Summary Information
Livestock Exclosure Study: Aboveground Standing Crop from a Chihuahuan Desert Grassland at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico (2005-2007)
Creator: Individual: Scott Collins Physical Address: Delivery Address: Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Locality: NM Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Email: scollins@sevilleta.unm.edu
Metadata Provider: Individual: Information Manager Sevilleta LTER Physical Address: Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Phone: (505) 277-2109 Phone: (505) 277.5355 Email: data-use@sevilleta.unm.edu
Associated Party: Individual: Terri Koontz Physical Address: Delivery Address: Department of Biology, Castetter 167, University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Locality: NM Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Email: tkoontz@sevilleta.unm.edu Role: data manager
Associated Party: Individual: Mike Friggens Physical Address: Delivery Address: Sevilleta LTER, UNM Biology Department, MSC03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Locality: NM Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Email: friggens@sevilleta.unm.edu Role: field crew
Publication Date:	2016-03-09
Language:	English
Abstract: Grazing in grasslands creates changes in plant community structure. The magnitude of these changes depends on the productivity and the intensity of grazing. Low productivity grasslands coupled with high grazing intensity may lead to shrub encroachment in some aridland ecosystems. We examined the effects of cattle grazing in arid grassland at the Sevilleta LTER site in central New Mexico USA where cattle were removed in 1973 and an area just north of the Sevilleta LTER where grazing by cattle still occurs. At each site we measured plant species composition and cover in permanent plots in the spring and fall from 2004 to 2007. Quadrats were clipped annually to quantify aboveground standing crop to answer the following questions: 1) Does cattle grazing affect plant species composition and standing crop? 2) Does grazing alter community response to inter-annual climate variability? and 3) How does grazing impact the abundance of native grasses?
Keywords: Keyword: disturbance Keyword: primary production Keyword Thesaurus: Core Areas
Keywords: Keyword: plant communities Keyword: productivity Keyword: standing crop Keyword: grazing Keyword: harvesting Keyword: grazing Keyword: grasslands Keyword: mammals Keyword Thesaurus: LTER Controlled Vocabulary
Additional Information: Coordinates of the Center of the trapping webs.  NAD83_LAT1     NAD83_LON1    PROJECT_AREA           PLOT_NUM  34.41072006    106.60885539  Weldon McKinley Ranch     X1  34.41612323    106.60873476  Weldon McKinley Ranch     G1  34.41058896    106.59906840  Weldon McKinley Ranch     G2  34.41597776    106.59894444  Weldon McKinley Ranch     X2  34.41051363    106.59251318  Weldon McKinley Ranch     G3  34.41587466    106.59238861  Weldon McKinley Ranch     X3  34.40613630    106.60895894  Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge S1 (Old plot)  34.40497234    106.60012129  Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge S2  34.40405039    106.59568944  Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge S3 In 2006, plot S1 was moved to a new location and given a different layout than other plots because the original S1 plot was being grazed by a small colony of prairie dogs.  The new S1 plot is in a grid format using the same stake numbers as the trapping web replicates.  This new plot was labeled S1a.  This new plot was labeled S1a.  Also, exclosure plots (X1-X3) on Weldon McKinley Ranch were not measured in 2006 or 2007.
Intellectual Rights: Data Policies This dataset is released to the public and may be freely downloaded. Please keep the designated contact person informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation or collaboration with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset must include proper acknowledgement of the Sevilleta LTER. A copy of any publications using these data must be supplied to the Sevilleta LTER Information Manager.
