Michala L Phillips Sasha C Reed Armin Howell Cara M Lauria Jayne Belnap 20211215 comma-separated values (csv) Flagstaff, AZ U.S. Geological Survey https://doi.org/10.5066/P9RUN1TP Michala L. Phillips Brandon E. McNellis Armin Howell Cara M. Lauria Jayne Belnap Sasha C. Reed 2022 journal manuscript Nature Research (online) Nature Climate Change https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01249-6 These data were compiled to examine how climate change affects biocrust recovery from both physical and climate-induced disturbance. Objective(s) of our study were to uncover the trajectory of biological soil crust communities and soil stability following distrubance and under warming. These data represent biological soil crust surveys under 5 treatments at three sites. These data were collected at three sites: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Castle Valley. Data collection for a physical disturbance experiment where annual human-trampling occurred at the sites in Arches and Canyonlands began in 1996 and was concluded in 2018. Data collection for a 13-year full-factorial in situ climate manipulation experiment (undisturbed control, warming, altered precipitation, warming + altered precipitation) in Castle Valley began in 2005 and was concluded in 2018. These data were collected by U.S. Geological Survey technicians using field surveys of biological soil crusts and soil stability. These data can be used to track biological soil crust communities and soil stability through time under climate manipulation and physical disturbance treatments. The purpose of these long-term experiment data are to examine how climate change affects biocrust recovery from both physical and climate-induced disturbance. Specifically, monitoring how biological soil crusts and soil stability respond to the legacy of mechanical disturbance and altered precipitation, including warming, and the combination of warming and the legacy of altered precipitation. Data were collected using field soil aggregate stability kits and 20 point-intercept frames, and PRISM Climate Data (https://prism.oregonstate.edu/) was acquired and processed to compare precipitation and temperature values at the three sites. These data were either acquired or collected and created to understand biocrust responses to disturbance and climate change. These data could be used by other researchers in synthesis efforts aimed at examining and understanding the fate of biological soil crusts under global change. These data provide biological soil crust abundances and soil slake data from two long-term experiments on the Colorado Plateau. The first experiment is a climate manipulation began in October 2005 at a site located near Castle Valley, Utah containing twenty 5 m2 plots in a randomized block design with four treatment types (n = 5): undisturbed control, warmed, altered precipitation and warmed + altered precipitation. This site is dominated by the shrub species Atriplex confertifolia, the perennial grass species Achnatherum hymenoides and Pleuraphis jamesii, and the exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum. Infrared lamps, installed 1.5 m above the soil surface, heated the topsoil 2 ºC above ambient for the first three years of the experiment and temperatures were increased to 4 ºC above ambient starting on June 30, 2008 until present to account for modifications in temperature predictions. The altered precipitation treatments were designed to mimic 1.2 mm summer rainfall events and took place between June 15 to September 15 each year from 2005-2012. These treatments were applied with hand sprayers. During these years, plots received on average 35 events (roughly four times the average natural frequency. The two mechanical disturbance sites were established in the Spring of 1996 and are located in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. At each site ten 2 m x 5 m plots were installed, where half were trampled by human footsteps and half were left undisturbed (n = 5). Treated plots were trampled by human steps once a year every May for fifteen years until May of 2011. Trampling entailed two gentle flat footsteps over the entire plot, with effort to minimize soil compaction and mixing. In May and June of 2018 biocrust community was assessed following seven years of the warming treatments and recovery from climate and physical disturbances recovery. These data can be used to/for a wide variety of community analyses aimed at understanding how biocrusts respond to and recover from disturbance and climate manipulation. These data could be used in a synthesis of climate change effects on biocrusts or examining how biocrusts recover disturbance. These values represent point measurements from a certain time at a three sites. Data users should read the entire metadata record and acquire the manuscript identified as the ‘Larger Work Citation’ to have a complete understanding of how these data were created and used. The data are specific to the uses identified in this metadata record and the 'Larger Work Citation', and any other use of these data would be inappropriate. 1996 2018 ground condition Complete None planned -109.54 -109.42 38.73 38.46 USGS Thesaurus air temperature biological soil crusts climate change effects of climate change field experiments field inventory and monitoring field sampling habitat alteration and disturbance precipitation (atmospheric) soil sciences USGS Biocomplexity Thesaurus in situ ISO 19115 Topic Categories biota geoscientificInformation USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:60e7240ed34e2a7685d0784d None 20 point-intercept frames altered precipitation biocrust recovery climate-induced disturbance climate manipulation experiment field soil aggregate stability kitshuman-trampling long-term experiment data mechanical disturbance physical disturbance experiment PRISM Climate Data soil stability surveys treatmtents undisturbed control warming warming and altered precipitation Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Arches National Park Canyonlands National Park Castle Valley Utah none none Sasha C Reed U.S. Geological Survey Research Ecologist mailing and physical

2290 S West Resource Blvd

Moab UT 84532 US 928-556-7534 screed@usgs.gov This research was supported by the Office of Science (Office of Biological and Environmental Research) US Department of Energy Terrestrial Ecosystem Science Program and the U.S. Geological Survey. Christopher Daly Michael Halbleib Joseph I. Smith Wayne P. Gibson Matthew K. Doggett George H. Taylor Jan Curtis Phillip P. Pasteris 2008 RMetS - Royal Meteorological Society (online) International Journal of Climatology https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1688 Scott Ferrenberg Sasha C. Reed Jayne Belnap 2015 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (online) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1509150112 J.E. Herrick W.G. Whitford A.G. de Soyza J.W. Van Zee K.M. Havstad C.A. Seybold M. Walton 2001 Elsevier (online) Catena https://doi.org/10.1016/S0341-8162(00)00173-9 S. Jonasson 1983 Phytocoenologia (online) Phytocoenologia https://doi.org/10.1127/phyto/11/1983/385 Sasha C. Reed Kirsten K. Coe Jed P. Sparks David C. Housman Tamara J. Zelikova Jayne Belnap 2012 Nature (online) Nature Climate Change https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1596 No formal attribute accuracy tests were conducted No formal logical accuracy tests were conducted Data set is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details. No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University 2018 maps and data Publication Place: PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ spatially gridded raster data 20050101 20190101 ground condition Climate variables: ppt,tmin,tmean,tmax; Spatial resolution: 4km (Dataset: AN81d) Used to examined ambient precipitation and temperature patterns at each site Site Description: Biological soil crust (biocrust) were surveyed in response to climate manipulation and physical disturbance experiments at three sites located on the Colorado Plateau of southeastern Utah. All three sites had similar biocrust community composition and structure before the experiments started, including lightly-pigmented cyanobacteria (Microcoleus vaginatus), darkly-pigmented cyanobacteria (Nostoc spp., Scytonema spp., and Tolypothrix spp.), mosses (Syntrichia caninervis and S. ruralis), and lichens (Collema tenax and C. coccophorum). Sites had similar precipitation and temperature patterns throughout the study. The climate manipulation began in October 2005 at a site located near Castle Valley, Utah (38.67° N, 109.42° W) containing twenty 5 m2 plots in a randomized block design with four treatment types (n = 5): undisturbed