Small Mammal Exclosure Study (SMES) Surface Soil Disturbance in the Chihuahuan Desert Grassland and Shrubland at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico (1995-2005)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not the activities of small mammals regulate plant community structure, plant species diversity, and spatial vegetation patterns in Chihuahuan Desert shrublands and grasslands. What role if any do indigenous small mammal consumers have in maintaining desertified landscapes in the Chihuahuan Desert? Additionally, how do the effects of small mammals interact with changing climate to affect vegetation patterns over time? This is data for animal created soil surface disturbance measured from each of the SMES study plots. Soil surface disturbance was measured from each of the 36 one-meter2 quadrats twice each year when vegetation was measured.本研究旨在明确小型哺乳动物的活动是否可调控奇瓦瓦荒漠灌丛与草原内的植物群落结构、植物物种多样性及空间植被格局。本土小型哺乳动物消费者在维持奇瓦瓦荒漠荒漠化景观方面发挥着何种作用（若存在相关作用）？此外，小型哺乳动物的影响效应如何与气候变化相互作用，进而随时间推移对植被格局产生影响？本数据集包含从SMES各研究样地采集的、由动物活动造成的土壤表层扰动测量数据。每年在开展植被调查的两个对应时段，会对全部36个1平方米样方分别开展土壤表层扰动测量，全年共计两次。