Welcome to TERN Knowledge Base
What are the file formats recommended by TERN
This page provides an overview of the file specification formats and standard data submission templates for TERN and ecological survey-related datasets.
Recommended File Formats
The following table contains file formats recommended by TERN for data preservation, publication and reuse. The list was developed based on the Library of Congress Recommended Formats Statement 2020-2021.
If you are unsure about the suitable data file format, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at esupport@tern.org.au for clarification.
Data types | Recommended Formats |
|---|---|
Still images (e.g., bio-imaging) Note: we accept camera raw image file, which then will be converted into the recommended format for publication). |
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Audio works (e.g., bioacoustics) |
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Geospatial vector |
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Geospatial raster (e.g., remote sensing gridded data products; soil and landscape grid) |
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Sensor time series (e.g., ecology plot-based survey and inventory data, flux) |
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Textual works |
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TERN Data Submission Template
Please use the attached example template to map your flora and/or fauna plot-based surveys :
It is to be noted that for all systematic ecological surveys, data submissions is via CSV, and we encourage you to follow the prescribed TERN Data Submission Template (see above for the sheet attached).
All on-ground ecological survey data should include a standard survey methodology and the data structure and submission format (.csv) should reflect this survey methodology. This structure should also adhere to the TERN specifications and ecological data model. At its core, the data should essentially capture:
‘site information’ : siteID, plotID, plotLength, plotWidth, subplotID, latitude, longitude, etc.
‘site visit information’: visitStartDate, visitEndDate, surveyDuration
‘sampling information’: plantID, stemID, animalVoucherSpecimenID etc.
‘feature of interest’ : featureOfInterest (e.g., plant individual, plant community, animal population, etc.), featurePositionX_coordinate, featurePositionY_coordinate
‘observable properties/ also called as observable parameters’ : plantHeight, stemDiameter, animal sex, body mass, etc.
‘additional information related to the survey’ : fieldNotes, comments, instrument, personnel, etc.
All the TERN Ecosystem Processes sites should map their data as per the standard data template below.
Some data columns are optional and some are mandatory (see below)
Please write to the TERN DSA team (@esupport.tern.org) should you need to modify or customize your template if the protocols have changes to it.
Standard Ecological Survey Datasets
TERN EP Sites Standard Data Template
TERN EP Supersites Vegetation Monitoring Data Submission
(See an attachment example from the TERN supersite datasets )
Field | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
siteID | Name/identifier of the site (e.g., Robson Creek Rainforest, Great Western Woodlands, etc.) | Mandatory |
plotID | Unique identifier for each plot (e.g., Robson Creek, core1ha; Great Western Woodlands, core1ha, etc.) | Mandatory (if using plot-based survey) |
plotWidth_meters | The plot length in meters (e.g., 100 m) | Mandatory (if using plot-based survey) |
plotLength_meters | The plot length in meters (e.g., 100 m) | Mandatory (if using plot-based survey) |
subplotID | Identifier for the 20m x 20m subplot within a plot | Mandatory (if using subplots in the survey) |
latitude | GPS latitude coordinate (please specify in metadata dictionary: SW, NW, NE, SE corner / Centroid ) | Mandatory (please specify in the notes section the lat reflects the plot/subplot corner) |
longitude | GPS longitude coordinate (please specify in metadata dictionary: SW, NW, NE, SE corner / Centroid) | Mandatory (please specify in the notes section the long reflects the plot/subplot corner) |
startVisitDate | Date when the survey began or the first observation was made. | Mandatory |
endVisitDate | Date when the survey concluded or the last observation was made. | Mandatory |
