Pattern and driver of the compositional variations in a tropical cloud forest: Comparing vascular epiphytes with terrestrial woody plants

β-diversity patterns (the compositional variations across sites) and their drivers are the major concerns of biodiversity research and conservation practices, whereas such information remains scarce for vascular epiphytes, especially in tropical forest communities. This study aimed to reveal the pattern and driving process of the compositional variations of vascular epiphytes in a tropical cloud forest on Hainan island, southern China, and their differences from those of terrestrial woody plants. To this end, we quantified their between-habitat compositional variations and distinguished the underlying components of β-diversity (nestedness and turnover). We then examined the relative roles of niche-based and neutral processes in driving the compositional variations by using a null model approach. Our results showed that the between-habitat compositional variations were significant for both plant assemblages and stronger in vascular epiphytes than in terrestrial woody plants. The turnover..., , , # Pattern and driver of the compositional variations in a tropical cloud forest: Comparing vascular epiphytes with terrestrial woody plants

## Description of the data and file structure

These were the plant compositional data collected from 21 plots established in three habitats (A-C) of a tropical cloud forest on Hainan island. Specifically, a total of 3 data files were displayed here: 1) composition data of the terrestrial woody plants (TWP) with the diameter at breast height (DBH) no less than 1 cm across those plots, 2) composition data of vascular epiphyte (VE), and 3) the species list of those plants. The composition data were displayed in the species-by-plot matrix in presence (1) or absence (0). Plot 1-10 were established within Habitat A, Plot 11-14 within Habitat B, and Plot 15-21 within Habitat C. These data were used to analyze the plant β-diversity pattern and the driving process, as in the asscoated manuscript. More details can be found in the manuscript, as well as in...

β多样性（β-diversity，即群落间的组成差异）及其驱动因子是生物多样性研究与保护实践的核心议题，但针对维管附生植物（vascular epiphytes）的相关研究资料仍较为匮乏，在热带森林群落中尤为突出。本研究旨在揭示中国海南岛热带云雾林内维管附生植物的群落组成差异模式与驱动过程，并对比其与陆生木本植物的差异。为此，我们量化了不同生境间的群落组成差异，并解析了β多样性的内在组分——嵌套性（nestedness）与更替（turnover）。随后通过零模型（null model）方法，检验了基于生态位的过程与中性过程在驱动群落组成差异中的相对作用。研究结果显示，两类植物群落的生境间组成差异均显著，且维管附生植物的差异程度强于陆生木本植物。群落更替…… # 热带云雾林群落组成差异的模式与驱动因子：维管附生植物与陆生木本植物的对比

## 数据与文件结构说明
本数据集包含采集自中国海南岛热带云雾林3种生境（A~C）内设置的21个样地的植物组成数据。本次共提供3份数据文件：1）样地内胸径（DBH, diameter at breast height）≥1 cm的陆生木本植物（TWP, terrestrial woody plants）组成数据；2）维管附生植物（VE, vascular epiphyte）组成数据；3）对应植物的物种名录。组成数据以物种-样地矩阵形式呈现，以1表示物种存在、0表示物种缺失。其中样地1~10设置于生境A内，样地11~14设置于生境B内，样地15~21设置于生境C内。本数据集用于如相关手稿所述的植物β多样性模式与驱动过程分析，更多细节可参阅该手稿及其他相关资料。