<p>Four paired transects were set up early in the Reserve history to monitor the spread of saltbush (<em>Atriplex</em> spp.) into the reserve across the eastern and southern boundaries. These were read regularly for the first few years but data from them are not available digitally. The transects were reactivated in 1989 and measurements are provided for four occasions: 1989, 2003, 2008 and 2014. Species are identified as <em>Atriplex vesicaria</em>, <em>A. stipitata</em>, or if uncertain as A. sp., using the classifications of the 'Census of South Australian Plants, Algae and Fungi' (2024*).</p> <p>This is version 2.0 of the Koonamore Saltbush Transect Survey data release.</p>

The TREND (PSRF)- Terrestrial Ecosystems project initiated a landscape-scale monitoring transect along the Adelaide Geosyncline region in southern Australia, initially spanning approximately 550 km. The aim was to examine spatial drivers of species composition and to isolate the influence of climate on whole vegetation community composition and therefore inform on-going monitoring of the impact of climate change. Specific questions were: 1. What are the most important spatial drivers of species and phylogenetic composition along landscape-scale environmental gradients? 2. Can the answer to Question 1. inform selection of suitable spatial analogues for climate change? 3. How can a framework for assessing spatial drivers be used to monitor and interpret shifts in species composition due to climate change? The dataset consists of site and species records (see attachments) for plots established along the Adelaide Geosyncline for the TREND project. Data consist of vascular plant species composition (presence-abundance/absence) within 900m² plots plus site data, including aspect and soil properties. Data have been used to analyze changes in composition with geographic and environmental differences and as a baseline for monitoring.

In the mid-1920's Professor Theodore George Bentley (TGB) Osborn, Professor of Botany in the University of Adelaide, put forward strong scientific arguments concerning the lack of knowledge of the ecology of arid zone vegetation, and the effect of grazing on it (Osborn, 1925). In 1925 negotiations proceeded between the University of Adelaide and Messrs Hamilton Wilcox Ltd to secure a parcel of land for the purposes of research on Koonamore Station, a sheep-grazing property approximately 400 km north-east of Adelaide. A parcel of land of around 390ha was identified and fenced to exclude rabbits and other stock. The area was originally referred to as the Arid Region Flora Reserve but later was named the TGB Osborn Vegetation Reserve after its founder. For simplicity it is commonly referred to as the Koonamore Vegetation Reserve. <br></br> <p>This record is a collection of flora and fauna observations conducted in the TGB Osborn Vegetation Reserve (or Koonamore Vegetation Reserve). </p> <br></br>These records are organised accordingly :<ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><a href="https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/90a26f3a-cf42-41e5-ada4-9b0166b15b09">Vegetation Quadrats</a></li> <li> <a href="https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/05f37d50-935e-4a0a-b45e-cb1b606ce476">Photopoints</a></li> <li> <a href="https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/c593e881-ddb4-408a-ba5d-6a5f9d258b39"><em>Cassia</em> Corner</a></li> <li><a href="https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/aff278df-c8e8-41ab-b22e-66ea7d466169"><em>Myoporum platycarpum</em> plant individuals</a> </li> <li><a href="https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/615b121a-3c4f-41b5-90f6-1b7e95ce7a9d">Saltbush Transects</a></li> <li><a href="https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/d3e676a3-bf84-439f-ae99-0ce631ec6d64">Senna Populations</a></li> <li><a href="https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/dfe1b721-19c1-4f88-91c3-23f438c6f531">Kangaroo Transects</a></li> <li><a href="https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/e6448738-d870-432d-9795-955c90f6ee6e">Rabbit Warren Monitoring</a> </li>