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Experimental set-up of an Automated Rainfall Manipulation System with rainout shelter and irrigation equipment (left). Emerging velvet mesquite seedlings with evidence of herbivory (right).
Austin Rutherford Left: An Automated Rainfall Manipulation System consisting of a rainout shelter (background) to intercept rainfall and an irrigation system (foreground) for creating drought and wet year precipitation treatments. Herbaceous growth in half of every plot was clipped to simulate heavy livestock grazing, and ant/small mammal exclusion treatments were installed within each clipping treatment. Right: Close-up of emerging velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) seedlings with evidence of herbivory following recent monsoon season rainfall.