This dataset includes species lists of bryophytes and macrolichens (presence/absence) sampled on the forest floor and on trees in disturbed and undisturbed plots along elevation gradients in the laurel forests of Madeira island. It also contains species specific information (bryophytes: red list status, endemic status, taxonomic group, life strategy; macrolichens: photobiont type, growth form) as well as plot information (Plot_ID, sampling date, coordinates, elevation a.s.l. (m), disturbance type, sampled host tree species).

The dataset was used for the paper Boch S, Martins A, Ruas S, Fontinha S, Carvalho P, Reis F, Bergamini A, Sim-Sim M (2019) Bryophyte and macrolichen diversity show contrasting elevation relationships and are negatively affected by disturbances in laurel forests of Madeira island. Journal of Vegetation Science 30: 1122–1133.

The excel file contains 5 sheets: 1) Plot information 2) Bryophyte data with species specific information, separated per substrate 3) Macrolichen data with species specific information, separated per substrate 4) Bryophyte data with species specific information (plot level data). Species lists of the two substrates were merged; if one substrate in a plot hosted a species identified only to genus level (genus spec.) but the second investigated substrate hosted an identified species of the same genus, we removed the genus spec. entry in the particular plot. The species list of sheet 2 and 4 might therefore differ slightly. 5) Macrolichen data with species specific information (plot level data). Species lists of the two substrates were merged; if one substrate in a plot hosted a species identified only to genus level (genus spec.) but the second investigated substrate hosted an identified species of the same genus, we removed the genus spec. entry in the particular plot. The species list of sheet 3 and 5 might therefore differ slightly.