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Repeat photography from locations across Macquarie Island were visually compared to detect and categorise temporal changes in vegetation for each site. Photographs of the same scene in 1980, 2009 and 2014 were used. Terrain variables were used as predictor variables to investigate potential drivers of different types of vegetation change. Satellite-derived vegetation indices were compared with the on-ground photography for the latter period. Dataset derived from visual analysis of a collection of repeat photography images from Macquarie Island. Three images from different years were compared for each location: 1980, 2009, 2014. Changes in vegetation were recorded for two change periods: 1980-2009 and 2009-2014. MI Plateau 35year photo series_GPSdata and notes_Aug15_COPY.xlsx Photograph metadata (location, dates, etc) photochangesplateau.xlsx Observed changes for each photopoint photochanges_georef_3class.csv Reclassified change data WorldView_SVI_change_terrain.xlsx Spectral vegetation indices (SVIs) derived from WorldView satellite sensor for photopoint locations. Calculated using ENVI software. NDVI - Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. MTVI - Modified Triangular Vegetation Index. SGI - Sum Green Index. JScott photos 1980-2014.kmz Location of photo points (i.e. location of photographer) Shapefiles ESRI shapefiles of point locations of centrepoint of 'photo zones', i.e. the subjectively defined areas where change was recorded within the viewshed of each photograph. data R files detailing data analysis plus csv files of data used for analysis. Classes of vegetation/landscape: Grass - short grassland (not Poa tussock) vegetation dominated by Agrostis, Luzula, Deschampsia, Festuca Pleu - Pleurophyllum hookeri Poa - Poa foliosa Ace - Aceana magellanica and A. minor Stilb - Stilbocarpa polaris (syn. Azorella polaris) Bare - bare ground Moss - bryophytes Poly - Polystichum vestitum Az - Azorella macquariensis Az dieback - dieback of Azorella cushion plants (present/absent) Change classes: decrease no change increase Data files use 0/1 values for binary data 0 = true/absent 1 = false/present 999 = NA/no data e.g. GrassInc80 with a value of 0 means no increase in grass observed in the 1980-2009 period, AceDec09 with a value of 1 means Acaena spp. did decrease in the 2009-2014 period, landslide = 0 means site (polygon) not impacted by a landslide Some datasets have been recoded to 4 categories: 0/1/2/3 value for decr/stable/incr/NA(unknown) e.g. Poa80 = 0 means Poa foliosa decreased in the 1980-2009 period, Bare09 = 1 means bare ground stable (no discernible change) over 2009-14
In 2010-11 70mm soil cores were collected from locations at Macquarie Island rich in the invasive plant Poa annua. The cores were collected at 22 sites, with 10 samples per site. Processing and identification of species was completed in 2016. This file contains three spreadsheets: site descriptions, complete sample descriptions and abundance of springtail species at the sites. The work was carried as part of Australian Antarctic Science (AAS) Project 4024 and is currently being written up into several papers. The 'Quad veg' column gives the percentage vegetation cover in the one metre square quadrat. The 'sample veg' column gives the percentage vegetation cover in the 70mm soil core. The numbers in these columns are percentages and the letters are abbreviations for vegetation types: pa = Poa annua, cal = Callitriche sp., ttg = tall tussock grassland (Poa foliosa), sg = short grassland (range of species), colo = Colobanthus spp. In the 'rabbit presence' column 1 means there was evidence of rabbit presence in the quadrat and 0 means otherwise.
