Small mammal mark-recapture data 2017-2023 (3 sites near Toolik Lake, Alaska)

We conducted mark-recapture surveys of small mammals in tussock tundra at three sites near Toolik Lake Alaska (AK) (68.6 North (N), 149.5 West (W), 760 meters (m) above sea level). In 2017, we established a mark-recapture grid at each of three sites (Imnavait (IM), Pipeline (PL), and South Toolik (ST)). 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 early June and late August in 2017 - 2019 and then truncated to once a year in 2020 - 2023 due to COVID-19 access and quarantine policies. Also as a result of COVID-19 access policies, the Pipeline grid was not surveyed in 2020. A single Sherman live trap was set within one meter of each station, baited with a mixture of peanut butter and bird seed, and insulated with polyester batting. Grids were surveyed for four consecutive days with traps checked every six to eight hours. On occasion heavy rain truncated sampling or delayed the timing of sampling. Captured individuals were identified to species, weighed, sexed, aged (based on weight and reproductive status; Batzli and Henttonen 1990), 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.