Insights from a large-scale inventory in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract

A key issue in large-area inventories is defining a suitable sampling design and the effort required to obtain reliable estimates of species richness and forest attributes, especially in species-diverse forests. To address this issue, data from 418 systematically distributed 0.4 ha plots were collected. Estimators of nonparametric species richness were employed to assess the floristic representativeness of data collected in three forest types in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The sampling sufficiency of forest attributes was evaluated as a function of sample size. Altogether, 831 tree/shrub species were recorded. The data acquired through the systematic sampling design were representative of both species richness and basal area. The confidence intervals' length would not substantially decrease by using more than 70 % of the reference sample (n = 364), thereby reaching a length of ~5 % of the sample mean. Nevertheless, reliable estimates of species richness for diverse forests demand a thorough sampling approach far more exacting so as to achieve acceptable population estimates of forest attributes. Though the study area is regarded as a biodiversity hotspot, the forest stands showed diminished species richness, basal area, stem volume and biomass when compared to old-growth stands. As regards species richness, the data provided evidence of contrasting great γ-diversity (at the forest type level) and small α-diversity (at the forest stand level). Amongst anthropic impacts, illegal logging and extensive cattle grazing within stands are undoubtedly key factors that threaten forest conservation in the study area.

Dynamics of Natural Regeneration: Implications for Landscape Restoration in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

“…Natural regeneration has also been suggested as a cost-effective method of achieving high carbon sequestration potential with multiple benefits for biodiversity and ecosystem services . Such combination of factors is frequently present in our region of interest since forest cover for Santa Catarina is estimated at around 30% (Vibrans et al, 2013a(Vibrans et al, , 2020. Several studies have demonstrated the resilience of local native forests and their rapid regrowth, even after repeated swidden cultivation, a prevalent land use in the region until recently (Siminski and Fantini, 2007;Liebsch et al, 2008;Siminski et al, 2011;Fantini et al, 2017;Lintemani et al, 2019).…”

Pre-colonial Amerindian legacies in forest composition of southern Brazil

“…We investigated whether there is a legacy of past human populations on present-day forest composition. Vegetation data used in this study was collected by the Santa Catarina Forest and Floristic Inventory (SCFFI), which systematically sampled shrubs and trees across the State in a grid system [ 41 , 45 ] ( Fig 1 ). Each sample unit covered 4000 m 2 [ 41 , 45 ].…”

“…Vegetation data used in this study was collected by the Santa Catarina Forest and Floristic Inventory (SCFFI), which systematically sampled shrubs and trees across the State in a grid system [ 41 , 45 ] ( Fig 1 ). Each sample unit covered 4000 m 2 [ 41 , 45 ]. All forest plots except sand dunes and mangroves (a total of 417 sample units) were used to evaluate the abundance and distribution of all tree and shrub species in the study area.…”

Assessment of Different Seedling Production Techniques of Euterpe edulis

“…In general, the parent plants seem to influence the seedling quality and the germination rate of its seeds [12], [14]. Most recently, to E. edulis, a great diversity has been recognized and better explored [9], [15]- [17]. Besides that, the comprehension of how those differences between populations could affect germination parameters was not adequately known [9].…”