Tree genus composition of eleven lowland and lower montane tropical rain forests along a pedogenic gradient in northern Borneo

The data file contains the community composition at genus level for eleven lowland tropical rain forest (LTRF) and lower montane tropical rain forest (MTRF) in northern Borneo (the Malaysian state of Sabah), compiled from various sources, some of which were not indexed. Plot data include forests at Bukit Babi, Mt. Kinabalu (MTRF); Bukit Ular, Mt. Kinabalu (MTRF); Danum, Danum Valley (LTRF); Deramakot, Deramakot Forest Reserve (LTRF); Nabawan LC, Nabawan Town (LHF); Nabawan SC, Nabawan Town (LHF); Nalumad, Mt. Kinabalu (LTRF); PHQ, Mt. Kinabalu (MTRF); Poring, Mt. Kinabalu (LTRF); Tawau, Tawau Hill’s Park (LTRF); and Tawau Heath, Tawau Hill’s Park (LHF).

Methods
Plot size of the eleven forests varied depending on forest stature, from 4 ha in tall lowland mixed dipterocarp forest to 0.25 ha in short-stature montane forest. All trees greater than 10 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh) were measured and identified to species. Relative abundances of species were derived from relative basal area in each plot. Relative abundances of genera were derived by lumping congeneric species by genus. Unidentified genera were excluded from the dataset. Tree genera include all gymnosperms, angiosperms and a few tree ferns.

 Please see the related articles for a further description of the study sites and inventory methods.

Aiba S. & Kitayama K. (1999) Species composition, structure and species diversity of rain forests in a matrix of altitudes and substrates on Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo. Plant Ecology 140: 139-157. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009710618040

 Imai N., Seino T., Aiba S-i., Takyu M., Titin J., Kitayama K. (2012) Effects of selective logging on tree species diversity and composition of Bornean tropical rain forests at different spatial scales. Plant Ecology 213: 1413-1424. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-012-0100-y