Cloud forests of the Orinoco River Basin (Colombia): Variation in vegetation and soil macrofauna composition along the hydrometeorological gradient

We present vegetation, soil macrofauna, soil, hydrometeorological and
topographical data collected from Tropical Montane Cloud Forests in the
Orinoco River basin. Specifically, from the municipality of Chámeza,
department of Casanare, Colombia. These data sets were used to evaluate
how vegetation and soil macrofauna diversity vary along the 1700–2200 m
a.s.l. elevation range. Within this elevation range, we have previously
described a hydrometeorological gradient largely driven by a fog incidence
increase with elevation. Vegetation data were collected for all
individuals with a diameter at breast height (DBH) > 5 cm in four
vegetation plots (5 x 50 m; total: 0.1 ha) every 100 m in altitude between
1700–2200 m a.s.l. From each plot, we obtained three soil monoliths from
the organic layer and three from the mineral horizon, and manually
extracted their soil macrofauna, and soil samples for determining pH,
organic matter content, and soil texture, among others in a soil
laboratory. Topographical data was inferred from Digital Elevation Models.
Hydrometeorological data was collected in a previous study, but it was
interpolated to the sampling plots. Here we present the interpolated
hydrometeorological data.