Atlantic Forest Ecosystems: Are There Significant Differences When Compared at the Same Stage of Regeneration?

For the monitoring and assessment of Atlantic Forest ecosystems, key indicators regeneration stage are considered. However, current classification these stages by experts does not consider possible differences among such ecosystems. In order to test hypothesis significant differences, ecosystems in southern Brazil were compared at same (initial, medium, advanced regeneration). An extensive database floristic forest inventory Santa Catarina state, Brazil, with 460 sampling units, was used, addressing seasonal deciduous (SDF), dense ombrophilous (DOF), mixed (MOF). The each sample unit previously classified using five (basal area per hectare—BA/ha; number individuals hectare—N/ha; species—S; Shannon biodiversity index—H’; diameter breast height—DBH). Kruskal–Wallis method pairwise multiple comparisons based on Dunn’s procedure applied, considering two-way tests 5% significance, 95% power. statistical confirmed research hypothesis, namely, that had later instance, S DOF statistically higher (p < 0.001) than MOF SDF (44 ± 9); N significantly lower (394 248 mid-stage) (475 233) (545 173); H’ showed increasing towards more stages. Considering is main criterion for decision-making between suppression conservation results achieved should support review procedures applied successional Given demonstrated next steps research, we will evaluate propose specific standards ecosystem, i.e., intervals discriminating values applicable this biome.