Survey data for vascular plants in 240 plots inside and outside a 900 ha area with a deer exclusion fence in Nikko National Park, Japan

The data file contains 240 rows × 126 columns.

Forest stands and plot setup:

Study area:
24 forest stands identified (12 larch, 12 oak) in the southern portion of the fenced area.
Replicate stands:
Each stand paired with a replicate within 300 m on opposite sides of the fence; stands without replicates within this distance were excluded.
Plot establishment:
Total plots: 10 circular plots per stand = in total 240 plots (120 inside, 120 outside the fence).
Plot size:
Each plot covers 10 m², centered on a larch or oak tree.
Plot layout:
Plots were placed at least 10 m from other canopy trees (>30 cm DBH) to avoid influences from species other than larch and oak.

Data collection:

Dwarf bamboo:
Average height measured from five random points per plot.
Understory vascular plants:
All species, including trees and shrubs <1.3 m tall, recorded.
Species cover:
Measured using a modified Braun-Blanquet cover class system with seven cover categories.

Braun -Blanquet scale Cover range (%) Used in calculations (%)
r <0.1
+ 0.1 – 1
1 1 – 5
2 5 – 25
3 25 – 50
4 50 – 75
5 75 – 100
*For dwarf bamboo, which was very abundant, 100% cover was used for category 5. This did not affect the calculations.

Taxonomic groupings:

Grouped species:
Dwarf bamboos: Sasa spp. (S. kurilensis, S. nipponica, S. palmata, Sasamorpha borealis).
Graminoids: Carex, Juncus, Luzula, Poaceae.
Non-flowering specimens: Rosa, Rubus, Viola (excluding Viola tokubuchiana var. tokubuchiana which was registered separately).
Maple seedlings: Acer spp. (excluding A. rufinerve which was registered separately).
Birch seedlings: Betula (B. platyphylla var. japonica, B. ermanii).
Euonymus species: E. alatus, E. macropterus, E. sieboldianus (excluding vine E. fortunei).

Nomenclature:
Follows Wamei checklist version 1.10 (Yamanouchi 2022) https://gbif.jp/activities/checklist/wamei_checklist_110/