Arthropod assemblages in invasive and native vegetation in Great Salt Lake wetlands dataset

This data was collected as part of a multiyear study examining how arthropod assemblages differ between native and invasive vegetation in Great Salt Lake wetlands in Utah, U.S.A. Great Salt Lake wetlands provide continentally significant habitat for shorebirds, songbirds, and waterfowl. Invasive species, such as the grass species <i>Phragmites australis </i>(common reed)<i>, </i> have the potential to disrupt trophic interactions within these wetlands by altering the arthropod assemblages on which bird populations rely. However, there are few quantitative data that describe differences in arthropod assemblages between invasive and native wetland plants. <br>In our study, we examined the arthropod assemblages found within three native wetland habitats as well as in <i>Phragmites </i>stands. We used two different arthropod trap types, emergence and windowpane traps, to collect arthropods from each habitat. From these collections, we identified each individual based on their family (genus when possible) and counted, dried, and weighed the specimens. This dataset describes the total weight of dried arthropod biomass from each trap sample and individual counts for all arthropod families identified in each sample. In addition, we measured vegetation biomass, litter depth, and water depth within each habitat type. These specific site conditions for each habitat type are described in this dataset as well. <br>Identifying how arthropods interact with both <i>Phragmites australis </i>and native vegetation is critical to recognizing how to manage wetlands for migratory and resident bird habitat. By gaining a better understanding of these relationships, arthropod biomass, abundance, diversity, and assemblage composition may serve as potential assessment metrics for determining management success in wetlands.

本数据集采集自一项为期多年的研究，该研究旨在探究美国犹他州大盐湖湿地内，本土与入侵植物群落间节肢动物类群（arthropod assemblages）的组成差异。大盐湖湿地为鸻鹬类、鸣禽与水禽提供了具有大陆尺度重要性的栖息生境。入侵物种如禾本科植物芦苇（*Phragmites australis*，普通芦苇），可通过改变鸟类种群赖以生存的节肢动物类群，破坏该湿地内的营养级互动关系。然而目前鲜有定量数据能够阐明湿地入侵植物与本土植物间节肢动物类群的组成差异。
本研究针对三处本土湿地生境以及芦苇群落中的节肢动物类群展开了调查。研究采用两种节肢动物诱捕器——羽化陷阱（emergence trap）与窗式诱捕器（windowpane trap）——从各生境中采集节肢动物样本。采集完成后，研究人员依据类群科阶元对每头样本进行分类鉴定，条件允许时可鉴定至属；同时对标本进行计数、烘干与称重操作。本数据集记录了各诱捕器样本的节肢动物烘干生物量总重，以及各样本中鉴定出的所有节肢动物类群的个体数量。此外，本研究还测定了各类生境的植被生物量、枯落物厚度与水深，各类生境的具体立地条件也一并收录于本数据集之中。
明确节肢动物与芦苇及本土植被间的互作关系，对于制定适配迁徙鸟类与留鸟栖息需求的湿地管理策略至关重要。通过深化对上述互作关系的认知，节肢动物的生物量、丰度、多样性以及类群组成，可作为评估湿地管理成效的潜在量化指标。