From mobile sand dunes to 30-year <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i><i> </i>plantations: a dataset of ground arthropod diversity responses to vegetation cover changein the Badain Jaran Desert

The dataset covers eight habitat types. For each habitat, 12 sampling plots (30 m × 50 m) were established, with five pitfall traps per plot. Ground arthropods were sampled in May and August 2014.

Infrared-triggered cameras and line transects were used to survey reptile and mammal diversity in natural desert areas, 5-10-year, and 20-30-year plantations. In autumn 2014, vegetation community structure was surveyed in each ground arthropod sampling plot, and soil samples were collected for physicochemical analysis. The dataset includes: (1) data on species composition, abundance, functional traits of ground arthropods; (2) data on changes in activity of reptiles and mammals; (3) data on vegetation cover, shrub nutrient content, species diversity, and biomass; and (4) data on fungal and bacterial OTUs diversity,soil enzyme activity, mechanical composition,bulk density, moisture, pH, salinity, and the contents and stocks of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus.

This long-term dataset provides baseline data for studying soil-vegetation-animal interactions during the restoration of artificial sand-fixing vegetation in arid regions, and offers scientific support for evaluating restoration effectiveness and informing management decisions in desert ecosystems.</p>