EDI Staging Environment
This ongoing data set contains counts of perennial forbs and subshrubs in 122 1m x 1m quadrats on the Jornada Experimental Range in the northern extent of the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, USA. These quadrats were established between 1915 and 1932 to investigate livestock grazing effects on plant community dynamics as well as responses to variable climatic conditions over time. Vegetation monitoring is carried out by charting the basal areas of perennial grasses and canopy areas of shrubs in addition to locations of perennial forbs and subshrubs (see data package knb-lter-jrn.210351001 for perennial forb subshrub density data). From 1915 to 1924 charting was done by dividing the quadrat frame into a decimeter grid using straps and reproducing locations of plants on grid paper. From 1925 to 2006 charting was done using a pantograph. With few exceptions, quadrats were charted until 1947, and a portion of the quadrats were charted intermittently between 1947 and 1979. Sampling resumed again in 1995 and continues every 5-6 years. Charts are digitally scanned, georeferenced, and chart features are digitally reproduced by hand. This data set is not yet complete; charts are actively being processed by Jornada Experimental Range staff and will be updated to this data package as they become available.
EDI is a collaboration between the University of New Mexico and the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Center for Limnology:
