Grass seedling survival and microhabitat vegetation cover among herbivore exclusion treatments across grassland-shrubland ecotones at 3 sites, 2022 and 2023

The aim of this study is to reveal how mammalian herbivores
differentially affect the survival of grass seedlings depending on
herbivore taxa (cattle, oryx, lagomorphs, rodents) and microhabitat
vegetation structure surrounding grass seedlings. This dataset
includes data tracking the survival of grass seedlings among
herbivore exclusion treatments across grassland, ecotone, and
shrubland habitats. Seedling survival trials were established at 3
spatial blocks associated with the Ecotone Study: JER Pastures 9 and
12, and CDRRC Pasture 3. Survival trials were conducted on Pasture
12 in 2022, and on Pastures 3, 9, and 12 in 2023. Each spatial block
contained 3 sites (grassland, ecotone, shrubland) that were further
subdivided into 5 replicate plots (n = 45 plots). Two trays (1
control open to all herbivores, 1 caged allowing only rodent access)
of 25 seedlings each were buried at ground level at each plot and
their condition (i.e., alive & undamaged, alive & herbivore
damaged, senesced or absent via herbivory, senesced due to
environmental stress, resprouted following herbivory, unknown fate,
or herbivory following senescence) recorded every 3 days for a total
of 15 days. Microhabitat vegetation cover surrounding the seedling
trays was collected using ocular estimates of cover across plant
functional types (e.g., perennial grasses, forbs, sub-shrubs,
shrubs, etc.) within 1 square-meter PVC quadrats placed on both the
east and west face of seedling trays established in the field.
Maximum height of vegetative (non-reproductive) plant tissue of each
functional type was additionally recorded to gauge the level of
grass seedling concealment.