The document discusses the design and objectives of the AusPlots surveillance monitoring network in Australia, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among various monitoring types and integration of ecological data. It outlines the project's modular approach to data collection, including methods for assessing vegetation and soils, and highlights its role in addressing environmental changes and supporting ecological research. The document also details the operational aspects, including community engagement, training, and the use of mobile applications for data consistency and accessibility.

2. AusPlots
Designing a surveillance monitoring
network for Australia.
Ben Sparrow – Ausplots Director
With help from the Ausplots Team
ben.sparrow@adelaide.edu.au

3. After Eyre et. al. 2011

4. Monitoring
There is ongoing tension between different types of monitoring regarding
their relative merits.
Often a monitoring program is judged on what would define a successful
monitoring program for a different type of monitoring.
Each type of monitoring needs to be judged against its aims and objectives.

5. Which is better?
They all have their Place!
All are needed and provide useful contributions to our
knowledge of Australian environments.
Each of these endeavours need to cooperate/ collaborate with
the others to provide a holistic solution to monitoring.
The most important parts are
actually the arrows!

6. NOT
Because we want to know if there is a problem, but
we don’t have the resources to have the fire
department everywhere all the time!

7. Primarily funded to support / develop ecological research
infrastructure
– integrate existing data and make it accessible to the
national and global ecosystem sciences community in a
common format; and
– collect new data strategically in areas of high priority to
allow subsequent analysis and modeling of the assimilated
data.
In the context of AusPlots the Plots and their associated data are
considered to be infrastructure.
TERN

8. Objectives of AusPlots
National network of surveillance and ecosystem baseline assessment sites
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 plot infrastructure throughout Australia 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
To
enable the detection (and trajectory and magnitude) of environmental
change across the continent to be determined.

9. 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.”
Modular Methods
• 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

10. S1
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W5
W4
W3
W2
W1
SW S2 S3 S4 S5 SE
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
What do we collect?

11. Voucher Specimens
for official Identification and future use.

12. Vouchers for genetic and isotope analysis
1. Take around 10 cm2 from
each voucher specimen
2. Place into a synthetic
tea bag and seal
3. Label with adhesive voucher
label and scan with app
4. Place bag in box with ⅓ cup
silica granules (self indicating
and non-indicating granules)
5. Seal box and ensure it is
labelled with plot identifier.
Preferably 1 box per plot.
Change silica every few days
until indicator no longer
changes colour.
6. Samples can then be
used for isotope and
DNA analyses
+ Duplicates for
Dominant
species

13. Point Intercept Data

15. Basal Wedge

16. Three most
dominant species
nominated in each
strata, in decreasing
order of cover
Structural
Information

17. During
After
Leaf Area Index

18. Soil Metagenomic Samples
9 Samples across the
site
Top 3cm of soil and
crust
Dried and stored

19. Soil Pit

20. 9 x 30cm
Subsites to
sample
variability
Store samples in
bags and
prepare for NSA
on return from
the field

21. Bulk density
• 3 depths at pit.
• To calibrate
other measures
to soil volume

22. 2.5m
1.45m
The tripod is set up at
each apex of the triangle
and a full set of photos
taken for 360 degrees at
each point.
The centre point is a star
dropper standing 1.3m
tall (if at all possible) with
a mark ( the top of the
mark) set 25cm from the
top of the pole.
Photopoints

23. Ellude to what analysis avalible

24. Full method details available at:
http://www.ausplots.org/useourinfrastructure/
Under the heading of Accepted Method.

25. AusPlots
Where

26. Stage 1. Determining
Bioregional groupings using
hierarchical clustering
techniques
Stage 2. Decisions on which
bioregions to sample
Stage 3. GIS analysis within
each bioregion
Stage 4. Field Location whilst
on ground.
Where? - Stratification

27. Prentice/Dong u diag
Relates to a series of Temperature variables
RelatestoaseriesofMoisturevariables

28. Addresses
knowledge gaps
Located where
there is a NEED for
data

30. Other protocols:
Since the creation of the Rangelands protocols, and
their widespread acceptance we’ve added:
A Tall Eucalypt Forest protocol
A Condition assessment protocol
A Woodlands Protocol
A Vertebrate Fauna Survey Protocol,
With ongoing work on:
A Fungi Protocol
A Ground Dwelling Invertebrates
A Core attributes (quicker) method
Identifying and articulating what re-visits
entail.

