Principal biome Semiarid shrubland (shrub-grass steppe), rocky and loessial watersheds with ephemeral streams. Vegetation is dominated by patch-forming dwarf shrubs with species-rich annual winter vegetation in shrub patches and intershrub Land use and management Livestock grazing excluded in central watershed since 1987 Restricted/controlled grazing by Bedouin sheep herds in the surroundings Experimental units 6 plots (2m x 8m) on a North-West slope (~5%) 4 plots on an adjacent North-East slope (~5%) Experimental treatments 3 and 2 plots are fenced to exclude livestock grazing the rest is grazed 4 to 6 times in March-April Sampling 3 shrub patches per plot 3 intershrub patches per plot (~30cm apart) sample size 20cm x 30cm sampling time March-April Years 1997-2016 Data Counts of all herbaceous plants and shrub seedlings by species Data matrix of S species x 60 samples per year Experimental variables Levels Location NW, NE Plot 1-6, 1-4 Treatment GRZ, CNT Patch type Shrub, Crust Patch No 1-3