Data for “Exploring the effects of emerald ash borer-induced ash tree decline and invasive shrub treatment on understory plant communities in an Illinois forest ecosystem”

These data are from the paper “Exploring the effects of emerald ash borer-induced ash tree decline and invasive shrub treatment on understory plant communities in an Illinois forest ecosystem” published in Biological Invasions by Johanna Schmitz and Jeffrey W. Matthews. Data were collected at Homer Lake Forest Preserve in Champaign County, Illinois in June 2025. The data are useful for understanding the effects of invasive shrub removal on plant species cover and diversity in forests affected by emerald ash borer.