In the current context of intense forest fragmentation and consequent loss of biodiversity, commercial reforestations have gained special attention in conservation biology because the colonization of the understory in these wooded areas may result in a considerable number of species. A record was made of the regenerating species in the understory of reforestations with Araucaria angustifolia at planting ages of 12, 22, 35, and 43 years, located in the central east region of Paraná State, Brazil. In total, an area of 1,200 m 2 was sampled, with 231 recorded species belonging to 60 botanical families. Species diversity and richness increased with planting age up to 35 years. Canopy cover was the variable that best explained the colonization of the understory in some stages. Maintenance activities in the reforestations over the years selected species capable of germinating or sprouting and growing rapidly. However, our results show that A. angustifolia commercial reforestations are home to many native plant species. Thus, the objectives of commercial reforestation can be harmonized with the interests of conservation biology, applying management alternatives with the aim of changing current forestry models.

The database of the Brazilian Program for Biodiversity Research (PPBio; GIVD ID SA-BR-001) includes data on the environment and biological groups such as plants. It is organized by site, which is usually a grid with 10 to 72 uniformly-distributed plots, and has already surveyed 1,638 relevés across different Brazilian ecosystems. The sampling design is based on the RAPELD system to allow integration of data from diverse taxa and ecosystem processes. RAPELD is a spatially-explicit sampling scheme to monitor biodiversity in long-term ecological research sites and during rapid appraisals of biodiversity that has attracted support from many management agencies, which are using it as their long-term monitoring system. Vegetation surveys include measurements of cover, biomass and number of individuals from woody and herbaceous vascular plants, along with environmental data. We have recently migrated to a metadata catalog and data repository which allows searching for specific groups across all sites. All RAPELD data have been collected since 2001, though the site also allows data from other long-term plots to be archived as associated projects. Database manager(s): Flávia Fonseca Pezzini (flaviapezzini@gmail.com) Owner: [NA] Web address: http://ppbio.inpa.gov.br Availability: after blocking period Online upload: yes Online search: yes Database format(s): CSV file, TXT file Export format(s): CSV file Publication: [NA] Plot type(s): normal plots Plot-size range: 1-10000 m² Non-overlapping plots: 1,843 Estimate of existing plots: [NA] Completeness: [NA] Total plot observations: 1,843 Number of sources: [NA] Valid taxa: [NA] Countries: BR: 100.0% Forest: [NA] -Non-forest: [NA] Guilds: all vascular plants: 100% Environmental data: altitude: 100%; slope inclination: 35%; soil pH: 92%; other soil attributes: 92% Performance measure(s): cover: 100%; number of individuals: 100%; biomass: 100% Geographic localisation: GPS coordinates (precision 25 m or less): 100% Sampling periods:

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