<p>Original data comes from a project which takes or took place as part of the DFG priority program "Exploratories for large-scale and long-term functional biodiversity research". The data is stored together with descriptive metadata, in combination called a dataset, in the project repository (https://www.bexis.uni-jena.de). Species information was extracted from that original dataset. The second paragraph is part of the metadata of the original dataset.</p> <p>It has frequently been shown that grassland management practices such as mowing or grazing alter vegetation structure, microclimate and nutrient content of both plants and soils. If plant species richness is hypothesized to decline under intensive management, then this may have profound consequences also for primary consumers and higher trophic levels.</p>