Southern Mt Lofty Ranges Survey

The primary aim of the SMLR Biological Survey was to determine the diversity and distribution of biological communities in the region. This was achieved by systematically surveying a range of survey quadrats that represented the biological variation over the study area.

Five surveys, conducted between 1977 and 2000 and comprising 1,177 vegetation quadrats in the survey region, contributed to the floristic analysis. Due to past vegetation clearance patterns, most of the survey quadrats were concentrated in the western two/thirds of the survey region. Survey quadrats were located on both crown and privately owned land. At least one survey quadrat was located in each of the National Parks and Wildlife Act reserves in the study region.
Three surveys, conducted between 1995 and 2000 and comprising 157 quadrats, contributed to the vertebrate analysis (these surveys also included vegetation quadrats). The major vertebrate survey fieldwork occurred in three separate periods, from autumn to early summer 2000. The vertebrate survey results were combined with previous records for the region to produce consolidated total species lists for each vertebrate category.

Reference: Armstrong D. Croft S.J. and Foulkes J.N.(2003) A Biological Survey of the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges South Australia 2000-2001. DEH SA

Two sites established for the Southern Mt Lofty Biological Survey have continued to have annual monitoring using the same standard sampling for ten years or more (see survey SU178). The sites were established in relatively intact Eucalyptus obliqua forest and in a paddock at the start of a revegetation program. The sampling will follow the establishment of more natural vegetation cover on the re-vegetated site and the fauna that establishes here over time.

Two additional sites were also established under this project number for the Mt Osmond Reserve Survey carried out in April/May 2001 by Planning SA/DEH. The sites were in the same study area and used the BS methodology but probably should have their own project number. The Southern Mt Lofty Ranges Survey is part of the Biological Survey of South Australia Program which is a series of systematic surveys conducted across the state between 1971 and the present with the broad aim of providing a baseline inventory of South Australia's flora and fauna biodiversity.