Data from: Cyanobacterial colonization on epilithic mosses in degraded karst ecosystem: The role of moss traits and environmental factors

Wu, Yifei1; Lu, Yan1; Deng, Minghao1 2; Wu, Jiaojiao3; Guo, Guanting1; Chen, Dong1; Jiang, Hong4; Li, Xiaona 1 5

Research facility: Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Published Oct 28, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0cfxpnwfs

Data files

Oct 28, 2025 version files 284.71 KB

Abstract

This dataset supports research on moss-cyanobacteria associations and their role in nitrogen fixation within nitrogen-limited degraded karst ecosystems. The moss-cyanobacteria symbiosis provides novel nitrogen inputs to nutrient-poor environments, playing a significant role in nitrogen cycling and ecological restoration. Data were collected during November 2022 from 45 plots across three elevation gradients (525 ±25 m, 875 ± 25 m, and 1225 ± 25 m) in the Guizhou Karst Mountain Land Ecology and Land Use Observation and Research Station. The dataset includes cyanobacterial colonization metrics (colonization rates on branches/leaves and biomass via phycocyanin extraction), moss trait data (37 species with morphological, physiological, and chemical characteristics), environmental variables (elevation, rocky desertification degree, light/UV-A radiation, temperature, and pH), and cyanobacterial diversity (78 species morphologically identified and categorized functionally). Key findings indicate moss species identity, nitrogen content, and pH as critical colonization determinants, with elevation showing strong negative effects while karst degradation level demonstrated no significant impact. All analyses were conducted using R software (v4.4.1). Complete R scripts are provided for full reproducibility. This dataset offers valuable insights into plant-microbe interactions and facilitates restoration strategies in degraded karst ecosystems.

Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.0cfxpnwfs

Description of the data and file structure

Fieldwork was conducted in a karst ecosystem in November 2022. We collected 264 moss samples from rock surfaces across 45 plots at three elevation levels (525 ± 25 m, 875 ± 25 m, 1225 ± 25 m) representing different rocky desertification degrees. Measurements included: 1) environmental factors (light, UV-A, temperature); 2) moss traits (37 species identification, photosynthetic pigments, water retention); 3) cyanobacterial colonization (colonization rates via microscopy, biomass via phycocyanin); 4) nutrient content (C, N, P); and 5) cyanobacterial diversity (78 species identification). All analyses were conducted with appropriate replicates to ensure data quality.

Files and variables

File: Randomforest_BCR.zip

Description: The file "Randomforest_BCR.zip" contains data and scripts used to identify key factors influencing the cyanobacterial colonization rate on moss branches using a Random Forest model. Included in the zip file are the complete R code (compatible with R version 4.6–14) required to run the analysis, as well as all necessary data tables. Variable names in the data tables are abbreviated for convenience. A detailed description of each variable, including full names and units, is provided in the "Variables" section of the README file.

File: Randomforest_CB.zip

Description: The file "Randomforest_CB.zip" contains data and scripts used to identify key factors influencing cyanobacterial biomass (estimated via phycocyanin content) on moss branches using a Random Forest model. Included in the zip file are the complete R code (compatible with R version 4.6–14) required to run the analysis, as well as all necessary data tables. Variable names in the data tables are abbreviated for convenience. A detailed description of each variable, including full names and units, is provided in the "Variables" section of the README file.

File: Randomforest_LCR.zip

Description: The file "Randomforest_LCR.zip" contains data and scripts used to identify key factors influencing the cyanobacterial colonization rate on moss leaves using a Random Forest model. Included in the zip file are the complete R code (compatible with R version 4.6–14) required to run the analysis, as well as all necessary data tables. Variable names in the data tables are abbreviated for convenience. A detailed description of each variable, including full names and units, is provided in the "Variables" section of the README file.

File: Correlation_Heatmap_All.zip

Description: The file "Correlation_Heatmap_All.zip" contains data and scripts used to perform Spearman's correlation analysis between key colonization characteristics of cyanobacteria (including cyanobacterial colonization rate and biomass) and two distinct sets of variables: environmental factors and moss traits. Included in the zip file are the complete R code (compatible with R version 4.6–14) required to generate the correlation heatmaps, as well as all necessary data tables. Variable names in the data tables are abbreviated for convenience. A detailed description of each variable, including full names and units, is provided in the "Variables" section of the README file.

File: All_datas.xlsx

Description: The file "All_datas.xlsx" contains all the original data collected in this study. The dataset includes a combination of fully spelled-out variables—such as Code, Moss family, Moss genus, Moss species, and Colonized cyanobacteria species—as well as abbreviated variables for other parameters. A comprehensive description of all variables, including full names and units where applicable, is provided in the "Variables" section of the README file.

Variables


	Abbreviations	Full name	Unit
Colonization characteristics of cyanobacteria	BCR	Cyanobacterial colonization rate on branches	%
	LCR	Cyanobacterial colonization rate on leaves	%
	CB	Cyanobacterial biomass	mg g ^-1
Environmental factors	KRD	Degree of karst rocky desertification
	El	Elevation	m
	Sl	Slope	°
	RA	Rock angle	°
	AT	Atmospheric temperature	℃
	AH	Atmospheric humidity	%
	Ra	Rainfall	mm
	RST	Rock surface temperature	℃
	LI	Light intensity	×1000 Lx
	UV-A	Ultraviolet A radiation	×100 μW·cm ^-2
Moss traits	LL	Leaf length	μm
	LW	Leaf width	μm
	LA	Leaf area	μm²
	NWC	Natural water content	%
	MWC	Maximum water content	%
	Chl a+b	Chlorophyll a + chlorophyll b content	mg g ^-1
	C	Carbon content	mg g ^-1
	N	Nitrogen content	mg g ^-1
	P	Phosphorus content	mg g ^-1
	pH	pH
	C:N	Carbon-nitrogen ratio
	C:P	Carbon-phosphorus ratio

Code/software

All statistical analyses were performed using R software (version 4.6-14). The complete R code for reproducing all analyses is provided with the dataset.