Rapid Biodiversity Assessment GRID Sampling (citizen science) in the White Mountains, northern Alaska, USA, June 2013

Abstract

This data set consists of a Rapid Biodiversity Sampling from a non-intrusive citizen science GRID (5*5 geo-referenced sampling + 5 random plots = 30 plots overall). It includes raw count data for 305 bird observations of 14 identified bird species, and plants from the 25+5 survey sampling plots (3m radius), as well as insects from four trapping webs (3m radius, 25 traps each, 3 repeats; mostly spiders were detected). The survey was done between 25th of June and 27th of June in 2013 at the White Mountains (north to the NorthForkBirch and Twelvemile Creeks - near the Steese Hgw 6) in Alaska USA (decimal degrees latitude 65.39590, longitude -145.72890, geographic datum of WGS84) . Plots are located near the public road in the rolling hills, subartic tundra on some slope, and some are located. All plot locations were photographed (sky, ground and habitat shots) and for a visual assessment. All bird detections (visual and oral) carry a radial distance 360 degrees from the observer, and were collected according to DISTANCE Sampling point transect protocols. Respectively, a DISTANCE Sampling trapping web protocol, with a 3m radius and allowing for detectability correction in abundance estimates, was applied for ground-living insects. Generally, these data do not cover high detailed taxonomic information (and usually just follow basic but accurate descriptions). Each plot was visited three times according to the PRESENCE software requirements to obtain occupancy estimates. All of these data can be data-mined using for instance freely available RandomForest, Distance Sampling and PRESENCE software packages. Comparable Biodiversity GRID data so far is available for over 11 other regions (e.g. Nicaragua, Central Alaska, Costa Rica, Papua New-Guinea, Northern & Interior Alaska, Northeastern China and Russian Far East). Data from the other study sites are also available online. For more details please contact authors. The fllowing species were identified: dwarf birch (Betula nana Taxonomic Serial Number TSN by ITIS.org 19479), Black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum 23743), Cottongrass (Eriophorum 40079), marsh Labrador tea (Rhododendron tomentosum 894434), Alaska blue berry (Vaccinium ovalifolium 23607), Bird vetch (Vicia cracca 26335), Ant (Formica 154211), Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus 178529), Fox Sparrow (Carduelis flammea 179230), Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis 179667), Swainson`s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus 179788), Raven (Corvus corax 179725), Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata 178891), Savannah Sparow (Passerculus sandwichensis 179314), Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca 179464), Grouse (Phasianidae 175861), Woodpecker (Picidae 178148), American Robin (Turdus migratorius 179759), Wilson Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla 178973), White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys 179455), Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea 179230).