Appendix 2 - Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems

3.4 Field Survey Procedure
The execution of the field survey within the time and budgetary constraints of the project
presented a number of logistical challenges. As a priority, protocols necessary to achieve access
to island communities and native title lands were developed in consultation and support of
TSRA’s Land and Sea Management Unit and Native Title office. These consisted of an initial
round of introductory letters to all island councils and Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) bodies
followed by phone or fax communication prior to the actual field visit where possible to organize
time of arrival, accommodation etc. Meetings with appropriate community representatives and
AQIS officers were held on each island and served to advise and guide the survey team in regards
to adherence to cultural protocols whilst on country. Where necessary and possible, cultural
monitors accompanied the survey team.
The requirement to achieve a regional overview within a short time frame and with consideration
to budget necessitated a single and continuous field trip over a seven week period between 16
October and 2 December 2007 wherein two ecologists aimed to access and describe as many
representative vegetation communities as possible. Access to islands was achieved mainly by
commercial air service (Aero Tropics) and also by charter plane and helicopter. The use of a
survey vehicle on Moa, Erub, Thursday, Horn and Masig assisted site coverage although survey
by walking traverses guided by stereoscopic use of aerial photography was the predominant mode
of survey. A charter boat was used to access islands in the Inner Group particularly Muralug,
Zuna, Friday, Hammond, and Wednesday. This provided a preliminary, although thorough
assessment of vegetation in the study area that was supplemented by 11 hours of helicopter
flying. The latter was an invaluable means of gaining a regional perspective of the islands,
increasing site coverage and allowing the establishment of vegetation sites in otherwise
inaccessible locations.
Field survey method followed Queensland Herbarium standards as identified in Neldner et al.
(2005) using a combination of formalised secondary, tertiary and quaternary level sampling
procedures, as well as informal site observation. Data relevant to requirements of Neldner et al.
(2005) were modified to suit sampling requirements specific to the study and were entered into
field notebooks. The core field information recorded included location, tenure, air photo and site
photo references, landform and geological features, and community structure. Complete species
lists were compiled wherever these were considered appropriate and were not limited to
secondary sites. Canopy height was meticulously measured at all sample locations using a
clinometer and linear regression table, and canopy cover was recorded in the majority of sites
using measured crown intercept transects. A Garmin GPS 60 (Geographic Positioning System)
was used to accurately record map coordinates for the site locations (GDA94). Digital
photographs of all sites as well as geological and landform features and significant flora species
were captured using a digital camera.
Secondary sites of non-rainforest vegetation consisted of a 50m x 10m plot located along the
contour with attempts made to avoid the sampling across vegetation community boundaries,
which became difficult in some of the lineal vegetation communities. Bitterlich measurements,
as described in Grosenbaugh (1952), were used to record community basal area at all sites except
in highly linear communities where the method proved inappropriate. Full species lists for all
strata were established during the secondary sampling procedure wherein the 500m 2 plot was
intensively sampled followed by a detailed search of the vicinity. While the vicinity search was
broadly defined by the extent of the basal area sweep, it was in all cases confined to the target
community. The abundance of all species within the plot was recorded by stem counts and by a
visually assessed abundance ranking.
3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008
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