Date
2015
Abstract
This data set contains information regarding carnivore scat surveys that were performed at sites in grama grassland and both creosote and mesquite shrubland habitats at the Sevilleta NWR. A total of nine surveys were carried out along road-based transects, each of which is a mile long, during one season in 2008 (June-July) and three seasons in 2009: spring (April-May), summer (July-August), and fall (October-November). There were 10 transects in grassland areas and 10 in shrubland areas in 2008. All 20 transects, as well as two additional transects in grassland areas, were surveyed in 2009. For more information on the structure of the vegetation surrounding these road based transects, see the "Vegetation surveys in grassland and shrubland sites that are associated with coyote scat surveys at the Sevilleta NWR, 2008-2009" data set. Scat samples were identified in the field and collected for genetic and stable carbon isotope analysis. Field recorded variables include: scat freshness, maximum diameter, length, and GPS coordinates, as well as the field-based species identification for the sample. Information on the lab based species and individual identification results are also presented.This data was collected in order to obtain information on the size and feeding ecology of the coyote populations in grassland vs. shrubland habitats in three seasons (spring, summer and fall) and two years (2008 and 2009) at the Sevilleta NWR. A mark recapture analysis can be performed on the data from 2009 since two surveys were carried out for each scat transect in each of the three seasons and coyote scats were run through a genetic analysis to determine individual identity of the coyotes. A rough assessment of coyote habitat use can also be performed using the individual identity and coyote scat location information. Future isotope analysis will indicate whether the base of the food chain is C4 (grass) vs. C3 (shrubs) plants in grassland vs. shrubland habitats in each of the three seasons (spring (pre-monsoon), summer (monsoon) and fall (post monsoon)) and in each of two years (2008 and 2009).
Handle
http://hdl.handle.net/1928/29998
Other Identifier
SEV220
Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) Identifier
knb-lter-sev.220.365385
Document Type
Dataset
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. Datasets must be cited as in the example provided. A copy of any publications using these data must be supplied to the Sevilleta LTER Information Manager. By downloading any data you implicitly acknowledge the LTER Data Policy (http://www.lternet.edu/data/netpolicy.html).
Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/1750e458009a0be7ecd9fd6f82e3a1da
Temporal coverage
2008-06-24 - 2009-11-06
Spatial coverage
Location: There are 9 road based carnivore scat transects on McKenzie Flats. The first transect (A) begins 1.1 miles and the second transect (B) begins 3.1 miles from the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge entrance at Black Butte. Both of these transects are located along Five Points Rd, which forms the northwestern leg of the diamond of roads on McKenzie flats. The mileages for all other transects on McKenzie Flats were measured from the sign for Five Points (i.e. intersection of 5 roads) and are along the southern (McKensie South Rd.) and eastern (Test Well Rd and McKensie North Rd) legs of the McKenzie flats diamond. The mileages for the beginning points of the 7 other transects are as follows: transect C, 0.1 miles; transect E, 2.1 miles; transect F, 5.3 miles; transect G, 7.3 miles; transect H, 9.3 miles; transect I, 11.3 miles; transect J, 13.3 miles.Bounding Box:North Coordinate: 34.395South Coordinate: 34.286East Coordinate: -106.619West Coordinate: -106.704Landform: McKenzie Flats is a broad, nearly flat grassland plain between the Los Pinos Mountains and the east side of the Rio Grande. This plain encompasses the Deep Well and Blue Grama Core sites. Deep Well is located on the western side of McKenzie Flats while Blue Grama Core is on the eastern side, near the Los Pinos mountains. , Geology: Deep (20,000 ft) alluvial and eolian deposits. Caliche layer varies between 10 cm to 1 m in depth. , Soils: Berino Series, Turney Series and Sedillo-Clovis association. Berino Series: the soils in the Berino series are classified as fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Haplargids. These form well drained, moderately permeable soils formed in alluvial and eolian material. They are on bajadas, plains, and broad fan terraces. Turney Series: the soils in the Turney series are classified as fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Calciorthids. These deep, well-drained, moderately permeable soils formed in alluvial and eolian material. They are on bajadas and plains., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms). McKenzie Flats is considered a "run-on" plain for watersheds of the Los Pinos Mountains. No major arroyos are present in this area, although Palo Duro Canyon borders the southern part of the McKenzie Flats study area., Vegetation: Chihuahuan Desert Grassland, dominated by black and blue grama (Bouteloua eriopoda and Bouteloua gracilis). Plains-Mesa Grassland, dominated by blue and black grama (Bouteloua gracilis and Bouteloua eriopoda) and galleta grass (Hilaria jamesii). Desert Chihuahuan Desert Scrub, which is dominated by creosote (Larrea tridentata), at the southern end., Climate: There are meteorological stations located at the Deep Well and Blue Grama Core sites, which provide information on climate on McKenzie Flats. