1 Investigating Tuart Woodlands Tuart Survey Training Friends of Trigg Bushland Inc Updated 2011

2 Introduction Survey to provide detailed record of Tuart status for baseline purposes Survey to provide detailed record of Tuart status for baseline purposes Complement earlier work by Tuart Response Group and the Tuart Atlas Complement earlier work by Tuart Response Group and the Tuart Atlas Assistance from City of Stirling and DEC and THRG/Centre of Excellence for Forest Health Assistance from City of Stirling and DEC and THRG/Centre of Excellence for Forest Health

3 What is Trigg Bushland? A Class Reserve A Class Reserve Managed by the City of Stirling (Friends of Trigg Bushland act only as volunteers and can only make recommendations to the City of Stirling) Managed by the City of Stirling (Friends of Trigg Bushland act only as volunteers and can only make recommendations to the City of Stirling) 144 hectares 144 hectares Only urban bushland that reaches from the shoreline to forested dunes Only urban bushland that reaches from the shoreline to forested dunes Contains rare flora and areas classed as pristine Contains rare flora and areas classed as pristine

4 Scope of the survey (Trigg Bushland image courtesy of City of Stirling)

5 Topics for discussion Purpose and methodology overview Purpose and methodology overview Tools and measuring techniques Tools and measuring techniques Recording the data Recording the data Ground rules Ground rules Progress to date Progress to date

6 Purpose To provide baseline data for forest decline and/or regeneration To provide baseline data for forest decline and/or regeneration To fill in the gaps of aerial surveys, eg, Tuart Atlas To fill in the gaps of aerial surveys, eg, Tuart Atlas To provide data for future management plans, eg fire control and dieback management To provide data for future management plans, eg fire control and dieback management

7 Methodology Volunteers walk a grid through each section of bush. Volunteers walk a grid through each section of bush. Each tuart is identified and photographed while a GPS is adjacent to the tree. Each tuart is identified and photographed while a GPS is adjacent to the tree. Details of the tuart and understorey are recorded on the data collection sheet. Details of the tuart and understorey are recorded on the data collection sheet. The photographs and the GPS tracks are matched using OziExplorer and OziPhotoTool software. The photographs and the GPS tracks are matched using OziExplorer and OziPhotoTool software. All the data are combined into Excel Spreadsheet. All the data are combined into Excel Spreadsheet.

8 Topics for discussion Purpose and methodology overview Purpose and methodology overview Tools and measuring techniques Tools and measuring techniques Recording the data Recording the data Ground rules Ground rules Progress to date Progress to date

9 Tools you will need Hand held GPS Hand held GPS Digital Camera Digital Camera Clipboard Clipboard Recording Sheets and pen/pencil Recording Sheets and pen/pencil Map with 10m grid marked Map with 10m grid marked Measuring tape or scale on clipboard Measuring tape or scale on clipboard Measuring stick for estimating tree height Measuring stick for estimating tree height

10 Data collection sheet

11 Field map with 10m grid

12 GPS setup Ensure satellite reception and check error – should be less than 5 metres. Ensure satellite reception and check error – should be less than 5 metres. Take photograph of GPS showing current date and time before beginning. Note: if this is not done, all data collected will be invalid. Take photograph of GPS showing current date and time before beginning. Note: if this is not done, all data collected will be invalid. Ensure GPS is set to correct datum (WGS 84) and measurement is in metres – ask for assistance. Ensure GPS is set to correct datum (WGS 84) and measurement is in metres – ask for assistance.

13 Record photo of GPS showing date and time

14 Some tips Ensure GPS has fresh batteries Ensure GPS has fresh batteries Turn on GPS at beginning of survey and leave it on, ensuring it is not obscured Turn on GPS at beginning of survey and leave it on, ensuring it is not obscured Make sure GPS is next to the tree being photographed, holding it flat so that the antenna has free sky Make sure GPS is next to the tree being photographed, holding it flat so that the antenna has free sky Photo and GPS point are linked by the time stamp so the quality and aesthetics of the photo are not important Photo and GPS point are linked by the time stamp so the quality and aesthetics of the photo are not important Plan your track so that extraneous points are minimized Plan your track so that extraneous points are minimized

15 What is wrong? –Hand is over the antenna zone –GPS should be horizontal

16 Measured features & techniques Tree height Tree height Tree diameter Tree diameter Number of trunks Number of trunks Growth Stage Growth Stage Tree health Tree health Canopy density Canopy density Understorey disturbance Understorey disturbance Weed invasion and major species Weed invasion and major species

17 Measuring tree height with stick method

18 Tree diameter Measure diameter of largest trunk directly or Measure diameter of largest trunk directly or Use soft tape for circumference and divide by pi Use soft tape for circumference and divide by pi Take measurement 1.5m above ground level Take measurement 1.5m above ground level

19 Number of trunks Count all trunks coming from ground Count all trunks coming from ground Record number of dead trunks in comments Record number of dead trunks in comments This is an example of a tuart with extensive fire damage, four trunks, one of which (far right) is dead,

20 Example: Single trunk, recovery from fire.

21 Example: Healthy growth from burnt stump, This is an example of a tuart with some fire damage, four trunks, two of which are dead. You can see mature healthy leaves.