34. 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
The challenges of this kind of project are greater socially than they are scientifically!
SA SA
National
NationalNational
Collaborator
TAS QLD
NSW
NSW
NSWNT
WA
WA NSW
National
TERN
TERN
TERN TERN
QLD

35. Collaboration with:

36. Consistent and accurate data
collection
A Nationally accepted method
Details all aspects of method
Easy to use and well illustrated
Explains reasoning
Regularly updated
Available at:
http://www.ausplots.org/
useourinfrastructure/
Designed to be used with our training
course
New modules being added – Check back
regularly.

37. 5
Advanced data systems:
Field App - what is it?
✤ It’s an (Android) mobile application that
electronically collects field data according to
the AusPlots data collection specification.
• Ensures data consistency
• Easy data upload
• Removes transcription errors
• Uses dropdowns
• Has checks and balances built in
• Robust vouchering protocol for unknown species
• Ensures all necessary data is collected
• Captures location
• Ease of use

38. Field App: Plot Creation
38

39. Field App: Site Description
39

40. Field App: Veg. Vouchering
40

41. Field App: Point Intercept
41

42. Data Delivery System
Field Collection
Curation
Database
Storage
Retrieval

43. Data Delivery: Soils to Satellites
http://soils2sat.ala.org.au/ala-soils2sat/login/auth

45. Data Delivery: Aekos
http://www.aekos.org.au/

47. 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.
• Work well together in
trying conditions.

48. Training
courses
• At least one per
year
• A day of lectures
explaining all
aspects of the
method
• A day learning
each component
of our method
(Vegetation, Soils
and Technical
Aspects)
• Focuses on
theoretical and
practical aspects
• Pragmatic
• Held in the
Rangelands
• Ideally others will
collect the data –
Want others to
adopt sites.

50. …and many publications
2015
Christmas M., Breed M., and Lowe A.J. (In review) Constraints and conservation implications for climate change adaptation in plants. Biological Conservation
Guerin G.R., Sweeney S.M., Pisanu P., Caddy-Retalic S., and Lowe A.J. (In review) Establishment of an ecosystem transect to address climate change policy
questions for natural resource management. Environmental Management
Guerin G.R. and Lowe A.J. (In review) Mapping phylogenetic endemism using georeferenced branch extents. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Guerin G.R., Ruokolainen L. and Lowe A.J. (In press) A georeferenced implementation of weighted endemism. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
2014
Bowman D.M.J.S., Williamson G.J., Keenan R.J. and Prior L.D. (2014) A warmer world will reduce tree growth in evergreen broadleaf forests: Evidence from
Australian temperate and subtropical eucalypt forests. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 23(8): 925-934. (DOI: 10.1111/geb.12171)
Breed M.F., Christmas M.J. and Lowe A.J. (2014) Higher levels of multiple paternities increase seedling survival in the long-lived tree Eucalyptus gracilis.PLOS
ONE, 9(2) e90478 (DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0090478)
Guerin G.R., Martín-Forés I., Biffin E., Baruch Z., Breed M.F., Christmas M.J., Cross H.B. and Lowe A.J. (2014) Global change community ecology beyond
species sorting: a quantitative framework based on Mediterranean Biome examples. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 23: 1062–
1072.http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.12184
Guerin G.R., Biffin E., Jardine D.I., Cross H.B. and Lowe A.J. (2014) A spatially predictive baseline for monitoring multivariate species occurrences and
phylogenetic shifts in Mediterranean southern Australia. Journal of Vegetation Science, 25: 338–348. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12111
McCallum K., Guerin G.R., Breed M.F. and Lowe A.J. (2014) Combining population genetics, species distribution modelling and field assessments to
understand a species vulnerability to climate change. Austral Ecology, 39: 17–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aec.12041
Prior L.D. and Bowman D.M.J.S. (2014) Across a macro-ecological gradient forest competition is strongest at the most productive sites. Frontiers in Plant
Science, 5: 260. (DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00260)
Prior L.D. and Bowman D.M.J.S. (2014) Big eucalypts grow more slowly in a warm climate: evidence of an interaction between tree size and
temperature. Global Change Biology, 20(9): 2793-2799. (DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12540)
Schut A.G.T., Wardell-Johnson G.W., Yates C.J., Keppel G., Baran I., Franklin S.E., Hopper S.D., Van Neil K., Mucina L. and Byrne M. (2014) Rapid
characterisation of vegetation structure to predict refugia and climate change impacts across a global biodiversity hotspot. PLOS ONE, 9: e82778.
(DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082778)
Tapper S-L., Byrne M., Yates C.J., Keppel G., Hopper S.D., Van Niel K., Schut A.G.T., Mucina L. and Wardell-Johnson G.W. (2014) Isolated with persistence or
dynamically connected? Genetic patterns in a common granite outcrop endemic. Diversity and Distributions, 20(9): 987-1001 (DOI:
10.1111/ddi.12185)
Tapper S-L., Byrne M., Yates C.J., Keppel G., Hopper S.D., Van Niel K., Schut A.G.T., Mucina L. and Wardell-Johnson G.W. (2014) Long-term isolation and
persistence of Stypandra glauca R.Br. (Hemerocallidaceae) on granite outcrops in both mesic and arid environments in southwestern Australia.
Journal of Biogeography, 41: 2032-2044. (DOI: 10.1111/jbi.12343)

