Dataset: carbon and nitrogen content in coarse woody debris sampled in northern Brazilian Amazon

The dataset provides information on carbon and nitrogen content (%) in coarse woody debris pieces (stem diameter ≥ 10 cm) sampled in two different Protected Areas situated in state of Roraima, northern Brazilian Amazon: Maracá Ecological Station (Maraca) and Viruá National Park (Virua). Both areas are PPBio (Biodiversity Research Program) grids characterized by distinct forest types. Our sampling took into consideration 128 pieces: 56 (Maraca) and 72 (Virua). All pieces were observed/measured in 2008, as specified in Silva, L.F.S.G.; Castilho, C.V.; Cavalcante, C.O.; Pimentel, T.P.; Fearnside, P.M.; Barbosa, R.I. 2016. Production and stock of coarse woody debris across a hydro-edaphic gradient of oligotrophic forests in the northern Brazilian Amazon. <em>Forest Ecology and Management, </em>364: 1-9 (doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2015.12.045). Our dataset has a file (carbon_nitrogen_NECROMASS_Maraca-Virua.xlx) where are presented all information for each sampled piece (wood_piece_number), associated to the carbon content (%), nitrogen content (%), taxonomy (family; species), sampling date, etc. The dataset was supported by supported by INPA’s institutional project ‘‘Ecology and Management of Natural Resources of the Roraima Savanna” (PPI-INPA 012/18; 2008–2012) and the Biodiversity Research Program (PPBio Western Amazonia, Manaus). The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development of Brazil provided fellowships for R.I. Barbosa (CNPq 306286/2008-4) and P.M. Fearnside (CNPq 304020/2010-9). L.F.S.G. Silva and C. O. Cavalcante were supported by post-graduate fellowships provided by Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) provided infrastructure and authorization for the study (Authorizations 17398-1 and 17398-2 in 2009; 22576-1 in 2010).