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Prioritization of key indicators for the classification of successional stages in regenerating subtropical Atlantic forest, Southern Brazil: a proposal based on multivariate order statistics

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Abstract

Statement of problem. Brazilian guidelines establish a set of parameters to classify forest regeneration stages, but there are no criteria or evidence for prioritizing key indicators. Purpose. This study performed a comparative analysis between phytosociological parameters to verify the hypothesis that there is a difference in their explanatory power of the forest regeneration stages. Consequently, it shows the need to prioritize key indicators for classifying forest regeneration stages. Material and methods. The analyzes were carried out using a database of the Floristic Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, composed of 177 sampling units of subtropical Atlantic forest (Mixed Ombrophilous Forest) characterized according to 12 quantitative and qualitative phytosociological parameters. Several statistical tests were performed to analyze the explanatory ability of the phytosociological parameters. Such process includes tests for multivariate ordering, principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (FDA and QDA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Afterward, is provided a ranking regarding the analyzed indicators based on their usefulness to separate forest regeneration stages, measured in terms of classification accuracy according to the QUEST (Quick Unbiased Efficient Statistical) algorithm. The hypothesis was verified with two-way tests at a significance level (α) equal to 0.05, for a test power (1-β) of 0.8 and a minimum detectable effect of medium size (ρ = 0.3). Results. Statistical significance tests confirmed the research hypothesis. Regarding both the qualitative and quantitative variables, the ranking resulting from the discriminant analysis provided the best accuracy (85.3%). In decreasing priority order, was defined the following parameter order: basal area, number of individuals and species, Shannon diversity index, diameter at breast height, total height, stem height, leaf litter, canopy structure, canopy cover, the density of lianas and epiphytes. Conclusions. The phytosociological parameters have statistically different explanatory power (p < 0.0001), which should be considered when classifying forest regeneration stages. Practical implications. The presented results and conclusions should substantially impact the guidelines and decision-making process for cutting down the forest/native vegetation and applicable compensation measures, which are currently only based on the forest regeneration stages.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available in a public repository, from the Forest Floristic Inventory of the Santa Catarina State (IFFSC), Brazil. All data are in the form of tables inserted in technical documents and scientific publications open to the public, which can be downloaded at following link https://www.iff.sc.gov.br/publica%C3%A7%C3%B5es.

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Acknowledgements

The Research and Innovation Support Foundation of Santa Catarina State, Brazilian Forest Service, the Regional University of Blumenau, the Santa Catarina State University, the Federal University of Santa Catarina, and to the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension of Santa Catarina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Science and Technology (ICT), Environmental Engineering Department, Campus at São José dos Campos City, Rodovia Presidente Dutra, Km 137,8—Eugênio de Melo12247-004, São José Dos Campos/SP, CEP, Brazil

    Adriano Bressane, Isadora Gurjon Gomes, Líliam César de Castro Medeiros & Rogério Galante Negri

  2. Agricultural and Natural Ecosystems Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Campus at Curitibanus City, Rod. Ulysses Gaboardi km 3, Curitibanos - SC, CEP, 89520-000, Brazil

    Alexandre Siminski

  3. Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Program, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus at Bauru City, Av. Eng. Luiz Edmundo C. Coube 14-01—Vargem Limpa, Bauru—SP/SP, CEP, 17033-360, Brazil

    Carrie Peres Melo, Graziele Coraline Scofano da Rosa, Amanda Louisi dos Santos Galvão & Mirela Beatriz Silva

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  1. Adriano Bressane
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  2. Alexandre Siminski
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  3. Isadora Gurjon Gomes
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  6. Amanda Louisi dos Santos Galvão
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  9. Rogério Galante Negri
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Correspondence to Adriano Bressane.

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Bressane, A., Siminski, A., Gomes, I.G. et al. Prioritization of key indicators for the classification of successional stages in regenerating subtropical Atlantic forest, Southern Brazil: a proposal based on multivariate order statistics. Environ Syst Decis 43, 232–241 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-022-09881-z

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