Facility data storage portals – discipline relevant support

• Data and meta-entry tools and protocols

• Meta-data standards

• TERN Licences and Licensing Framework

• Links to national research data catalogue

• International standard Digital Object

Identifiers (DOI)

• Replicable, extendable and scale-able model for data storage and publishing

Current ecosystem science and management challenges

• Lack of accessible mechanisms for inter-linking science and policy at all levels of government?

• Assured funding for pure and applied research – at sufficient levels and on a sustainable basis

• Lack of a defined ecosystem science community and lobby

• Lack of a coordinated, longer term, strategic vision for ecosystem research in Australia

Source: Longstaff, B.J., T.J.B. Carruthers, W.C. Dennison, T.R. Lookingbill, J.M. Hawkey, J.E. Thomas, E.C. Wicks, and J. Woerner (eds) Integrating and applying science: A handbook for effective coastal ecosystem assessment. IAN Press, Cambridge, Maryland.U.S.A.,

Essential Data Collection, Analysis, Modelling and Synthesis

• Establish ecosystem variables collected through TERN

Auscover Ozflux

LTERN

Coasts Soils

Supersites Network

International Partners

TERN is supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and the Super Science Initiative

LTERN overview, achievements and challenges

Objective

To integrate key established plot networks across

Australia to tackle critical questions associated with

the impacts of disturbance on Australian ecosystems

Design

A sustainable set of long-term data collection procedures and archives from

plots across Australian ecosystems measuring selected flora, fauna and

biophysical processes

Infrastructure

The design of the plots and data collection procedures provides infrastructure to allow the research community to:

Develop a detailed understanding of key ecosystem functions and processes, over decadal periods from plot to landscape scales

Quantify critical relationships between vegetation condition and/or biodiversity and major disturbance regimes such as those associated with fire, logging, livestock grazing, invasive species, extreme weather events, and their interactions with climate change

Contributions to TERN’s overall mission to date

Transforming Australian ecosystem science: TERN will provide the infrastructure and networks to underpin a

coordinated, collaborative ecosystem science community that is delivering for Australia’s ecosystem scientists,

managers and decision-makers.

1. The creation of a harmonious and productive network – established culture of trust and reciprocity

2. Strategic foundational planning, recruitment and business processes

3. Simple and cost-effective communication

4. Data publication

In October 2013 the LTERN Data Portal went live on the National Server Program hosted by NeCTAR.

Software

Hardware

People

Process & Documentation

5. Synthesis and communication of knowledge to researchers, policy-makers and the general public

Planned contributions to TERN’s mission in 2014

Priority areas for LTERN are: (1) data collection; (2) data

management and publication; and (3) the synthesis and

communication of knowledge to researchers, policy-makers and

the general public.

• Ongoing publication of data through the LTERN portal

• Design and initiation of the book data publication project

• Delivery of the statistical review of terrestrial plot networks within TERN

• Ecosystem Assessments papers in a special edition of Austral Ecology

• Updated Publications Catalogue

• Lessons and Insights booklet

• Joint group scientific paper – the ‘2050 paper’

• Implementation of the Affiliate Scholar model

• Public version of the conceptual design document

Risks and opportunities for the Facility and/or TERN as a whole

RISKS

• Lack of data delivery during EIF undermining refunding potential

• Loss of staff due to burn-out and funding uncertainty

• Continued under-resourcing leading to a destabilisation of current culture

• A non-data collection focussed model resulting in a dismantling of LTERN

• A lack of ‘meeting of the minds’ re data publishing leading to a dismantling of LTERN

• TERN wide: over selling leading to an inability to deliver

too big and ambitious to be coherent and sustainable.

OPPORTUNITIES

• To protect and nourish what we have created

• To form linkages with other Facilities through ‘proof of concept’ projects –Biomass paper, Google project, and E-Mast collaborations re climate profiles for LTERN sites

• Form tangible international linkages - IUCN RLE process, Bates et al Biodiversity dynamics: meta-analysis

Critical next steps

SHORT-TERM Musts

• Deliver on EIF promises• Provision of Project Data by 30 June (or seek a contract variation)

• 2013-2014 Financial Year Update Report due 15 July

• TERN Final EIF Report 30 September 2014

• Deliver statistical review on 1 August 2014

• Negotiate and execute NCRIS contracts

• Stabilise the data portal team

MID-TERM

• Reflect, adapt, and plan

• Bid preparation for NCRIS 15-16 funding

• Publish the Monitoring Insights Booklet

By June 2015

• Deliver on NCRIS promises (i.e. Scope of Works) and then some if time and energy permits….

