Annual measurements of vegetation canopy and basal gap intercepts from the three Conmod Pilot study locations at Jornada Basin LTER, 2008-2016

This data package contains annual measurements of vegetation canopy and basal gap sizes from transects at the Connectivity Modifier (Conmod) Pilot study on the Jornada Experimental Range from 2008-2016. There were 3 sites for this study: Gravelly Ridges, Aeolian, and Dona Ana. Within each site, there were 8 study plots, 4 of which were treatment plots where connectivity modules (conmods) were installed to decrease gap sizes between perennial vegetation. The plots were 8 x 8 meters and had an 8 x 8 meter buffer zone on both sides of the plot (upwind and downwind). Beginning in 2008, vegetation canopy and basal gap sizes were collected annually in all plots using the gap intercept method. These data were collected in 2008-2010, 2012 and 2016. At each plot, four parallel 24-meter transects crossing the upwind buffer, the plot, and the downwind buffer were measured. These parallel transects were spaced at 0.8, 2.8, 4.3, and 7.2 meter intervals across the plot and buffer areas. This study is complete (finished in 2016) and was the pilot study to the newer Cross Scale Interactions Study.