A dataset of species composition in a monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest monitoring plot of Dinghushan Forest Ecosystem Research Station (1992 – 2015)

Species composition plays an important role in the nutrient circulation, forest productivity formation, carbon storing, biodiversity conservation and ecological function maintenance of forest ecosystems. It is an important community indicator of the terrestrial ecosystems of Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) and National Ecosystem Research Network of China (CNERN). The monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest (MEBF) is the climax vegetation type in the subtropics of China, which is sensitive to environment change. According to field investigation of the MEBF monitoring plot in Dinghushan Forest Ecosystem Research Station that is one of the stations of CERN and CNERN, the species composition of woody plants with diameter at breast height of ≥1 cm from the year of 1992 to 2015 were recorded. The data comprised the scientific name of species, abundance, biomass and importance value of the plot. The setup and data sharing of this MEBF species composition database provides critical data for in-depth studies of forest species composition, structure and function under environment change, supporting forest management and ecosystem service evaluation in this region.