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 Phragmites australis (common reed), 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.

In our study, we examined the arthropod assemblages found within
three native wetland habitats as well as in Phragmites 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.

Identifying how
arthropods interact with both Phragmites australis 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生境下的节肢动物群落（arthropod assemblages）差异。大盐湖湿地为鸻鹬类、鸣禽以及水禽提供了具有大陆尺度重要性的栖息生境。诸如芦苇（Phragmites australis，common reed）这类入侵草本植物，可通过改变鸟类种群赖以生存的节肢动物群落，干扰湿地内的营养级互作过程。然而目前鲜有定量数据能够阐明湿地入侵植物与本土植物对应的节肢动物群落差异。

本研究针对三处本土湿地生境以及芦苇群落展开节肢动物群落调查。我们采用两种节肢动物采集陷阱——羽化陷阱（emergence traps）与窗式陷阱（windowpane traps），从各生境中收集节肢动物。针对采集到的标本，我们按科进行分类鉴定（若条件允许则鉴定至属），并对标本进行计数、干燥与称重操作。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类群的个体计数数据。此外，我们还测定了各类生境的植被生物量、枯落物厚度与水深，这些各生境的具体立地条件信息也收录于本数据集内。

明确节肢动物与芦苇及本土植被的互作关系，对于制定湿地管理策略以适配迁徙鸟类与留鸟的栖息需求至关重要。通过深化对这些互作关系的认知，节肢动物的生物量、丰度、多样性以及群落组成，可作为评估湿地管理成效的潜在指标。