control, warmed, altered precipitation and warmed + altered precipitation. This site is dominated by the shrub species Atriplex confertifolia, the perennial grass species Achnatherum hymenoides and Pleuraphis jamesii, and the exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum. Infrared lamps, installed 1.5 m above the soil surface, heated the topsoil 2 ºC above ambient for the first three years of the experiment and temperatures were increased to 4 ºC above ambient starting on June 30, 2008 until present to account for modifications in temperature predictions. The altered precipitation treatments were designed to mimic 1.2 mm summer rainfall events and took place between June 15 to September 15 each year from 2005-2012. These treatments were applied with hand sprayers. During these years, plots received on average 35 events (roughly four times the average natural frequency). This treatment is similar to annual frequencies of rain events in the hotter North American deserts, which range from ~32 – 86 events annually). The two mechanical disturbance sites were established in the Spring of 1996 and are located in Arches (38.73° N, 109.54° W) and Canyonlands (38.46° N, 109.54° W) National Parks. At each site ten 2 m x 5 m plots were installed, where half were trampled by human footsteps and half were left undisturbed (n = 5). Treated plots were trampled by human steps once a year every May for fifteen years until May of 2011. Trampling entailed two gentle flat footsteps over the entire plot, with effort to minimize soil compaction and mixing. In May and June of 2018 biocrust community was assessed following seven years of warming treatments and recovery from climate and physical disturbances. We examined ambient precipitation and temperature patterns at each of the sites using PRISM data (Daly et al., 2008) and found the patterns were consistent across sites. 2018 Biological Soil Crust Assessment: Biological soil crust communities were assessed in two ways, both of which used 25 cm x 25 cm frames and a point intercept method with 20 points in each frame. First, in May and June 2018, to assess recovery following physical and climate disturbance, biocrust community composition was determined using comparable within-plot locations at all three sites (under shrubs and in the interspace among vascular plants). For the trampling sites in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, a total of 240 frames were read (4800 points), with 12 frames per plot and ten plots at each site (five control, five treatment). Frames were assessed under shrubs and in interspaces among plants away from plot edges to avoid edge affects. For the climate manipulation sites in Castle Valley, a total of 120 frames were read (2400 points), 6 frames per plot, for each of the four treatments (five replicate plots per treatment). These frames were also assessed under shrubs and in interspaces among plants and away from the edges of the plots. Second, in addition to these cross-experiment assessments, biological soil crust community composition in the climate manipulation experiments was assessed annually using four frames per plot (80 frames and 1600 points). To estimate plot level biocrust cover, we divided the number of species or biocrust type readings per plot by the total readings per plot. We included shrub and interspace together in our plot level calculations because we were interested in overall biocrust community responses to treatments. Further details on the experimental design and experimental treatments can be found in references: Reed et al. 2012 and Ferrenberg et al. 2015. 2018 Soil Stability: Soil aggregate stability (a measure of erodibility) was measured using the method outlined in Herrick et al. 2001. In this method, soil aggregates are ranked (‘slake scores’) on an ordinal scale of 1 (least stable) to 6 (most stable). We measured 9 slake samples per plot for a total of 360 measurements. For each slake measurement the surface biocrust functional group (i.e., Lightly-pigmented cyanobacteria, Darkly-pigmented cyanobacteria, Lichen and Moss), was recorded. We scaled the slake scores for each plot using the relative abundance of each of the biocrust cover categories in the plot by multiplying the slake score for each group by the relative abundance of each group. We used the sum of the scaled slake scores to calculate a plot-level soil aggregate stability value. 2018 Development of the data tables: Data were collected by USGS technicians using Herrick et al (2001) field soil aggregate stability kit developed for rangeland health evaluations, or using 20 point intercept frames from Jonasson (1983). USGS technicians then entered the data from the physical datasheets and checked the data. Data in the Arches_trample_PRISM, DOE_CV_PRISM, and ISK_Cliff_PRISM data tables were acquired using GPS coordinates of each site from PRISM database. 2021 Development of the Arches_PPT_Temp_2005-2019, CastleValley_PPT_Temp_2005-2019, and ISKY_Cliff_PPT_Temp_2005-2019 PRISM data tables: These data were acquired from using the PRISM Climate Group, Data Explorer which can analyze and download time-series data for a single location (Time Series Values for Individual Locations). Arches_PPT_Temp_2005-2019 paramaeters: PRISM Time Series Data; Location: Lat: 38.7266 Lon: -109.5434 Elev: 1461m; Spatial resolution: 4km; Period: 2005-01-01 - 2019-01-01; Dataset: AN81d; PRISM day definition: 24 hours ending at 1200 UTC on the day shown; Grid Cell Interpolation: Off; Time series generated: 2021-Feb-18; Details: http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/documents/PRISM_datasets.pdf. CastleValley_PPT_Temp_2005-2019 paramaeters: PRISM Time Series Data; Location: Lat: 38.6748 Lon: -109.4163 Elev: 1408m; Spatial resolution: 4km; Period: 2005-01-01 - 2019-01-01; Dataset: AN81d; PRISM day definition: 24 hours ending at 1200 UTC on the day shown; Grid Cell Interpolation: Off; Time series generated: 2021-Feb-18; Details: http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/documents/PRISM_datasets.pdf. ISKY_Cliff_PPT_Temp_2005-2019 paramaeters: PRISM Time Series Data; Location: Lat: 38.4566 Lon: -109.8290 Elev: 1699m; Spatial resolution: 4km; Period: 2005-01-01 - 2019-01-01; Dataset: AN81d; PRISM day definition: 24 hours ending at 1200 UTC on the day shown; Grid Cell Interpolation: Off; Time series generated: 2021-Feb-18; Details: http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/documents/PRISM_datasets.pdf. 2021 Data Quality Assessment and Quality Control (QAQC): Biological soil crust communities were assessed in two ways, both of which used 25 cm x 25 cm frames and a point intercept method with 20 points in each frame described here in Jonasson (1983) The point intercept method for non-destructive estimation of biomass. Technicians worked in pairs with one observing the frame and communicating the species/group name and another recording this data on the physical datasheet. Technicians measured soil aggregate stability (a measure of erodibility) using the method outlined in Herrick et al. 2001. In this method, soil aggregates are ranked (‘slake scores’) on an ordinal scale of 1 (least stable) to 6 (most stable). We measured 9 slake samples per plot for a total of 360 measurements. For each slake measurement the surface biocrust functional group (i.e., Lightly-pigmented cyanobacteria, Darkly-pigmented cyanobacteria, Lichen and Moss). This information was recorded on physical datasheets. Physical datasheets are scanned as a form of backup. Data are entered into excel spreadsheets from the physical datasheets. After entry, the data in spreadsheets is checked against the physical datasheets. Scanning datasheets and checking data entry are the QA/QC process for these data. 2020 Arches Slake data: 1C-1T to 5C-5T These data tables represent slake score (soil stability) data collected at Arches National Park in 2018. The purpose of this data table is to monitor soil stability in mechanical disturbance plots and control plots 6 years after disturbances have ended. These data appear in the manuscript in figure 1c. Producer defined Site This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the site where the data collection took place. Producer defined All attribute values are "Arches" and represent the geographic location for the site. Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date the data was collected during the field survey. Producer defined 5/29/2018 5/30/2018 date: m/dd/yyyy Observer This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initials of the person recorded the data during the field survey. