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openCC (other)Oct 2022View details →

Fall 2021 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites

Grasshopper abundance and species diversity were investigated at eight sampling sites within the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (GCE) LTER study area in August 2021. Visual surveys were conducted along 8 2m by 10m transects randomly allocated within the mid-marsh zone at each site. All grasshoppers observed within each transect were counted and identified to species, if possible. This survey was conducted as part of the GCE invertebrate monitoring program, and will be performed annually to assess long-term changes in relative species abundances across the GCE study area.

openCC (other)Mar 2023View details →

Graduated rain gauge (GRG) precipitation observations from 21 sites at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 1989-ongoing

This dataset contains long-term precipitation measurements from graduated rain gauges (GRGs) at 21 sites in the Jornada Basin of southern New Mexico, USA. Gauges are located on the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) and the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC), and this set of gauges includes all 15 net primary production (NPP) study sites monitored by the Jornada Basin LTER program. At each site a 4 inch diameter cylindrical graduated rain gauge (11" x 0.01" capacity) is mounted on a 4x4 inch diameter redwood post or a wooden exclosure post next to gate at or near each site. For NPP sites, the primary collection is made on the day that monthly hydroprobe soil water content measurements are made. This enables correlation of precipitation with belowground soil water content. Additional data collections during the month may be made in coordination with other studies. Observations at each site come primarily from GRGs. However, at some sites in the NPP study, GRGs were not installed until later, and the nearest available rain gauge in the area has been used to gapfill the precipitation record prior to installation (details in methods section). Rain gauge identity and field measurement date is recorded with each observation in the data file. Other gauge types that may be listed are the Standard Can Gauge (DSRG or dipstick rain gauge), Belfort Weigh Bucket Rain Gauge (WBRG), and Qualimetrics Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge (TBRG). Data collection is ongoing for all 21 gauges in this dataset.

Lizard pitfall trap data from 11 NPP study locations at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 1989-2006

This data package contains data on lizards sampled by pitfall traps located at 11 consumer plots at Jornada Basin LTER site from 1989-2006. The objective of this study is to observe how shifts in vegetation resulting from desertification processes in the Chihuahaun desert have changed the spatial and temporal availability of resources for consumers. Desertification changes in the Jornada Basin include changes from grass to shrub dominated communities and major soil changes. If grassland systems respond to rainfall without significant lags, but shrub systems do not, then consumer species should reflect these differences. In addition, shifts from grassland to shrubland results in greater structural heterogeneity of the habitats. We hypothesized that consumer populations, diversity, and densities of some consumers will be higher in grasslands than in shrublands and will be related to the NPP of the sites. Lizards were captured in pitfall traps at the 11 LTER II/III consumer plots (a subset of NPP plots) quarterly for 2 weeks per quarter. Variables measured include species, sex, recapture status, snout-vent length, total length, weight, and whether tail is broken or whole. This study is complete.

Quadrat vegetation cover data on 1m x 1m plots from the long-term Small Mammal Exclusion Study (SMES) at Jornada Basin LTER, 1995-2020

This data package contains vegetation cover from plots with various levels of herbivore exclusion on the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) and Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC) in Dona Ana County, southern New Mexico, USA. Study sites were established in 1995; one in black grama grassland and the other in creosotebush shrubland to compare the impact of herbivores on ecosystem processes between these vegetation types. Parallel studies were established at the Sevilleta LTER site (New Mexico, USA) and Mapimi Biosphere Reserve (Durango, Mexico). Each study site is 1 km by 0.5 km in area. Four replicate experimental blocks were randomly located at the grassland study site to measure vegetation responses using exclusion treatments including a) all mammalian herbivores, including cattle, lagomorphs, and rodents, b) lagomorphs and cattle only, c) cattle only, and d) control accessible to all herbivores. Because grazing cattle are excluded from the entire creosote site, only three replicate experimental blocks were randomly located there including a) all mammalian herbivores, including lagomorphs, and rodents, b) lagomorphs only, and c) control accessible to all herbivores. Thirty-six sampling points were positioned at 5.8-meter intervals on a systematically located 6 by 6 point grid within each plot. A permanent one-meter by one-meter vegetation measurement quadrat is located at each of the 36 points. At each quadrat, percent cover by individual plant species is measured. Other measurements include height (cm) of each species in the quadrat, and plant condition (living or dead). Data were collected in the spring and fall of every year from 1995 to 2005. After 2005, sampling frequency changed to every 5 years in the fall. This study is ongoing.

