This readme.txt file was generated on 20151006 by Zhuozhi Georgia Huang

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Title of Dataset: Data and R Code for Analyses in "Grassland birds demonstrate delayed response to large-scale tree removal in central North America"
2. File Information:
   A. Filename:datforarchive.csv
   B. Short description:data on bird counts and vegetation during study
   C. Filename:Tree_Removal_codeForArchive.R
   D. Short description: R code to conduct analyses
   G. If data set includes multiple files related to one another, include relationship here: datforarchive.csv is the input file for Tree_Removal_codeForArchive.R

3. Principal Investigator Contact Information
   A. Name:Thompson, Sarah J
   B. Institution:University of Minnesota
   C. Email:thom1253@umn.edu

4. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date): 20050501 to 20110731 

5. Geographic location of data collection (where was data collected?):
   A. Arctander Waterfowl Production Area (WPA), MN, Kandiyohi County
   B. Weber WPA, MN, Kandiyohi County
   C. Brenner WPA, MN, Kandiyohi County
   D. Florida Slough WPA, MN, Kandiyohi County
   E. Randall WPA, MN, Kandiyohi County
   F. Swam Lake WPA, MN, Kandiyohi County
   G. Hagstrom WPA, MN, Pope County
   H. Nelson Lake WPA, MN, Pope County
   I. Rolling Forks WPA, MN, Pope County
   J. Stegner WPA, MN, Big Stone County
   K. Thomson Slough WPA (now part of Kufrin WPA), MN, Big Stone County
   L. Larson Slough WPA (now part of Kufrin WPA), MN, Big Stone County
   K. Wente WPA, MN, Stevens County 

6. Date files were created: 201509

7. Are there multiple versions of the dataset? no

8. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data:
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service

METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION

1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: 
Bird abundance was assessed using standard avian point count survey methods (e.g. surveys were conducted in good weather/wind conditions, during morning hours, by experienced observers). All birds observed by sight or sound, during a 10 minute interval and within 100 m of the observer were recorded; birds flying over the survey area were omitted. A single count was conducted at each survey point, each year. There were 20 survey points on each study site. 

See related publication for additional details: Thompson, S. J., T. W. Arnold, J. Fieberg, S. Vacek, N. Palaia, 2015. Grassland birds demonstrate delayed response to large-scale tree removal in central North America, Journal of Applied Ecology. In Press.


2. Methods for processing the data: 
Data were checked for errors using standard data processing and data exploration methods (examining histograms, looking for unusual values, etc.). For measurements "ave_shrub", "ave_tree", "ave_slash", a value of 400 m, 900 m, or 600 m (respectively) was imputed when there was no measurable shrub, tree, or slash pile in a given direction. These distances were based on natural breakpoints in data.

3. Instrument-specific information needed to interpret the data:
Open source program R is required to run the code. The code was written in R version 3.1.2. 

4. People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission:
All surveys and treatments were conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Morris and Litchfield Wetland Management Districts. 

DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION

1. Parameters and/or variables used in the data set
   A. Name: stn.unt.year
   B. Description: unique ID (station, waterfowl production area, year of survey) 
   C. Units of measurement: n/a
   D. Name: trt
   E. Description: treatment, whether the site was originally cut or control. “Cut” sites underwent tree removal treatments. “Control” sites did not. 
   F. Units of measurement:n/a
   G. Name: wpa
   H. Description: site (Waterfowl Production Area)
   I. Units of measurement: n/a
   J. Name: station
   K. Description: the designated number for stations where the survey took place. 
   L. Units of measurement: n/a
   M. Name: year
   N. Description: year of survey
   O. Units of measurement: n/a
   P. Name: observer
   Q. Description：the collector of the data
   R. Units of measurement: n/a
   S. Name: spec
   T: Description: the American Ornithological Union code for the species
   U: Units of measurement:n/a
   V: Name: total100
   W: Description: total count of the species within 100 meters. 
   X: Units of measurement: n/a
   Y: Name: yearfac
   Z: Description: year as a factor
   a: Units of measurement: n/a
   b: Name: ave_shrub
   c: Description: average distance to shrub (average of four directions). Shrubs were defined as woody vegetation ≤6 m in height. 
   d: Units of measurement: meter
   e: Name: ave_slash
   f: Description: average distance to slash pile (average of four directions)
   g: Units of measurement: meter
   h: Name: ave_tree
   i: Description: average distance to tree (average of four directions). Trees were defined as woody vegetation >6 m in height.
   j: Units of measurement: meter
   k: Name: ave_rob_mean
   l: Description: average of Robel readings (grass height and density)
   m: Units of measurement: decimeter
   n: Name: ave_lit_mean
   o: Description: average litter depth reading
   p: Units of measurement: centimeter

2. Column headings for tabular data: 
See Parameters and/or variables used in the data set
 
3. Other specialized formats or abbreviations used:
For codes/acronyms in the column of spec, refer to the American Ornithological Union (AOU) Bird Species List at http://www.wec.ufl.edu/birds/SurveyDocs/species_list.pdf


SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION 

1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data:n/a

2. Links to publications that cite or use the data:
Thompson, S. J., T. W. Arnold, D. Granfors, S. Vacek, N. Palaia, and J. Fieberg. Grassland birds exhibit delayed response to tree-removal in conservation grasslands. In Press, Journal of Applied Ecology

3. Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data:
http://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/174565

4. Recommended citation for the data:
Thompson, Sarah, J. (2015). Data and R Code for Analyses in "Grassland birds demonstrate delayed response to large-scale tree removal in central North America" [dataset]. Retrieved from the Data Repository for the University of Minnesota, http://dx.doi.org/10.13020/D6C88M

Credits: Template provided by the University of Minnesota Libraries, http://lib.umn.edu/datamanagement