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Monitoring the effectiveness of bitou bush control and native species recovery

Monitoring is the repeated collection and analysis of observations (e.g. vegetation density or cover) to provide information on changes that enable you to answer a particular management question. Whether a weed control program has been effective is one such management question that requires monitoring. To determine the effectiveness of bitou bush control at high priority sites listed in the Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Plan (TAP), the following responses should be measured:

• the response of bitou bush to control
• the response of the priority plant species, populations and ecological communities to bitou bush control
• the response of other weed species to bitou bush control 
• the cost of control and monitoring activities.

The following responses can also be monitored:

• the response of a broader range of native species, populations and ecological communities (both plants and animals) to bitou control, and
• the response of biocontrol agents following bitou bush control.

Monitoring programs are commonly established for weed control programs, but many programs are unsuccessful because:

• the methods used are unsuitable for the information required
• the data is collected differently at each sampling occasion
• data is lost, either inadvertently or by changes in personnel
• programs are not run long enough to show the effectiveness of control
• the results are not distributed and compared with similar programs.

Monitoring guidelines for bitou bush

To address the problems raised above, the Monitoring Manual: for bitou bush control and native plant recovery has been developed as part of the implementation of the Bitou TAP. Written in consultation with stakeholders and land managers, the monitoring manual proposes a multi-tier approach to monitoring, where different techniques can be used depending on the species present at the site, and the resources and skills of the land manager. The monitoring manual comprises three tiers: standard, advanced and research-level.

Preface

The manual's preface introduces the structure of the manual and helps users to select the level of monitoring that best suits their needs.

• Monitoring manual preface (09352MManualPreface.pdf - 108KB)

Standard monitoring

This tier covers creating and using a map for monitoring, photopoints, observational data to support these photos, and information on costs incurred during control and monitoring. This tier is aimed at most land managers and has been prepared for a general audience. You can download this tier as a whole or individually as its component sections:

• General introduction (09352MManualIntro.pdf - 149KB)
• Standard monitoring introduction, mapping (09352MManualStandardA.pdf - 2.7MB)
• Photopoint, observational data collection, control and monitoring activities (09352MManualStandardBpdf - 352KB)
• Appendices - datasheets (09352MManualStandardC.pdf - 2.6MB)
• Appendices - graphing data and references (09352MManualStandardD.pdf - 2.6MB)
• Complete standard monitoring section (09352MManualStandardTier.pdf - 7.6MB)

In addition the standard tier datasheets can be downloaded separately.

Advanced monitoring

This tier builds on the standard tier by adding more detailed methods, including the use of replicated transects and quadrats to allow more robust data to be collected on the response of bitou bush, native species and other weeds to bitou bush control. Users of the advanced tier also need to complete the mapping, photopoint, and control and monitoring activities records sections of the standard monitoring tier. You can download this tier as a whole or individually as its component sections:

• Introduction and sampling methods (09352MManualAdvancedA - 2.9MB)
• Additional information (09352MManualAdvancedB - 454KB)
• Appendices A1-5, datasheets (09352MManualAdvancedC - 195KB)
• Appendices A6-7, importance of random sampling and evaluating data (09352MManualAdvancedD - 3.8MB)
• Appendix A7, evaluating data (09352MManualAdvancedE - 912KB)
• Complete advanced monitoring section (09352MManualAdvancedTier.pdf - 8MB) 

In addition the advanced tier datasheets can be downloaded separately.

Research-level monitoring

The research tier builds on the advanced tier to enable causality to be determined (for example, that bitou bush control lead to the recovery of native species) and takes a more scientific approach to monitoring. This is achieved with an expanded experimental design in which all factors that could influence the response of the flora are accounted for. This tier is available to download as one document:

• Complete research monitoring section (09352MManualResearchTier - 1MB)

Users of the research-level tier also need to complete the mapping, photopoint, and control and monitoring activities records sections of the standard monitoring tier.

Datasheets

The standard and advanced tiers each have a set of standardised datasheets for data collection in the field and office:

Standard

• Photopoints (09352MManualStandDataA.pdf - 45KB)
• Observational data (09352MManualStandDataB.pdf - 60KB)
• Control and monitoring activities (09352MManualStandDataC.pdf - 63KB)
• Filled in examples of datasheets (09352MManualStandDataD.pdf - 155KB)

Datasheets are also available in excel format for direct data entry into personal digital assistants (PDAs):

• Appendices - datasheets (09352MManualStandardDataAll.xls - 330KB)
  

Advanced

• Line-intercept transect (09352MManualAdvDataA.pdf - 58KB)
• Quadrat (09352MManualAdvDataB.pdf - 64KB)
• T-square measure (09352MManualAdvDataC.pdf - 49KB)
• Rare species (09352MManualAdvDataD.pdf - 49KB)

Datasheets are also available in excel format for direct data entry into personal digital assistants (PDAs):

• Appendices A1-5, datasheets (09352MManualAdvancedDataAll.xls - 600KB)

Research

The Research tier outlines the concepts fundamental to designing a research program, but does not specify which techniques to use; therefore there are no standardised datasheets for this tier. However, if techniques outlined in the Advanced tier are incorporated into a research monitoring framework then Advanced datasheets may be used or adapted for the Research tier.

Submitting data

Collating monitoring data across priority sites is integral to evaluating the overall effectiveness of the Bitou TAP. Data from the priority sites will be collated into the bitou bush database being developed by the Pest Management Unit. The use of standardised techniques outlined in the manual will greatly facilitate the development of this database.

We therefore request that all your maps, photos, monitoring and costs data from priority sites be submitted to the Pest Management Unit on an annual basis or when requested. To submit your data,

• email digital copies of the maps (individual shape files are preferred) and data entered into the standardised datasheets (the preferred format) to bitou.tap@environment.nsw.gov.au, or
• mail hardcopies (photocopies) of the maps and handwritten sheets to:

Bitou TAP Coordinator Pest Management Unit Department of Environment and Climate Change PO Box 1967 Hurstville NSW 1481

Review of results

Once collated, data gathered across multiple priority sites will be used to review the response of priority native species, populations and communities and also bitou bush to control. The results will also be used to review and report on the threat abatement plan at the 5-year review in 2011.

Interim results will be posted on this site.