Asynchronous stability thresholds in drylands

This dataset integrates field observations and satellite-based productivity time series from a continuous aridity gradient in the Hexi Corridor, northwestern China, to quantify temporal stability and fine-scale spatial stability of dryland plant community productivity and to examine how these stability dimensions relate to multidimensional biodiversity and community niche structure. The dataset includes 70 permanent 30×30 m plots (each with three 10×10 m subplots) with vegetation composition and structure, within-plot aboveground biomass variability, species functional trait measurements, and MODIS EVI time series for the growing season (July–September) from 2015–2024. Aridity intensity is derived from the Global Aridity Index (AI) and expressed as 1−AI (higher values indicate drier conditions).