Hierarchical herbivore exclosure vegetation canopy cover at 3 sites across grassland-shrubland ecotones, 2022

The goal of this dataset is to examine long-term effects of multiple herbivore groups on canopy cover of plants across a shrub encroachment gradient (i.e., Ecotone Study) using herbivore exclusion treatments. Plots (2x2-m) were controls (open to all herbivores), large herbivore exclusion (lagomorph, rodent access), or full exclusion (no herbivore access). Plots were established in 2001 across grassland-shrubland ecotones in patches of black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda with >75% cover). Biomass of B. eriopoda was physically removed from the center 40x40-cm2 patch of each treatment to simulate disturbance. We sampled the controls and herbivore exclosure plots in summer 2022 to evaluate the long-term influence of herbivore exclusion on B. eriopoda recovery and overall canopy cover.