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Ecosystem-Scale Rainfall Manipulation In A Piñon-Juniper Forest At The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico: Volumetric Water Content (Vwc) At 5 Cm Depth Data (2006- ), William Pockman, Nathan Mcdowell

Sevilleta LTER Program Data

Climate models predict that water limited regions around the world will become drier and warmer in the near future, including southwestern North America. We developed a large-scale experimental system that allows testing of the ecosystem impacts of precipitation changes. Four treatments were applied to 1600 m2 plots (40 m × 40 m), each with three replicates in a piñon pine (Pinus edulis) and juniper (Juniper monosperma) ecosystem. These species have extensive root systems, requiring large-scale manipulation to effectively alter soil water availability. Treatments consisted of: 1) irrigation plots that receive supplemental water additions, 2) drought plots that receive 55% of …