Data Examining the Effects of Disturbance Type and Timing, Winter Snow Manipulations, and Plant Functional Traits on Plant Communities Within Restored Temperate Grasslands in Wisconsin from 2017–2023

This dataset includes data from a study examining the effects of managed disturbance regimes, winter snow depth manipulations, and plant functional traits on plant communities within restored temperates over a seven-year period. The “Treatments.csv” file details the experimental design, which involved eight blocks, each containing four plots. Each plot was subjected to one of four disturbance treatments, while nested subplots within each plot received one of three snow treatments. Disturbance treatments aimed to manage litter through mowing and burning, and snow manipulations were applied to assess the impact of varying winter climate conditions. The “Temperatures.csv” file provides temperature data recorded just below the soil surface in a subset of subplots, with readings taken every 2 hours each winter. This dataset allows for detailed analysis of soil temperature fluctuations under different disturbance and snow treatments. The “Community.csv” file contains annual plant community survey data collected each growing season. Data were gathered by estimating percent cover and measuring the height of plant species within the central area of each subplot. The “Traits.csv” file provides averaged functional trait data for each plant species identified in the community surveys. This includes the categorical traits plant habit and origin, as well as the continuous traits plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, foliar nitrogen content, leaf tissue cold tolerance, and dispersule mass.