![]() Long-term monitoring of the region seeks to understand patterns of biodiversity and to detect shifts in phenology of the invertebrates of the Wet Tropics rainforest. This is significant as the IPCC fourth assessment report and regional climate models suggest that we will see between 1.0-4.2 degrees Celsius of warming by the year 2070: potentially causing a catastrophic impact on the world heritage values of the region. Almost half of the unique rainforest fauna could be lost with an increase in temperature of 3-4 degrees Celsius. While world heritage listing of the area has prevented ongoing impacts from land clearing, our research suggests that the fauna of the region is highly vulnerable to global climate change. The Wet Tropics rainforest of North Queensland has the highest biodiversity of any region in Australia. Such surveys were conducted on monthly to bi-monthly basis across the Spec, Atherton, Windsor, Carbine and Bellenden Ker Uplands during these years. Rainforest invertebrates have been monitored at permanent monitoring sites across the Australian Wet Tropics rainforest between 2006-2009. Many scientists even add formalin to other trap types so as to avoid vertebrate interference. Vertebrates are also repelled by formalin so there is no risk of them interfering with the trap. This will allow dung beetles to be trapped and at the same time exclude all mammals and the majority of reptiles from accidentally falling in the trap. A metal 'cage' (bathroom soap holder) will be placed around each pitfall trap and pinned to the ground. Traps will be placed on slightly higher ground or on a natural or artificial mound so as to prevent surface runoff from entering the trap thus avoiding overspilling of the preservative. A cover will prevent rainfall from entering the trap thus preventing overspilling of the preservative. A minimal amount of preservative (150 ml per trap) was used. A metal plate covered the cage acting as rain guard. A metal 'cage' (bathroom soap holder) was placed around each pitfall trap and pinned to the ground. 150 ml of Formalin (4% phosphate buffered formaldehyde) was used as a killing agent and preservative in each trap. Dung was wrapped in 'chux' table wipes and hung on top of the trap using wooden barbeque skewers. Pitfall traps consisted of two round plastic take away containers (11 cm diameter) placed inside each other. Insect pitfall traps (2006-2010): Six pitfall traps at 200 m intervals were placed along a 1 km transect at each altitude, (sites are consistent with previous research by Williams et al). ![]() Traps were cleared monthly from 2006 to 2009. Propylene glycol was used as a preservative in the collecting chamber. Fast-flying insects, such as flies and wasps, hit the central panel and fly upwards towards a sloping roof that directs them towards a collecting chamber at the high end of the trap. Malaise traps: An open-sided tent with a central vertical panel that reaches down to the ground was erected. Flight intercept traps: A vertical screen of transparent plastic was stretched between two stakes, and a trough containing preservative fluid (propylene glycol) was arranged below its bottom edge. Insects were sampled using a combination of Malaise traps, pitfall traps, and flight intercept traps (FIT) at this permanent site. Ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id= monitoring in the Australian Wet Tropics rainforest at AU4A2 (145.76640954, -17.60929842, 400.0m above MSL) collected by Malaise, FIT and Pitfall sampling&rft.identifier= Cook University&rft.description=Insects were sampled using a combination of Malaise traps, pitfall traps, and flight intercept traps (FIT) at permanent monitoring sites across the Australian Wet Tropics.&rft.creator=Williams, S &rft.date=2013&rft.coverage=145.08,-17.70 145.52,-17.70 145.52,-16.28 145.08,-16.28 145.08,-17.70&rft_rights=&rft_rights=CC BY-NC: Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 AU Wet Tropics&rft_subject=Invertebrates&rft_subject=Species distribution&rft_subject=Terrestrial Ecology&rft_subject=BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES&rft_subject=ECOLOGY&rft_subject=Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales&rft_subject=ENVIRONMENT&rft_subject=FLORA, FAUNA AND BIODIVERSITY&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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