DOI: 10.5061/dryad.q573n5thv
title: Dataset from plant survey in the KNUST Botanic Garden

description: This dataset represents the raw data collected for a study of plant
 composition and diversity in a12.9 ha moist semi-deciduous forest in the
 urban landcape of Kumasi, the city capital of the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
 Since 1960, the forest ecosytem has been gazetted and managed as
 a botanic garden, known as the Kwame Nkrumah University of
 Science and Technology (KNUST) Botanic Garden, to preserve its rich flora
 for environmental education, research and recreation. The KNUST Botanic
 Garden has therefore remained untouched, despite progressive land cover
 change or developmental activities (settlements and 
 building facilities) that characterizes the  KNUST campus within
 which the garden is located. The dataset was  generated from a
 field survey conducted in December 2019 to to gather relevant information
 on plant parameters (species, dbh, height)  from two
 distinct microsites (upland and inundated) of the garden.
 This dataset was first anlysed to generate results that
 permitted the writing of a master thesis. 
 The robust methods and quality of data permitted subsequent use
 of the results for developing of a manuscript. This
 manuscript which is entiled "The Role of Urban Tropical Botanic
 Gardens in Biodiversity Conservation: An Example from the KNUST Botanic
 Garden in Kumasi, Ghana" has been accepted for publication
 in Biotropica. 
description: The data was collected in two distinct microsites, dry upland and
 periodically flooded (inundated) microsites of the forest; the distinction
 was established by examining relevant factors such as topographic
 gradient, drainage conditions and flood channels  during a reconnaissance
 survey. Three main plots, measuring 50×50 m each were randomly laid at
 each microsite for enumeration of adult plants (diameter at breast height,
 <i>dbh </i>&gt; 5 cm). Five 2×2 m subplots were further
 laid from the center and corners of each main plot for enumeration of
 seedlings (<i>dbh </i>≤<i> </i>5 cm and height
 &lt; 1.5 m). Plant identification was made possible by physical
 observation and study of identification features such as crown shape, tree
 bole, bark texture and slash exudates, leaves and flowers. The
 <i>dbh</i> of all adult plants were measured with a diameter
 tape. Nikon Forestry Pro II laser hypsometer was used to measure the tree
 heights in meters. Information from this survey (species name, dbh,
 height, quantity) were organized in excel and pulled together to generate
 this dataset.
description:  The dataset contains seven columns as described below, including
 the data on the plant paramters (species name, dbh, height,
 quantity):  <strong>Forest layer</strong>:
 The “Forest layer” represents the different plant layers, which is either
 “Adult” plant or “Seedling”.
 <strong>Microsite</strong>: The column labelled
 “Microsite” denotes the microsite (“Upland” or “Inundated”) from which the
 different adult plants or seedlings were recorded.
 <strong>Plot No</strong>.: This stands for the plot
 number for the various adult plants or plot number for the quadrats and
 seedlings recorded in them. The “<strong>Quadrat
 No</strong>”: This contains the numbers of quadrat for the
 enumerated seedlings. The
 “<strong>Species</strong>” column holds the names for the
 individual adult plants or seedlings of different species .   
 The column “<strong>dbh</strong>” and “Height”
 respectively represent the diameter at breast heights in centimetres (cm)
 and heights in meters (m) for the individuals of specific adult plant
 species.   The
 “<strong>Quantity</strong>” column contains the number of
 individuals for specific seedling species. When using the dataset, the
 “Filter” feature in Excel can easily be used to narrow down to the
 specific data. For examples: (a) the number individual stems of specific
 "Adult" plant "Species", say <em>Elaeis
 guineensis</em> with their "dbh" and "Height"
 that were recorded in a main plot, say "Plot No." 1 at the
 upland microsite (i.e. 4 stems) or inundated microsite (i.e. 33 stems);
 (b) to the number or "Quantity"of seedlings for a specific
 "Species", say <em>Baphia nitida </em>recorded in a
 particular "Quadrat No." of a particular "Plot
 No." say quadrat 2 of plot 1 in the inundated microsite (i.e. 3
 seedlings) or quadrat 3 of plot 2 in the upland microsite (i.e. 2
 seedlings).   <strong>Note</strong>: The “Quadrat No” and “Quantity” columns shows have no data entries for rows with "Adult" plants as these are for only seedlings. Similarly the colums "dbh" and "Height" contain data for only rows with "Adult" plants.