A new approach to intensive ecosystem research: introducing the

Australian SuperSite Network

Multi-Scale Plot System

• TERN’s%infrastructure%for%ecosystem%science%

SuperSites: a definition

1) An intensive field station in a typical

and important biome

2) Physical instrumentation

3) Scientists and technical support staff

4) Transect or Contrasts (10- 400km)

Core activities

Vegetation plot “Core 1 Ha” – field monitoring

Plant physiological measures

Soil/water measurements

Faunal monitoring – field and sensor monitoring

Data/Web portal - linked to TERN portal and ANDS

OzFlux system – biogeochemical fluxes, microclimate

!

TERN!Australian!SuperSite!Network! !9!

!

Figure 1: Schematic layout of SuperSite core 1 ha vegetation plot.

3.2 Plot!alignment!and!marking!

1. Standard!plot!alignment!will!be!N<S,!E<W!with!corners!located!using!a!Geographical!Positioning!System! (GPS).! Plot! configuration! and! alignment! can! be! modified! if! necessary! (due! to!topography! or! limited! area! of! land<type),! ensuring! a! consistent! area! is! assessed! and! plot!dimensions!and!corners!are!recorded.!!

2. It!will!be!important!to!notify!data<users!when!plots!are!not!of!standard!alignment!and!shape.!

3. All!plots!will!be!permanently!marked!in!at!least!two!opposing!corners!(SW!and!NE)!of!each!plot!using!steel!star!posts!or!similar!and!labelled!with!durable!metal!tags.!For!1!ha!plots,!it!is!likely!that!additional!permanent!markers!every!10!m!along!each!edge!will! facilitate!regular!data!collection.!!

4 Measurement!

4.1 Summary!of!Measurements!for!Core!1!ha!Plots!

Initial!measurements!at!core!1!ha!plots!will!be!followed!by!annual!monitoring!for!a!subset!of!variables.!Frequency!of!sampling!for!some!measures!might!be!increased!after!key!disturbance!or!other!events.!!

Essential! components! of! this! for! the! SuperSite! 1! ha! plot! include! assessments! of! vegetation!Biodiversity;!Abundance;!Cover!and!Structure;!Biomass;!Plant!Functional!Traits!and!Photopoints.!

· Full!vascular!plant!composition!will!be!recorded!for!each!plot.!As!references!for!taxon!identity,!at!least!one!voucher!specimen!will!be!lodged!at!the!relevant!state!herbarium!for!each!species!that!is!recorded!in!the!survey!as!a!whole.!Additional!specimens!should!be!collected!for!taxa!with!uncertain!identity!or!of!other!specific!interest.!

· Abundance!cover!and!structure!are!measured!using!different!methods!for!rangelands!and!forests.!A!once<off!general!structural!description!will!be!undertaken.!Additionally!

prevailing!!

winds!

SW!

NE!

100!

m!

100!m!

Core!1!ha!Plot!

Flux!

Tower!

SuperSite Network 2014

SuperSite QuestionsHow do key ecosystems respond to environmental change?

Science questions to inform large scale environmental management/policy:

Some questions are best answered by using a network

• Do contrasting ecosystems differ in their vulnerability to extreme weather events such as droughts and heat-waves?

• Can ‘tipping points’ be identified and do those tipping points differ among contrasting environments?

Science questions to inform local environmental management:

Some questions have specific importance to stakeholders involved in the Supersite

• Forestry management approaches in Tasmania• Carbon farming strategies in the Northern Territory• Climate resilient restoration of Western Australian wheat belt

A collaborative Network approachConsistent monitoring protocols - AusCover, AusPlots, Soils, Coastal FacilitiesEach SuperSite hosts a flux tower - OzFluxData collated across spatial & temporal scales - used for modelling eMAST

TERN consistent data delivery

Data discoverable through the TERN Data Portal and SuperSites portal

Alice Mulga SuperSite"How does climate variability affect vegetation water-use and

groundwater recharge in an arid-zone Acacia savanna woodland"

Alice Mulga SuperSite1) Alice Mulga node

2) Tea-Tree node

• OzFlux towers (2) operational

• AusCover campaign completed

• Hydrology - large number of bores and nested peizometers

• Acoustic recorders

• Sapflow sensors and loggers

• Vegetation monitoring

The Australian Transect Network

Stefan Caddy-Retalic and Ian Fox

Why transects?

• Environmental gradients

• Climatic, fire, altitude, oceanic, disturbance

• Space as a proxy for time

• Observations

• Translocations

• Flexible methodology

• Core parameters (cf AusPlots)

• Citizen science

Major research infrastructure program for Australia>$55M funding + considerable institution supportUniversity of Queensland, University of Adelaide, CSIRO, ANU, Macquarie University, JCU +

TERN’s infrastructure for ecosystem science

Driving Science Questions

1. How do species abundances, species composition, species richness and ecological function change along large-scale environmental gradients?