Leaf litter cover data on 1m x 1m plots from the long-term Small Mammal Exclusion Study (SMES) at Jornada Basin LTER, 1995-2020

This data package contains leaf litter cover data from plots with various levels of herbivore exclusion on the Jornada Experimental Range. Study sites were established in 1995; one in black grama grassland and the other in creosotebush shrubland to compare the impact of herbivores on ecosystem processes between these vegetation types. Parallel studies were established at the Sevilleta LTER site (New Mexico, USA) and Mapimi Biosphere Reserve (Durango, Mexico). Each study site is 1 km by 0.5 km in area. Four replicate experimental blocks were randomly located at the grassland study site to measure vegetation responses using exclusion treatments including a) all mammalian herbivores, including cattle, lagomorphs, and rodents, b) lagomorphs and cattle only, c) cattle only, and d) control accessible to all herbivores. Because grazing cattle are excluded from the entire creosote site, only three replicate experimental blocks were randomly located there including a) all mammalian herbivores, including lagomorphs, and rodents, b) lagomorphs only, and c) control accessible to all herbivores. Thirty-six sampling points were positioned at 5.8-meter intervals on a systematically located 6 by 6 point grid within each plot. A permanent one-meter by one-meter vegetation measurement quadrat is located at each of the 36 points. Each year in spring and fall from 1995-2005, the total percent cover of leaf litter in each quadrat was estimated by summing the percent of each 10 cm square within a quadrat (including 100 10-cm squares) containing leaf litter (See methods for a detailed explanation). After 2005, sampling frequency changed to every 5 years. This study is ongoing.

Rabbit feces counts on 1m x 1m plots from the long-term Small Mammal Exclosure Study (SMES) at Jornada Basin LTER, 1995-2020

This data package contains rabbit feces count data from plots with various levels of herbivore exclusion on Jornada Experimental Range (JER) and Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC) lands. Study sites were established in 1995; one in black grama grassland and the other in creosotebush shrubland to compare the impact of herbivores on ecosystem processes between these vegetation types. Parallel studies were established at the Sevilleta LTER site (New Mexico, USA) and Mapimi Biosphere Reserve (Durango, Mexico). Each study site is 1 km by 0.5 km in area. Four replicate experimental blocks were randomly located at the grassland study site to measure vegetation responses using exclusion treatments including a) all mammalian herbivores, including cattle, lagomorphs, and rodents, b) lagomorphs and cattle only, c) cattle only, and d) control accessible to all herbivores. Because grazing cattle are excluded from the entire creosote site, only three replicate experimental blocks were randomly located there including a) all mammalian herbivores, including lagomorphs, and rodents, b) lagomorphs only, and c) control accessible to all herbivores. Thirty-six sampling points were positioned at 5.8-meter intervals on a systematically located 6 by 6 point grid within each plot. A permanent one-meter by one-meter vegetation measurement quadrat is located at each of the 36 points. Each year in spring and fall from 1995-2005, the total number of rabbit feces were counted within each quadrat. After 2005, sampling frequency channged to every 5 years and data collected record only presence or absence of feces. This study is ongoing.

Rabbit survey data on creosotebush and grassland routes from the long-term Small Mammal Exclusion Study at Jornada Basin LTER, 1996-ongoing

This data package contains rabbit survey data from grassland and creosote shrubland habitats on Jornada Experimental Range (JER) and Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC) lands. Two survey routes were established along Jornada Basin roads in 1996; one in black grama grassland and the other in creosotebush shrubland. Quarterly surveys are conducted on these roads at or near the full moon to measure the density of rabbits in the two vegetation types. Each route is about 6 miles long. Parallel studies were established at the Sevilleta LTER site (New Mexico, USA) and Mapimi Biosphere Reserve (Durango, Mexico). Data collection began in April 1996 and includes date and time lagomorphs are spotted, species identification, habitat type, distance/direction from vehicle, and comments on the weather, moon, and anything unusual. This study is ongoing with new data collected quarterly.

