Detecting biodiversity changes along climatic gradients: the IBISCA-Queensland Project

The IBISCA-Queensland project established 20 permanent plots over an altitudinal range of 300 m to 1100 m above sea-level (d.s.l.) in rainforest within Lamington National Park, south-east Queensland. Four replicate plots were established at each 200 m interval, representing an average temperature change between altitudes of about 1.5 degree C - a full range of approximately 7.5 degree C. The project aimed to identify which animal and plant groups are likely to be most sensitive to climate change and which ones can best be used as indicators for monitoring such change. Full vegetation analyses were carried out at each plot and basic climatic and soil data collected. Over an 18 month period insect collections, using a wide-range of trapping methods, were made and specific projects carried out by more than 55 scientists from 14 countries. This paper summarises the history and goals of the project and the general 'IBISCA' model within which it was conceived. Site locations are presented, as is an outline of the specific trapping programme and more specific projects carried out within the broader objectives of IBISCA-Queensland. The strengths and weaknesses of the IBISCA approach are discussed. The first comparative syntheses are anticipated and a broader context for future work is defined.