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person recorded the data during the field survey Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot (or replicate) where the data was collected. Producer defined Plots are labeled 1 - 5 with either a "C" or "T". C = control plot; T = treatment or mechanical disturbance plot (trample). The attribute values represent the location for the plot. POS This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the quadrat within the plot where the data was collected during the field survey. Producer defined POS attribute values are Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4. The attribute values represent the location for the quadrat; Quadrat 1, Quadrat 2, Quadrat 3, Quadrat 4. Surface Category This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the soil surface of the sample. Blank cells in the Arches 5T-5C Slake data table represent "no observation recorded". Producer defined DC Dark Cyanobacteria Producer defined L Litter Producer defined LC Light Cyanobacteria Producer defined M Moss Producer defined R Rock Producer defined In Time This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the time in seconds when the sample was initially dipped in distilled water. Producer defined 0:00 0:30 minutes (m):seconds (ss) Dip Time This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the time in minutes and seconds when the sample was done being dipped in distilled water. Producer defined 5:00 5:30 minutes (m):seconds (ss) Slake stability score This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the slake value (slake score) for the sample. Integer numbers represent the stability value for the sample, 1 (least stable) and to 6 (most stable). Producer defined 1 50% of structural integrity lost within 5 seconds of immersion in water, or is too unstable to sample (falls through seive). Producer defined 2 50% of structural integrity lost 5 – 30 seconds after immersion. Producer defined 3 50% of structural integrity lost 30 – 300 seconds after immersion, OR <10% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles. Producer defined 4 10 – 25% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles. Producer defined 5 25 – 75% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles. Producer defined 6 75 – 100% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles Producer defined Arches Trample Crypto data - Interspace These data tables represent biological soil crust data derived from cryptoframes in the interspaces between shrubs and under shrubs. These data were collected in Arches National Park in mechanical disturbance and control plots in 2018. The mechanical disturbance treatment (trampling) occurred annually from 1996-2011. The purpose of this data table is to monitor biological soil crust community recovery following cessation of mechanical disturbance. T = trace and blank records indicate 0 hits. These data appear in the manuscript in figure 1, figure 2, and figure 3. Producer defined Site This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the site where the data collection took place. Producer defined All attribute values are "Arches" and represent the geographic location for the site. Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date the data was collected. Producer defined 5/25/2018 5/30/2018 date: m/dd/yyyy Reader This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was reading the cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was reading the cryptoframe during the field survey Scribe This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was recording the data from cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities.. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was recording the cryptoframe during the field survey Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot (or replicate) where the data was collected. Producer defined Plots are labeled 1 - 5 with either a "C", "T" or "CT". C = control; T = trample; CT = control trample, indicating that this is a control plot within the trample experiment. The attribute values represent the location for the plot. Transect This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the transect id where the data was collected. Producer defined All of the values represent the transect lines that run across each of our paired plots. The numbers 1,2,3 represent the transects running parallel across the plots. 1 on the bottom, two in the middle and 3 at the top. A,B,C, and D represent the transect lines running parallel across the plots. A is on the far left of the left plot, B in the middle of the left plot, C in the middle of the right plot, and D on the far right of the right plot, all lettered transects run from the bottom the top of the plots. M represents the space in the middle between the left and right plots. The interspace crypto frame data attributes describe where along the transect line each crypto frame is located. For example Arches 1T Q1 1-1.7 means the frame comes from plot 1T in Arches and the frame is located in quad 1 of this plot at 1.7m on transect 1. Surface Category This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the general category of the cover for the cryptoframe. Producer defined CY Cyanobacteria Producer defined D Dark Cyanobacteria Producer defined DC Dark Cyanobacteria Producer defined LC Light Cyanobacteria Producer defined L Litter Producer defined LI Lichen Producer defined M Moss Producer defined R Rock Producer defined Light Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lightly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 20 integer number Dark Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for darkly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 16 integer number Litter/Plant This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for plant litter. Producer defined 1 13 integer number Rock <2 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for small rocks that are less than 2cm. Producer defined 1 3 integer number Rock 2-5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for medium sized rocks that are between 2-5cm. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Rock >5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for large rocks that are bigger than 5cm. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Aspicillia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Aspicillia. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Bare This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for bare ground. Producer defined 1 4 integer number Cat Lach This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for a species of lichen Placidium lachneum formerly Catapyrenium lachneum. Producer defined 0 0 integer number Collema This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lichens from the genera Collema. T = trace Producer defined 1 2 integer number Diplo This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Diplo. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Fulgensia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Fulgensia. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Hepia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Hepia. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Syncan This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss species Syntrichia canninervis. T = trace Producer defined 1 12 integer number Toninia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Toninia. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Notes This attribute (column name) in the data table represents any notes about a data record observed during field data collection. Producer defined textual descriptions of about a data record observed during field data collection Arches Trample Crypto data - Shrub These data tables represent biological soil crust data derived from cryptoframes in the interspaces between shrubs and under shrubs. These data were collected in Arches National Park in mechanical disturbance and control plots in 2018. The mechanical disturbance treatment (trampling) occurred annually from 1996-2011. T = trace and blank records indicate 0 hits. These data appear in the manuscript in figure 1, figure 2, and figure 3. The purpose of this data table is to monitor biological soil crust community recovery following cessation of mechanical disturbance. Producer defined Site This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the site where the data collection took place. Producer defined All attribute values are "Arches" and represent the geographic location for the site. Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date the data was collected. Producer defined 5/25/2018 5/30/2018 date: m/dd/yyyy Reader This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was reading the cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was reading the cryptoframe during the field survey Scribe This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was recording the data from cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities.. