CW Grassland Structure and Function

Data was collected to examine the hypothesis that central west plains grasslands have an underlying heterogeneity that results in stable biomass production despite the regions high rainfall variability. The research used substitution of space for time method. Six monitoring sites representing a chronosequence of 4 to 40 years recovery from chronic cropping were established. At each site 5 permanent 30-m were established at upper, upper-mid, mid-slope, lower-mid and lower slope positions. A reference site transect was also established on the neigbouring Trundle Travelling Stock Route reserve.

本数据集采集自一项验证假说的研究：中西部平原草原存在内在异质性，即便该区域降雨变异性极强，仍可维持稳定的生物量生产。该项研究采用空间替代时间法（space-for-time substitution），设置了6个监测样地，对应长期耕作后恢复时长为4至40年的演替序列（chronosequence）。在每个监测样地内，分别在上坡、中上坡、中坡、中下坡与下坡位置各设置5个永久性30米样方。此外，研究还在邻近的特伦德尔移动牲畜通道保留区（Trundle Travelling Stock Route reserve）设立了对照样带。