In 2010-11 a whole island survey or Macquarie Island was undertaken by Justine Shaw and Aleks Terauds. Quadrats (1m * 1m and 10m *10m) formed the basis of these surveys. At a minimum, quadrats were surveyed at the centroid of each 1 km * 1 km grid square. Other quadrats were surveyed along the survey track depending on the presence of non-native plants. Native plant coverage was also recorded in most quadrats. The download file contains an Excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet contains three worksheets, two of which contain keys to the third worksheet (the data worksheet). Information from the two keys is summarised below: Key to Field Headings Island was divided into 1 km x 1 km cells (see associated shapefile). A ‘track’ of minimum length 750 m (and usually between 1-2 km) was walked through each cell from 1 km centroid to 1 km centroid (again with 1 m2 and 10 m2 quadrats). At a minimum, the centroid of each cell was surveyed for alien plants using a 1 m2 and 10 m 2 quadrat. Other quadrat based surveys were carried out along the track (again with 1 m2 and 10 m2 quadrats) when alien plants were detected. In most cases native plant coverage was also noted in each quadrat. Percentage cover was calculated for Poa annua, Cerastium fontanum, and Stellaria media. Number of plants was also documented for Cerastium fontanum and Stellaria media, not Poa annua as individual plants can’t be easily identified. The presence or absence of alien species was recorded along each track. For analytical purposes, each track was divided into 10 m segments, and the presence or absence of alien plants in these was then used to calculate the ‘proportion’ of each plant in each 1 km cell. For example, a 1km track through a cell has 100 ten metre segments, if 40 of these had Poa annua present, then the cell was allocated a proportional value of 40% for Poa annua (see shapefiles for actual data and visual representation). ID Cell ID LongitudeI Centroid of 1km cell longitude LatitudeI Centroid of 1km cell latitude C_poa 1x1 m quadrat percentage cover of Poa annua - note no number of plants for Poa annua because separate plants can't be identified C_cfA 1x1 m quadrat percentage cover of Ceastium fontanum C_cfN 1x1 m number of Cerastium fontanum plants in quadrat C_smA 1x1 m quadrat percentage cover of Stellaria media C_smN 1x1 m number of Stellaria media plants Q_poa 10 x10 m quadrat percentage cover n of Poa annua -- note no number of plants for Poa annua because separate plants can't be identified Q_cfA 10 x10 m quadrat percentage cover of Ceastium fontanum Q_cfN 10 x10 m number of Cerastium fontanum plants in quadrat Q_smA 10 x10 m quadrat percentage cover of Stellaria media Q_smN 10 x10 m number of Stellaria media plants Q_veg native veg composition - see attached worksheet for key Q_rab rabbit grazing present? (centroid only) Q_die Azorell dieback present? (centroid only) Vegetation key, numbers are percentage cover, will generally add up to 100 az Azorella macquariensis fm feldmark bare no veg hb herbfield - Megaherbs - mainly Pleurophyllum sc complex of short grass, typically Agrostis, Luzula, Festuca, co Colobanthus spp. (also sometimes colo) by bryophytres mr mire pa poa annua sg short grassland sh short herbs, Acaena spp, Cardamine sp., Montia sp. sgh short grass herb complex ttg tall tussock grass, typical Poa foliosa DR damaged by rabbits
Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 101 See the link below for public details on this project. From the abstracts of some of the referenced papers: The diets of Mus musculus and Rattus rattus on Macquarie Island were investigated by analysis of stomach contents collected monthly for 12 months. The diet of the house mouse was found to be mainly invertebrate matter but that of the ship rat was mainly plant material. Seasonal variations were found in both diets but were greater in that of the ship rat than that of the house mouse. Observations of ducks on Macquarie Island in December 1985 and 1986 are summarised. Although the island has many wetlands, previous records suggest that ducks mainly use those within wet tussock grasslands in the lowland, coastal areas: recent observations confirm this. Reduced primary productivity on plateau wetlands may result in minimal secondary production of foods in a relatively harsh environment, one where nesting cover has been degraded by introduced rabbits and where predatory skuas are prevalent. Ducks, including hybrids between Grey Duck and the alien Mallard, used Square Lake and Duck Lagoon for feeding and resting, although their rate of feeding was higher at Square Lake. Broods were recorded only at Duck Lagoon, where Poa foliosa provides extensive cover. Introgression on Macquarie Island has occurred unsupported by local liberations, distant from human activity, and has implications for the gene pool of Grey Duck elsewhere. The total number of Royal Penguins (Eudyptes schlegeli) breeding on subantarctic Macquarie Island is estimated at 848 719 pairs (plus or minus 10.5%) based on two methods of estimation. The sizes and locations of all 57 colonies are given as a baseline for future changes in the species' abundance. Current estimates of the sizes of two colonies are compared with historical estimates made by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition in 1912-13.