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was recording the cryptoframe during the field survey Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot (or replicate) where the data was collected. Producer defined Plots are labeled 1 - 5 with either a "C" or "T". C = control; T = trample. The attribute values represent the location for the plot. Transect This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the transect id where the data was collected. Producer defined Q1-4 = Quad 1-4, E, N, S, W = East, North, South, West: The shrub frames are not located along transect lines. For example, Arches 1C Shrub Crypto Q1 E is the frame from the Arches 1C plot which was recorded under the east side of the shrub in quad 1 of the plot. Surface Category This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the general category of the cover for the cryptoframe. Producer defined CY Cyanobacteria Producer defined DC Dark Cyanobacteria Producer defined L Litter Producer defined LC Light Cyanobacteria Producer defined LI Lichen Producer defined M Moss Producer defined R Rock Producer defined Syncan Syntrichia canninervis Producer defined Light Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lightly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 20 integer number Dark Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for darkly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 18 integer number Litter/Plant This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for plant litter. Producer defined 1 20 integer number Rock <2 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for small rocks that are less than 2cm. Producer defined 1 2 integer number Rock 2-5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for medium sized rocks that are between 2-5cm. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Rock >5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for large rocks that are bigger than 5cm. Producer defined 0 0 integer number Aspicillia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Aspicillia. T = trace Producer defined 1 3 integer number Bromus This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for the genus Bromus. Producer defined 0 0 integer number Bryum This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss genus Bryum. T = trace Producer defined 1 2 integer number Cactus This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for cactus that are not identified to genus. Producer defined 2 5 integer number Caloplaca/Candelaria This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Caloplaca or Candelaria. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Collema This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lichens from the genera Collema. T = trace Producer defined 1 3 integer number Diplo This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Diplo. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Hepia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Hepia. T = trace Producer defined 1 1 integer number Opuntia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for cactus in the genus Opuntia. Producer defined 1 1 integer number PB(PLPA) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for plant bases of the species Plantago. Producer defined 2 2 integer number Syncan This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss species Syntrichia canninervis. T = trace Producer defined 1 17 integer number Toninia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Toninia. Producer defined 2 2 integer number Bare This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for bare ground. Producer defined 1 5 integer number Sh L(cm) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents shrub length in centimeters. Producer defined 51 191 centimeters Sh W(cm) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents shrub width in centimeters. Producer defined 56 162 centimeters Cover% This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the percent cover of the shrub. Producer defined 5 100 percent Shrub Location This attribute (column name) in the data table represents where the shrub is located on the transect. Producer defined A textual description that includes distances in meters or centimeters. Blank records represent no shrub location near. Notes This attribute (column name) in the data table represents any notes about a data record observed during field data collection. Producer defined A textual descriptions of about a data record observed during field data collection. DOE B plots Crypto Frames data This data table represents biological soil crust data derived from cryptoframes in the interspaces between shrubs and under shrubs. These data were collected at our Castle Valley climate manipulation plots in 2018. The altered precipitation treatment (trampling) occurred annually from 2005-2012. T = trace and blank records indicate 0 hits. These data appear in the manuscript in figure 1, figure 2, and figure 3. The purpose of this data table is to monitor biological soil crust community recovery following cessation of altered precipitation disturbance and to monitor biological soil crust composition under warming. Producer defined Site This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the site where the data collection took place. Producer defined All attribute values are "Castle Valley" and represent the geographic location for the site. Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date the data was collected. Producer defined 5/22/2018 5/25/2018 date: m/dd/yyyy Reader This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was reading the cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was reading the cryptoframe during the field survey Scribe This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was recording the data from cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities.. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was recording the cryptoframe during the field survey Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot (or replicate) where the data was collected. Producer defined The attribute values represent the location for the plot. Quad This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the quadrat within the plot where the cryptoframes were measured. Producer defined The attribute values represent the location for the quadrat. Frame Type This attribute (column name) in the data table represents whether the location of the sampling cryptoframe. Producer defined I sampling cryptoframe is in the interspace Producer defined Sh sampling cryptoframe is under a shrub Producer defined Transect or Cardinal Direction on Shrub This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the transect number for interspace or the cardinal direction (side) of the shrub where the frame is places. Producer defined 1 3 integer number A transect letter for interspace Producer defined B transect letter for interspace Producer defined E East Producer defined N North Producer defined S South Producer defined W West Producer defined Location on transect This attribute (column name) in the data table represents where the cryptoframe was placed on the transects in centimeters. Producer defined a textual description where the cryptoframe was placed on the transects in centimeters Light Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lightly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 20 integer number Dark Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for darkly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 17 integer number Litter/Plant This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for plant litter. Producer defined 1 19 integer number Rock <2 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for small rocks that are less than 2cm. Producer defined 1 8 integer number Rock 2-5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for medium sized rocks that are between 2-5cm. Producer defined 1 3 integer number Rock >5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for large rocks that are bigger than 5cm. Producer defined 1 14 integer number Aspicillia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Aspicillia. T = trace Producer defined 1 1 integer number Bare This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for bare ground. Producer defined 1 8 integer number Bryum This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss genus Bryum. T = trace Producer defined 1 2 integer number Cat Lach This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for a species of lichen Placidium lachneum formerly Catapyrenium lachneum. