Data for: Specialized feeding behavior of an endangered primate enhances forest health in China

This dataset contains raw data for the research work entitled
"Specialized feeding behavior of an Endangered primate enhances
forest health in China," submitted to Ecology and Evolution. This
dataset documents the ecological interactions between the endangered
Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) and the lichen Usnea
longissima, with a specific focus on forest health dynamics in China. The
data is structured into five distinct components:    
 1) Vegetation Health: Temporal monitoring of unhealthy branch
proportions and lichen cover over 15 months.    
 2) Microclimate: Meteorological records including solar
radiation, temperature, and humidity across canopy gaps of five varying
sizes over one year. Data is recorded every 30 minutes. 
     3) Biomass Distribution: Comparative
biomass surveys of U. longissima across historical and current habitats
with different local extinction timelines (0–40 years). 

     4) Dispersal Mechanics: Measurements of
lichen thallus dispersal length and frequency in and out of habitats.
     5) Growth Metrics: Growth rates of lichen
under simulated foraging behaviors (cutting) and five varying canopy light
conditions. Key variables include biological measurements, environmental
indices, and experimental treatment codes. To address ethical conservation
concerns and protect the location of these endangered species, geographic
coordinates for quadrats have been generalized to a precision of 0.1
decimal degrees. No negative impact was caused to any animals during the
data collection process. This dataset provides significant reuse potential
for research in disturbance ecology, primate habitat conservation, and
lichen physiology, independent of the associated primary article.