Arthropod assemblages in invasive and native vegetation in Great Salt Lake wetlands dataset

This data was collected as part of a multiyear study examining how arthropod assemblages differ between native and invasive vegetation in Great Salt Lake wetlands in Utah, U.S.A. Great Salt Lake wetlands provide continentally significant habitat for shorebirds, songbirds, and waterfowl. Invasive species, such as the grass species <i>Phragmites australis </i>(common reed)<i>, </i> have the potential to disrupt trophic interactions within these wetlands by altering the arthropod assemblages on which bird populations rely. However, there are few quantitative data that describe differences in arthropod assemblages between invasive and native wetland plants. <br>In our study, we examined the arthropod assemblages found within three native wetland habitats as well as in <i>Phragmites </i>stands. We used two different arthropod trap types, emergence and windowpane traps, to collect arthropods from each habitat. From these collections, we identified each individual based on their family (genus when possible) and counted, dried, and weighed the specimens. This dataset describes the total weight of dried arthropod biomass from each trap sample and individual counts for all arthropod families identified in each sample. In addition, we measured vegetation biomass, litter depth, and water depth within each habitat type. These specific site conditions for each habitat type are described in this dataset as well. <br>Identifying how arthropods interact with both <i>Phragmites australis </i>and native vegetation is critical to recognizing how to manage wetlands for migratory and resident bird habitat. By gaining a better understanding of these relationships, arthropod biomass, abundance, diversity, and assemblage composition may serve as potential assessment metrics for determining management success in wetlands.

本数据集采集自一项为期多年的研究，该研究旨在探究美国犹他州大盐湖湿地中，本土植被与入侵植被之间的节肢动物群落差异。大盐湖湿地为滨鸟、鸣禽及水禽提供了具有大陆尺度重要性的栖息生境。入侵物种如禾本科植物<i>Phragmites australis</i>（普通芦苇），可通过改变鸟类赖以生存的节肢动物群落，破坏这些湿地内的营养级相互作用。然而，目前鲜有定量数据描述入侵与本土湿地植物间节肢动物群落的差异。
在本研究中，我们对三类本土湿地生境以及<i>Phragmites</i>（芦苇）群落内的节肢动物群落进行了调查。我们采用两种不同的节肢动物采样装置——羽化陷阱（emergence trap）和窗式陷阱（windowpane trap），从各生境中采集节肢动物。对采集到的标本，我们以科为单位进行鉴定（若可鉴定至属则鉴定至属），并对标本进行计数、干燥与称重。本数据集记录了各陷阱样本的干燥节肢动物生物量总重，以及各样本中鉴定出的所有节肢动物科的个体数量。此外，我们还测定了各类生境内的植被生物量、枯落物厚度与水深。本数据集同样收录了各类生境的具体立地条件参数。
明确节肢动物与<i>Phragmites australis</i>（普通芦苇）及本土植被的相互作用机制，对于制定湿地管理策略以保护迁徙及居留鸟类的栖息生境至关重要。通过深入理解这些关联，节肢动物生物量、丰度、多样性及群落组成可作为评估湿地管理成效的潜在量化指标。