Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset from Small Mammal Experiment 2018-2023 (3 sites near Utqiagvik, Alaska)

We conducted a field experiment in which small mammal density was manipulated at three replicate sites were set up on the tundra in Utqiagvik, Alaska. The motivation for collecting this Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset was to understand and quantify the impact of the most abundant herbivores, small rodents (voles and lemmings) on dynamics of canopy productivity on tundra vegetation communities in the Arctic. In July of 2018, at each site we set up an 8 x 8 meter (m) fenced exclosure with a 0.635 centimeter (cm) square mesh to prevent herbivore grazing and increase vegetation cover (Exclosure treatment (EX)), set up a 20 m x 20 m enclosure that was stocked with up to 4 voles from spring snowmelt through September in each year from 2018-2023 (Press treatment (PR)), and set up a 20 m x 20 m enclosure that was stocked with up to 4 voles from spring snowmelt through September in 2018 only, after which voles were removed and the fences served to exclude voles from 2019-2023 (Pulse treatment (PU)). We also identified an 8 m x 8 m unfenced control plot marked at each corner with pin flags at each site (Control (CT)). We measured NDVI at 8 distinct locations within each quadrat and subplot during the period of peak leaf out (~July) in each of 2018-2023. NDVI was measured with a RapidSCAN CS-45 Handheld Sensor (Holland Scientific, USA).