Three Parks Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network (Fauna): Nocturnal Spotlighting Survey, Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, 2017

Abstract: These data are records of all nocturnal spotlighting observations at a set of sites within Nitmiluk National Park surveyed in either 2017 or 2018. A total of 20 sites were surveyed for terrestrial vertebrate fauna using a range of survey methods. Thirteen sites have prior monitoring through the Three Parks (Kakadu, Litchfield and Nitmiluk) Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network which involved sampling at 5-6 year intervals at 220 plots established from 1996 – 2002. Seven sites have no prior monitoring. In 2017/18 a paired plot design was implemented at all sites, involving the duplication of some but not all survey methods at a second plot directly adjacent to the traditional plot. At each 100 x 100 m plot 6 x 10 minute meander walking searches were performed after dark using a spotlight. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Three Park Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c35959d4530d.

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