Gentry transects and quadrats were established to monitor the vegetation abundance, cover and structure of the mid-stratum and subordinate stratum of the core 1 ha plot in the Cumberland Plain site in 2014.
Credit
We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Lineage
Gentry surveys were conducted using the methodology outline in the
TERN vegetation monitoring protocols.
Mid-Stratum Gentry survey
A 50 m tape measure was established along the Gentry Transects (running in a northern or eastern direction) in the centre of the 2 m transect. Surveyors identified all woody plants (>1.5 m height) within 1 m of the centre tape. The position was recorded as the distance from the start of the transect, and the perpendicular distance along a 1 m rule (negative values recorded for southern and western directions). All mid-strata (> 1.5 m height) within the Gentry transect were fitted with a numbered aluminium tag. The tag was attached to the trunk or main branch using stainless steel wire looped around the stem. Trees with multiple stems were given multiple tags if forking below breast height. The species were identified by Drs Paul Rymer, Tony Haigh from WSU, and determined by the botanical identification service at the Herbarium of NSW (Barbara Wiecek, and Andrew Orme). Dead stems were not included. The diameter at breast height (DBH) of all tagged woody plants within the Gentry Transects were measured using digital callipers and a DBH tape for stems > 5 cm DBH. Plants with multiple stems had the largest stem at 1.3m height measured for DBH. The maximum height of all mid-strata within the Gentry transects was measured a measuring tape. Note that plants >5 m in height were not measured in this dataset. The cover of all mid-strata within the Gentry transects was measured using a 2 m rule (and 10 m measuring tape were required) at each of the cardinal points (N, S, E, W). Dead stems were no included.
Sub-Stratum Gentry survey
The sub-strata was surveyed in 100 (1m2) quadrats evenly distributed along the 10 Gentry Transects. The quadrats are positioned at 5,10,15,20,25,30,35,45,50m on each gentry transect. The orientation within the transect is from the centre 1 m to the right looking down the length of the transect (north or east). The position at the top / centre of the quadrat has been recorded. Note that the gentry transects are oriented in a northern or eastern direction. The dominant grass, herb and woody species were recorded. Note that the grass species group was not restricted to the Poaceae family, and included for example Lomandraceae (Lomandra filiformis). The species were identified by Drs Paul Rymer, Tony Haigh from WSU, and determined on-site by the botanical identification service at the Herbarium of NSW (Barbara Wiecek, and Andrew Orme). Dead stems were not included. The mean height of sub-strata within 100 quadtrats on the Gentry transects was measured a 1 m rule. The percentage cover of sub-strata within 100 quadtrats on the Gentry transects was estimated by eye. The height and percentage cover was recorded for the dominant species and entire group for the grass, herb and woody species separately.
