River Red Gum Floristic Composition and Structure Data

These data were collected as part of the [River Red Gum Ecological Thinning Trial](https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/river-red-gum-ecological-thinning).

All floristic data were surveyed in three 20 m x 20 m subplots within each 9 ha plot. Data were collected for six floristics parameters, as described below:

__Floristic Composition__: Cover scores were recorded for all native and exotic plant species present within each subplot. Additionally, ten 1 m x 1 m quadrats were located every second metre (starting from 0 m) along the western 20 m boundary of each subplot. Presence only data were recorded in these quadrats. Floristic composition was surveyed six times over seven years.

__Native and Exotic Vegetation Cover__: Cover of living and dead foliage of native and exotic understorey vegetation was estimated to the nearest 0.5% within each subplot. Native and exotic vegetation cover was surveyed three times, starting in the 2019-20 survey year.

__Understorey Vegetation Cover__: These surveys included visual estimates of the living and dead foliage cover of understorey vegetation within the near-surface and elevated strata. Cover was measured to the nearest 0.5% within each subplot, six times over seven years.

__Understorey Vegetation Height__: Average understorey vegetation height was estimated by taking ten height measurements from a representative range of understorey plants in each subplot. Understorey height data was collected six times over seven years.

__Canopy Cover__: Canopy cover was visually estimated as the foliage projective cover of canopy trees, expressed as a percentage of the area in each subplot. Canopy cover data was collected six times over seven years.

__Canopy Height__: Average canopy height was estimated by measuring the height of all canopy trees within each subplot. Where more than 10 canopy trees were present, 10 representative canopy trees were measured. Canopy height data was collected in two survey years, in 2021-21 and 2021-22.

Further information is provided in the reference guide for each dataset.