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Cat Squam This attribute (Cat Squam) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichen species Placidium squamulosum formerly Catapyrenium squamulosum. Producer defined 1 18 integer number Collema This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lichens from the genera Collema. T = trace Producer defined 1 4 integer number Diplo This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Diplo. T = trace Producer defined 1 1 integer number Fulgensia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Fulgensia. Producer defined 0 0 integer number Nostoc This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for genus Nostoc. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number PB This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for plant bases without species identified. Producer defined 1 4 integer number PB (brte) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for plant bases of the species Bromus tectorum. Producer defined 1 3 integer number PB (Hija) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for plant bases of the species Hiliaria jamesii. Producer defined 1 3 integer number Syncan This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss species Syntrichia canninervis. T = trace Producer defined 1 18 integer number Toninia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Toninia. Producer defined 0 0 integer number Surface Category This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the general category of the cover for the cryptoframe. Producer defined BRTE Bromus tectorum Producer defined DC Dark Cyanobacteria Producer defined HIJA Hilaria jamesii Producer defined LC Light Cyanobacteria Producer defined L Litter Producer defined LI Lichen Producer defined M Moss Producer defined R Rock Producer defined SD Standing dead Producer defined shrub length (cm) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents shrub length in centimeters. Producer defined 17 72 centimeters shrub width (cm) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents shrub width in centimeters. Producer defined 10 57 centimeters shrub canopy cover (%) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the percent cover of the shrub. Producer defined 5 25 percent Shrub Location This attribute (column name) in the data table represents where the shrub is located on the transect. Producer defined a textual description that includes distances in meters or centimeters Total This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the total number of hits recorded for each cryptoframe. Total = SUM(Light Cyano:nostoc) Producer defined 20 37 percent Total-Litter This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the total number of hits without plant litter included. Total-Litter = Total-Litter/Plant Producer defined 9 30 percent Notes This attribute (column name) in the data table represents any notes about a data record observed during field data collection. Producer defined textual descriptions of about a data record observed during field data collection DOE Trample Slake data This data table represents slake score (soil stability) data collected at Castle Valley Climate manipulation experiment in 2018. The purpose of this data table is to monitor soil stability in warmed, warmed + altered precipitation, altered precipitation and control plots 7 years after altered precipitation treatments have ended. These data appear in the manuscript in figure 1c. Producer defined Site This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the site where the data collection took place. Producer defined All attribute values are "Castle Valley" and represent the geographic location for the site. Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot (or replicate) where the data was collected. Producer defined The attribute values represent the location for the plot. Quad This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the quadrat within the plot where the cryptoframes were measured. Producer defined The attribute values represent the location for the quadrat. 1 3 integer number Surface Category This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the general category of the cover for the cryptoframe. Producer defined DC Dark Cyanobacteria Producer defined LC Light Cyanobacteria Producer defined LI Lichen Producer defined M Moss Producer defined Slake stability score This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the slake value (slake score) for the sample. Integer numbers represent the stability value for the sample, 1 (least stable) and to 6 (most stable). Producer defined 1 50% of structural integrity lost within 5 seconds of immersion in water, or is too unstable to sample (falls through seive). Producer defined 2 50% of structural integrity lost 5 – 30 seconds after immersion. Producer defined 3 50% of structural integrity lost 30 – 300 seconds after immersion, OR <10% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles. Producer defined 4 10 – 25% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles. Producer defined 5 25 – 75% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles. Producer defined 6 75 – 100% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles Producer defined ISKY Cliff Slake data These data tables represent slake score (soil stability) data collected at Canyonlands National Park in 2018. The purpose of this data table is to monitor soil stability in mechanical ditrubance plots and control plots 6 years after disturbances have ended. Plot_1C_1T - This site had 2 peds from each quad collected at the edge of the plot and 1 from the inside. Plot_2C_2T - This site peds from quads 1 and 4 taken from inside; 2 and 3 outside These data appear in the manuscript in figure 1c. Producer defined Site This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the site where the data collection took place. Producer defined All attribute values are "ISKY Cliff" and represent the geographic location for the site. Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date the data was collected during the field survey. Producer defined 5/14/2018 5/23/2018 date: m/dd/yyyy Observer This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initials of the person recorded the data during the field survey. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person recorded the data during the field survey Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot (or replicate) where the data was collected. Producer defined Plots are labeled 1C, 1T, 2C, 2T, 3C, 3T, 4C, 4T, 5C, 5T. The attribute values represent the location for the plot. C = control; T = trample POS This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the quadrat within the plot where the data was collected during the field survey. Producer defined POS attribute values are Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4. The attribute values represent the location for the quadrat; Quadrat 1, Quadrat 2, Quadrat 3, Quadrat 4. Surface Category This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the general category of the cover for the cryptoframe. Producer defined DC Dark Cyanobacteria Producer defined LC Light Cyanobacteria Producer defined LI Lichen Producer defined In Time This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the time in seconds when the sample was initially dipped in distilled water. Producer defined 0:00 0:30 minutes (m):seconds (ss) Dip Time This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the time in minutes and seconds when the sample was done being dipped in distilled water. Producer defined 5:00 5:30 minutes (m):seconds (ss) Slake stability score This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the slake value (slake score) for the sample. Integer numbers represent the stability value for the sample, 1 (least stable) and to 6 (most stable). Producer defined 1 50% of structural integrity lost within 5 seconds of immersion in water, or is too unstable to sample (falls through seive). Producer defined 2 50% of structural integrity lost 5 – 30 seconds after immersion. Producer defined 3 50% of structural integrity lost 30 – 300 seconds after immersion, OR <10% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles. Producer defined 4 10 – 25% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles. Producer defined 5 25 – 75% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles. Producer defined 6 75 – 100% of soil remains on the sieve after 5 dipping cycles Producer defined Notes This attribute (column name) in the data table represents any notes about a data record observed during field data collection. Producer defined textual descriptions of about a data record observed during field data collection ISKY Cliff Trample Crypto data - Interspace These data tables represent biological soil crust data derived from cryptoframes in the interspaces between shrubs and under shrubs. These data were collected in Canyonlands National Park in mechanical disturbance and control plots in 2018. The mechanical disturbance treatment (trampling) occurred annually from 1996-2011. The purpose of this data table is to monitor biological soil crust community recovery following cessation of mechanical disturbance. T = trace and blank records indicate 0 hits. These data appear in the manuscript in figure 1, figure 2, and figure 3. Producer defined Site This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the site where the data collection took place. Producer defined All attribute values are "ISKY" and represent the geographic location for the site. Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date the data was collected during the field survey. Producer defined 5/14/2018 5/23/2018 date: m/dd/yyyy Reader This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was reading the cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was reading the cryptoframe during the field survey Scribe This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was recording the data from cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities.. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was recording the cryptoframe during the field survey Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot (or replicate) where the data was collected. Producer defined Plots are labeled C2, C3, CT1, CT2, CT4, 3T, 5C. The attribute values represent the location for the plot. C = control; T = trample; CT = control trample Transect This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the transect id where the data was collected. Producer defined The attribute values represent the location for the transect. Light Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lightly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 19 integer number Dark Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for darkly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 17 integer number Litter/Plant This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for plant litter. Producer defined 1 3 integer number Rock <2 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for small rocks that are less than 2cm. Producer defined 1 13 integer number Rock 2-5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for medium sized rocks that are between 2-5cm. Producer defined 1 9 integer number Rock >5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for large rocks that are bigger than 5cm. Producer defined 1 4 integer number Aspicillia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Aspicillia. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Bare This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for bare ground. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Cat Lach This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for a species of lichen Placidium lachneum formerly Catapyrenium lachneum. T = trace Producer defined 1 1 integer number Collema This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lichens from the genera Collema. T = trace Producer defined 1 6 integer number Fulgensia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Fulgensia. T = trace Producer defined 1 1 integer number Hepia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Hepia. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Psora This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Psora. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Syncan This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss species Syntrichia canninervis. T = trace Producer defined 1 1 integer number Toninia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Toninia. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Surface Category This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the general category of the cover for the cryptoframe. Producer defined DC Dark Cyanobacteria Producer defined L Litter Producer defined LC Light Cyanobacteria Producer defined LI Lichen Producer defined M Moss Producer defined R Rock Producer defined Notes This attribute (column name) in the data table represents any notes about a data record observed during field data collection. Producer defined textual descriptions of about a data record observed during field data collection ISKY Cliff Trample Crypto data - Shrub These data tables represent biological soil crust data derived from cryptoframes in the interspaces between shrubs and under shrubs. These data were collected in Canyonlands National Park in mechanical disturbance and control plots in 2018. The mechanical disturbance treatment (trampling) occurred annually from 1996-2011. The purpose of this data table is to monitor biological soil crust community recovery following cessation of mechanical disturbance. T = trace and blank records indicate 0 hits. These data appear in the manuscript in figure 1, figure 2, and figure 3. Producer defined Site This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the site where the data collection took place. Producer defined All attribute values are "ISKY" and represent the geographic location for the site. Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date the data was collected. Producer defined 5/14/2018 5/23/2018 date: m/dd/yyyy Reader This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was reading the cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was reading the cryptoframe during the field survey Scribe This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was recording the data from cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was recording the cryptoframe during the field survey Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot (or replicate) where the data was collected. Producer defined Plots are labeled C3, CT1, CT2, CT4, CT5, 2C, 3T, 4C, 5C. The attribute values represent the location for the plot. C = control; T = trample; CT = control trample Transect This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the transect id where the data was collected. Producer defined The attribute values represent the location for the transect. Light Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lightly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 17 integer number Dark Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for darkly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 18 integer number Litter/Plant This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for plant litter. Producer defined 1 11 integer number Rock <2 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for small rocks that are less than 2cm. Producer defined 1 11 integer number Rock 2-5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for medium sized rocks that are between 2-5cm. Producer defined 1 7 integer number Rock >5 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for large rocks that are bigger than 5cm. Producer defined 1 6 integer number Aspicillia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Aspicillia. T = trace Producer defined 1 2 integer number Bare This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for bare ground. Producer defined 1 4 integer number Bioturb This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for bioturbation (from animal activity) hits. T = trace Producer defined 2 2 integer number Black Dot/Peltula This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for genus Petula. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Cat Lach This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for a species of lichen Placidium lachneum formerly Catapyrenium lachneum. T = trace Producer defined 1 2 integer number Collema This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lichens from the genera Collema. T = trace Producer defined 1 8 integer number Col. Cocco This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for the lichen species Collema coccoformis. Producer defined 1 4 integer number Diplo This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Diplo. T = trace Producer defined 0 0 integer number Fulgensia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Fulgensia. T = trace Producer defined 2 2 integer number Hepia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Hepia. T = trace Producer defined 1 2 integer number Psora This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Psora. T = trace Producer defined 1 1 integer number Ptery This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for the moss genus Ptery. