Connell Rainforest Plot Network: Tropical Rainforest Understorey Light Environment Data, Davies Creek Plot, Dinden National Park, Queensland, Australia, 2013+

This data package comprises data from a series of hemispherical photographs taken in 2013 and 2015 at the Connell Rainforest Plot which is situated at Davies Creek, Dinden National Park, 25 km south west of Cairns, Queensland. The 1.7 ha plot consists of mapped and tagged trees in all size classes from tiny seedlings to large canopy trees. Rates of recruitment, growth and mortality have been measured at intervals of 1-6 years with records extending back to 1963. The primary determinant of growth rate in the understorey is light. Gaps created by the death of large canopy trees have been systematically surveyed many times over the decades until 2002, with the boundaries of the gaps being noted on hand drawn maps. These maps have never been digitized, and the originals are held at the University of California. Copies of some later maps are held by Green at La Trobe University. A digital camera with a fish-eye lens was used for the first time in 2013 to measure understorey light environments along the seedling transects. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Connell Rainforest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/connell-rainforest.