22 Example: Twin trunk healthy Tuart

23 Growth stage Seedling – juvenile leaf, soft wood Seedling – juvenile leaf, soft wood Juvenile - adult leaf, soft wood Juvenile - adult leaf, soft wood Mature – adult leaf, hard wood Mature – adult leaf, hard wood Regrowth – juvenile leaf, hard wood Regrowth – juvenile leaf, hard wood

24 Juvenile leaf – heart shaped Mature leaf – sickle shaped

25 Tree health Healthy Healthy Stressed Stressed Dead Dead

26 Measuring canopy density Estimate in increments of 10% Estimate in increments of 10% Provides indication of health status Provides indication of health status Affects plant and animal populations in understorey Affects plant and animal populations in understorey

27 An example to show how you can estimate the density by looking at a small area. After Compton (1962)

28 Example: 30% canopy

29 Example: 50% canopy

30 Example: 90% canopy

31 Understorey disturbance Estimate using scale of low, moderate or high Estimate using scale of low, moderate or high Note extent of weed invasion Note extent of weed invasion Identify major weeds – you will receive assistance and learn the major weeds that are likely to be present. Identify major weeds – you will receive assistance and learn the major weeds that are likely to be present. Note physical disturbance, eg, earthworks, pathways, rubbish Note physical disturbance, eg, earthworks, pathways, rubbish

32 Example: Seedling with low disturbance of ground cover

33 Example: Mature Tuart with high disturbance

34 Topics for discussion Purpose and methodology overview Purpose and methodology overview Tools and measuring techniques Tools and measuring techniques Recording the data Recording the data Ground rules Ground rules Progress to date Progress to date

35 Recording data Use actual measurement or scaled estimate wherever possible. Use actual measurement or scaled estimate wherever possible. Use metric measurements with unit of measurement as specified on data collection sheet (eg height in metres, diameter in centimetres) Use metric measurements with unit of measurement as specified on data collection sheet (eg height in metres, diameter in centimetres) Estimates should be agreed between team members (or averaged where there is disagreement) Estimates should be agreed between team members (or averaged where there is disagreement)

36 GPS tracks for 3 teams (10m grid)

37 Tabular data in Excel

38 Topics for Discussion 1. Purpose and methodology overview 2. Tools and measuring techniques 3. Recording the data 4. Ground rules 5. Progress to date

39 Safety Ground Rules Stay in teams. Stay in teams. Know where you are. Know where you are. Have a mobile phone. Have a mobile phone. Wear long pants and stout shoes. (School clothing is not appropriate as it may be damaged.) Wear long pants and stout shoes. (School clothing is not appropriate as it may be damaged.) Wear a hat and glasses or sunglasses. Wear a hat and glasses or sunglasses. Do not try to go too fast. The bush can be dense and difficult to get through. Avoid hurting yourself by moving slowly. Do not try to go too fast. The bush can be dense and difficult to get through. Avoid hurting yourself by moving slowly.

40 Ground Rules: Key Points to take away It is important to make clear records – data must be written neatly and be accurate It is important to make clear records – data must be written neatly and be accurate Dress and act in a manner that will ensure your safety Dress and act in a manner that will ensure your safety Although it is good fun, tuart mapping is a scientific exercise and attention must be kept to the task at hand. Although it is good fun, tuart mapping is a scientific exercise and attention must be kept to the task at hand.

41 Topics for Discussion 1. Purpose and methodology overview 2. Tools and measuring techniques 3. Recording the data 4. Ground rules 5. Progress to date

42 Duart Arnott progress: Data collection complete Data collection complete Data entry and validation complete Data entry and validation complete Data submitted to DEC and Tuart Health Research Group (Murdoch/DEC) Data submitted to DEC and Tuart Health Research Group (Murdoch/DEC) Tuart recording sites in Duart-Arnott

43 King Albert progress: Data collection not yet complete Data collection not yet complete Data entry and validation in progress Data entry and validation in progress

44 Elliot progress: Data collection commenced Data collection commenced

45 St Marys progress: Data collection commenced Data collection commenced

46 The end – - thank you ! - thank you !