MICROINVERTEBRATE SAMPLING PROTOCOL Macquarie Island 01 October 2001 - 28 February 2002 A.HABITATS SAMPLED 8 habitats representative of the following vegetation types were chosen: 1.Azorella macquariensis - Open cushion areas 2.Acaena (magellanica and minor) herbfield 3.Colobanthus muscoides (coastal cushion plants) 4.Mires - Upland 5.Pleurophyllum hookerii dominated areas 6.Poa foliosa Tall tussock 7.Short grassland (incl. Agrostis magellanica/ Festuca contracta/ Luzula) 8.Stilbocarpa polaris dominated coastal herbfield B.HABITAT LOCALITIES 1.Range within which quadrats for a chosen habitat were located : a) Altitudinal limits- Lowland (coast to +/- 300 - 350m) b) Area- Spread over whole island c) Distance- i) 500m min. distance from the perimeter of the Base/logistic zone Viz. none in the logistic zone. - ii) 100m min. distance from an established hut - iii) 50m min. distance from an established path d) Aspect- East and west coasts 2.Types a) Homogeneous areas b) Least impacted areas (viz. Avoided heavily grazed Rabbit areas) (viz. Avoided Alien dominated areas) (viz. Avoided previously sampled or long term study sites) C.GENERAL SAMPLING STRATEGY FOR EACH HABITAT 1.For each habitat Five 2m x 2m quadrats were located (similar in vegetation structure) and marked 1-5. 2.From each quadrat two random samples were taken with the O'Connor split corer (as per sampling protocol D below). Viz: 10 cores from each habitat. 3.Each sample was retained separately (in it's core-tube placed in a plastic bag) and marked accordingly. Viz: A and B from 1 through to 5 (e.g.: Poa1A-B, Poa2A-B, etc to Poa5A-B). 4.On return from the field samples were immediately stored the in a cool, safe (rodent free) place (lab refrigerator) for processing. 5.Invertebrate extraction followed as per protocol E below. Sample numbers were retained throughout the sampling period, together with sampling date. 6.Each habitat was sampled on an average of once every five - six weeks. D.SAMPLING METHOD 1.Random numbers were obtained using a table of random numbers. 2.Numbers 1-100 are in top left quarter, progressing clockwise in the remaining three quarters for 101-200, 201-300 and 301-400. 3.If the position chosen for the first core had already been cored, the next random number and so on was used. 4.The core sample comprised a 70mm depth from ground level (viz. not including above ground vegetation growth and flowering parts). 5.Care was taken to disturb as little as possible of the vegetation in and around quadrat, as well as approach to site. 6.Sampling in or directly after heavy rain was avoided to prevent poor results (although it never rained hard or long enough for this situation to have occurred). 7.Samples were processed within 4 days (max) after return or safe / cool storage. 8.Before re-using any equipment (corer, cores, plastic bags, collecting jars and mesh cover etc), it was cleaned thoroughly to avoid contamination. E.EXTRACTION AND SORTING MESO-INVERTEBRATES : (These include all collembola and mites and enchytraeid earthworms). 1.In the collecting bottle of each sample placed in the HG extractor, an amount (+/- 2 cms high) of propylene * glycol was poured (*propylene glycol; CH3 CH(OH) CH2 OH = 76.10). 2.Core-samples were separated into litter-like top and about 5- 7 cm of soil. 3.Samples were retained in their respective core-rings, and where above ground vegetation biomass was more than could fit the depth of a ring, this was placed into additional rings. The veg (top)-side was covered with mesh or mutton cloth (approx. 1.5-2mm diam.) and secured with elastic bands (shock cord 3mm diam.). 4.The mesh covered side was placed facing down over the collection bottle in the HG extractor. The HG was left running for the first 2 days at 25 degrees C, and for the following two days (3rd and 4th days) at 30 degrees C. 5.Samples were transferred to 99% or 100% alcohol by draining off the propylene glycol through a 60 micron mesh, picking all the colembola and mites off it with a very fine paint-brush through the view of a good microscope, and placing these into labeled vials. 6.The filtered propylene glycol was re-used a couple of times. 7.Where time allowed, mites and colembola were separated for certain samples. 8.Sample details were noted in pencil on labels provided on the outside of each vial, and printed labels were inserted into each sample vial (see Macca Colembola and Mite labels 2001-02.doc). F.DATA ACQUISITION AND ARCHIVAL 1.Field data were captured in pencil using one A6 hard-cover note-book. 2.Data was transferred to spreadsheet and document and stored on CD-R discs with a back-up copy. This work was completed as part of the RiSCC project (Regional Sensitivity to Climate Change). The fields in this dataset are: Site name Habitat Location Latitude Longitude
