This record contains information on surveys of koala activity for 33 one-hectare plots in Karawatha Forest Park during the period October 2009 to January 2010. The data set contains Koala presence/absence from individual trees in the study plots.In addition, information on tree species identification, stem diameter at breast height for each individual, distance of tree from transect and Koala activity level have been documented.
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Surveys of koala activity for 33 one-hectare plots in Karawatha Forest Park during the period October 2009 to January 2010. The plots are at 500 m intervals in a grid that covers the entire Park. Each plot follows the elevational contour and is 250 m long x 40 m wide. Koala activity was determined from scat surveys using the Spot Assessment Technique.
Scat survey: The Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) was applied at a distance of 125 m on each of the 33 Karawatha plots. The tree with DBH greater than 10 cm closest to the transect midpoint (at 125 m) was used as the focal tree. Once the focal tree was located, observers completed the Spot Assessment Technique by searching for koala scats around the base of the tree for approximately two minutes. An additional 29 surrounding trees greater than 10 cm DBH were also sampled in a radius around the focal tree. A tree was defined as a woody plant species with a DBH greater than 10 cm excluding cycads, palms and grass-trees. The two observers searched for koala scats within a 1 m radius at the base of each tree for a maximum of 2 person minutes per tree, or until scats were detected. The trees were identified and DBH measured. The SAT was performed for an average of 1h by the two observers and 45min when volunteers were assisting the observers. To avoid any biases, the scats identified by the volunteers were checked by the experienced observers before being confirmed as koala presence. A presence was recorded for each plot once one or more scats were found and each tree where scats were found was noted. Koala activity levels for each plot were calculated as the percentage of trees with scats within the 30 trees sampled. The total number of trees with scats was divided by the total number of trees searched per plot, thus indicating the koala activity and tree use across KFP. Active plots were defined by any level of activity and variation in activity level was assumed to be normally distributed (Phillips et al. 2000). (EcoAccess Permit Number – WISP05347908)
Scat survey: The Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) was applied at a distance of 125 m on each of the 33 Karawatha plots. The tree with DBH greater than 10 cm closest to the transect midpoint (at 125 m) was used as the focal tree. Once the focal tree was located, observers completed the Spot Assessment Technique by searching for koala scats around the base of the tree for approximately two minutes. An additional 29 surrounding trees greater than 10 cm DBH were also sampled in a radius around the focal tree. A tree was defined as a woody plant species with a DBH greater than 10 cm excluding cycads, palms and grass-trees. The two observers searched for koala scats within a 1 m radius at the base of each tree for a maximum of 2 person minutes per tree, or until scats were detected. The trees were identified and DBH measured. The SAT was performed for an average of 1h by the two observers and 45min when volunteers were assisting the observers. To avoid any biases, the scats identified by the volunteers were checked by the experienced observers before being confirmed as koala presence. A presence was recorded for each plot once one or more scats were found and each tree where scats were found was noted. Koala activity levels for each plot were calculated as the percentage of trees with scats within the 30 trees sampled. The total number of trees with scats was divided by the total number of trees searched per plot, thus indicating the koala activity and tree use across KFP. Active plots were defined by any level of activity and variation in activity level was assumed to be normally distributed (Phillips et al. 2000). (EcoAccess Permit Number – WISP05347908)
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