Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset from Small Mammal Experiment 2018-2023 (3 sites near Toolik Lake, Alaska) ...

• Main Authors: Boelman, Natalie, Griffin, Kevin, Gough, Laura, McLaren, Jennie, Rastetter, Edward, Rowe, Rebecca
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: NSF Arctic Data Center 2024
• Subjects: NDVI; arctic tundra; herbivory; field experiment; vegetation; small mammals; Toolik Lake, Alaska; tussock tundra; Arctic; Tundra; Alaska
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.18739/a2g44hs3c; https://arcticdata.io/catalog/view/doi:10.18739/A2G44HS3C

We conducted a field experiment in which small mammal density was manipulated at three replicate sites were set up in tussock tundra near Toolik Lake, Alaska(AK) (68.6⁰N, 149.5⁰W, 760 meters (m) above sea level). The motivation for collecting this Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset was to understand and quantify the impact of the most abundant herbivores, small rodents (voles and lemmings) on dynamics of canopy productivity on tussock tundra vegetation communities in the Arctic. In July of 2017, at each site we set up an 8 m x 8 m fenced exclosure with a 0.635 centimeter(cm) square mesh to prevent herbivore grazing and increase vegetation cover (Exclosure treatment (EX)) and identified an 8 m x 8 m unfenced control plot marked at each corner with pin flags at each site (Control (CT)). In 2018, at each site we set up a 20 m x 20 m enclosure that was stocked with up to 4 voles from spring snowmelt through September in each year from 2018-2023 (Press treatment (PR)). In 2019, at each site we ...