Desert Ecology Plot Network: Mammal, Reptile and Vegetation Data Associated with Weather, Simpson Desert, Western Queensland, Australia, 1990–2011

These data are used to produce the graphs found in figure 10.25 on pages 411–412 in Lindenmayer et. al 2014, Biodiversity and Environmental Change: Monitoring Challenges and Direction.

They have been combined to illustrate the vegetation and vertebrate response to weather patterns, and the interaction between predator and prey during these cycles. The data includes:
• monthly rainfall data for automatic weather stations situated at 13 sites separated by distances of between 5 and 80 km.
• percentage ground cover of spinifex (Triodia basedowii)
• mammal abundance data for two species of rodent (Spinifex Hopping-mouse & Sandy Inland Mouse) who feed on spinifex seed
• mammal abundance data for the Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart (an insectivore)
• mammal abundance data for the Brush-tailed Mulgara, a predator who feeds on the Spinifex Hopping-mouse & Sandy Inland Mouse
• reptile abundance data for the Military Dragon
• reptile abundance data for the Central Netted Dragon

Vegetation attributes were recorded in an area occupying 2.5 m radius around six traps on each trapping grid and have been aggregated to grid level data.

Weather data is collected from automatic weather stations situated at 13 sites separated by distances of between 5 and 80 km.

Capture data for a specified duration of trapping nights (usually 3 night session) in the Simpson Desert, Western Queensland. Captured mammal and reptile fauna were identified and recaptures during the same session were removed (i.e. individuals were only counted once). Date, site and grid number were recorded for all captures, and captured animals were also marked by a unique ear notch prior to their release to identify recaptures. The network program uses a core of 12 sites which are sampled every April-May. The trapping survey aims to quantitatively track long-term shifts in biodiversity and ecological processes in relation to key drivers, including unpredictable rainfall and droughts, fire, feral predators and grazing.

A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Desert Ecology's full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c13171d944fe.

Sampling method: The network program uses a core of 12 sites which are spaced at least 15 km apart, each comprising two 1-ha trapping grids, or plots which are spaced between 0.5-2 km apart. The project involved sampling vegetation structure and plant species composition on the live-trapping grids (used for mammal and reptile sampling) in the Simpson Desert since 1990. Vegetation attributes (plant species occurrence and cover estimates) are recorded in a 2.5 m radius around six pitfall traps on each vertebrate trapping grid (one trap/line, selected at random - see Figure 6.5). The same traps on each grid are re-surveyed each trip; in general, these surveys are conducted around two traps each on the swale, side and crest of the dune. The core of 12 sites are sampled every April-May, however in 2012 there was not a complete survey, and so there are only 2 (Field River South and Main Camp) sites represented in this table. Other elements of the plot network’s full program share the sampling structure and core sites/plot/grid configuration of the study design.

Study extent: The core of 12 sites are sampled every April-May, however in 2012 there was not a complete survey, and so there are only 2 (Field River South and Main Camp) sites represented in this table.

Project funding: These data were curated and published with strategic funds from a TERN initiative to publish long term data packages in the book Lindenmayer et al. 2014 Biodiversity and Environmental Change: Monitoring, Challenges and Direction.

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.

本数据集用于绘制Lindenmayer等人2014年所著《生物多样性与环境变化：监测挑战与方向》一书中第411至412页的图10.25相关图表。

本数据集整合多类观测数据，用以阐释植被与脊椎动物对气候模式的响应，以及此类周期中捕食者与猎物间的相互作用。数据包含以下内容：
• 设于13个间距5至80公里的自动气象站的月度降雨量数据
• 三齿稃（Triodia basedowii）的地表覆盖百分比
• 两种以三齿稃种子为食的啮齿类动物——三齿稃跳鼠（Spinifex Hopping-mouse）与沙地内陆鼠（Sandy Inland Mouse）——的种群丰度数据
• 小毛足袋鼩（Lesser Hairy-footed Dunnart，食虫性哺乳动物）的种群丰度数据
• 刷尾穆加拉（Brush-tailed Mulgara，以三齿稃跳鼠与沙地内陆鼠为食的捕食者）的种群丰度数据
• 军事龙蜥（Military Dragon）的爬行动物种群丰度数据
• 中央网纹龙蜥（Central Netted Dragon）的爬行动物种群丰度数据

植被属性在每个诱捕网格的6个陷阱周围2.5米半径范围内进行记录，并汇总至网格尺度数据。
气象数据取自13个间距5至80公里的自动气象站。

捕获数据来自昆士兰州西部辛普森沙漠中一段固定时长的诱捕夜间调查（通常为3晚的调查周期）。调查中对捕获的哺乳类与爬行类动物进行物种鉴定，并移除同一调查周期内的重捕个体（即每个个体仅计数一次）。记录所有捕获事件的日期、调查位点与网格编号，并在放归前通过独特的耳缺标记对捕获动物进行标识，以区分重捕个体。该监测网络项目以12个核心位点为核心，每年4-5月对这些位点进行采样。本诱捕调查旨在定量追踪生物多样性与生态过程的长期变化，及其与关键驱动因子的关联，这些驱动因子包括不可预测的降雨与干旱、火灾、外来捕食者与放牧活动。

作为沙漠生态完整调查项目的一部分，已采集的相关数据集概览可参见：https://doi.org/10.25911/5c13171d944fe。

采样方法：该监测网络项目以12个间距至少15公里的核心位点为核心，每个位点包含两个1公顷的诱捕网格（样地），网格间距为0.5至2公里。自1990年起，该项目便在辛普森沙漠的活捕网格（用于哺乳类与爬行类动物采样）上开展植被结构与植物物种组成调查。植被属性（植物物种出现情况与盖度估算）在每个脊椎动物诱捕网格的6个地面陷阱周围2.5米半径范围内记录，每个网格随机选取1条样线，该样线包含6个陷阱（参见图6.5）。每个网格的相同陷阱会在每次调查中重复采样；通常情况下，这些采样陷阱分别布设至沙丘的凹地、边坡与丘顶，每个区域各设置2个陷阱。12个核心位点每年4-5月进行采样，但2012年未完成全面调查，因此本表格仅包含2个位点（菲尔河南部与主营地）。该样地网络完整调查项目的其他组成部分，均采用本研究设计的采样结构、核心位点/样地/网格配置方案。

研究范围：本研究的12个核心位点每年4-5月进行采样，但2012年未完成全面调查，因此本数据集对应的表格仅收录了菲尔河南部与主营地2个位点的数据。

项目资助：本数据集由陆地生态系统研究网络（Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network，简称TERN）的专项经费进行管理并发布，用于支持Lindenmayer等人2014年出版的《生物多样性与环境变化：监测、挑战与方向》一书中的长期数据集发布工作。2012年至2018年间，本项目隶属于长期生态研究网络（Long Term Ecological Research Network，简称LTERN）——该机构为陆地生态系统研究网络（TERN）下属设施，并由澳大利亚政府通过国家合作研究基础设施战略提供资助。