Small mammal mark-recapture data 2018-2023 (3 sites near Utqiagvik, Alaska)

We conducted mark-recapture surveys of small mammals in polygonal tundra at three sites near Utqiagvik Alaska (AK) (71.2906 North (N), 156.7885 West (W), 3 meters (m) above sea level).
In 2018, we established a mark-recapture grid at each of three sites (greater than; 500 meter (m) apart) in low polygonal tundra within the Barrow Environmental Observatory (Cake Eater (CE), NOAA (NO), and Shed (SH)). Each grid consisted of 120 trap stations set in a 15 x 8 arrangement with 10 m spacing, and encompassed an area of 1.2 hectares (ha). Mark-recapture surveys were conducted twice during the summer season in late June or early July (shortly after snowmelt) and in late August in 2018 - 2023. In each session, grids were surveyed for four consecutive days with traps checked every eight hours. Due to COVID-19 access and quarantine policies sites were only trapped once (in early August for 3 days) in 2020. In addition, in 2019 one site (NO) was monitored for only 3 consecutive days in both June and August. A single Sherman live trap was set to sign within three meters of each station, baited with a mixture of peanut butter and bird seed, and insulated with nestlets. Waterproof tar paper was pinned over each trap. Captured individuals were identified to species, weighed, sexed, aged, and marked with a PIT tag (9 millimeter (mm), Passive Integrated Transponder, Biomark, Inc, Boise, Idaho) to track recaptures. Upon the first capture of an individual in a survey period, a small hair sample was taken from the rump and a small sample of ear tissue was taken. Fecal samples were collected from the trap. Traps which had captured individuals were removed and replaced with clean traps.
This dataset is part of a collaborative project examining herbivore effects on vegetation and nutrient cycling. At each site, one mark-recapture grid was paired with a fenced exclosure (8 m x 8 m) and unfenced control plot (8 m x 8 m) as well as two experimental herbivory treatments. The experimental Press treatment (PR) treatment was an enclosure (20m x 20m) that was stocked with up to 4 voles from spring snowmelt through September in each year from 2018-2023 and the experimental Pulse treatment (PU) was a 20 m x 20 m enclosure that was stocked with up to 4 voles from spring snowmelt through September in 2019 only, after which voles were removed and the fences served to exclude voles from 2020-2023. In addition, over-winter herbivore activity (e.g., surface nests, latrines, runways) was quantified each year in control plots, enclosures, and on each mark-recapture monitoring grid following the ITEX herbivory protocol.