Abstract: Plant species composition affects the biogeochemical cycle, productivity, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and ecosystem services of forest ecosystems. It is an important indicator of the long-term terrestrial ecosystem observation of Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) and National Ecosystem Research Network of China (CNERN). Monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest (MEBF) is a climax in the lower subtropics of China, which is sensitive to environment change. According to CERN and CNERN monitoring standards, Dinghushan Forest Ecosystem Research Station finished seven investigations at a MEBF plot and established a dataset on species composition during 1992 and 2015. The dataset included species name, abundance, biomass, and importance value of woody plants with a diameter of ≥1 cm in the plot. The MEBF species composition database provides critical data for in-depth studies of forest species composition, structure and function under environment change, and can support forest management and ecosystem service evaluation in this region.
Keywords: Dinghushan; monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest; species composition; abundance; biomass; importance value; long-term observation