2. Is there predictable variation in ecosystem resilience?

3. How might ecosystems respond to climate change?• What information to land managers need to ensure species have the

best opportunity to adapt in a changing environment?

• Where are the important areas for native species (e.g. refugia)?

• What will ecosystems look like in the future?

• Will we see novel ecosystems develop?

Australian Transect Network

Spinifex Hummock Grassland

Tropical Savanna

NATTNorth Australian Tropical Transect

SWATTSouth West Australian Transitional Transect

BATSBiodiversity and Adaptation Transect Sydney

Acacia Shrubland

TRENDTRansect for ENvironmental monitoring and Decision making

Eucalypt Forest

Subtropical forest

Eucalypt Open Woodland

Current Status

• NATT

•9 sites in 6 bioregions

• SWATT

•40 sites in 6 bioregions

• TREND

•35 sites in 3 bioregions

• BATS

•Assessment underway•More surveys planned

Prof Alan Andersen, CSIRO

Subcontinental‐scale transects for assessing and monitoring ecological change in Australia

Northern Australian Tropical Transect (NATT)

South West Australian Transitional Transect (SWATT)

Stephen van Leeuwen and Margaret Byrne, WA DPaWTransect from Walpole to Credo Station to Lorna Glen

•10 sites along the transect

Transect for Environmental Monitoring and Decision-making

Legend

Heysen Trail

Mean Annual Maximum Temperature

Annual Rainfall Contours (100 mm)

23 ˚C

24 ˚C

25 ˚C

26 ˚C

27 ˚C

28 ˚C

17 ˚C

18 ˚C

19 ˚C

20 ˚C

21 ˚C

22 ˚C

!( Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites

Vegetation turn-over quantifiedGuerin & Lowe EMAS 2012Guerin et al. 2013

Transect establishment 35 Plots

AusPlots Method

floral composition

veg structure

soil characterisation

metagenomics

photopoints

etc

Temperature loggers

δ13C & δ15N isotopes

• samples temperature and

moisture gradient

• altitudinal variation to

compare geographic +

environmental distance

Connecting the public to research is a TREND priority.This needs to be a two-way dialogue.

Path forward

• New questions and interests

• Creating a cohesive network

• Demonstrating infrastructure value

• Identifying new opportunities

• collaborations

• funding

• continental transects

AusPlotsForestsBen Sparrow

What is AusPlots-Forests

• originally conceived to build upon collaboration between the UTas and ABARES

• collated and analysed a large number of existing State based Permanent Forestry Plots.

• The original concept was for Ausplots-Forests to remeasure a subset of this existing plot network (n=200)

• the scope and the design of Ausplots-Forests has been flexible.

• not limited to remeasuring the existing permanent plot infrastructure.

• establish a plot-based monitoring network that improves understanding of tree growth, forest productivity and carbon dynamics research and,

• and build upon existing plot networks where possible.

The Scope of Ausplots-Forests

However

• beyond scope of Ausplots-Forests to provide a comprehensive forest monitoring framework (i.e. Continental Forest Monitoring Framework).

• TERN and Auplots-Forests was not established to answer specific research questions provide flexible baseline infrastructure

• vision for Ausplots-Forests is to incorporate aspects of both ‘surveillance’ and ‘question driven monitoring’.

• Does not collect biodiversity information at this stage.

Ausplots-Forests

• They extend the macro-climatic gradients and bioregions across the continent.

• Plot data show that growth trends related to trends in mean annual temperature, rainfall seasonality and mean annual rainfall.

• TEF are fire-driven ecosystems and plots in these systems provides an opportunity for post-fire response studies,

• TEF an important component of forest carbon store and contain some of the most carbon dense stands.

Why Tall Eucalypt Forests (TEF)?

• TEF are valued as water catchments, flora & conservation, recreation and timber and fibre production.

• TEF are the focus of many forest research initiatives (i.e. Warra Supersite, ForestCheck).

Why Tall Eucalypt Forests (TEF)?

Three design scenarios within the TEF considered:

1. Grid-based design e.g CFMF and FPMRIS

2. Stratified clusters of new or existing plots: many small plots.

3. Clusters of few (n=50), large (1.0ha) plots across Tall Open Eucalypt Forest Estate

No 3 is preferred

-based upon the RAINFOR forest plot network

Design Scenarios

• Allocate 8-10 plots to each state

• Target locations that are relatively undisturbed by timber harvesting (‘BOO’ sites)

• Target either (a) mature forests only (>60 year since fire)

• Co-locate with well curated existing permanent growth plots or ongoing research sites

• Target sites long-term plot security. e.g. reserves

How?

• Species, status , location and DBH of all trees >10cm DBH (all tagged). These trees must be tagged.

• Species, status and DBH of seedlings and saplings

• Floristics and voucher specimens

• Crown cover

• Coarse woody debris transects

• Soil sampling

Which Attributes?

