ChinaSoilSeedBank: A dataset on species diversity and composition of soil seed bank in China

Datasets on aboveground vegetation have been well established and used for comprehensive ecological and conservational studies. However, a comprehensive dataset for soil seed bank, particularly one integrating the species composition of soil seed bank, is still lacking, limiting our understanding of belowground community structure and dynamics. Here, we systematically built a dataset for soil seed bank of China (ChinaSoilSeedBank). The dataset comprises 3,170 soil seed bank communities, of which 1,827 communities include species composition data encompassing 3,070 plant species and 33,488 occurrence records. The dataset also incorporates environmental variables and plant functional traits associated with the soil seed bank communities, and supplements paired aboveground vegetation when reported. The ChinaSoilSeedBank dataset can be used to identify key conservation areas of high belowground biodiversity, to complement current aboveground-focused conservation strategies, and to guide ecological restoration in degraded ecosystems.

针对地上植被（aboveground vegetation）的数据集已得到充分构建，并广泛应用于综合性生态学与保护研究。然而，目前仍缺乏针对土壤种子库（soil seed bank）的综合性数据集，尤其是整合了土壤种子库物种组成的相关数据集，这极大限制了学界对地下群落结构与动态变化的认知。本研究系统性构建了中国土壤种子库数据集（ChinaSoilSeedBank）。该数据集共计收录3170个土壤种子库群落，其中1827个群落包含物种组成数据，涉及3070种植物与33488条物种出现记录。此外，数据集还纳入了与土壤种子库群落相关的环境变量与植物功能性状，并补充了已报道的对应地上植被数据。中国土壤种子库数据集（ChinaSoilSeedBank）可用于识别地下生物多样性富集的重点保护区域，弥补当前以地上植被为核心的保护策略的短板，并为退化生态系统的生态修复工作提供科学指导。