Long-term field observation of shrubland ecosystem in Wyoming, USA from 2008-2018

The importance of monitoring shrublands to detect and understand changes through time is increasingly recognized as critical to management. This dataset focuses on ecological change observation over ten years of field observation at 134 plots within two sites that are located in Southwestern of Wyoming, USA from 2008-2018. At sites 1 and 3, 134 long-term field observation plots were measured annually from 2008 to 2018. General plot locations were selected in 2006 using segments and spectral clusters on QuickBird imagery to identify the best locations for representing the variability of the entire site (one QuickBird image). Ground measurements were conducted using ocular measurements with cover was estimated from an overhead perspective (satellite), with the total cover of all vegetation and bare ground components summing to 100%. Ground measurements were conducted annually on the same approximate dates, and plot measurements were conducted by the same two individuals over the same plots every year to minimize observer bias. Five shrub components were measured that included shrub cover, sage cover, herbaceous, litter, and bare ground.