| Variable | Units | Abbreviation | Additional description |
| Shrub type | Categorical | SH | Morrow’s honeysuckle, southern arrowwood, dense thickets of Morrow’s honeysuckle, or open plots |
| Herb cover | % | HC | % Total herb cover within the plot |
| Native herb cover | % | NC | Ratio of native herb cover to total herb cover |
| Litter mass | g | LM | Leaf litter dry weight within plot |
| Litter nitrogen | % | LN | % Litter nitrogen within plot |
| Soil moisture | % | SM | % Moisture content of 20 g sample of soil from plot |
| Soil temperature | ˚C | ST | Soil temperature to a depth of 4 cm |
| Debris mass | g | DM | Wet weight of debris collected in vacuum within plot |