Distribution: Online: URL: http://sevdeims-d.lternet.edu/data/sev-184
Coverage: Geographic Goverage: Geographic Description: Cattle pastures are currently grazed, exclosures added in 1993. Plots are located on both sides of the dirt road in the cattle pasture. Bounding Coordinates: West Bounding Coordinates: -106.61 East Bounding Coordinates: -106.61 North Bounding Coordinates: 34.416 South Bounding Coordinates: 34.416 Bounding Altitude: Altitude Minimum: 1600 Altitude Maximum: 1600 Altitude Units: meter Geographic Goverage: Geographic Description: On the eastern side of McKenzie and Nunn Flats areas just west of the Los Pinos Mountains Bounding Coordinates: West Bounding Coordinates: -106.609 East Bounding Coordinates: -106.609 North Bounding Coordinates: 34.406 South Bounding Coordinates: 34.406 Bounding Altitude: Altitude Minimum: 1600 Altitude Maximum: 1600 Altitude Units: meter Temporal Coverage: Date Range: Begin Date: Calendar Date: 2004-05-04 End Date: Calendar Date: 2007-09-13
Maintenance Information: Description: Metadata created. 5 April 2009 tlkPlot S1 for 2006 and 2007 was renamed S1a. Metadata was updated 10 April 2009 tlk
Contact: Position Title: Information Manager Organization: LTER Network Office Physical Address: Delivery Address: UNM Biology Department, MSC03-2020 Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Locality: NM Postal Code: 87131-0001 Phone: USA Phone: 505 277-2535 Phone: 505 277-2541 Email: tech-support@lternet.edu URL: http://www.lternet.edu
Contact: Individual: Information Manager Sevilleta LTER Physical Address: Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Phone: (505) 277-2109 Phone: (505) 277.5355 Email: data-use@sevilleta.unm.edu
Publisher: Individual: Information Manager Sevilleta LTER Physical Address: Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Phone: (505) 277-2109 Phone: (505) 277.5355 Email: data-use@sevilleta.unm.edu
Publication Place:	Sevilleta LTER
Method Step: Description: Field/Lab methods:  Total standing crop was sampled each year in September or October during peak biomass. All aboveground vegetation in a 20 X 50-cm area was clipped, placed in  paper bags, dried at 60 degrees C for 48 hours and weighed. Clipping quadrats were located just off the  trapping web transects near odd numbered stakes (e.g., 11, 9, 7, 5) for a total of 48 samples of total aboveground standing crop (current year's live plus current year's dead plus previous year's dead). Experimental design:  There were three replicates of each treatment: currently grazed by cattle, grazing exclosures erected in 1993 to prevent cattle grazing, and ungrazed (since 1973) grassland on the Sevilleta NWR. Sampling design:  Each replicate plot was 300x300-m, containing a standard Sevilleta mammal trapping web (see small mammal metadata). Trapping webs contained 12 transects radiating from a central point at a uniform angle (Parmenter  et al. 2003 Ecol. Monogr.) where there were located 12 numbered stakes for a total of 144 sample points per  web. Stakes were numbered starting from a central point outward such that points along transect 1, for example, were numbered 1 through 12.
Data Table: Entity Name: sev184_grazingbiomass_04102009.txt Entity Description: Data SEV184 Object Name: sev184_grazingbiomass_04102009.txt Size: 29400 Data Format: Text Format: Number of Header Lines: 1 Attribute Orientation: column Simple Delimited: Field Delimiter: , Distribution: Online: URL: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-sev/184/85875/fcfd7991e9cd4cd4e9c82fa1a6831a5c Coverage: Temporal Coverage: Date Range: Begin Date: Calendar Date: 2004-01-01 End Date: Calendar Date: 2007-01-01 Attribute List: Attribute Name: plot Attribute Label: plot Attribute Definition: The treatment and replicate plot where data was collected. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Enumerated Domain: Code Definition: Code: X1-X3 Definition: Cattle exclosures on Weldon McKinley Ranch. Code Definition: Code: G1-G3 Definition: Grazed plots on weldon McKinley Ranch. Code Definition: Code: S1-S3, S1a Definition: Ungrazed plots on Sevilleta NWR; S1a replaced S1 in 2006. Attribute Name: stake# Attribute Label: stake# Attribute Definition: The number of the stake on a mammal trapping web at which sampling occurred. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Text Domain: Definition: The number of the stake on a mammal trapping web at which sampling occurred. Attribute Name: dryweight_(g/250cm2) Attribute Label: dryweight_(g/250cm2) Attribute Definition: The dry weight of annual biomass. Measurement Scale: Ratio: Unit: Custom Unit: grams Precision: 0.01 Numeric Domain: Number Type: real Attribute Name: year Attribute Label: year Attribute Definition: The year in which data was collected. Storage Type: date Measurement Scale: Datetime: Format String: YYYY Attribute Name: page# Attribute Label: page# Attribute Definition: The number of the page that data were recorded on, if applicable. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Enumerated Domain: Code Definition: Code: na Definition: not applicable