I have a table that describes a dataset that I use for an analysis. The table describes the sample sizes of each of the four collecting events to create the dataset. It breaks down the dataset into the number of species, genera, families per collection event, and provides so other information. The details of the dataset are important for understanding the results, so I'd like to present it, but I can't decide where it goes. Sometimes when I'm writing the paper it feels like it goes in the results, other times the materials & methods.
What does the community think? Can tables ever be referenced int the M&M section, or are they always results?