Victorian Alpine Plot Network (ATEX): Invertebrate Pitfall Trapping, 2007–2010

Abstract: The Victorian Alpine Plot Network Invertebrate Pitfall Trapping Data Package contains invertebrate data which are sampled in 3-4 pitfall traps within each plot. The same points are used each season. A seven-day sampling period is repeated three times during the snow-free season (October to April) to help survey the full range of organisms present.

The objective of the Australian Tundra Experiment (ATEX) is to assess the likely response of vegetation and invertebrates to temperature increases attained through passive warming. The ATEX experiment is locate at four sites on the Bogong High Plains, each site comprising multiple 1 square metre plots. ATEX follows the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) protocol (Molau & Mølgaard 1996, Jarrad et al. 2009) which focuses on the growth and phenological responses of cold adapted vascular plant species to environmental change, specifically, to an increase in summer (growing season) temperatures.

The Victorian Alpine Plot Network research plots are revisited 4 times per year.

This data package is associated with the following publication: Nash MA, Griffin PC, Hoffmann AA (2013) Inconsistent responses of alpine arthropod communities to experimental warming and thermal gradients. Clim Res 55:227-237. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01136

Study extent: See: Molau U, Mølgaard P (1996) 'International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) Manual.' (Danish Polar Center: Copenhagen, Denmark), https://www.gvsu.edu/itex/library-8.htm

Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of, and funded through the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) a facility within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.