TERN Ecosystem Surveillance: Plant Occurrence

<p>This dataset lists plant species and their abundance identified at rangeland sites across Australia by the TERN Surveillance Monitoring team, using standardised AusPlots methodologies. </p> <p>Plant occurrences (i.e. a sample of a plant at a particular point and time) are methodically identified at each site as part of the AusPlots Point intercept method. Plant species are identified at each site as part of the AusPlots Vegetation vouchering and Point intercept methods. In addition to site visit date and location, the information provided includes growth form, plant height and whether the plant is dead. In-canopy-sky is also recorded if there is no intercept to foliage or branches when viewing the canopy through the densitometer and can be used to calculate species cover or aerial cover. Species identification is updated once confirmed by Herbaria records. Plant occurrences data can be aggregated across the site to calculate relative species abundance, green ground cover, species- growth form- and -community-level basal area.</p> <p>In addition, at least one specimen is taken from each species at the site, assigned a barcode and provided for vouchering and further analyses.</p>