Composition and cover of dominant woody species in plant communities across the Andalusian Red Natura 2000 (Directiva Habitats 92/43/CEE)

Our aim was to characterize the composition and cover of dominant woody plant species, with the capacity to act as nurse plants, in plant communities across the Andalusian Red Natura 2000 (Directiva Habitats 92/43/CEE). The study was developed in 32 plant communities across 16 protected areas distributed within the Andalusian RedNatura 2000. The present dataset can help to assess plant community dynamics of Mediterranean woody species. Here, we stress the importance incorporating abundance or cover for all co-occurring woody species together with ecological interactions, not just individual records, as key elements in assessing the state of ecosystems.