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The objective of this ongoing study is to investigate how pulses of precipitation translate into pulses of plant aboveground net primary productivity (NPP) across grassland to shrubland ecotones in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. This dataset consists of annual aboveground net primary productivity estimates in three habitat vegetation zones (grassland, ecotone, and shrubland) at three grassland-to-shrubland ecotone sites in the Jornada Basin, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, USA. The annual ANPP estimates are derived from plant cover measurements (see methods). Due to its growth form, Yucca elata (YUEL) has been found to produce large errors in interyear biomass estimates. This data package contains annual ANPP estimates both with and without YUEL, but the authors strongly recommend using the non-YUEL estimates for most purposes. Data collection is ongoing with new observations in spring and fall of each year; data from both annual sampling times are required to estimate annual ANPP.
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Spring and Fall plant cover across grassland-shrubland ecotones at 3 sites in the Jornada Basin, 2005-ongoing
The objective of this ongoing study is to investigate how pulses of precipitation translate into pulses of plant aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) across grassland to shrubland ecotones in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. This dataset consists of ocular plant cover and height measurements to be used for estimating aboveground net primary in three habitat vegetation zones (grassland, ecotone, and shrubland) at three grassland-to-shrubland ecotone sites in the Jornada Basin, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, USA. Sampling is conducted twice a year: in the spring before the growing season and in the fall after the growing season.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2025166
- PAR ID:
- 10557676
- Publisher / Repository:
- Environmental Data Initiative
- Date Published:
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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The objective of this ongoing study is to investigate how pulses of precipitation translate into pulses of plant aboveground net primary productivity (NPP) across grassland to shrubland ecotones in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. This dataset consists of annual aboveground net primary productivity estimates by plant functional groups in three habitat vegetation zones (grassland, ecotone, and shrubland) at three grassland-to-shrubland ecotone sites in the Jornada Basin, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, USA. The annual ANPP estimates are derived from plant cover measurements (see methods). Due to its growth form, Yucca elata (YUEL), in the leaf succulent functional group, has been found to produce large errors in interyear biomass estimates. This data package separates biomass estimates for YUEL and non-YUEL leaf succulents so that users can decide whether to combine them or keep them separate. In general, the authors recommend against using the YUEL estimates for most purposes. Data collection is ongoing with new observations in spring and fall of each year; data from both annual sampling times are required to estimate annual ANPP.more » « less
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