@article {52255, title = {Jornada validation site report}, year = {1975}, note = {//NMSU//US-IBP//}, month = {1975}, institution = {Utah State University}, address = {Logan, Utah}, abstract = {Drought conditions characterized the first six months of 1974-- a continuation of conditions which began in late summer of 1973. Because of drought conditions, there was a virtual absence of spring annuals, and many species of plants such as Panicum obtusum, Hymenoxys odorata, Hilaria mutica, Larrea tridentata, etc., exhibited no growth until after the first rains, July 4. The only plants exhibiting new growth in spring were those which appear to be more independent of water like Prosopis glandulosa and Yucca elata. Mammals and lizards exhibited decreases in species diversity and densities in early summer 1974, but their populations recovered during the wet summer and fall. Ant and termite activity was low or absent depending on the area until after the summer rains started. Termites consumed all species of buried native vegetation and also ate through the control bags s we were unable to obtain quantitative data on feeding rates. Microbial studies continued this year showed little activity during the dry months of January through June. Litter production data followed the phenology of the plants. Larrea tridentata dropped more bark and twigs than the other species studied. On the spray site, we found that the rodent fauna had switched from a desert fauna dominated by Dipodomys merriami and Perognathus penicillatus to a grassland fauna dominated by Dipodomys ordii and Perognathus flavus. This shift was obviously not related to soil differences.}, keywords = {anurans, Bufo, anurans, distribution patterns, anurans, Scaphiopus, anurans, surface activity, bajada, ants, bajada, arthropods, bajada, climate, bajada, decomposition, bajada, herbicides, bajada, insects, bajada, plants, bajada, reptiles, bajada, soil bacteria, bajada, soil enzymes, bajada, soil thermophiles, bajada,birds, bajada,lagomorphs, bajada,rodents, bird, Swainson{\textquoteright}s hawk, food habits, book, books, chapter, chapters, decomposition, termites, food habits, Swainson{\textquoteright}s hawk, playa, ants, playa, arthropods, playa, climatic, playa, decomposition, playa, flooding, playa, insects, playa, microbial activity, playa, plants, playa, productivity, playa, reptiles, playa, rodents, playa,birds, playa,lagomorphs, report, reports, termite, Amitermes, termite, decomposition, termite, Gnathamitermes, termite, Reticulitermes, US-IBP,validation site report}, isbn = {Research Memorandum 75-4}, author = {Walter G. Whitford} }