Victorian Alpine Plot Network (ATEX): Vegetation Change and Phenology in Response to Increased Temperature, South-east Highlands, Australia, 2004–2014

• Main Authors: Ary Hoffmann, Henrik Wahren, James Camac, The University of Melbourne, Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology, La Trobe University
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: TERN Australia 2015
• Subjects: Vegetation structure; Plant species composition; Plant species abundance; Individual plants; Climate change; 0602; Earth Science > Biosphere > Vegetation; Plant phenology; Australian Tundra Experiment; ATEX; International Tundra Experiment; ITEX; Acaena novaezelandiae; Acetosella vulgaris; Acrothamnus; Acrothamnus hookeri; Acrothamnus montanus; Agropyron velutinum; Agrostis venusta; Ajuga australis; Argyrotegium fordianum; Argyrotegium mackayi; Asperula gunnii; Asterolasia trymalioides; Australopyrum velutinum; Brachyscome decipiens; Cardamine; Carex; Carex breviculmis; Carex hebes; Carex rara; Celmisia costiniana; Celmisia pugioniformis; Cladonia; Colobanthus affinis; Cotula alpina; Craspedia coolaminica; Craspedia jamesii; Deyeuxia; Deyeuxia monticola; Erigeron bellidioides; Erigeron nitidus; Geranium antrorsum; Geranium potentilloides; Goodenia hederacea; Grevillea australis; Hovea montana; Leptinella filicula; Leptorhynchos squamatus; Leucopogon hookeri; Luzula alpina; Luzula modesta; Melicytus dentatus; Microseris lanceolata; Olearia brevipedunculata; Olearia phlogopappa; Oreomyrrhis argentea; Oreomyrrhis eriopoda; Pimelea alpina; Pimelea axiflora; Pimelea biflora; Plantago euryphylla; Poa; Poa costiniana; Poa hiemata; Podolepis; Podolepis robusta; Poranthera microphylla; Prasophyllum tadgellianum; Ranunculus victoriensis; Rytidosperma nudiflorum; Rytidosperma penicillatum; Scaevola hookeri; Scleranthus biflorus; Scleranthus singuliflorus; Senecio pinnatifolius; Trachymene humilis; Trifolium repens; Trisetum spicatum; Viola betonicifolia; Xerochrysum subundulatum; hypochaeris radicata; Tundra
• Online Access: https://search.dataone.org/view/www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern.200.46/html

This data package shows the effects of experimental warming on plants in the Victorian Alpine region between 2004–2014. These data are from the Australian Tundra Experiment (ATEX) which is part of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX). The data tables consist of a subset of previously published data packages which have been combined to demonstrate the conclusions discussed on pages 188–191 of the book Lindenmayer et al., 2014. Biodiversity and Environemntal Change: Monitoring, Challenges and Direction (Core Study 4. Climate change experiment in open heathlands/grassland, Bogong High Plains). They also include data which has been collected since the book had been published. This experiment looks at the effects of increasing the near-surface soil temperature by ~1–2°C. As a consequence, the cover of grasses decreased in cover, while both forbs and shrubs increased in cover. Diversity increased as a result of changes in relative abundance and most growth forms increased in height. The ATEX experiment is locate at four sites on the Bogong High Plains, each site comprising multiple 1 square metre plots. The composition of each plot is sample using point quadrats every second snow-free season. The Victorian Alpine Plot Network research plots are revisited on a biannual basis, though measurements taken during surveys differ from visit to visit. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Alpine Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/victorian-alpine