Managing Grasslands

Welcome to the Managing Grassland Ecosystems learning object

Your aim is to return a virtual grassland site, which has become degraded, yet still contains some indigenous grassland plants and animals, to a high quality virtual grassland. The grassland needs to be suitable for a range of grassland species to survive and needs to be able to support the successful reintroduction of species, which are now locally extinct, e.g. the Eastern Barred Bandicoot.

Other native animals, which are EPBC listed, may also be present on the site. These include the Golden Sun Moth (Critically Endangered), Southern Brown Bandicoot (Endangered) and the Grassland Earless Dragon (Endangered).

EPBC listed plant species that also occur on the site include the Spiny Rice-flower (Critically Endangered) and Clover Glycine (Vulnerable).

Each of these plant and animals species are described in the Biodiversity of the Western Volcanic Plains Flora and Fauna Field Guide.

There are three tasks to complete in this learning object in order to manage your grassland site:

  1.  Survey and collect baseline data to find out more about the animals and plants currently occurring on the site.
  2. Consider the most appropriate order of completion of management strategies in order to achieve your aim.
  3. Work through each of the management strategies by selecting the best options for each. When you select and confirm a management option, the virtual grassland will visually reflect the changes made.

A report on your progress will be available following the completion of tasks 1 and 3. You will have the opportunity to reconsider your choices at these points if you wish to change any of your selections.

Your final report will assess how successful your management strategies have been to achieve your aim and will also take into account your initial choice of survey to collect baseline data.

Note:

In real time, the time period allowed for this restoration project would be between 5 and 10 years.

Budget constraints are not considered within this learning object.

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Instructions

  1. Survey your site to collect baseline data i.e. information relating to the plant and animal species which currently occur in the grassland. Distinguish between each of the survey types and then select the type of survey you would like to conduct.
  2. Complete details relating to your selected survey by choosing the appropriate surveyor, time of day in which to complete the survey, survey technique, season and quadrat size (where applicable).
  3. Click NEXT to receive feedback on your choice of survey options.
  4. You may now either CONTINUE to the next task or RECONSIDER.
  5. If you reconsider, you may select a new survey type if you wish, or further improve your options for collecting baseline data for your original survey selection.
  6. Once you are satisfied with your survey type click CONTINUE to arrange the order of your management strategies and then ANALYSE ORDER.
  7. Once your order is correct you will be able to select the most appropriate options for each of the management strategies you have selected.
  8. For each of the management strategies, read the notes on the options available and then select the best options for managing your grassland. Observe the changes in your virtual grassland as each strategy is implemented.
  9. Once you have selected options for each management strategy, a management report for your grassland will be generated. Click RECEIVE MANAGEMENT REPORT to obtain your report.
  10. Read the report carefully and then click either RECONSIDER OR FINISH. If you reconsider, you will be able to reselect your options to further improve the management of your grassland.
  11. If you wish to begin the whole process again at any stage, click RESET GRASSLANDS.