Soil disturbance cover data on 1m x 1m plots from the long-term Small Mammal Exclusion Study (SMES) at Jornada Basin LTER, 1995-2020

This data package contains soil disturbance data from plots with various levels of herbivore exclusion on the Jornada Experimental Range. Study sites were established in 1995; one in black grama grassland and the other in creosotebush shrubland to compare the impact of herbivores on ecosystem processes between these vegetation types. Parallel studies were established at the Sevilleta LTER site (New Mexico, USA) and Mapimi Biosphere Reserve (Durango, Mexico). Each study site is 1 km by 0.5 km in area. Four replicate experimental blocks were randomly located at the grassland study site to measure vegetation responses using exclusion treatments including a) all mammalian herbivores, including cattle, lagomorphs, and rodents, b) lagomorphs and cattle only, c) cattle only, and d) control accessible to all herbivores. Because grazing cattle are excluded from the entire creosote site, only three replicate experimental blocks were randomly located there including a) all mammalian herbivores, including lagomorphs, and rodents, b) lagomorphs only, and c) control accessible to all herbivores. Thirty-six sampling points were positioned at 5.8-meter intervals on a systematically located 6 by 6 point grid within each plot. A permanent one-meter by one-meter vegetation measurement quadrat is located at each of the 36 points. Each year in spring and fall from 1995-2005, various forms of disturbances (human, rabbit, cow, antelope, rodent, etc) were measured by depth . After 2005, sampling frequency changed to every 5 years. This study is ongoing.

openCC (other)Dec 2021View details →

The effects of changing vegetative composition on the abundance, species diversity and activity of birds at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 1997

This data package contains bird abundance data collected in plots that have had various plant functional groups or species experimentally removed at the Jornada Basin LTER site in southern New Mexico, USA. This data was collected in an effort to distinguish the differential effects of plant community biomass, plant community functional groups, and biodiversity within functional groups on plant community function, including effects on animals. To make these distinctions, treatments were established by the selective removal of plant species or functional groups within experimental plots. There are eight treatments: control (C, no removals); four functional group removal treatments (PG, perennial grass removed; S, shrubs removed; SSh, subshrubs removed; Succ, succulents removed), and three species richness manipulation treatments. Richness manipulations included a simplified treatment (Simp), where only the single most abundant species of each growth form is preserved and all other species in the growth form are removed, a reduced‐Larrea treatment (rL), where the Larrea is assumed to be the dominant and is removed while minority components remain, and a reduced-Prosopsis treatment (rP), where Prosopis rather than Larrea is removed as the shrub dominant. Following treatments, bird abundance and habitat preference data was collected in 1997. This data set consists of plot number, treatment type, and time of bird presence by taxa and by habitat and behavior. This study is complete.

Precipitation data from a standard can rain gauge at the LTER weather station, Jornada Basin, southern New Mexico, USA, 1992-ongoing

This data package contains precipitation measurements collected from a "dipstick" rain gauge (NOAA standard can type) at the LTER Weather Station in the Jornada Basin, southern New Mexico, USA. The primary purpose of this data set is to validate the LTER Weather Station tipping bucket rain gauge data. The dipstick rain gauge (DSRG) data is measured at least weekly during scheduled maintenance trips to the LTER Weather Station to maintain the evaporation pan water levels. During the summer months this may be twice a week. Additionally, DSRG data is collected after any rain event that requires the collection of the Wetfall/Dryfall precipitation buckets which are located about 10 meters from the DSRG. This is usually any amount greater than 0.02 inches. DSRG data is also collected after very small events when personnel are in the vicinity. Rain gauge records at this gauge began in 1992 and the study is ongoing.

