This data package comprises data from a series of hemispherical photographs taken in July 2013 and May 2015 at the Connell Rainforest Plot near O’Reilly’s Guest House, 85 km south of Brisbane, Queensland. The 2.0 ha site consists of separate 1.0 ha plots separated by 600 m, but they have always been treated as a single entity. The site consists of mapped and tagged trees in all size classes from tiny seedlings to large canopy trees. Rates of recruitment, growth and mortality have been measured at intervals of 1-6 years with records extending back to 1963. The primary determinant of growth rate in the understory is light. Gaps created by the death of large canopy trees have been systematically surveyed many times over the decades until 2002, with the boundaries of the gaps being noted on hand drawn maps. These maps have never been digitized, and the originals are held at the University of California. Copies of some later maps are held by Green at La Trobe University. A digital camera with a fish-eye lens was used for the first time in 2013 to measure understory light environments along the seedling transects. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Connell Rainforest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/connell-rainforest.

The Desert Uplands Plot Network Bird Count Data contains bird fauna data for 1 of 50 permanent 1 hectare plots in Northern Queensland, Australia. This data publication refers specifically to observations made at Plot WOUR15. The CSIRO permanent plots are situated in Tropical Ironbark Woodlands, and extend across four leasehold cattle properties that lie within an area approximately 50km by 50km. The plots represent three vegetation management strategies, namely: 1) clearing (where all trees and shrubs are removed); 2) thinning (where ground and midstorey vegetation is removed); and 3) unmodified native woodlands where significant thinning or clearing has not occurred. Within each 1 ha site, eight five-minute diurnal bird counts are conducted over a four day period. Two counts are completed per day at each site: one count in the morning within three hours of sunrise and the other a minimum of three hours after this period and before sunset. This is part of a much larger dataset that spans from 2004 to 2014. Note that previous studies were undertaken at 60 permanent 1 hectare plots and that this data is accessible as a composite data package: Metcalfe, D; Vanderduys, E (2015): Desert Uplands Plot Network, Bird Count Data and Notes, Northern Queensland, Australia, 2014. Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern2.285/html. The spatial coordinates for this plot are provided in the following data publication: Metcalfe, D; Vanderduys, E (2014): Desert Uplands Plot Network: Plot Details - Spatial Coordinates, Northern Queensland, Australia. Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern2.167/html The Desert Uplands research plots commenced in 2004, and have been revisited in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013 and 2014. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Desert Uplands Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/desert-uplands

This nocturnal birds survey data package comprises spotlight surveys conducted every two years along 200 metre fixed transects at each site for 20 minutes per site. Animal species and abundance are recorded. Distances along and adjacent to a transect are also recorded. If animals are up on a tree, tree species and animal height (distance from the ground to the animal) are also recorded. Nocturnal birds are also detected by the calls during spotlighting. Arboreal marsupials survey data for 2015 can be found at http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern6.9/html. The principle objective of the Nanangroe study is to directly quantify changes in woodland vertebrate assemblages and their relationships with habitat variables when the surrounding landscape matrix is converted from a semi-cleared grazing landscape to a landscape dominated by an exotic softwood plantation (Lindenmayer, DB, Cunningham, RB, MacGregor, C, Tribolet, C & Donnelly, CF 2001, ‘A prospective longitudinal study of landscape matrix effects on fauna in woodland remnants: experimental design and baseline data’, Biological Conservation, vol 101 no 2, p. 160). The study area is located in the Southwest slopes of NSW west of Lake Burrinjuck and includes four exotic Pine Plantations (Nanangroe, Cotway, East Bungongo and Bungongo), as well as private properties adjacent those plantations. Repeated sampling of the vegetation structure and cover and selected vertebrate groups on all sites from 1998 has created a long term dataset. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Nanangroe Plantation Forest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/nanangroe-plantation.

The Woodland Restoration Plot Network Vegetation Structure and Composition Background Data Package contains vegetation floristics and structure survey data for ninety-six 0.1 hectare sites which were established from 2001 to 2007. The sites were located on retired farmland that includes a mosaic of restored vegetation (native plantings) of varying ages juxtaposed with patches of remnant vegetation and untreated, abandoned pasture. All sites were originally woodland prior to agricultural development about 200 years ago. The plantings monitored by the Woodland Restoration Plot Network research plots commenced in 1992 and have been revisited every 3-4 years since 2001. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Woodland Restoration Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/woodland-restoration

This package contains spatial data relating to surveys conducted for the Phenology Studies project. Transects were established at an altitudes of 1400 m to 1880 m. These transects were established as a natural experiment - to provide infrastructure to validate the findings from the ATEX manipulated, experimental plots. The aim is to describe the phonological responses of alpine plants to environmental variables and assess the usefulness of this measure to assess vulnerability to changing abiotic (e.g. climate) and biotic (e.g. invasive species) factors. This is part of a dataset that spans from during data collected in 2011 to document long-term effects directly through climate and indirectly through biotic interactions (see methods for more information). The Victorian Alpine Plot Network research plots are revisited 4 times per year. 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

