Annual measurements of vegetation cover on line-point intercept transects from the three Conmod Pilot study locations at Jornada Basin LTER, 2008-2016

This data package contains annual measurements of vegetation cover, species, and height 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 cover by species, and vegetation heights were collected annually in all plots using the line-point 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. Vegetation cover and height were read at points arranged at 25 centimeter increments along each transect. This study is complete (finished in 2016) and was the pilot study to the newer Cross Scale Interactions Study.