Vertebrate survey data for ecotonal and peripheral rainforest areas of north Queensland (NERP TE 3.3, Hoskin, JCU)

This dataset consists of 546 records of vertebrate species across various sites in the rainforests and adjacent habitats of the Wet Tropics and the Eungella region. Surveys particularly targeted threatened frogs and focussed on ecotonal and peripheral rainforest areas. Each record consists of the date, species, locality name, latitude and longitude, habitat, and observer.

This is all original data, collected in the field by the listed observers. Surveys particularly targeted threatened frogs but other vertebrates recorded at that site are also included. Surveys focussed on ecotonal and peripheral rainforest areas, but core rainforest sites are also included. Each record consists of the date, species, locality name, latitude and longitude, habitat, and observer. All identifications were made by myself (Conrad Hoskin), an expert in rainforest vertebrate identification.

Methods:

Surveys were conducted at sites in the Wet Tropics and in the Eungella region (west of Mackay). Surveys focussed on ecotonal areas on the western side of the Wet Tropics and Eungella, and also peripheral rainforest areas to the north, south and west of these rainforest blocks. These areas were surveyed in order to survey habitats that are environmentally different to the core rainforest areas in the hope of discovering surviving populations of threatened frogs and other wildlife, and also, potentially, new species. The objective was also to survey these environmentally different areas for chytrid presence on frogs.

At each site a survey typically consisted of one afternoon and evening. Survey effort was two people on foot searching a stream and associated habitat. In the afternoon the effort was focussed on birds and reptiles and then at night the survey focussed on frogs and mammals. Surveys were conducted with binoculars head-torches and head-torches. Surveys were conducted around a focal point and records are typically clustered around this GPS point in the table. All identifications were made by myself (Conrad Hoskin), an expert in the identification of rainforest vertebrates. Each record consists of the date, species, locality name, latitude and longitude, habitat, and observer. Abundances were not estimated.

Limitations:

This list is not an exhaustive survey of vertebrates for these sites. The focus of the surveys was frogs and these were surveyed in detail. The records of additional taxa (reptiles, birds and mammals) were opportunistic. All surveys were on foot and by hand, with no trapping. Surveys were short (one night) because that is typically all the time required to fairly accurately survey frogs at a site. GPS points listed are typically clustered around a focal survey point. They are nonetheless fairly accurate (i.e., the individual record would have come from within about 200 m of the point listed). These are just sight records; abundances were not estimated.

Format:

NERP_eAtlas_data_1 June 2014_Conrad_Hoskin.xlsx (69 KB):

546 records (rows), with the following information for each record (7 columns): date, species, locality name, latitude, longitude, habitat, and observer.

WT_NERP-TE-3-3_Vertebrate-survey_2012-2014.shp (589 KB):

Same information as in NERP_eAtlas_data_1 June 2014_Conrad_Hoskin.xlsx but converted to a shapefile. This was created by the eAtlas team for adding into the mapping system.

Data Location:

This dataset is filed in the eAtlas enduring data repository at: data\NERP-TE\3.3_Frog-surveys

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network