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Data Describing Effects of Bison (Bison bison) Herbivory on Herbaceous Production and Nitrogen Yield throughout Grand Canyon Grasslands from 2021 to 2022

July 11, 2025

This dataset includes three datasets collected in 2021 and 2022 to assess the potential effects of bison (Bison bison) herbivory and climate on grassland functional properties throughout semi-arid meadows in Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest of northern Arizona. Bison herbivory offtake (utilization) and aboveground herbaceous production are demonstrated in the production offtake dataset titled 'BisonHerbivory_ANPP_Ot.csv'. This dataset includes the experimental treatment variables (Stratum and Treatment) and estimates for seasonal offtake, total annual offtake, total aboveground net primary production, and grazing intensity. Data on herbaceous nitrogen yield provides calculations of percent nitrogen and nitrogen yield for graminoid and forb samples collected from biomass clippings in areas of bison grazing (file titled 'BisonHerbivory_N_Yield.csv'). Meteorological data are presented for seasonal and total annual climate variables including precipitation (measured in mm) and temperature (measured in Growing Degree Days). Climate data is within the file titled 'BisonHerbivory_Climate.csv".

Publication Year 2025
Title Data Describing Effects of Bison (Bison bison) Herbivory on Herbaceous Production and Nitrogen Yield throughout Grand Canyon Grasslands from 2021 to 2022
DOI 10.5066/P14MMQCJ
Authors Dana T Musto, Kathryn A Schoenecker, Cameron Aldridge, Alan K Knapp, Joseph C von Fischer
Product Type Data Release
Record Source USGS Asset Identifier Service (AIS)
USGS Organization Fort Collins Science Center
Rights This work is marked with CC0 1.0 Universal
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