ClimateWatch Descriptions
This list describes some of the different habitats and marine desciptions for you to use when making a recording. By entering one of these standard descriptions it will be useful for the scientists when they are reviewing the data.
A Closed Forest
A Closed Forest is a forest closed by dense tree canopies so that little light reaches the ground. The trees are between 30 to 40 mtrs tall. They are usually in high rainfall areas.
An Open Forest
An Open Forest has trees spaced further apart and does not have a thick canopy. The trees are 25 to 35 mtrs tall. The forest floor has shrubs and tree ferns in high rainfall areas. In a dry rainfall area the Open Forest floor has low shrubs and grasses. It will be easy to see reptiles, spiders and some mammals in this type of forest.
Woodlands
The trees are smaller to 20 mtrs and the density drops with less rainfall and the trees are spaced further apart. There are grasses and shrubs. There is medium vegetation in dryer areas and a dense vegetation in higher rainfall areas. It will be easier to see birds, retiles, spiders and mammals.
Urban and Peri-Urban
These are areas fringing the metro centres and cities. For example there are acreages, but it is not totally rural or urban.
Marine
With marine species they can be found in shallow water, deep water, open ocean, coastal waters, estuaries, along beaches, the mouth of a river that opens into the sea or washed up on the beach.
Other ClimateWatch habitats terms
There is rural and farms, on a nature reserve or national park, in your backyard, near a natural water source, near an artificial water source, near a rocky outcrop, on an open plain or near a road.
General
When you are out in the field:
- record the desciption of the location (see above)
- note the date and time of day. Also in summer make a note that it is daylight saving time
- note of the species
- general notes
- use an permanent ink pen or 2B pencil, not a felt tip pen as it runs and makes a mess of your field guide if it gets wet
- take your binoculars
- take your camera
- take a hat
- take water and first aid kit
- a mobile phone (if there is coverage) or CB/VHF radio or notify relatives or police of your trip
- a map of the area and a GPS
- observe fire ban days and weather warnings