Samples from Macquarie Island were collected between 1998 and 2004. Samples from Heard Island were collected during 2000. Continental samples were collected between 2004 and 2006. This project aims to confirm that viruses are the cause of disease symptoms observed in several plant species from Macquarie Island, and to characterise the viruses. These would be the first examples of terrestrial plant viruses found in Antarctica, and the southernmost plant viruses found. The results would be of fundamental biological significance, and will enable investigation of how plant viruses evolve in such an isolated location. The possibility of terrestrial plant viruses on Heard Island will also be investigated. A species from this project that has been entered into the Genbank database, a partial sequence of Stilbocarpa virus from Macquarie island - AF478691 (Genbank number). See also ASAC project 2152 (ASAC_2152). The fields in this dataset are: Species Date Latitude Longitude Collection Site Genbank Number Collection Number Internal Transcribed Spacers Comments Project objectives: The project objectives, as stated in the project application round 2008/09, appear below: This project has already enabled identification and characterisation of a new virus in Stilbocarpa polaris on Macquarie Island. This is the first example of a terrestrial plant virus found in Antarctica, and is of of fundamental biological significance. It is the southernmost plant virus known, and occurs on one of the most isolated and geologically recent islands. We have determined the complete genomic sequence of this virus, and have started to analyse the dispersal and origins of this virus. The main objectives of the next phase of this project are: 1. to further investigate the genetic variability, origins and evolution of the Stilbocarpa virus SMBV, and compare it with other badnaviruses to assess whether it has an extra gene compared with other viruses in the group 2. to analyse its means of transmission between Stilbocarpa plants and its dispersal around the island, and the extent of its effect on the host plants (such as significantly reduced seed set). 3. to analyse the effect of climate change, already happening on Macquarie Island, on SMBV and its host plants. 4. to analyse disease symptoms observed in several other subantarctic plant species, especially Cardamine corymbosa, to test whether these species are also virus-infected. Totally different virus-like particles have also been observed by electron microscopy in one sample of diseased leaves of Stilbocarpa polaris from Macquarie Island. These will be further characterised. 5. to investigate the biodiversity and dispersal of other plant pathogens such as fungi, and their consequences on plant health. A fungal pathogen of the moss Bryum argenteum from continental Antarctica has been identified, and two others will be characterised from mosses on Heard and Macquarie Islands. The further extension of this project will make use of specimens already collected on Heard and Macquarie Islands, to obtain as much information as possible about plant diseases in these remote locations, and their environmental adaptation to climate change. Taken from the 2008-2009 Progress Report: Progress against objectives: Good progress has been made with this project, in objectives where rabbit damage on Macquarie Island has not prevented progress. Analysis of DNA sequencing results for variants of the Stilbocarpa mosaic bacilliform virus has continued this year. Two papers are nearing completion on these results. It has proven difficult to analyse the means of transmission of the virus in Stilbocarpa at present, mainly due to rabbits completely eating plants at sites which were being monitored. However, this season we were able to sample some very young Stilbocarpa seedlings under plants difficult for rabbits to access, and this gives the possibility of testing for seed transmission of the virus. The potential new plant virus previously observed in Cardamine could not be followed up, as the area has been completely denuded of Cardamine plants by rabbits. An exclosure has been erected to attempt to germinate potentially infected seedlings in the area where diseased plants had been observed. Fungal infection of mosses colonising dead Poa foliosa tussocks was observed on Macquarie Island this year, and these colonies will be further examined. The results and publications are in line with the objectives of the project. Taken from the 2009-2010 Progress Report: Progress against objectives: Good progress has been made with this project, in objectives where rabbit damage on Macquarie Island has not prevented progress. Analysis of DNA sequencing results for variants of the Stilbocarpa mosaic bacilliform virus has continued this year. Two papers are nearing completion on these results. It has proven difficult to analyse the means of transmission of the virus in Stilbocarpa at present, mainly due to rabbits completely eating plants at sites which were being monitored. The potential new plant virus previously observed in Cardamine could not be followed up, as the area has been completely denuded of Cardamine plants by rabbits. An exclosure had been erected to attempt to germinate potentially infected seedlings in the area where diseased plants had been observed, but was removed this year as it had unfortunately been erected some 100m from the required site,and no infected Cardamine was growing inside the fencing. However, extensive searching in nearby locations this season has possibly revealed a new site for this potential virus, and samples will be analysed on their return to Australia in April. Fungal infection of mosses colonising dead Poa foliosa tussocks was again observed on Macquarie Island this year, and these colonies will be further examined. The results and publications are in line with the objectives of the project.
