Elevational distribution patterns of bryophytes in Eastern China - A comprehensive species-trait dataset

Climate change significantly affects the dynamics of mountain ecosystems, impacting not only species distributions but also their phenological characteristics. Nevertheless, our comprehension of the effects of climate change on biodiversity is still limited, primarily due to insufficient historical data. The dramatic temperature variations over short distances make permanent monitoring plots along elevational gradients an ideal natural laboratory for investigating species’ responses to climate change. Drawing on field survey information gathered from 2018 to 2022, we have developed a bryophyte species-trait dataset that encompasses 16,920 trait measurements across four categories: taxonomy, distribution, resistance traits, and reproductive traits, derived from 549 species in Eastern China. The compilation of this bryophyte species-trait dataset offers valuable opportunities to deepen our understanding of the factors, constraints, and effects associated with biodiversity variability, while also providing richer insights into predicting species distributions and implementing targeted in-situ conservation strategies.