Flora and Fauna Databases - Tutorials


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Find out how to answer specific flora and fauna questions These are step-by-step examples of some of the tasks that the FIS and VFD are designed to perform. Each tutorial has Web and Desktop example.

Web

Desktop

Tutorial 1 [PDF 1.8 Mb]

Investigate Eremophila longifolia.

Find the plant in the FIS.
Export a composite photograph, map and written description of the species, in PDF format.
Plot the distribution of the species on a map of Victoria.
Export the map, in PDF format, so that it can be incorporated into a report.

The products of this task should be:

A PDF file, with a written description, distribution map and photograph of Eremophila longifolia.
A map, in PDF format, of Victoria with the distribution of Eremophila longifolia superimposed.

Tutorial 1 [PDF 2.2 Mb]

Investigate Eremophila longifolia.

Find the plant in the FIS.
Print a copy of a photograph, map and written description of the species.
Plot the distribution of the species on a map of Victoria.
Export the map, in Windows Metafile format, so that it can be incorporated into a report.

The products of this task should be:

A printed page, with a written description, distribution map and photograph of Eremophila longifolia.
A map, in Windows Metafile format, of Victoria with the distribution of Eremophila longifolia superimposed.

Tutorial 2 [PDF 1.9 Mb]

Use the VFD to find the rare or threatened animals of the Ouyen area.

Locate Ouyen on a map of Victoria.
Draw a circle of 10 km radius centred on Ouyen.
Search the VFD database for all records within that area.
Save a map of this search in a PDF file.
Create a list of all species within the search area.
Generate a subset of that list containing only species categorised as rare or threatened.
Export the list as a PDF file that can be loaded into a word processor.

The products of this task should be:

A PDF file containing a list of rare and threatened animals found within 10 km of Ouyen.
A map, in PDF format, of part of Victoria with all sites from the search area superimposed.

Tutorial 2 [PDF 2.5 Mb]

Use the VFD to find the rare or threatened animals of the Ouyen area.

Locate Ouyen on a map of Victoria.
Draw a circle of 10 km radius centred on Ouyen.
Search the VFD database for all records within that area.
Save a map of this search in Windows Metafile format.
Create a list of all species within the search area.
Generate a subset of that list containing only species categorised as rare or threatened.
Export the list as Rich Text file (RTF) that can be loaded into a word processor.

The products of this task should be:

A Rich Text file containing a list of rare and threatened animals found within 10 km of Ouyen.
A map, in Windows Metafile format, of part of Victoria with all sites from the search area superimposed.

Tutorial 3 [PDF 2.4 Mb]

Use the FIS to find winter-flowering shrubs in the Big Desert area.

Locate the Big Desert on a map of Victoria.
Draw an outline around the Big Desert and surrounds.
Search the FIS database for all records within that area.
Create a list of all species within the search area.
Generate a subset of that list containing only species categorised as shrubs which flower in the winter.
Export the list as a PDF file.

The products of this task should be:

A PDF file containing a list of winter-flowering shrubs found in or near the Big Desert.

Tutorial 3 [PDF 2.7 Mb]

Use the FIS to find winter-flowering shrubs in the Big Desert area.

Locate the Big Desert on a map of Victoria.
Draw an outline around the Big Desert and surrounds.
Search the FIS database for all records within that area.
Create a list of all species within the search area.
Generate a subset of that list containing only species categorised as shrubs which flower in the winter.
Export the list as Rich Text file (RTF) that can be loaded into a word processor.

The products of this task should be:

A Rich Text file containing a list of winter-flowering shrubs found in or near the Big Desert.

Tutorial 4 [PDF 2.6 Mb]

Use the FIS to identify a climber in a rainforest area of East Gippsland.

You are in East Gippsland and see a vigorous rainforest climber with dark, grape-like fruit. Your GPS reading is zone 55, easting 640159, northing 5854691.
Use the GPS reading to find the locality on a map.
Draw a circle of 3 km radius around this locality.
Search the FIS database for all records within that area.
Create a list of all species within the search area.
Generate a subset of that list containing only species categorised as climbers with fleshy fruits.
Browse the list along with the accompany photographs and descriptions to determine which offers the best match.

The products of this task should be:

The identity of the climber as well as a written description, a photograph and a map showing its distribution in Victoria.

Tutorial 4 [PDF 3.1 Mb]

Use the FIS to identify a climber in a rainforest area of East Gippsland.

You are in East Gippsland and see a vigorous rainforest climber with dark, grape-like fruit. Your GPS reading is zone 55, easting 640159, northing 5854691.
Use the GPS reading to find the locality on a map.
Draw a circle of 3 km radius around this locality.
Search the FIS database for all records within that area.
Create a list of all species within the search area.
Generate a subset of that list containing only species categorised as climbers with fleshy fruits.
Browse the list along with the accompany photographs and descriptions to determine which offers the best match.

The products of this task should be:

The identity of the climber as well as a written description, a photograph and a map showing its distribution in Victoria.

Tutorial 5 [PDF 0.9 Mb]

Enter data for local species list.

You may use data which has been created on a recording sheet and enter that data into the FIS via species codes or you may enter the species names directly. The former is significantly more rapid if you have large amounts of data.

Tutorial 5 [PDF 1.7 Mb]

Enter data for local species list.

You may use data which has been created on a recording sheet (see Tutorial 12) and enter that data into the FIS or you may enter the species names directly. The former is significantly more rapid if you have large amounts of data.