These data were collected as part of the NSW Grazing Study. An assessment of the foliage cover of each stratum at each of the 451 sites. Each 2m along a linear transect (200m) cover of groundstorey vegetation (less than 50cm), shrubs/midstorey (50cm to 4m) and overstorey (greater than 4m) was estimated.

,This package contains perennial vegetation cover data measured using the line-intercept method 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. The vegetation line-intercept measurements in this data package were made in fall 1995 and fall 2005 to coincide with low-level aerial photography campaigns. Three 29-meter lines were measured along three out of six rows of permanent vegetation quadrats. Intercept locations for live, perennial plant cover and bare ground were measured along each line at 10cm resolution, which is comparable to the resolution of the aerial photos. Plants were identified to species level where possible. The resulting cover data can used to ground-truth cover estimates from aerial photography or for comparison to annual measures of vegetation from 1 x 1 meter permanent vegetation quadrats. This study is complete.,,

These data are the summary statistics calculated for components of the herbaceous layers, and shrubs and trees from the three 0.05-ha circular plot habitat samples each taken in 2005 at the 15 sample points at Spears and Didion Ranches, Placer County, California. These values are based on point intersections of live vegetation with a sighting tube at 25 points on eight 12.6 m transects through the 0.05-ha plot. Readings were taken in the center of each habitat sampling plot and at 4 m, 8 m, and 12 m on each of the eight transects within the plot. The transects are at 45 degree increments with one transect to the north. The herb layer is vegetation 0.5-2.0 m tall, while the tree layer vegetation is > 2.0 m tall.

These data are the summary statistics calculated for components of the herbaceous layers, and shrubs and trees from the three 0.05-ha circular plot habitat samples each taken in 2005 at the 15 sample points at Spears and Didion Ranches, Placer County, California. These values are based on point intersections of live vegetation with a sighting tube at 25 points on eight 12.6 m transects through the 0.05-ha plot. Readings were taken in the center of each habitat sampling plot and at 4 m, 8 m, and 12 m on each of the eight transects within the plot. The transects are at 45 degree increments with one transect to the north. The herb layer is vegetation 0.5-2.0 m tall, while the tree layer vegetation is > 2.0 m tall.

These data are the summary statistics calculated for components of the herbaceous layers, and shrubs and trees from the three 0.05-ha circular plot habitat samples each taken in 2005 at the 15 sample points at Spears and Didion Ranches, Placer County, California. These values are based on point intersections of live vegetation with a sighting tube at 25 points on eight 12.6 m transects through the 0.05-ha plot. Readings were taken in the center of each habitat sampling plot and at 4 m, 8 m, and 12 m on each of the eight transects within the plot. The transects are at 45 degree increments with one transect to the north. The herb layer is vegetation 0.5-2.0 m tall, while the tree layer vegetation is > 2.0 m tall.

These data are the summary statistics calculated for components of the herbaceous layers, and shrubs and trees from the three 0.05-ha circular plot habitat samples each taken in 2005 at the 15 sample points at Spears and Didion Ranches, Placer County, California. These values are based on point intersections of live vegetation with a sighting tube at 25 points on eight 12.6 m transects through the 0.05-ha plot. Readings were taken in the center of each habitat sampling plot and at 4 m, 8 m, and 12 m on each of the eight transects within the plot. The transects are at 45 degree increments with one transect to the north. The herb layer is vegetation 0.5-2.0 m tall, while the tree layer vegetation is > 2.0 m tall.

,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.,,

These data were collected as part of the NSW Grazing Study. An assessment of vegetation structure and recruitment conducted at each of the 451 sites using variable belt transects. To determine tree density all mature trees were enumerated within a 200m x 1-10m (variable width) belt transect. Mature trees were enumerated into four DBH classes (5-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-30cm, >30cm). Woody (tree and shrub) recruitment was enumerated within a 200m x 1-10m (variable width) belt transect into two classes (0.5m -1.3m and 1.3 - 3m).