Dataset of plant communities treated by different herbivore dung quality, quantity and type of grazing

The dataset was derived from a 3-year mesocosm experiment designed to examine the effects of herbivore dung quantity, quality, and grazing type on plant community productivity and diversity. It includes data on five levels of dung quantity from three herbivore species (rabbit, horse, and European bison), each differing in dung quality (N:P ratio). The experiment also incorporated three grazing treatments: no grazing, bulk grazing, and selective grazing of legume plants. Measurements include plant community productivity, species diversity, light availability, and the abundance of specific plant types. The dataset captures interactions between dung type, grazing, and plant responses, providing insights into the complex roles of herbivores in shaping terrestrial ecosystems., Dung and Soil Collection
Dung from European bison, horse, and rabbit was collected on 25 February 2020 in the National Park Zuid-Kennemerland, Netherlands, a coastal dune ecosystem with nutrient-poor sandy soils. Fresh dung was collected directly after excretion (horse and bison) or from areas with high rabbit density. Samples from at least five individuals per species were stored at 4 °C. Moisture content and concentrations of total carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) were determined. Soil from the top 10 cm layer was also collected, sieved, mixed, and used to inoculate mesocosms with soil microbes.
Mesocosm Experiment
In April 2020, 90 mesocosms (30 L) were set up in Brussels. Each mesocosm was filled with quartz sand and 1 L of collected soil. Dung from rabbit, horse, or bison was added at five levels (12.5–200 mg P per mesocosm). Grazing treatments included no grazing, bulk grazing (clipping all plants to 5 cm), or selective grazing (clipping only legumes). Treatments were ..., , # Dataset of plant communities treated by different herbivore dung quality, quantity, and type of grazing

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kkwh70sf4](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kkwh70sf4)

## Description of the data and file structure

The dataset includes five levels of dung quantity (ranging from 12.5 to 200 mg P per mesocosm) from three herbivore species: European bison, horse, and rabbit, each differing in dung quality (N:P ratio). The experiment also incorporated three grazing treatments: no grazing, bulk grazing (clipping all plants to 5 cm), and selective grazing (clipping only legume plants). The dataset encompasses measurements of plant community productivity, species abundance, and light penetration to the soil surface, collected annually over three years using a modified point-intercept method and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measurements.

Statistical analyses, including Mixed-design ANOVA and Generalized Effect Size (GES), were used to assess the effects of ..., ,

本数据集源自一项为期3年的中宇宙（mesocosm）实验，旨在探究草食动物粪便的数量、质量及放牧类型对植物群落生产力与多样性的影响。数据集涵盖了来自3种草食动物（兔、马、欧洲野牛）的5个粪便数量梯度，且每种动物的粪便在质量（氮磷比）上存在差异。实验同时设置了3种放牧处理：无放牧、全面放牧（将所有植物修剪至5 cm高度）以及选择性放牧（仅修剪豆科植物）。测定指标包括植物群落生产力、物种多样性、光照可获得性以及特定植物类群的丰度。本数据集捕捉了粪便类型、放牧行为与植物响应之间的交互作用，可为理解草食动物在塑造陆地生态系统中的复杂作用提供科学洞见。

### 粪便与土壤采集
2020年2月25日，在荷兰祖德肯内默兰国家公园（National Park Zuid-Kennemerland）的海岸沙丘贫营养沙质土壤生态系统中，采集欧洲野牛、马和兔的粪便。其中，马与野牛的新鲜粪便于排泄后直接采集，兔粪便则采集自兔群密度较高的区域。每个物种至少采集5个个体的样本，并于4 ℃条件下保存。测定了样本的含水率以及总碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）浓度。同时采集0~10 cm表层土壤，过筛混匀后用于接种中宇宙实验装置的土壤微生物群落。

### 中宇宙实验
2020年4月，在布鲁塞尔搭建了90个容积为30 L的中宇宙实验装置。每个装置装填石英砂与1 L采集的土壤。分别以5个梯度（每装置12.5~200 mg P）添加兔、马或欧洲野牛的粪便。放牧处理设置为无放牧、全面放牧（将所有植物修剪至5 cm高度）以及选择性放牧（仅修剪豆科植物）。实验处理……

# 不同草食动物粪便质量、数量及放牧类型处理下的植物群落数据集
[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kkwh70sf4](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kkwh70sf4)

## 数据与文件结构说明
本数据集涵盖3种草食动物（欧洲野牛、马、兔）的5个粪便数量梯度（每装置12.5~200 mg P），每种动物的粪便在质量（氮磷比）上存在差异。实验同时设置了3种放牧处理：无放牧、全面放牧（将所有植物修剪至5 cm高度）以及选择性放牧（仅修剪豆科植物）。数据集包含通过改良点截法与光合有效辐射（photosynthetically active radiation, PAR）测定法在3年间每年采集的植物群落生产力、物种丰度以及土壤表面光照穿透率等数据。

采用混合设计方差分析（Mixed-design ANOVA）与广义效应量（Generalized Effect Size, GES）等统计分析方法，以评估……