KLEEdung2006-2014.xls (113 kB)
Kenya Long-term Exclosure Experiment (KLEE) dung count data
dataset
posted on 2016-04-15, 23:58 authored by Truman Young, Kari VeblenKari Veblen, Corinna Riginos, Grace CharlesGrace CharlesStarting in 2006, we have conducted biennial (roughly
March and October) dung surveys along six-4 m x100 m permanent transects within
each of the 18 KLEE plots and three control transects
outside of the KLEE plots. This Excel worksheet features dung count data
for each KLEE plot. Count data is broken down by herbivore species. To avoid
recounting the same dung piles during subsequent surveys, we crush all recorded
dung piles during each session. For animals that defecate in middens (such as
steinbuck and Grant's gazelle), we used the number of dung pellets and
differences in shape and color to estimate the number of separate defecation
events. Dung piles for all major herbivore species could be positively
identified to species in the field, with two exceptions. The dung of cattle and
buffalo could not be distinguished, and we lumped them. The dung of plains and
Grevy's zebras also could not be distinguished from each other; hence we
grouped them as “zebra”. However, plains zebra far outnumber Grevy’s, so
effectively we consider these to be plains zebra dung.