Fern communities in lowland tropical forests of Brunei Darussalam, Borneo: diversity, indicator species, and environmental drivers across forest types
Data files
Jul 31, 2025 version files 23.80 KB
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01_Species_abundance_plots.csv
13.19 KB
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02_Species_Life_Forms.csv
4.55 KB
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03_Environamental_Data.csv
3.17 KB
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README.md
2.90 KB
Abstract
Ferns, as a large and biodiverse group, significantly contribute to the vascular plant diversity of the lowland tropical forests of Brunei Darussalam, Borneo. These forests encompass three main types: Mixed Dipterocarp Forest (MDF), Peat Swamp Forest (PSF), and Heath Forest (HF). This study aims to describe and compare fern communities in these three forest types, focusing on species richness, diversity, and the identification of indicator species. Additionally, it investigates the environmental factors that shape these communities. We conducted fieldwork in 48 plots across Brunei's lowland forests. We identified fern species and abundance through a visual census and analyzed environmental parameters, including soil pH, organic matter (OM) content, nutrient availability, and soil texture. The results showed 83 fern species, with MDF having the most (57 species). Peat Swamp and HFs had similar fern species richness (33 and 34 species, respectively). Our environmental analysis indicated that specific combinations of fern species and environmental parameters significantly correlate and effectively discriminate between the three forest types. Finally, we identified a selection of indicator species for each forest type. Our findings highlight the heterogeneity of Bornean lowland forests and the importance of preserving a diversity of habitats to maintain fern biodiversity. The study underscores the intricate interplay between environmental factors and fern diversity.
This dataset accompanies the manuscript “Fern communities in lowland tropical forests of Brunei Darussalam, Borneo: diversity, indicator species, and environmental drivers across forest types”. It consists of three Excel files:
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01_Species_abundance_plots.csv – Contains fern species composition and abundance data from 48 forest plots. Rows represent species (with family and scientific name), and columns represent plots. Cell values indicate the number of individuals recorded per species per plot.
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02_Species_Life_Forms.csv – Provides the life form classification (epiphytic, climber, or terrestrial) for each fern species included in the survey.
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03_Environmental_Data.csv – Includes measured environmental variables for each of the 48 plots, used to explore environmental drivers of fern diversity and distribution.
Together, these datasets support analyses of fern community composition, species–environment relationships, and potential indicator species across different forest types in Brunei.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.0k6djhbd3
Description of the data and file structure
The data were collected as part of a field study on fern communities in lowland tropical forests of Brunei Darussalam, Borneo. The aim of the study was to assess fern species diversity, identify potential indicator species, and investigate how environmental factors and forest types influence community composition. Fieldwork was conducted across 48 plots representing three different forest types, where all fern individuals were recorded, identified, and assigned to life form categories. In each plot, a set of environmental variables was also measured to evaluate species–environment relationships.
Files and variables
File: 01_Species_abundance_plots.csv
Description:
This file contains fern species composition and abundance data from 48 forest plots. Each row corresponds to a fern species, while each column represents a plot. Values indicate the number of individuals of that species recorded in the respective plot.
Variables:
- Family: Taxonomic family of the fern species.
- FERN'S scientific name: Full scientific name of each fern species (genus, species, authority).
- 1A to 4O: Plot codes representing 48 unique sampling plots. The values indicate individual counts per species per plot.
File: 02_Species_Life_Forms.csv
Description:
This file lists the life form classification for each fern species included in the study.
Variables:
- Family: Taxonomic family of the fern species.
- FERN'S scientific name: Full scientific name of each fern species.
- Life Form: Growth form classification of the species:
- E = Epiphytic
- T = Terrestrial
- C = Climber
File: 03_Environmental_Data.csv
Description:
This file includes environmental variables measured in each of the 48 forest plots to assess their relationship with fern community composition.
Variables:
- site name: Name of the general sampling area.
- plot: Plot code (e.g., 1A, 2A, ..., 4O) matching those in the species abundance file.
- forest type: Classification of forest type for the plot (MDF, HF, PSF).
- GWC (%): Gravimetric water content of the soil, expressed as a percentage.
- pH: Soil pH value.
- N: Soil nitrogen content (unit: mg/g).
- P: Soil phosphorus content (unit: mg/g).
- % sand: Proportion of sand in the soil (as percentage of soil composition).
- OM (%): Organic matter content in the soil, expressed as a percentage.
- Distance from water (m): Distance from the center of the plot to the nearest water body, in meters.
Code/software
The data files are provided in .csv format and can be viewed using any spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets.