Diversity, species coexistence, and functional composition patterns in subtropical Atlantic Forests invaded by non-native trees

Biological invasions are a major environmental challenge today. Interactions between invasive and native species can significantly shape community structures, influencing co-existence, diversity, and functional composition of species. The subtropical Atlantic forest in southern Brazil, a recognized biodiversity hotspot, provides a unique setting to study these interactions, given its vulnerability to alien tree invasions. 
Our study sought to elucidate the impacts of such invasions on this fragile ecosystem by addressing key questions: 1) How are tree community diversity patterns affected by the abundance of invading alien tree species? 2) What are the patterns of coexistence between native and alien invasive trees? 3) Is the functional composition of the forests altered by the abundance of invasive trees?
To address these questions, we compiled data on the abundance and functional traits of native and invasive trees. We determined the diversity patterns and functional composition of p..., , , # Diversity, species coexistence, and functional composition patterns in subtropical Atlantic Forests invaded by non-native trees

# Summary

This dataset compiles information on the abundance of tree species (diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm) in subtropical forests in southern Brazil, including sampling of invasive alien trees. It also contains functional data on wood density (WD), leaf area (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA) of tree species collected from the UDESC Dendrology Laboratory Functional Database. The dataset is intended to facilitate the study of the distribution and functional traits of native and alien invasive species across different forest formations.

## Data Description and File Structure

The dataset consists of three main files:

### `FAlarsenSA1.csv`

Contains data on the abundance of tree species across different study plots.

* **area**: The location where the study was conducted.
* **P**: Identification of plots within each location.
* **PC**: Continuous identif...