Population data of Taxus wallichiana var. mairei in China

Dataset DescriptionThe dataset entitled Population data of Taxus wallichiana var. mairei in China compiles field-based population information collected from published literature and supplementary field investigations. The primary objective of the dataset is to document the population structure and size distribution of Taxus wallichiana var. mairei across its natural range in China, with a particular focus on diameter-class composition as an indicator of population status and regeneration potential.The dataset was generated through a systematic literature survey of peer-reviewed journal articles, monographs, local floristic reports, and conservation survey documents published between 1990 and 2024. Relevant studies were identified using academic databases (e.g., CNKI, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) with keywords related to Taxus wallichiana var. mairei, population structure, and field survey. Only studies that reported quantitative population information from clearly defined sampling plots were included. When necessary, supplementary information such as plot area or diameter-class definitions was extracted from the original text, tables, or figures. All extracted data were standardized and compiled into a unified spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel.The dataset contains spatial information at the provincial and regional (county or site) levels, covering the major distribution areas of the species in China, including provinces such as Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan. The spatial resolution corresponds to the reported survey site or sampling plot location, while the temporal coverage reflects the original survey years reported in the source literature (approximately 1990–2020s). Because the dataset integrates historical surveys, the temporal resolution is event-based rather than continuous.The table records population information for each sampling site. Each row represents a specific study site or sampling plot. The column labels and their meanings are as follows:Province: administrative province where the population was surveyed;Region/Site: specific county, nature reserve, or locality name;Survey area: total plot area used for population investigation (unit: hectares, ha);Diameter class: classification category based on diameter at breast height (DBH);Number of individuals: total number of individuals recorded within each diameter class;Diameter-class scheme: DBH interval definition used in the original study (unit: cm);Total individuals: sum of all individuals recorded in the sampling plot;Reference source: bibliographic information of the original data source.The compiled dataset includes a total of [to be filled by the author: number] records, representing [number] sampling sites across [number] provinces. Diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured at 1.3 m above ground following standard forestry survey protocols in the original studies.Because the dataset integrates information from multiple sources, some records contain missing values. Missing data mainly involve survey area, detailed diameter-class intervals, or survey year when such information was not explicitly reported in the original publications. These missing entries are left blank or marked as “NA” and were not estimated or interpolated to avoid introducing additional uncertainty.Potential sources of error arise from differences in sampling design among studies, including variation in plot size, sampling intensity, diameter-class grouping schemes, and survey years. In addition, some values extracted from figures may involve minor digitization uncertainty. These factors may introduce comparability limitations across sites; however, all original definitions and references are retained in the dataset to ensure transparency and traceability.The dataset is provided as a Microsoft Excel file (.xlsx) containing a single worksheet with standardized column fields. The file can be opened using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation) or other compatible spreadsheet software such as LibreOffice Calc or WPS Office. No specialized software is required for data access or use.This dataset provides a consolidated baseline for assessing population structure, regeneration status, and conservation priorities of Taxus wallichiana var. mairei across China and supports further ecological analysis, conservation planning, and meta-analysis studies.