DOI: 10.5061/dryad.72613
title: Data from: The importance of scattered trees for biodiversity conservation: a global meta-analysis

description: 1. Scattered trees are thought to be keystone structures for biodiversity
 in landscapes worldwide. However, such trees have been largely neglected
 by researchers and their importance for biodiversity remains unclear. 2.
 We completed a global meta-analysis to quantify relationships between
 scattered trees and the species richness, abundance and composition of
 vertebrates, arthropods and plants. First, we tested whether areas near
 scattered trees support higher levels of species richness and abundance
 than nearby open areas. Second, we compared levels of species richness and
 abundance in matrix areas with scattered trees and areas embedded within
 nearby habitat patches. We also compared the composition of biological
 communities inhabiting habitat patches, open areas and areas with
 scattered trees. 3. A total of 62 studies contained suitable data for our
 quantitative analyses. The local abundance of arthropods, vertebrates and
 woody plants was 60-430% greater and overall species richness was 50-100%
 higher in areas with scattered trees than in open areas. Conversely, for
 herbaceous plants, there was no consistent relationship between species
 abundance and the occurrence of scattered trees, although species richness
 was, on average, 43% lower. 4. The abundance and richness of all taxonomic
 groups was similar in matrix areas supporting scattered trees and habitat
 patches, although the species richness of epiphytes was, on average, 50%
 higher in habitat patches. Communities inhabiting habitat patches were
 more similar in composition to the communities inhabiting areas with
 scattered trees, and less similar to the communities of open areas. 5.
 Synthesis and applications. Areas with scattered trees support greater
 levels of biodiversity than open areas, as well as communities that are
 more similar to those inhabiting habitat patches. Scattered trees can be
 regarded as keystone structures for vertebrates, arthropods and
 terrestrial plants in landscapes worldwide. The maintenance of scattered
 trees may be compatible with livestock grazing in some agricultural
 landscapes. Greater management effort and targeted, long-term policies are
 needed to retain or re-establish scattered trees in many farming
 landscapes in both forest and non-forest biomes around the
 world.04-May-2017
description: Datasets compiled for
 the analyses of species abundance and richnessSummary of the four
 datasets compiled for the analyses of species abundance and richness,
 including the study ID, the taxonomic group studied, the biome and the
 logarithm of the response ratio (Log(RR)). Log(RR) was not calculated
 (“NA”) when the abundance or richness was zero in any of the treatments
 under comparison. a) Studies comparing abundance between scattered trees
 and open areas. b) Studies comparing richness between scattered trees and
 open areas. c) Studies comparing abundance between habitat patches and
 scattered trees. d) Studies comparing richness between habitat patches and
 scattered trees.Prevedello_et_al_abundance_and_richness_datasets.xlsxDatasets compiled for the analyses of community compositionSummary of the two datasets compiled for the analyses of community composition. a) Studies comparing abundance between scattered trees and open areas. b) Studies comparing abundance between scattered trees and habitat patches. c) Studies comparing abundance between habitat patches and open areas.Prevedello_et_al_composition_datasets.xlsx