A global database for metaCommunity Ecology: Species, Traits, Environment & Space - version 1.0 (CESTES-v1.0)

We collated 90 datasets from trait-based studies and compiled them into "CESTES" and "ceste" databases. The "CESTES" database is composed of 80 datasets each of which includes four matrices: species community abundances or presences/absences across multiple sites, species trait information, environmental variables, and spatial coordinates of the sampling sites. The ancillary "ceste" database is composed of 10 additional datasets each of which includes the same type of information than CESTES, apart from the spatial coordinates and/or complete metadata information. The CESTES database is a live database: it will be maintained and expanded in the future. By its harmonized structure, and the diversity of ecosystem types, taxonomic groups, and spatial scales it covers, the CESTES database provides an important opportunity for synthetic trait-based research in community ecology.