AusPlotsRangelands

Ben Sparrow

Objectives of AusPlots-RangelandsNational network of surveillance and ecosystem baseline assessment sites

INFRASTRUCTURE

Developing standardised plot assessment methods to be used for measuring and sampling vegetation and soils, and

Developing and implementing a stratification process to decide the locations of plots, which is applicable at a continental scale, and

Establish permanent plots (approximately 750) throughout the Australian range-land bioregions where baseline surveys of vegetation and soils will be conducted

by

Implementing the plot assessment methods developed for measuring and sampling vegetation and soils - in the locations decided, and

- analysing the samples collected, and

Storing the data and making it freely available

81% of Australia

Wide variety of environments

Wide climatic variation

Generally Data poor / gaps

Hutchinson et. al., 2005

Political Complexity (= running total)

Jurisdictions 5

Many Universities 4 (9)

Departments per Jurisdiction 2 (18)

Sections per Department 2 (36)

People per Section need to be involved 3 (108)

AusPlots–R Protocols and Standards Reference Group 15 (123)

Partnerships and Operations Ref Gp 13 (136)

+ Auscover and TERN Soils 2x3 (142)

+ Conservation based NGOs 20 (162)

+ ESA 30 (192)

+ National committees 4x10 (232)

Federal departments 2x2x4 (248)

+ Short Timeline (Completed by mid/late 2013..... ARGHHHHH!)

That’s a heap of people to keep happy in a really short Time

AusPlots - RangelandsA surveillance monitoring program for rangeland Australia

Ben SparrowAusPlots Director

And the AusPlots team

Why Ausplots?

AusPlots is a Surveillance monitoring Program for Australia that:

• informs on stocks of key ecosystem attributes

• addressed rangeland knowledge gaps

• provides Baseline information for Australia

• aims to repeat measures – once is not enough

• uses consistent methods across jurisdictions

• that will help inform on some of our great challenges:

• climate change• weeds• disturbance• distribution of species

After Eyre et. al. 2011

How is it achieved?Extensive Networking / Collaboration / input to the process

Engage with Agricultural, Environmental, Forestry communities as well as NGO’s –Input from all Rangeland States and Territories

SA SA

National

NationalNational

Collaborator

TAS QLD

NSW

NSWNSWNT

WA

WA NSW

National

TERNTERN

TERN TERN

QLD

Field team

• Based in Adelaide• Provides consistency• Best way to use

scarce resources –Would prefer to have state based teams in the future if funding allowed.

• Well equipped• Can train others• Work in conjunction

with state agencies where possible.

>330 Plots in 12 Bioregions

Prentice/Dong u diag

Relates to a series of Temperature variables

Rel

ates

to

a s

erie

s o

f M

ois

ture

var

iab

les

Future Work

Internal collaborations

Another 100 Plots across the rangelands

Continued collaboration with other facilities

CalperumGWWLitchfieldTi-Tree

Desert PlotsAlpineMallee

NATTSWATTTREND

ValidationRapid Field measuresLidar / Photopoints

Modelling inputs

Data and sample provision

Ausplots provides a common thread through these facilities

International collaboration

Photopoint Enquiries

AusPlots Trial on the Tibetan plateau

Interactions with similar programs in the EU and UK

Representation on ILTER

Bringing ecological data together for re-use

Presentation thanks to Andrew Graham

Eco-informatics Objectives (NCRIS)2. Form sustainable data sharing and access partnerships

3. Integrate keyecological datasets nationally for consistent re-use

4. Provide single ‘point of access’ to ecological data

5. Provide an integrated infrastructure to support researcher data submission

1. Develop standards and a national framework for managing ecological data

ÆKOS Niche in National Ecosystem Data Space

The ÆKOS Model

Data Discovery

Key Challenges in Managing Ecosystem Data

Dispersal Diversity

Comprehension

Observation Data Capture Form

Observation & measurement

process

Fragmentation

Data storage and expression

classifications

methods

Complexity of Method

DescriptionObservation data

AEK

OS

Re

po

sito

ryMethods and processes

Classification

The Jessup Transect

The Classification “Problem”

i

D

i i i

i i

D

D

D

??

i

i

AUSPLOTS Data Flow

ÆKOS Operating Model

AEKOS

Consumer

Provider

Data

ÆKOS Repository

Mapping Script (ETL DSL)

Context Doc.

ÆKOS Portal

Index Tagging

Supporting Information

Data Extract

Periodic data refresh

license filter

ÆKOS provides ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) to extract, map, contextualise and index provider data.

Contact us

For more information on ÆKOS and the Eco-informatics Facility

please get in touch with:

Craig Walker - Eco-informatics Coordinator

P: (08) 8313 1139 M: 0408 813 104

E: craig.walker@adelaide.edu.au