Data from: Restoring rainforest fragments: survival of mixed-native species seedlings under contrasting site conditions in the Western Ghats, India

DESCRIPTION

This dataset includes vegetation plot data on trees, lianas, understorey plants, and regeneration, and related data and species name matching files in five rainforest sites collected in 2003 as part of the following study:

Raman, T. R. S., Mudappa, D., and Kapoor, V. 2009. Restoring rainforest fragments: survival of mixed-native species seedlings under contrasting site conditions in the Western Ghats, India. Restoration Ecology 17:137–147. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00367.x

CONTACTS

CONTACT #11. Name: T. R. Shankar Raman2. Work Address: Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, 12th A Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570017, Karnataka, India3. Work Phone: [phone]. Email address: [e-mail]5. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1347-3953

CONTACT #21. Name: Divya Mudappa2. Work Address: Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, 12th A Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru 570017, Karnataka, India3. Work Phone: [phone]. Email address: [e-mail]5. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9708-4826

KEYWORDS

Anamalai hills; Eucalyptus; fragmentation; Lantana camara; Maesopsis; plantations; tropical wetevergreen forest; ecological restoration; rainforest restoration

GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

1. Location/Study Area: Valparai Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India; Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India

2. GPS coordinates: Valparai Plateau (10°15'- 10°22'N, 76°52' - 76°59'E); Anamalai Tiger Reserve (10°12' - 10°35'N, 76°49' - 77°24'E)

TEMPORAL COVERAGE

1. Begins: 2001-01-01 (Year, Month, Day)2. Ends: 2006-12-31 (Year, Month, Day)

METHODS

Methods used for ecological restoration of degraded rainforest fragments following a mixed native species planting protocol (maximum diversity) are as described in Raman et al. (2009, Restoration Ecology 17:137–147. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00367.x ). 

Monitoring ProtocolAll planted species were identified based on prior researchexperience and field guides (Gamble & Fischer 1915–1935; Pascal & Ramesh 1997). Each seedling was marked with biodegradable flagging tape and tagged with thin metal tags with eyelets fastened to seedlings by metal wire with the species code and plant number impressed on the metal tag with a pen. The seedlings were monitored for survival at 6-month intervals for the first 2 years: in December–January after the plants’ first wet season, in May–June after the first dry season, and likewise during the following year after the plants’ second wet and dry seasons. For two of the larger sites planted in 2004 (I1-04, S1-04), approximately 250 seedlings were randomly selected from among all planted areas. Data were collected regarding state (dead or alive), condition (browsed, cut, insect herbivory), and growth of each seedling. In addition, photographic documentation and standard quadrat sampling were conducted every 6 months and 2 years, respectively (results not presented here; Fig. 1).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Funders and other supporters of the research are acknowledged in the original publications. We thank Vena Kapoor for contributions to the original research and publication. The compilation and publication of this dataset was carried out as part of an NCF project supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, Rainmatter Foundation, and the AMM Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre. 

FILES INCLUDED

Besides the 00_README.txt file that contains this metadata, the dataset includes the following 12 files, whose details and contents are explained below.

01_survivalData.csvDescription: This file contains the sapling survival data in restoration sites

plot: Restoration Site ID as in Table 1 (04_table1.csv)row: Row number of alphabetical codesaplingNumber: Serial number of individual sapling planted along row verbatimID: Species/higher-level taxon identification as originally made/enteredRamanEtAl2009Name: Species/higher-level taxon identification as in Raman et al. (2009) paperscientificName: Current scientific name of species/higher-level taxon derived using the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) name matching tool (https://www.gbif.org/tools/species-lookup) month6: sapling survival approximately 6 months after planting: 1 - alive, 0 - dead, NA - not availablemonth12: sapling survival approximately 12 months after planting: 1 - alive, 0 - dead, NA - not availablemonth15: sapling survival approximately 15 months after planting (one site only): 1 - alive, 0 - dead, NA - not availablemonth18: sapling survival approximately 18 months after planting: 1 - alive, 0 - dead, NA - not availablemonth24: sapling survival approximately 24 months after planting: 1 - alive, 0 - dead, NA - not available

02_nameMatch.csvDescription: This file contains the species/taxon name matching details.

verbatimID: Species/higher-level taxon identification as originally made/enteredRamanEtAl2009Name: Species/higher-level taxon identification as in Raman et al. (2009) paperscientificName: Current scientific name of species/higher-level taxon derived using the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) name matching tool (https://www.gbif.org/tools/species-lookup)taxonomicLevel: Taxonomic level to which the taxon was identified

03_Abstract.txtDescription: this file contains the text of the Abstract of the Raman et al. (2009) paper.Raman, T. R. S., Mudappa, D., and Kapoor, V. 2009. Restoring rainforest fragments: survival of mixed-native species seedlings under contrasting site conditions in the Western Ghats, India. Restoration Ecology 17:137–147. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00367.x

04_table1.csvTable 1. Description of restoration sites on the Valparai plateau, Anamalai hills.(includes footnote)

05_table2.csvTable 2. Rainforest tree seedlings planted at different restoration sites in the Anamalai hills, Western Ghats (2000–2004).(includes footnote)

06_table3.csvTable 3. Number of planted seedlings and percent survival (%) after 24 months in tropical rainforest restoration sites in the Anamalai hills (2002–2004).(includes footnote)

07_table4.csvTable 4. Percent survival (%) at the end of 24 months for tree seedlings planted at three restoration sites with different canopy cover conditions in Injipara rainforest fragment, Anamalai hills.(Note: Columns 3-5 have common header in row, columns 6-8 have common header in row 1)

09_figure1.jpgFigure 1. Tracking changes at restoration sites from photographic reference sites: (a) Meadow (S1-02) site immediately after planting and (b) 3 years later in June 2005; (c) Open weedy site (S2-02) after weed removal and just before planting: note uncut naturally regenerated native plants and mat of biomass covering soil; (d) Open weedy site (S2-02) 3 years later in June 2005; (e) Eucalyptus–Maesopsis canopy site (I2-03) just after planting; and (f) same site 2 years later in June 2005.

10_figure2.tifFigure 2. Survival of plants over a 2-year period at restoration sites planted in 2000 and 2002.

11_figure3.tifFigure 3. Survival of plants over a 2-year period at restoration sites planted in 2003 and 2004 in rainforest fragments in the Anamalai hills.

12_figure4.tifFigure 4. Six-monthly survival of plants over a 2-year period (2003–2005) at restoration sites planted in the Injipara rainforest fragment.