plantID | Unique identifier for each individual plant (tree/liana, etc.) | Mandatory (please concatenate the names for multi-stemmed individuals) |
scientificName | The full scientific name of the tree (where available, at least to its genus level).; "Family and species names to conform with Australian Plant Census convention (Mabberley, D.J. (2008). Mabberley's Plant Book, 3rd edn (Cambridge); http://www.anbg.gov.au/chah/apc/family-translation/brummitt-APC-gen.html) ." | Mandatory |
genus | The scientific name of the genus in which the taxon is classified. ; "Family and species names to conform with Australian Plant Census convention (Mabberley, D.J. (2008). Mabberley's Plant Book, 3rd edn (Cambridge); http://www.anbg.gov.au/chah/apc/family-translation/brummitt-APC-gen.html) " | Mandatory |
stemID | Individual stem tag identifiers (if tagged, especially for individual stems in multi-stemmed species, e.g. ECA_1, ECA_2) | Mandatory (please distinguish the stems from plantID) |
positionX_coordinate | Local coordinate within subplot (if mapped; if not use position X in meters from SW corner) | Optional |
positionY_coordinate | Local coordinate within subplot (if mapped; if not use position_Y in meters from SW corner) | Optional |
stemDiameter_centimeters | Stem diameter in centimeters (measured at breast height, i.e., POM at 130 cm from ground; or in some cases 10 or 20 or 0 cm in mallee or mulga sites; see section 8.4.4 in the TERN vegetation protocols for details). Please note: Lianas/vines are measured 1.3 m along the stem after they leave the ground.; Palms, ferns and grass trees are included if the stem is ≥ 10 cm DBH (at 1.3 m) below the lowest living leaf base. | Mandatory |
stemDiameterPointOfMeasurement_metres | Point of Measurement recorded from the ground or the lowest living leaf base in some cases | Mandatory |
equivalentStemDiameter | For multi-stemmed plants: ESD = √(ΣDi²) Where Di = individual stem diameters. | Optional |
stemHeight_meters | Total height measured (or estimated) from the ground to the uppermost vegetative component of each stem individual.; Please note the height of a liana/vine will be the estimated length of the stem and will generally be higher than the host stem. They are mapped where they are considered to originate. | Mandatory (please make notes if unable to measure) |
measurement_Method | Tools used for measurement of stem diameter and or height (e.g., caliper, diameter tape, laser) | Optional |
woodDensity_gramsPerCubicCentimetres | The wood density of the plant species under observation (in grams per cubic centimeters). | Mandatory (please make notes if unable to supply the wood density) |
phenomenonTime | Date/datetime when the observation/s were made. | Mandatory |
measurement_Condition | Condition of tree when measured. Codes for special conditions (e.g., L, S, N, R, M, E, C; leaning > 45° (L), snapped above POM (S), near dead or sick (N), rough hollow or dead side at POM (R), multi-‐stemmed (M), estimated DBH (E), callipers used for DBH (C). | Optional |
growthForm | Type of plant (tree, shrub, vine, palm, strangler fig, liana, etc.) | Optional |
measurementCondition | Condition of plant when measured. Codes for special conditions (e.g., L, S, N, R, M, E, C; leaning > 45° (L), snapped above POM (S), near dead or sick (N), rough hollow or dead side at POM (R), multi-‐stemmed (M), estimated DBH (E), callipers used for DBH (C). | Optional |
mortality | Status of the plant (e.g., alive, dead, snapped, near dead) | Optional |
estimatedStemDiameter | Whether the stem diameter is an estimate or exact measure. (Yes - estimated; No - exact measure) | Optional |
diameterMeasurement_Method_Notes | Tool/s used for measurement of stem diameter (e.g., caliper, diameter tape, laser). | Optional |
forkBelow_1_3_meter | Yes/No (if the tree forks below DBH) | Optional |
diameterMeasurementInstrument | Tool/s used for measurement of stem diameter (e.g., caliper, diameter tape, laser). | Optional |
taggingMethod | Tagging method (wire, nail, paint, none) | Optional |
mappingMethod | Mapping method (GPS, sighting, post-reference) | Optional |
surveyorName | Name of the person(s) conducting the measurement | Mandatory |
comments | General comments additional to what was not recorded in the other columns. | Optional |