This plot details and spatial coordinates data package comprises plot data for the 24 plots (or grids) situated within the 12 core sites used in the Desert Ecology Plot Network study design. These plots are spaced between 0.5-2 km apart. The network program uses these sites/plots to quantitatively track long-term shifts in biodiversity and ecological processes in relation to key drivers, including unpredictable rainfall and droughts, fire, feral predators and grazing. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Desert Ecology's full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/desert-ecology

This Victorian Alpine Plot Network Vegetation Data Package comprises spatial data for vegetation surveys (composition and life-form) in the South-East Highlands, Australia. Twenty 1 metre squared quadrats are situated along each of four varying length permanent transects established on mountain summits. The Alpine Summit plots study, which commenced in 2001, forms part of the collection of data packages by the Victorian Alpine Plot Network. 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.

This data package contains spatial data and plot details for four sites situated on the Bogong High Plains that form the Australian Tundra Experiment (ATEX). Sites, which comprise multiple 1 square metre plots, are visited every second snow-free season. Responses in the growth and phenology of individual species and life forms, and changes to community composition and diversity are monitored according to internationally agreed-to protocols of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX). Data collected from the plots can then be used to generate predictions, which can be across elevation (and thus temperature) gradients, and assess above ground effects on carbon storage. This is part of a larger dataset that spans from during data collected in 2003 to document long-term effects of climate change (see methods for more information). 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.

The LTERN Tropical Rainforest Plot Network Plot Details Data Package contains spatial coordinates from 20, 0.5 ha (100 m x 50 m) permanent rainforest plots in Northern Queensland, Australia. This is part of a much larger dataset that spans from 1971 to 2013 that is managed by CSIRO. The CSIRO permanent rainforest plots are located within 60 km of the north Queensland coast between Mackay (21.5ºS, 149ºE) and the Iron Range on Cape York Peninsula (12.5ºS, 143ºE). Due to the wide geographical range of the plots, no species dominate, although the families Lauraceae, Rutaceae and Myrtaceae contribute a large number of species. The data collected from the 20 plots provides an insight into the floristical composition, structure and long term forest dynamics of Australian tropical rainforests and allows direct comparisons to be made with long-term monitoring plots at a global scale. (Bradford, M.G., Murphy, H.T., Ford, A.J., Hogan, D. and Metcalfe, D.J., 2014) Long term stem inventory data from tropical rainforest plots in Australia. Ecology 95:2362. http://www.rainforest-crc.jcu.edu.au/publications/permanent_plots1.pdf. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Tropical Rainforest Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/tropical-rainforest

The Victorian Alpine Plot Network Plot-data Package contains plot-data collected at eighty-nine sites situated in the Australian Alps. Randomly positioned transects are situated within sites rather than ‘plots’ sensu stricto. The number of transects within sites, and sampling frequency varies from annual to decadal, depending on site and purpose. This is part of a much larger dataset that spans from 1944, when plot were set up to document long-term changes in ecosystem composition and structure in relation to disturbance (see methods for more information). The Victorian Alpine Plot Network research plots are revisited on a 2-10 years basis. 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

This dataset contains spatial information for plots established in the Royal National Park. These permanent plots, arranged in eight 30 metre transects, were originally established in 1990. This spatial data complements data collected from soil moisture, soil properties and floristics surveys conducted at these sites. 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-health-swamps.

This data package contains location data for 140 sites in the Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network. As such, it supplements the other Jervis Bay Booderee National Park Plot Network data packages, by providing spatial coordinates for each of the site codes recorded in their data tables. The study location is a floristically diverse area in which fire history has been well-documented over several decades. The plot network’s objectives involve quantifying the inter-relationships between natural disturbance and/or management intervention (including weed and feral animal control and prescribed burning) and the reciprocal changes in vegetation condition and biodiversity response. A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Jervis Bay Plot Network’s full program is provided at http://www.ltern.org.au/index.php/ltern-plot-networks/jervis-bay-booderee-national-park.

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

This package contains spatial data relating to the insect flower surveys conducted from 2009 to 2012. Sites 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

The LTERN Desert Uplands Plot Network Plot Details - Spatial Coordinates contains location data for 60 permanent 1 hectare plots in Northern Queensland, Australia. All sites are located within extensive ironbark (Eucalyptus whitei and E. melanophloia) woodland in the Prairie-Torrens Creeks subregion in the northwest of the Desert Uplands bioregion. The sites extend across four leasehold cattle properties that lie within an area approximately 50 km by 50 km. The sites occur on alluvial sand and clay sheets, and flat sand and earth plains. The Desert Uplands research plots commenced in 2004, and have been revisited in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016. 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