BugWise

Fieldworker identifying and tallying all burrows found within a round frame. Photo: J Gollan © Australian Museum.

Monitoring the number of burrows in the soil can be a way to detect changes in soil health. Recording features of these burrows can also provide information about the diversity of burrowing invertebrates that live in the soil.

What you will need

• Tape measure.
• A square or round frame 1 m across.
• Burrow identification guide (under construction. Please contact us if you want to learn more).
• Pencils and data sheets for recording.

Method

• Describe your site.
• Randomly place your frame on the ground within in your site. If there is an obstruction, move to a more suitable spot, as close as possible.
• Within the frame carefully record the number of burrows that you see. Use the burrow diversity key to identify the burrow types. Ensure that you do not count the same burrow more than once.
• Burrows can also have webbing material interlaced among their ornaments (soil, leaf litter and pebbles). Carefully check this by gently moving the material that surrounds the burrows with the end of your pen. If there is webbing the ornaments will not move easily or a large section will move, indicating that there is webbing holding them together. With practice you will soon be able to tell without having to use the pen.

Tips

• Be careful not to destroy the ornaments or collapse the burrows.
• This method is only suitable for use in open habitat with little ground cover. For example, open woodlands and semi-arid environments.