51. • Presentations
to community
groups.
• Workshops
• Targeted
presentations
(state agencies,
fed Govt.)
• Briefing
ministerial
advisors
• Well maintained website
• Conference presentations
• International reference groups /
tours
• Regular TERN Newsletter articles
to large mailing list.

52. Outputs influence management and policy
Still early days for the project given that re-visits are
only just starting (along with further roll out)
Assessment of soil metagenomics
Vegetation community distribution related to soil P
Taxonomy – New species and range extensions
Modelling of climate change scenarios
Government are supporting surveillance monitoring as
an essential input to future state of environment
reporting.
Inform on soil crust ( and hence erosion)
++++

53. FAO - Global Drylands Assessment
Discovered significant amounts of forest occurring in drylands that was previously
unknown – Ausplots Accuracy Assessment.

54. FAO - Global Forest Survey
Ausplots a member of the foundation committee and providing advice on:
• Standardised method
• Modular design of methods
• Data collection via App
• Data Management systems

55. Fire
Plots can be used to validate fire analysis from remote sensing sources
Also track the response of particular communities post fire.
+ Fire history notes taken at the site.

56. Calculating carbon
Information from
• Point intercept (cover, height,
species, lifeform)
• Basal Wedge (Basal Area)
• Photopoints (Basal Area)
Can all be used as inputs to
allometric equations to quantify
the amount of carbon at the site.
Changes in these figures over time
will provide insight to carbon
sequestration.
Soil Samples, and Bulk density
information is also available to
calculate soil carbon and change

57. Monitoring and Evaluation
Methods meet D of E information requirements – They supported
the creation of the new modules
Allows accurately assessment of change and so easy to monitor the
effect of a management intervention
Often the “missed” bit of any project.
Ausplots addresses one the major outcomes of Australia’s
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030 – to “Implement
robust national monitoring, reporting and evaluation.”

58. Monitoring Pastoral leases – Directly + RS
Used in the NT and Nationally to inform / validate fractional
cover products
The national validation has a direct link into our database and
analyses and transforms our data into a suitable format on the
fly.
Assists assessing land cover change on pastoral lands.
Data collection method designed to be entirely compatible with
fractional cover assessment.
Collect “in-canopy Sky” class and “Branch” category
Translation script written in conjunction with Auscover.

60. Capacity Building
Cert 1 – Kakadu
Cert 3 – MJ Rangers
Other groups join for
One off surveys.
Uni / TAFE Guest Lectures
Genuine interest in a
career in this kind of work.
TO involvement in surveys if possible – the future 10 year plan will
make this more achievable.
Modular format so some modules can be adopted by ranger groups.
We aim to teach others how to monitor these plots through time,
with our help only when necessary.

61. Photopoints close to web release:
Collect own photos using the protocols
Zip in a specified format
Submit to the website
E-mailed with the results.

62. Tooling – need the right tool for the right job
We can provide tools to ease
data collection
New modules including citizen
science if possible
Ease of data management
Collection – publication in 3
days
Easy to manage data
Web interface to DB for
management
Make data easily available
online

63. How to get samples
At Present have collected approximately:
>10,000 Soil samples
~2700 Soil metagenomic Samples
>15000 Voucher specimens
~ 15000 Genetic Samples
~ 16000 Dominant Genetic replicates
All of which can be access following standard protocols
Information pack available for download at our website
Details how to get access.

64. A 10 year program has been confirmed from 2017/18 – Money
indexed and identified in the forward estimates.
Aim to complete the roll out and commence revisits (some sites
several.)
With a long term project we’re looking for long term partners /
collaborators to work with.
Clearly demonstrate the value/need for long term surveillance
monitoring data across the continent.

65. What can AusPlots offer you?
www.ausplots.org.au
For details including Volunteering, HDR, Data, methods,
Samples, Training, App etc.
Ben.sparrow@adelaide.edu.au
08 8313 1201