A total of 220 permanent monitoring plots (40 m x 20 m) were established across three parks (Kakadu, Litchfield and Nitmiluk) in 1994-1995 to monitor biotic change. Of these, 46 plots are located in Nitmuluk. These sample a variety of landform and vegetation type/habitat conditions. A substantial proportion of plots were positioned deliberately at sites likely to reveal environmental dynamics, especially at ecotones and in patches of fire-sensitive vegetation. For example stands of Callitris, sandstone heaths. As well, many plots are located at, or in the near vicinity of, intensively managed sites such as camp-grounds and other tourist destinations. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Three Park Savanna Fire-effects Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/three-parks-savanna

This rainforest tree data package comprises stand structure data for rainforest trees at the O'Reilly's Connell Rainforest Plot, Lamington National Park (84 km south of Brisbane), Queensland for 2015. The O'Reilly's Plot consists of two 1.0 hectare plots spaced 600 m apart in sub-tropical rainforest, established in 1963. They have always been treated as a single unit for the purpose of analysis. Rainforest tree attributes recorded comprise the size (height or girth) of tagged and mapped, free-standing stems of shrub and tree species. Sampling has been undertaken at intervals of 1-6 years since 1963. It essentially provides a snapshot of stand structure on the site. This data package forms part of the collection of vegetation data undertaken at plots situated in both Lamington National Park and Davies Creek initiated by Professor Joseph H. Connell (University of California, Santa Barbara) in 1963. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Connell Rainforest Plot Network's full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/connell-rainforest.

The Upland Heath Swamps Plot Network Hydrological Climate data are monitored at automatic weather stations established by the University of NSW in 2013 within the study area. In addition, three soil probes placed along local soil moisture gradients in the vicinity of each station record soil moisture, conductivity and temperature at various depths below the surface at 30-minute intervals, which are averaged to produce daily mean estimates. The Upland Heath Swamps Plot Network research plots commenced in 1983 and have been revisited in 2004, 2009 and again in 2014. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Upland Heath Swamps Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/upland-heath-swamps.

The Nanangroe Plantation Plot Network Bird Point Count Data contains counts of all birds seen and heard over five minute periods at each of the 0 m, 100 m and 200 m posts along a permanent 200m transect at each site. Dawn bird counts are conducted every 1-2 years using repeated point interval counts. Repeated point counts by two different observers on two different days are undertaken. The distance that each bird was seen/heard at is recorded along with bird abundance and any anecdotal comments (e.g. breeding behaviour). Bird species presence/absence or detection rates within 50 m of the observer is commonly used for analysis. The principle objective of the Nanangroe study is to directly quantify changes in woodland vertebrate assemblages and their relationships with habitat variables when the surrounding landscape matrix is converted from a semi-cleared grazing landscape to a landscape dominated by an exotic softwood plantation (Lindenmayer, DB, Cunningham, RB, MacGregor, C, Tribolet, C & Donnelly, CF 2001, ‘A prospective longitudinal study of landscape matrix effects on fauna in woodland remnants: experimental design and baseline data’, Biological Conservation, vol 101 no 2, p. 160). The study area is located in the Southwest slopes of NSW west of Lake Burrinjuck and includes four exotic Pine Plantations (Nanangroe, Cotway, East Bungongo and Bungongo), as well as private properties adjacent those plantations. Repeated sampling of the vegetation structure and cover and selected vertebrate groups on all sites from 1998 has created a long term dataset. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Nanangroe Plantation Forest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/nanangroe-plantation.

The Desert Uplands Plot Network Bird Count Data contains bird fauna data for 1 of 50 permanent 1 hectare plots in Northern Queensland, Australia. This data publication refers specifically to observations made at Plot WOUR04. The CSIRO permanent plots are situated in Tropical Ironbark Woodlands, and extend across four leasehold cattle properties that lie within an area approximately 50km by 50km. The plots represent three vegetation management strategies, namely: 1) clearing (where all trees and shrubs are removed); 2) thinning (where ground and midstorey vegetation is removed); and 3) unmodified native woodlands where significant thinning or clearing has not occurred. Within each 1 ha site, eight five-minute diurnal bird counts are conducted over a four day period. Two counts are completed per day at each site: one count in the morning within three hours of sunrise and the other a minimum of three hours after this period and before sunset. This is part of a much larger dataset that spans from 2004 to 2014. Note that previous studies were undertaken at 60 permanent 1 hectare plots and that this data is accessible as a composite data package: Metcalfe, D; Vanderduys, E (2015): Desert Uplands Plot Network, Bird Count Data and Notes, Northern Queensland, Australia, 2014. Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern2.285/html. The spatial coordinates for this plot are provided in the following data publication: Metcalfe, D; Vanderduys, E (2014): Desert Uplands Plot Network: Plot Details - Spatial Coordinates, Northern Queensland, Australia. Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://www.ltern.org.au/knb/metacat/ltern2.167/html The Desert Uplands research plots commenced in 2004, and have been revisited in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013 and 2014. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Desert Uplands Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/desert-uplands