Journal article
The golf ball method for rapid assessment of grassland structure
N Schultz, M Keatley, M Antos, N Wong, C Moxham, B Farmilo, JW Morgan
Ecological Management and Restoration | WILEY | Published : 2017
DOI: 10.1111/emr.12254
Abstract
A key task for native grassland managers is to assess when biomass reduction is necessary to maintain plant and animal diversity. This requires managers to monitor grassland structure. Parks Victoria and La Trobe University developed a method for rapid assessment of grassland structure using golf balls. Baker-Gabb et al. (Ecological Management & Restoration, 17, 2016, p235) provide an example of where the method has been used to manage grassland structure to favour an endangered bird, the Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus). In this study, we provide further critical analysis of the method using three data sets collected across different parts of Victoria that relate golf ball scores to v..
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Funding Acknowledgements
Numerous agencies have provided support and funding for the development of the golf ball method: Parks Victoria, North Central Catchment Management Authority, the Australian Government, Trust for Nature, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), and the Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Programme via the Sustainable Environment, Threatened Species and Communities (SETSC) VVP Grassland Monitoring program.