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Syncan This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss species Syntrichia canninervis. T = trace Producer defined 1 8 integer number Toninia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Toninia. T = trace Producer defined 1 1 integer number EPVI base This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for bioturbation (from animal activity) hits. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Surface Category This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the general category of the cover for the cryptoframe. Producer defined DC Dark Cyanobacteria Producer defined L Litter Producer defined LC Light Cyanobacteria Producer defined LI Lichen Producer defined M Moss Producer defined R Rock Producer defined W Water Producer defined Sh L(cm) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents shrub length in centimeters. Producer defined 25 118 centimeters Sh W(cm) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents shrub width in centimeters. Producer defined 13.3 89 centimeters Cover% This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the percent cover of the shrub. Producer defined 5 90 percent Shrub Location This attribute (column name) in the data table represents where the shrub is located on the transect. Producer defined a textual description that includes distances in meters or centimeters Notes This attribute (column name) in the data table represents any notes about a data record observed during field data collection. Producer defined A textual descriptions of about a data record observed during field data collection. Blank records represent no shrub location near. Arches_PPT_Temp_2005-2019_PRISM_Data, CastleValley_PPT_Temp_2005-2019_PRISM_Data, ISKY_Cliff_PPT_Temp_2005-2019_PRISM_Data These data tables represents daily precipitation and minimum, mean and maximum temperature for the Arches National Park, Castle Valley, and Canyonlands National Park (ISKY) sites from 2005-2018 acquired from PRISM data at 4km spatial resolution (https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/). The purpose of these data tables is to compare precipitation and temperature values at the three sites. See 'Process Step' for individual parameters. These data appear in the manuscript in supplementary figure 9 and 10. Producer defined Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date for the PRISM data Producer defined 1/1/2005 1/1/2019 date: mm/dd/yyyy ppt (mm) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents daily precipitation. Producer defined 0 40.5 millimeters tmin (degrees C) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents daily minimum temperature. Producer defined -23.6 25.9 degrees Celsius tmean (degrees C) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents daily mean temperature. Producer defined -15.6 32.7 degrees Celsius tmax (degrees C) This attribute (column name) in the data table represents daily maximum temperature. Producer defined -11 41.5 degrees Celsius B&C Crypto Frame 2005-2018 data This data table represents biological soil crust data derived from cryptoframes in the interspaces between shrubs and under shrubs. These data were collected at our Castle Valley climate manipulation plots in 2005-2018 twice per year. The altered precipitation treatment (trampling) occurred annually from 2005-2012. The purpose of this data table is to monitor biological soil crust community composition under warming and altered precipitation treatments as well as recovery following cessation of altered precipitation disturbance. Blank records and "0" values indicate 0 hits. These data appear in the manuscript figure 2, supplementary figure 4 and supplementary figure 5. Producer defined Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date the cryptoframe was read. 540 records have missing dates. The exact date these data were collected was not preserved in data entry. These data were collected before any of our team was at the office. While the exact date of data collection was not preserved the year and season were as that is something that is crucial for analysis. Producer defined 6/6/2005 11/5/2018 date: mm/dd/yyyy Year This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the year the cryptoframe was read. Producer defined 2005 2018 year: yyyy Season This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the season the cryptoframe was read. Producer defined Fall = September - November and Spring = April - June Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot where the cryptoframe was read. Producer defined B = set of plots from the climate manipulation experiment, C = set of plots from the climate manipulation experiment Block This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the block where the cryptoframe was read. Producer defined 1 5 integer number Tx This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the treatment where the cryptoframe was read. Producer defined CC Control Producer defined L Lamp Producer defined LC Lamp control Producer defined LW Lamp water Producer defined W Water Producer defined Stake number This attribute (column name) in the data table represents where in the plot the cryptoframe was read. Producer defined 1 8 integer number Light Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for lightly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 0 20 integer number Dark Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for darkly-pigmented cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 17 integer number Aspicillia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Aspicillia. Producer defined 0 4 integer number Bare This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for bare ground. Producer defined 0 4 integer number Bioturb/Bare This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were bioturbation on bare ground. Producer defined 0 11 integer number Bioturb/Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were bioturbation on cyanobacteria. Producer defined 0 17 integer number Bleached Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were bleached cyanobacteria. Producer defined 0 1 integer number Bryum This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss genus Bryum. Producer defined 0 6 integer number Caloplaca This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Caloplaca. Producer defined 0 1 integer number Cat Lach This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for a species of lichen Placidium lachneum formerly Catapyrenium lachneum. Producer defined 0 3 integer number Cat Squam This attribute (Cat Squam) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichen species Placidium squamulosum formerly Catapyrenium squamulosum. Producer defined 0 2 integer number Col. cocco This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the lichen species Collema coccoformis. Producer defined 0 7 integer number Dead Lichen This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the dead lichen of an undetermined species. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Dead Moss This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the dead moss of an undetermined species. Producer defined 1 4 integer number Disc dead syncan This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the dead moss species Syntrichia canninervis. Producer defined 0 11 integer number Endocarpin This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Endocarpin. Producer defined 0 1 integer number Hepia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Hepia. Producer defined 0 1 integer number Large rock >3cm This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for large rocks that are bigger than 3 cm. Producer defined 0 17 integer number Litter/Animal This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the number of hits that were litter (waste) from animals. Producer defined 0 3 integer number Litter/Plant This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for plant litter. Producer defined 0 20 integer number Live plt base This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were live plant bases. Producer defined 0 19 integer number Medium rock >1cm <3cm This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for medium rocks that are between 1cm and 3cm. Producer defined 0 8 integer number Mini rock >1mm <2mm This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for mini rocks that are less than 2mm, but greater than 1 mm. Producer defined 0 4 integer number Nostoc This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for genus Nostoc. Producer defined 0 1 integer number Peltula This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for genus Petula. Producer defined 0 5 integer number Psora cere This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the lichen species Psora cere. Producer defined 0 1 integer number Psora Decip