https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vt4b8gv2q

Description of the data and file structure

This dataset contains data on the population structure, ecological characteristics, seed germination potentiality, and seedling growth performance of Rauvolfia serpentina in Pathivara Kalika Community Forest (CF), Jalthal Forest of eastern Nepal. The study was conducted to understand the effects of anthropogenic disturbances and the invasion of Mikania micrantha on the population dynamics of R. serpentina. 

Data cover the information from four differentially disturbed regions in the Pathivara Kalika CF. Site selection was conducted in April 2017, with the help of locals and community forest officials. Participatory resource mapping was applied to identify the distribution of Rauvolfia serpentina and its habitats in Pathivara Kalika CF . The forest area with the distribution of R. serpentina population in the CF was stratified based on the anthropogenic disturbance level and the intensity of Mikania invasion. Based on information obtained from locals, community forest officials and preliminary field surveys, four sampling sites, namely Jharjhare, Lamidanda, Charali, and Beldanda (referred as JHJ, LMD, CHA and BLD respectively in the data files/sheets) with the distribution of R. serpentina were determined for population sampling. Ecological sampling was conducted from June to July 2017 during the flowering and fruiting period of R. serpentina. A transect (ca. 1000 m) was determined in each site. Following the transect, 10 sample quadrats measuring 10 m × 10 m were defined randomly in each site. These quadrats were at least 50 m apart from each other and each were divided into four sub-plots (5 m × 5 m) . In total, 160 subplots were studied to document the population status, and vegetative and reproductive characteristics, and associated vascular plant species of R. serpentina.

In addition seed germination tests were carried out in a polyhouse to determine the seed germination potential and seedling growth performance on four different canopy types (open without-mikania, semi-close without-mikania, close with-mikania and close without-mikania) based on presence or absence of Mikania micrantha.

Files and variables

File name: Rauvolfia_population_data.csv

This file contains all the data regarding the population and growth performance of Rauvolfia serpentina as recorded during the field sampling. This file contains the complete information of population of R. serpentina in the sampling area. Following are few abbreviations and its full meaning used in the file: Sd - Seedling (< 10 cm in height and lack reproductive parts); Js - Juvenile ( 10 < 20 cm in height and lack reproductive parts); Advg - Adult vegetative (> 20 cm in height and lack reproductive parts) and Adr - Adult reproductive (contains reproductive parts); Flr- Flower; Frt - Fruit; diam - diameter.

File name: fruit_data.csv

This contains the information about the fruit size and dry mass (mass in gm/ 5 dry fruits) of Rauvolfia serpentina. The file contains the information of fruits from four sampling sites as described previously. The fruits were collected from 10 sampled quadrats and the circumference of each fruit was measured twice in two ways from the broadest part of the fruit in cross wise using a thread and later measured by vernier calliper. For a plot three fruits were measured. Following are few abbreviations and its full meaning used in the file: C1 - Circumference 1st; C2 - Circumference 2nd; JHJ - Jharjhare; LMD - Lamidanda; CHA- charali; BLD - Beldanda.

File name: Bio-physical_data_for_RDA.csv

This file contain the bio-physical information from all the sub-plots studied. This was the environmental file created to perform the RDA analysis in the manuscript. Following are the abbreviation used in the data sheet. Tr - Tree cover (%); Litt - Litter cover (%); Bg - Bareground cover (%); Har_Gra - Harvesting and grazing disturbance factor; Fire - Fire as a disturbance factor; Rau_den - Density of Rauvolfia serpentina in the sub-plot

File name: species_data_for_RDA_analysis.csv

The file contain the information on the associated plant species in the sub-plot studied structured for performing the RDA analysis. The first column contain the accepted scientific name of each species, the second column consisted the abbreviated form of scientific name consisting of first two letters of genus and specific epithet, the third column contain the information on the family and successive column contain the presence absence data for each plant species in each sub-plot.

File name: seed_germination_data.csv

This excel file contains the data from the germination experiment/test carried out in the polyhouse to elucidate the potential impacts of Mikania micrantha on the percentage germination and seedling growth performance of Rauvolfia serpentina. For this experiment, four different R. serpentina canopy types were chosen based on presence or absence of Mikania: (i) Open without-mikania (canopy cover < 25 %, absence of Mikania); (ii) semi-close without-mikania (canopy cover 25 % - 75 %, absence of Mikania); (iii) Close with-mikania (canopy cover > 75 %, canopy of Mikania) and (iv) Close without-mikania (canopy cover > 75 %, total absence of Mikania). Ripe fruits (n = 200, 50 per canopy type) were collected from each canopy type. The fruits were pulped manually to extract the seeds, washed in clean water and dried under shade. Seeds were subjected to the floating test and were soaked in water for 24 hours before sowing in plastic grow bags. The heavy seeds that sank in the water were used for sowing and the soil used was also collected from the respected canopy type. Altogether, 160 heavy seeds (40 per canopy type) were sown in 56 polyethylene grow bags (3 seeds per grow bag at the depth of ca. 1 cm keeping 5 cm space between seeds). For each canopy type, grow bags containing 20 seeds out of 40 were kept in open canopy treatment and the rest of 20 seeds were kept in close canopy treatment. The close canopy treatment was maintained by placing the grow bags in the lower compartment of the cultivation rack (7 feet × 4 feet × 4.5 feet) and covering it with green plastic. For open canopy treatment, the grow bags were kept on the upper shelf of the cultivation rack with no coverage except the transparent plastic of polyhouse. This whole arrangement was done inside a polyhouse of eight feet in length and 5 feet in breadth. The number of germinated seeds, and seedling height and number of leaves were recorded (up to 25th week) at weekly intervals for analyzing seed germination potentiality and seedling growth performance, respectively. This file contains the information on the number of seed germinated in the succeeding weeks in the two canopy treatments namely open canopy treatment and close canopy treatments. The first column consist the information on the type of canopy treatment, second column contain the number of weeks and other succeeding columns contains the numbers of seed germinated in the respective canopy treatment from respective canopy types. Abbreviation used in the files are as follows: Cl_without_Mikania - Site with close canopy but without Mikania; Scl_without_Mikania - Site with semi-close canopy without Mikania; Op_without_Mikania - site with open canopy and without Mikania; Cl_with_Mikania - Close canopy of Mikania.

File name: seedling_growth_performance.csv

This files contains the weekly data about the growth performance of the seedlings of Rauvolfia serpentina germinated and grown in the Polyhouse condition in two canopy treatments. Here there are columns of data with self explanatory headers. The abbreviated terms are as follows: Cl_without_Mikania - Site with close canopy but without Mikania; Scl_without_Mikania - Site with semi-close canopy without Mikania; Op_without_Mikania - site with open canopy and without Mikania; Cl_with_Mikania - Close canopy of Mikania.

Code/software

The datasets can be open using Libreoffice or Google sheets and further evaluated using R. Data was first entered and cleaned using Microsoft Excel , which was further analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21 and R 4.3.2. Loaded R packages include vegan, data.table, ggplot2, and base. The RDA plot obtained from R was further clarified using Adobe Illustrator 2021.