Ecological Survey of Central Arizona: a survey of key ecological indicators in parcels of residential areas in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, ongoing since 2010 (Reformatted to the ecocomDP Design Pattern)

This data package is formatted as an ecocomDP (Ecological Community
Data Pattern). For more information on ecocomDP see
https://github.com/EDIorg/ecocomDP. This Level 1 data package was
derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/knb-lter-cap/653/2.
The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and
is included for context: The Ecological Survey of Central Arizona (ESCA) is an extensive field
survey and integrated inventory designed to capture key ecological
indicators of the CAP LTER study area consisting of the urbanized,
suburbanized, and agricultural areas of metropolitan Phoenix, and the
surrounding Sonoran desert. The survey is conducted every five years
at approximately 200 sample plots (30m x 30m) that were located
randomly using a tessellation-stratified dual-density sampling design.
Study plots cover habitats throughout the CAP LTER study area ranging
from native Sonoran desert sites to residential yards to an airport
tarmac. In 2010, the survey was expanded to include an assessment of
residential parcels overlapping the survey plot at sites in
residential areas. Many of the same variables that are measured in the
30m x 30m survey plot are measured in the parcel, including an
inventory of perennial plants, and the biovolume of trees. In
addition, a detailed assessment of characteristics of the parcel is
performed. Investigators interested in data from the broader Ecological Survey of
Central Arizona that includes all survey plots should should search
the data catalog for 'ecological survey of central arizona' or 'survey
200' to locate those and other data related to the CAP LTER's ESCA.