This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the lichen species Psora decipiens. Producer defined 0 1 integer number Psora tuck This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the lichen species Psora tuck. Producer defined 0 0 integer number Small rock >2mm <1cm This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for small rocks that are between 2mm and 1 cm. Producer defined 0 10 integer number Syn can This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss species Syntrichia canninervis. Producer defined 0 20 integer number Syn rur This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the moss species Syntrichia ruralis. Producer defined 0 9 integer number Tech Turb This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were bioturbation was caused by technicians recording data. Producer defined 0 2 integer number Toninia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Toninia. Producer defined 0 2 integer number Unk 1 This attribute (column name) in the data table represents hits of a unidentified biocrust species. Producer defined 0 1 integer number Total This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the total number of hits recorded for each cryptoframe. Total = SUM(Light Cyano:DEAD LICHEN) Producer defined 0 21 integer number Trample Crypto Data 2011 data This data table represents biological soil crust data derived from cryptoframes in the interspaces between shrubs and under shrubs. These data were collected in Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park in mechanical disturbance and control plots in 2011. The mechanical disturbance treatment (trampling) occurred annually from 1996 - 2011. The purpose of this data table is to monitor biological soil crust community composition following cessation of mechanical disturbance. These data appear in the manuscript in figure 1b. Producer defined Site This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the site where the data was collected. Producer defined All attribute values represent the geographic location for the site. Arches = Arches National Park, ISKY = Canyonlands National Park Date This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date the data was collected during the field survey. Producer defined 6/23/2011 7/11/2011 date: m/dd/yyyy Reader This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was reading the cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was reading the cryptoframe during the field survey Scribe This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initals of the person who was recording the data from cryptoframe (25 cm x 25 cm frame for assessing the biological soil crust communities.. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who was recording the cryptoframe during the field survey Plot This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot (or replicate) where the data was collected. Producer defined Control undisturbed control plot Producer defined Trample physical disturbance plot trampled by human steps Producer defined Plot number This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the plot ID where the cryptoframe was read. Producer defined 1 5 integer number Transect This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the transect id where the data was collected. Producer defined a textual letter (a, b, c, d, e) for the transect at the site Meter This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the linear measurement where the cryptoframe was read on the transect in meters. Producer defined 0.5 12 meters Aspicillia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Aspicillia. Producer defined 1 3 integer number Bare This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for bare ground. Producer defined 2 16 integer number Bioturb/Bare This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were bioturbation on bare ground. Producer defined 1 3 integer number Bioturb/Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were bioturbation on cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 11 integer number Bryum This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss genus Bryum. Producer defined 1 2 integer number Caloplaca This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Caloplaca. Producer defined 1 1 integer number Cat Lach This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for a species of lichen Placidium lachneum formerly Catapyrenium lachneum. Producer defined 0 0 integer number Cat Squam This attribute (Cat Squam) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichen species Placidium squamulosum formerly Catapyrenium squamulosum. Producer defined 1 2 integer number Col. cocco This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the lichen species Collema coccoformis. Producer defined 1 3 integer number Col. tenex This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the lichen species Collema tennax. Producer defined 1 5 integer number Cyano This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits that were cyanobacteria. Producer defined 1 20 integer number Large rock >3cm This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for large rocks that are bigger than 3 cm. Producer defined 1 16 integer number Litter/Animal This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were the number of hits that were litter (waste) from animals. Producer defined 1 2 integer number Litter/Plant This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for plant litter. Producer defined 1 19 integer number Live plt base This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits that were live plant bases. Producer defined 1 20 integer number Medium rock >1cm <3cm This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for medium rocks that are between 1cm and 3cm. Producer defined 1 10 integer number Mini rock >1mm <2mm This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for mini rocks that are less than 2mm, but greater than 1 mm. Producer defined 1 4 integer number Peltula This attribute (column name) in the data table represents number of hits for genus Petula. Producer defined 0 0 integer number Small rock >2mm <1cm This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for small rocks that are between 2mm and 1 cm. Producer defined 1 13 integer number Syncan This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the moss species Syntrichia canninervis. Producer defined 1 15 integer number Toninia This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the number of hits for the lichens in the genus Toninia. Producer defined 1 1 integer number LOD This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the level of development of the biocrust. Producer defined 1 6 integer number Sum This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the total number of hits recorded for each cryptoframe. Sum = (Cyano:Large rock >3cm) Producer defined 0 20 integer number Notes This attribute (column name) in the data table represents any notes about a data record observed during field data collection. Producer defined textual descriptions of about a data record observed during field data collection Date Entered This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date that the data was entered. Producer defined 8/18/2011 8/18/2011 date: mm/dd/yyyy Entered By This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initials of the person who entered the data. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who entered the field survey data into the computer program (EXCEL) Date Checked This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the date that the data was checked for errors in entry. Producer defined 10/11/2011 10/11/2011 date: mm/dd/yyyy Checked By This attribute (column name) in the data table represents the initials of the person who checked the data. Producer defined a textual description of the initials of the person who entered the field survey data into the computer program (EXCEL) U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase U.S. Geological Survey mailing and physical

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Denver CO 80225 United States 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov The author(s) of these data request that data users contact them regarding intended use and to assist with understanding limitations and interpretation. Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. These data are in a comma-separated values (.csv) file format. The user must have software capable of reading or displaying machine-readable tabular data. 20211215 Michala L Phillips U.S. Geological Survey mailing and physical

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Moab UT 84532 US 928-556-7550 mphillips@usgs.gov Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998