Fauna Ground Counts Module. In 'Ecological Field Monitoring Protocols Manual using the Ecological Monitoring System Australia'

This module is one of many that form the Ecological Field Monitoring Protocols Manual using the Ecological Monitoring System Australia (EMSA), available at https://emsa.tern.org.au/documents. The Fauna Ground Counts Module covers the procedures and guidelines for recording direct counts of fauna, including the survey methods, survey effort, and observations made. The module enables users to employ standard methods whilst allowing the flexibility to tailor survey configurations to the project area and target species. The module is appropriate for monitoring all fauna species, but is particularly useful for monitoring pest fauna species.

The Fauna Ground Counts Module includes two protocols:

• Transects protocol – to record survey details and any observations of fauna along a survey transect. The transect need not be a straight line but can occur along existing walking or vehicle tracks and can be surveyed on foot or from a vehicle. The surveys can be conducted either during the day or at night. The recommended approach for the transects protocol is distance sampling, recording the distance to the observed animal from the transect. Strip transects, are an alternative approach, but require transects to be established in a set configuration and therefore are suited best for walking only, not driving vehicles.
• Vantage point protocol – to record survey details and any observations of fauna from a vantage point, either during the day or at night. Distance sampling is again the recommended approach, however fixed area surveys are an alternative method.