FORESTCHECK plans and progress reports

Report of Progress 2007-2008

This document reports the results of FORESTCHECK monitoring on ten grids in the Donnelly District in 2007-08. The Donnelly grids were previously monitored in 2001-02.

The monitoring grids at Donnelly are located within a variety of vegetation complexes in the jarrah south forest ecosystem. The external reference grids are situated in uncut forest located in state forest and national park. Coupe buffer grids are situated in uncut state forest included in the temporary area exclusion system (TEAS). The remaining shelterwood and gap release grids are in forest that was harvested during the period of 1991 to 1996.

The results in this report represent observations from preliminary analysis only. However, some interesting points which have emerged from the 2007-08 results and from comparisons with data from the same grids in 2001-02 are:

• Stand growth at Donnelly reflected treatments, with harvested grids having higher basal area increments than external controls and coupe buffers, and gap release grids having the highest overall increment of 1.0-1.5 m² ha-¹ year-¹.
• Litter loads increased since the initial measurement in 2001 and reflected time since fire.
• Assessment of coarse woody debris was expanded to include decay stage, and logs . 20 cm diameter were tagged to allow more precise measurement of change over time.
• Significant additions to the macrofungal flora and invertebrate fauna records were achieved in 2007-08. Species accumulation continues to rise steadily for both groups with no signs of slowing.
• Helena gum moth was very abundant on the Donnelly grids in 2007-08.
• The second phase of monitoring has increased knowledge on the disturbance ecology and successional trends for a number of lichens.
• Comparison of vascular plant data collected in 2001 and 2007 shows no difference in the plant community structure and composition.
• The density of diurnal birds was similar in each treatment with an overall density of 13.3 birds per hectare. Nocturnal birds were not monitored in 2007-08.
• Woylie numbers decreased by 62% in 2007-08 compared to captures recorded in 2001-02. This is consistent with regional declines in woylie populations. Brush tail possum numbers increased from 3% of total mammal captures in 2001- 02 to be 11% in 2007-08. This coincides with the expansion of Western Shield baiting to the eastern side of the South Western Hwy.

Read the full Report of Progress 2007-2008 (3.43 MB PDF).