Observations on the phenology, breeding systems and seed germination and vegetation reproduction of 10 widespread species of flowering plants were made over three summer field seasons. Species studied Cardamine corymbosa, Epilobium pendunclare, Montia Fontana, Poa annua, Poa foliosa Agrostis magellanica, Luzula crinita, Pluerophyllum hookeri, Stilbocarpa polaris, Azorealla selago Data for the project are included in Bergstrom, D.M., Selkirk, P.M., Keenan, H.M. and Wilson, M.E. (1997) Reproductive behaviour of ten flowering plants species on subantarctic Macquarie Island. Borgen, L., Jonsell, B. (ed.) Opera Botanica. 132. 109-120;
Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 2544 See the link below for public details on this project. Public Summary Recent global warming is evident for many subantarctic islands. Rising temperatures will affect photosynthesis and respiration of plants, and ultimately their growth. This project used a novel combination of methodologies. Thermal and fluorescence imaging were used to explore the variation in temperatures experienced by plants and its effect on photosynthetic performance by plants growing naturally on Macquarie Island. Infra-red ceramic lamps were used to manipulate leaf temperatures under field conditions to explore how photosynthetic traits respond to simulated climatic change. Aims: The purpose of the study was to assess photosynthetic thermal acclimation in two dominant plant species on Macquarie Island, tussock grass Poa foliosa (Hook. f.) and co-occurring megaherb Stilbocarpa polaris (Homb. et Jacq.) Gray. The study is in two parts, surveys along natural altitudinal transects in temperature, and experimental warming in a free to air temperature increase experiment. Altitudinal gradients provide a natural long-term temperature response experiment, allowing study of plants in the thermal environment they have grown in, yet there may be confounding gradients in other environmental variables with altitude. Free to air temperature increase (FATI) experiments inform of shorter-term temperature responses, yet provide a constant warming treatment to plants in a microclimate otherwise matched to ambient conditions. Materials and methods Both the altitudinal measurements and the FATI treatments were conducted on Macquarie Island in the summer of 2006. Altitudinal gradients Measurements of leaf temperatures and gas exchange characteristics were made on field-grown plants along three altitudinal transects: Wireless Hill, Sandy Bay and Brothers Track. Measurements were made at three elevations: sea level (0-20 m), mid-slope (70-90 m) and upper slope (140-160 m). On each transect, at each elevation, measurements were made at four sites, each with paired plants of Poa foliosa Hook. f. and Stilbocarpa polaris (Homb. et Jacq.) Gray. This arrangement had two exceptions. First, S. polaris did not grow at the highest elevation at Sandy Bay. Second, the maximum elevation of Wireless Hill was at 90 m; sites were established at sea level and 84 m, which was designated mid-slope for comparison with sites of similar elevation. FATI Ten plants of each species, Stilbocarpa and Poa were excavated in intact blocks of peat from Wireless Hill and replanted in planter bags (32 x 32 x 40 cm) in a garden near the station. The garden was organised in a randomised block structure, comprising five blocks. In each block there were two plants of each species, paired by plant size. In each species pair, one plant was randomly assigned to be the control or heated plant. Ceramic 150 W Pandorel bulbs and a 30 cm wide aluminium reflector (Vaucluse and Animal Production Services, Adelaide, South Australia) were housed in a weatherproof stainless steel bucket. These were suspended from pickets above each plant, at 0.4 to 1.5m from the ground. The lamps produced no visible radiation, and constantly and evenly warmed the treatment plants below them. Previously, using a net radiometer (Rimco, Middleton, Synchrotac, Mulgrave, Australia) the lamps increased radiation input by approximately 155 Wm-2 at a distance of 40 cm. The warming treatment lasted 35 days, from 23/02/2006 until 30/03/2006. Leaf temperature