Multispecies count data for Dynamic Factor Analysis by the Desert Ecology Research Group 

This dataset consists of counts for multiple plant species obtained from the Ethabuka Station and Carlo Reserve in the Simpson Desert, Australia, from 2004-2013 by the Desert Ecology Research Group (DERG) in conjunction with LTERN. It also consists rainfall data obtained from 2004-2012. These datasets were used to perform a Dynamic Factor Analyses for the manuscript, "Life form explains consistent temporal trends across species: the application of dynamic factor analysis". For more information see: DERG; https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/our-research/research-areas/life-and-environmental-sciences/desert-ecology.html. 

We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. The authors would like to acknowledge Aaron Greenville, Bobby Tamayo, DERG staff, LTERN, Bush Heritage Australia and ARC for funding and assistance in data collection, data entry and data management. 

This dataset is a subset of a larger vegetation plot dataset collected by the Desert Ecology Research Group (DERG) in conjunction with LTERN. It consists of plant counts for multiple species across three sites within the Ethabuka Station and Carlo Reserve in the Simpson Desert from 2004-2013; rainfall data from 2004-2012; and a species list with classifications based on life form. Desert Ecology Plot Network: Covers 8,000 km2 in the north-eastern Simpson Desert, western Queensland Established: 1990; Aim: Track long-term shifts in biodiversity in relation to key drivers, both intrinsic to the resource-pulse dynamics and due to human disturbance. These drivers include unpredictable rainfall and droughts, fire, feral predators and grazing; Key research questions: 1) How will increased climate extremes impact on the dynamic network of interactions among species and their role in maintaining biodiversity? 2) How do complex predator-prey interactions regulate vertebrate diversity in arid Australia? Surveys: Surveys of flora and fauna are undertaken several times each year and manipulative experiments are conducted to disentangle the multiple interacting processes; Climatic variables of rainfall and temperature are recorded continuously by 13 automatic weather stations installed in 1995. 

Data were collected from three sites within Ethabuka Reserve and Carlo Station within the Simpson Desert, Australia. Four grids were set up at each site (total = 12 grids), with each grid occupying 1 ha consisting of 15 5 × 5 m plots. Five plots were spaced randomly, but with a minimum separation of 5 m, on 100 m transects along the crest, middle and swale of the dunes, with 100 m separating the crest and the swale transects. Surveys recording plant species abundances were conducted 4 times a year from 2004-2006 and 1-2 times a year from 2007-2013.