Aeolian dust weights sampled by BSNE collectors before and after the windy season from the NEAT study at Jornada Basin LTER, 2008-ongoing

This data package contains weights of windblown dust collected by BSNE collectors at long-term vegetation-removal plots that are part of the Jornada Basin LTER Nutrient and Ecosystem impacts of Aeolian Transport (NEAT) study located at the Jornada Experimental Range. The dataset can be used to estimate horizontal dust flux in vegetation removal treatment plots (different percentage vegetation removed) and contiguous downwind plots. Year 2008 was the initial collection and collections in subsequent years occur before and after the windy season. The experiment was designed to test the effects of increases in wind erosion on soil and vegetation properties on the sand sheet geomorphic unit for different levels of herbaceous cover. In order to increase wind erosion rates, vegetation was removed each spring to increase bare surface area and stimulate erosion (the less vegetation present the greater the wind erosion). The experimental design includes three blocks located in one pasture, each with four treatment plots that are maintained at one of four levels of herbaceous vegetation and small shrubs removed (25, 50, 75, 100%) and a control. Treatment plots are 25x50m with 25m buffers between. The vegetation removal includes grasses and small shrubs (like Gutierrezia sarothrae and Zinnia grandiflora), but not mesquite or yucca or any of the larger shrubs. Also, contiguous downwind plots are monitored for soil and vegetation properties, but no removal treatments are performed in these areas. A control treatment where no vegetation was removed that was not downwind of any treatment is also included. This study is ongoing and is updated twice per year - before and after the spring windy season.

Aeolian dust weights sampled by BSNE collectors in 18 locations at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 1998-ongoing

This data package contains aeolian dust weights from BSNE collectors at 18 locations at the Jornada Basin LTER. Collections are obtained at the 15 NPP study locations, the Geomet location, Scrape study location (now known as GROWES study), and Pasture 13 Burn study location. The collectors are turned into the wind with wind vanes. The amount of material collected corresponds to the horizontal flux at the height of the collector and the opening area of the collector and the duration of the sampling time. The five heights of the BSNE collectors above the soil surface are 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 centimeters for every location where samples are taken. The vertical flux of the particles smaller than 10 micrometers is assumed to be a constant ratio of the horizontal sand flux. The objectives of the study are to find patterns of sand flux rates as related to soil and vegetation. Site info: The NPP sites were established to estimate patterns of aboveground primary production. The Geomet site is within a mesquite-dune area that has had long-term protection from cattle grazing. The scrape site (now known as the GROWES site) was originally designed to measure the abrasion of surface crust. The Pasture 13 Burn site is located in a pasture that was originally burned in 1998. Contact the data manager for additional information and site locations. This data collection is ongoing with new data added quarterly.

openCC (other)Mar 2023View details →

Aboveground vegetation cover and biomass in plots with experimentally altered precipitation variability at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 2009-ongoing

This dataset contains cover and biomass data collected starting in 2012 for a long-term precipitation variability manipulation experiment at the Jornada Basin LTER site in southern New Mexico, U.S.A. The study was designed to assess the effect of interannual variability in precipitation on average aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) in Chihuahuan Desert grasslands. The study began in 2009, has five annual precipitation treatments, and contains 50 plots (10 per treatment). This experiment uses precipitation shelters and irrigation treatments to manipulate water inputs to 2.5 x 2.5 meter plots in a desert grassland. There are high, low, and ambient (control) precipitation variability treatments. Ambient plots receive natural precipitation each year, while variability treatments alternate between 20% and 180% (high variability), or 50% and 150% (low variability) of ambient precipitation each year. Plant cover measurements are made annually in each plot, from which biomass or net primary production are derived. This is an ongoing study and the dataset will be updated yearly.

openCC (other)Mar 2023View details →

Soil water content measurements in plots with experimentally altered precipitation variability at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 2011-ongoing

This dataset contains soil moisture data from a study at the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) in southern New Mexico. The study was designed to assess the effect of interannual variability in precipitation on average aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) in Chihuahuan Desert grasslands. The study began in 2009 and has five precipitation treatments (see Methods). While the study began in 2009, contains 50 plots (10 per treatment) and is ongoing, these data have only been collected since July 2011 in a subset of 20 plots (4 per treatment). This dataset is intended to provide information about the amount of water in surface and deep soil layers, as well as verify that experimental precipitation manipulations are effective. This is an ongoing dataset that will be updated yearly.

