DOI: 10.5061/dryad.0zpc8676w
title: Data from: Context- and taxon-dependent small-scale taxonomic and phylogenetic nestedness of bryophytes on insular rocks in a karst natural reserve and its implication for their conservation

description: The distribution patterns of five categories and 183 species of
 bryophytes, and six physical attributes, on 92 insular rocks in three
 karst districts (Pangxiegou, the weather station in Shishangsenglin and
 Yaolancun) with different landscape properties in the Maolan National
 Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China, were recorded and analysed in terms of
 nestedness. By using matrix temperature, NODF metrics under four null
 models, treeNODF and permrows null model, we evaluated the taxonomic and
 phylogenetic nestedness at a small scale and explored possible underlying
 mechanisms. We found (1) a significant taxonomic and phylogenetic
 nestedness among the bryophytes and their main categories on these insular
 rocks, not only in the whole study region but also in each of the three
 districts; (2) higher taxonomic nestedness for mosses than for liverworts,
 and higher for acrocarpous mosses than for pleurocarpous mosses,
 indicating that nestedness of bryophytes on insular rocks in karst regions
 is taxon-dependent; (3) rock area, habitat amount and height are the three
 main determinants of taxonomic and phylogenetic nestedness of bryophytes,
 while phylogenetic nestedness overall followed the same processes as
 taxonomic nestedness; (4) selective extinction and habitats nestedness
 were the two mechanisms accounting for the small-scale nested pattern of
 bryophytes on insular rocks; (5) the determinants and mechanisms of
 taxonomic and phylogenetic nestedness varied among bryophytes in different
 landscapes and ecological habitats, thus being context-dependent. Our
 results indicate that (1) large rocks with rich microhabitats should be
 given priority for the conservation of saxicolous bryophytes; (2) the
 conservation of different categories of saxicolous bryophytes that have a
 limited congruence will require a multiple criteria approach that
 incorporates phylogenetic diversity differences into reserve planning; (3)
 the conservation strategies for bryophyte diversities in different
 ecosystems should be adapted to local conditions and differences among
 bryophyte groups.
description: # Context- and taxon-dependent small-scale taxonomic and phylogenetic
 nestedness of bryophytes on insular rocks in a karst natural reserve and
 its implication for their conservation
 \[[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0zpc8676w](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0zpc8676w)] We selected all well-insulated rocks in these three districts, resulting in a total of 92 sampling sites (rocks). These rocks varied in area, height, soil thickness, flatness, humidity, and habitat types (Supporting information). On each rock, several lines 30 cm apart were set. The length of these lines varied with rock size and shape. Along each line, a rigid frame (with an area of 10 × 10 cm) was placed at an interval of 30 cm along the line. The frame was further partitioned (by fine wires) into 25 sub-quadrats each with a size of 2.0 × 2.0 cm. The coverage of each bryophyte species on the frame (quadrate) was estimated by counting the number of intersection points of fine wires at which the species was present ## **Description of the data and file structure** Physiological data are summarized in a single excel file containing different tabs for different datasets. Details of Methodology on all data can be found in the publication "Context- and taxon-dependent small-scale taxonomic and phylogenetic nestedness of bryophytes on insular rocks in a karst natural reserve and its implication for their conservation" by Huang R. L. et al. 2024. **APPENDIX 1. — Classification of environmental factors** To determine the environmental factors influencing nested distribution of bryophytes in the study region, we arbitrarily and roughly estimate the following environmental variables of these 92 rocks, which include the degrees of soil thickness (from thin to thick), smoothness (from flat and smooth to uneven and rough), humidity (sunny day survey, from dry to wet), and canopy coverage (Vvascular plants directly above the stone, from large to small) with five classes, assigning them 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively . **APPENDIX 2. — Definitions of 25 microhabitat types on 92 rocks** A total of 25 habitat types were recorded for these rocks . **APPENDIX 3. — Twenty-five habitat types of 92 rocks** Rock no.=The stones we collected are numbered Habitat types= 1-25 is the habitat types are listed in Appendix 2.  **APPENDIX 4. — Environments of 92 rocks in the Maolan National Nature Reserve, China** Specific environmental factors for the 92 stone blocks we collected. NO=The stones we collected are numbered Locations=Divided into three areas: shishangsenlin, yaolancun, pangxiegou, Specific area information is recorded in the article. Lontidue (º)=longitude Latitude (º)=longitude Highest point/m=Height of the highest point of each stone Area/m2=The area of each stone, the exact calculation is mentioned in the article Slope (º)=Slope at the top of each stone Soil thickness=Grading system, see Appendix I for specific divisions Flatness=Grading system, see Appendix I for specific divisions Humidity=Grading system, see Appendix I for specific divisions Mean height/cm=Average of the heights of all the sampling points for each stone block Habitat number=APPENDIX 3 Calculated Species number=APPENDIX 5 Calculated **APPENDIX 5. — Distribution of 183 bryophyte species on 92 rocks** Species-stone matrix of 183 bryophyte species in 92 stones Species=scientific name for bryophytes,The nomenclature followed [https://www.cvh.ac.cn/index.php](https://www.cvh.ac.cn/index.php) **DNA sequence.fas** We used trnL–F, trnG, and ITS2 molecular markers to construct a phylogenetic tree, this is a sequence splice of three genes from 183 bryophyte species.