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set(SEV001), History: McKenzie Flats was one of the primary livestock grazing areas of what is now the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and was grazed by cattle from the late 1930's up until 1973. The ranch headquarters buildings and corrals were located on McKenzie Flats. This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta NWR in December, 1973., Location: There are 2 road based carnivore scat transects near Five Points. The beginning point for the first transect (D) is located 7.1 miles from the gate at Black Butte and is along Contreas rd, which leads west from the sign at Five Points. The second one (K) begins 2.0 miles south of the sign for Five Points (i.e. intersection of 5 roads) on Palo Duro Rd Bounding Box: North Coordinate: 34.337 South Coordinate: 34.289 East Coordinate: -106.72 West Coordinate: -106.735 Landform: Five Points is located on the southwestern edge of McKenzie Flats and is in the transition zone from grama grassland to creosote shrubland. Five Points is a little north of a valley, which has a large arroyo running through it., Geology: Very shallow and thick caliche layer., Soils: Turney Loam: the soils in the Turney series are classified as fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Calciorthids. These deep, well-drained, moderately permeable soils formed in alluvial and eolian material. They are on bajadas and plains. The Turney loam grades into a Nickel-Caliza type of soil in the desert scrubland. The Nickel-Caliza is characterized as a very gravely, sandy loam., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms). No major arroyos are present in this area, although Palo Duro Canyon borders the southern part of the Five Points study area. , Vegetation: Transition from Desert Grassland to Chihuahuan Desert Scrub, which is dominated by creosote (Larrea tridentata)., Climate: There is a meteorological station at Five Points. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set (SEV001), History: This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in December, 1973. It was grazed by cattle until 1973. , Location: There are 2 road based carnivore scat transects near Bronco Well. The first transect (U) begins 2.0 miles from the end of the pavement on ATT road. The second transect (V) begins 2.5 miles from the end of the pavement on Jack Well road. These transects were only surveyed in 2009. Bounding Box: North Coordinate: 34.409 South Coordinate: 34.368 East Coordinate: -106.896 West Coordinate: -106.912 Soils: Turney Loam: the soils in the Turney series are classified as fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Calciorthids. These deep, well-drained, moderately permeable soils formed in alluvial and eolian material. They are on bajadas and plains., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms)., Vegetation: The vegetation is generally classified as Colorado Plateau Grassland. The area is dominated by Burro Grass (Scleropogon brevifolius) and four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens). , Climate: There is a meteorological station at Bronco Well. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set., History: This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in December, 1973.Furthermore, the area includes an old and still functioning windmill and was badly disturbed during the ranching days. Thus far, recovery from pre-refuge land use practices is limited., Location: There are 3 road based carnivore scat transects near Rio Salado. The mileages for the starting points for these three transects were measured from the beginning of Esquival road and are as follows: transect R, 0 miles; transect S, 2.0 miles; transect T, 4.0 miles. Transect R is located on Esquival Rd.; transects S and T are located on Powerline Rd. North Coordinate: 34.294 South Coordinate: 34.246 East Coordinate: -106.899 West Coordinate: -106.927Landform: Rio Salado study area is just south of the relatively large and sandy Rio Salado floodplain., Soils: Bluepoint loamy fine sand in the Plains-Mesa Sand Scrub area and Nickel-Caliza with very gravely, sandy loams in the areas dominated by Chihuahuan Desert Scrub., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms). Furthermore, the Rio Salado study area is south of the Rio Salado, which is an ephemeral tributary of the Rio Grande and has surface water flow during the monsoon season., Vegetation: Plains-Mesa Sand Scrub, dominated by honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), and Chihuahuan Desert Scrub, which has both honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and creosote (Larrea tridentata) shrubs in this area., Climate: There is a meteorological station at Rio Salado. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set (SEV001), History: This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in December, 1973. It was grazed by cattle until 1973. , Location: There are 6 road based carnivore scat transects near South Gate. The mileages for all of these transects were measured from the sign and intersection of 5 roads at Five Points and are as follows: transect L, 4.0 miles; transect M, 6.0 miles; transect N, 8.0 miles; transect O, 10.0 miles; transect P, 13.2 miles; transect Q, 15.2 miles. These transects are located south of Five Points and McKenzie Flats along the following roads: Palo Duro, Gibbs, South, Beacon Forks.North Coordinate: 34.279 South Coordinate: 34.218 East Coordinate: -106.731 West Coordinate: -106.797Landform: South Gate is at the very southern edge of the National Wildlife Refuge and is very flat with hills surrounding the area in all directions except to the northeast., Geology: Fine soil and no discernible caliche layer., Soils: Bucklebar sandy clay loam., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms). In addition, there is a major arroyo located south of South Gate study area., Vegetation: Vegetation is sparse and heavily impacted by cattle grazing with Burro grass (Scleropogon brevifolius) as the dominant grass., Climate: There is a meteorological station at South Gate. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set (SEV001), History: This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in December, 1973. The area was grazed by cattle until 1973.
DOI
doi:10.6073/pasta/1750e458009a0be7ecd9fd6f82e3a1da
Permanent URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/1750e458009a0be7ecd9fd6f82e3a1da
Recommended Citation
Seamster, Virginia (2015): Coyote Scat Surveys in Chihuahuan Desert Grassland and Shrubland Sites, Spring, Summer and Fall at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico (2008-2009). Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/1750e458009a0be7ecd9fd6f82e3a1da
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Comments
This dataset was originally published on the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Data Portal, https://portal.lternet.edu, and potentially via other repositories or portals as described. The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) of the source data package is doi:10.6073/pasta/1750e458009a0be7ecd9fd6f82e3a1da, and may be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/1750e458009a0be7ecd9fd6f82e3a1da. Metadata and files included in this record mirror as closely as possible the source data and documentation, with the provenance metadata and quality report generated by the LTER portal reproduced here as '*-provenance.xml' and *-report.html' files, respectively.