In the altitudinal study, leaf temperature was recorded using iButton temperature loggers (Maxim/Dallas, California), which record temperature in 0.5 degree C steps, and were set to record temperature every 10 minutes continuously from establishment. Micropore surgical tape (3M, Minnesota) was used to attach the iButtons to the leaves. On P. foliosa leaves, iButtons were attached close to the leaf bases and sheltered mid-tussock. Abaxial sides of S. polaris leaves were waxy and covered in dense hairs, so iButtons were attached instead to the abaxial sides of leaf petioles, as close to the leaf base as possible. As rabbit grazing was considerable, and leaves were in some cases eaten and disturbed, a subset of days with reliable temperature records over all transects were selected from the two month sampling period for statistical analyses, these being between 1st March and 2nd April 2006. In the FATI study, temperature was monitored with copper constantan thermocouples 64mm in diameter, referred against a platinum resistance thermometer (PT-100). Thermocouples were attached to the underside of leaves 40cm from the lamps, using a small piece of surgical tape to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. In the Poa tussocks, additional thermocouples were placed on leaves 20cm from the lamps. The thermocouples logged temperature continuously, scanning at 10 second intervals, averaged every 2 minutes and recorded using DT800 Datatakers (Data Electronics, Victoria) throughout the two month period.
Analysis of Invertebrate abundance from soil cores on Macquarie Island. In the summer of 1986-87, total invertebrate abundances were measured quantitatively at eight sites, representing four vegetation types: feldmark, Stilbocarpa herbfield, Pleurophyllum meadow and Poa foliosa tall tussock grassland (P. Greenslade, unpubl. data). Between 11 and 16 soil cores were sampled at each site. Each core was 5 cm wide by 5 cm deep and invertebrates were extracted using Tulgren funnels. Numbers of invertebrates from each core are expressed as animals per square metre (.m-2). The mean density for the total of 120 cores was 29702.m-2 plus or minus 3564 SE and ranged from a low site mean of 2646.m-2 plus or minus 513 SE at a feldmark site on the plateau at 250m, to high site means of 97740.m-2 plus or minus 15898 SE and 62894.m-2 plus or minus 20804 SE at two Stilbocarpa dominated, coastal eastern slopes, both at 20 m a.s.l. Poa foliosa dominated sites at 40 m and 100m a.s.l. displayed intermediate mean densities of 20599.m-2 plus or minus 4241 SE and 20567.m-2 plus or minus 2670 SE, respectively. A Pleurophyllum dominated site on the plateau at 250m a.s.l. also exhibited a low mean site density of 6,664.m-2 plus or minus 1224 m-2 SE, while one on North Head at a lower elevation of 100m a.s.l., was higher at 24107.m-2 plus or minus 4155. A higher mean density of 19417.m-2 plus or minus 3674 was also found at feldmark site on North Head at only 100 m a.s.l. These figures show that altitude appeared to have a stronger influence on invertebrate abundance than vegetation type. The total mean density is similar to those found in temperate grassland and herbfields in other parts of Australia where a mean of about 25000 invertebrates.m-2 might be expected (King and Hutchinson, 1992). Barendse and Chown (2001) found a similar mean density for feldmark of 1800.m-2 on Marion Island but rather higher mean density of 50 000.m-2 in Azorella selago cushions, a vegetation type not sampled on Macquarie Island. Collembola dominated the Macquarie Island fauna numerically, followed by Acarina. Barendse and Chown (2001) found the same groups dominated in Azorella selago cushions and bare ground on Marion. Of interest was the high density of the introduced Hypogastrura purpurescens under Stilbocarpa polaris on Macquarie Island. See also the metadata record &Report on invertebrate field work, Macquarie Island, December 1986-January 1987& for further information. The fields in these datasets are: Easting Northing Description Species KA/EW, Kontia andersoni and earthworms AV, Arthurdendyus vegrandis SEW, small earthworms Density per square metre Soil Core