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High-level functionality of EcoPlots

Welcome to TERN EcoPlots

The TERN EcoPlots is the data integration platform to search and access site-based systematic-survey data and collected specimen samples. TERN EcoPlots maps all site-based survey datasets, samples and opportunistic observations to TERN Ontology, a common information model to represent data.

Data sources in EcoPlots include TERN Ecosystem Surveillance monitoring, TERN Ecosystem Processes, TERN AusPlots Forest and Queensland Biodiversity and Ecology Information System (QBEIS), and it keeps growing.

EcoPlots contains the following sample types from TERN Ecosystem Surveillance monitoring, which users can search and request access to:

• Plant voucher,

• Plant tissue,

• Soil pit,

• Soil Subsite, and

• Soil Metagenomics.

For ease of access, the user guide is split into two parts:

EcoPlots Observations, and

EcoPlots Samples.

Summary of available Datasets

QBEIS – Queensland Biodiversity and Ecology Information System contains data from surveys conducted throughout Queensland. Data collection has been taking place in 1982 on various physical and vegetation features, landscape, soil, and geologic features.

TERN AusPlots Forest – Australia-wide data collected within Eucalypt dominated forests using the standardised AusPlots Survey Protocols. Data collected includes, but not limited to: tree mortality, stem diameter and height, collection of voucher specimens, fuel load, litterfall and soil metagenomics.

TERN Ecosystem Processes – a broad range of data monitoring samples collected from 16 Ecosystem Processes (EP) Sites using TERN EP and OzFlux protocols. Data sources include time-series micrometeorological, phenocam, and acoustic monitoring sensors; cal/val; and vegetation, soil, and select fauna observations.

TERN Surveillance Monitoring – vegetation and soil data and samples, collected from a national network of one hectare plots collecting baseline environmental monitoring data using the AusPlots Survey Protocols. 

Three Parks Savanna – data collected from three Northern Territory National Parks (Kakadu, Litchfield, and Nitmiluk) in relation to fire-effects. Sampling for fire occurrence is bi-annual on-ground and satellite derived, fire mapping is tri-annual, and vegetation surveys every five years.

Williams Wet Tropics Vertebrate Database - Species occurrence data collected and curated for over 600 terrestrial vertebrate species in the Australian Wet Tropics.

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