Precipitation data from four locations within the Tromble Weir experimental watershed, located at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 2010-ongoing

This data package contains one-minute resolution precipitation data from tipping bucket rain gauges (Texas Electronics) at four locations in the Tromble Weir watershed area of the Jornada Basin in southern New Mexico, USA. These rain gauges are used to help quantify the water balance across the small experimental watershed. Values have been used to investigate groundwater recharge, soil infiltration rates, and as forcings for hydrologic models. This is an ongoing dataset that will be updated annually.

Soil volumetric water content data from fifteen locations, 3 depths at each location, within the Tromble Weir experimental watershed at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 2010-ongoing

This data package contains 30-minute soil volumetric water content (VWC) data collected at fifteen locations along 3 transects (5 locations per transect) in the Tromble Weir Watershed area of the Jornada Basin in southern New Mexico, USA. At each location, soil sensors measure VWC at three depths, 5, 15 and 30 cm, in units of cubic meters of water per cubic meter of soil. These measurements are used to help quantify the water balance across the small experimental watershed. Values have been used to investigate groundwater recharge, soil infiltration rates, and to evaluate the performance of hydrologic models. This is an ongoing dataset that will be updated annually.

Standard meteorology and ancillary data from the Tromble Weir experimental watershed tower at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 2010-ongoing

This data package contains 30-minute standard meteorology and ancillary data collected at an eddy covariance tower in the Tromble Weir Watershed area of the Jornada Basin in southern New Mexico, USA. These data are used to quantify the water and energy balances in a small experimental watershed, including observational studies to calculate groundwater recharge as a water balance residual, to build relations between soil moisture state and ET flux, and to quantify land-atmosphere interactions and improve our understanding of the eddy covariance method. Additionally, they have been used in modeling studies as a validation of model performance. This file presents the ancillary data collected at the eddy covariance tower, excluding the 20Hz flux measurements that are archived at AmeriFlux (site US-Jo2; http://ameriflux.lbl.gov/sites/siteinfo/US-Jo2). This includes soil moisture and temperature at 4 depths, air temperature and pressure, humidity and vapor pressure, ground heat flux, incoming and outgoing longwave and shortwave radiation, photosynthetically active radiation for a subset of the study period, and surface soil temperature. Instrument descriptions and detailed procedures are found in the references listed in the Methods section of this package. This is an ongoing dataset that will be updated annually.

openCC (other)Nov 2025View details →

Aboveground vegetation cover and biomass in plots with experimentally altered precipitation and nutrient inputs at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 2006-ongoing

This dataset contains cover and biomass data collected starting in 2006 for a long-term precipitation and nutrient manipulation experiment at the Jornada Basin LTER site in southern New Mexico, U.S.A. This experiment uses precipitation shelters and irrigation treatments to manipulate water inputs, and fertilization treatments to alter nitrogen input to 2.5 x 2.5 meter plots in a desert grassland. Plant cover measurements are made annually in each plot, from which biomass or net primary production are derived. This is an ongoing study and the dataset will be updated yearly.

openCC (other)Dec 2021View details →

Density and cover of winter annual plants in three harvester ant habitats at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 1987

This dataset contains plant cover and density data collected in three harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex rugosus) nesting habitats at the Jornada Basin LTER site in 1987. The purpose of this investigation was to answer three general questions: 1. How does the modification of soil properties and the ratios of resources (e.g., water-N) by ants alter species assemblages of winter annual plants at the edge of the ant nests? 2. How does the "spring cleaning", clipping, predation or herbivory by ants affect success of the winter annual plants at the edge of ant nests? 3. Are there significant differences in the floristic assemblage and belowground standing crop (root biomass) between the edge of ant nest and the surrounding unaffected soils? Variables included in the dataset include density and cover of all winter annual plants measured at regular intervals between January and May of 1987. Density is expressed as the number of individuals of a species per square meter. The cover of each species was calculated as the area covered by a perpendicular (not vertical) projection of its aerial parts onto the ground surface and expressed in covered area (cm squared) per square meter. This study was completed in 1987.