Influence of environmental variables on the floristics and structure of natural regeneration in a Mixed Ombrophilous Forest remnant

Abstract The present study explored the influence of edaphic variables and forest leaf cover on natural regeneration in a remnant of a Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (MOF) in southern Brazil. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to elucidate the heterogeneity of edaphic and leaf cover variables among the sampling units, and the variables exhibiting the strongest correlations with the sampling units were selected. Subsequently, these variables were used to explain floristic patterns using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). In PCA, the leaf area index explained only some variation in the data, and there was obvious heterogeneity in edaphic variables among the sample units. In the main canonical axis of the CCA, Miconia cubatanensis, Myrcia multiflora, Casearia decandra, and Myrsine coriacea showed greater correlation with variables associated with soil acidity. In contrast, Allophylus guaraniticus and Cupania vernalis showed a high correlation with variables related to bases. Overall, the analysis of soil physicochemical characteristics can allow for the more precise identification of indicator species for the restoration of remnant of MOF in southern Brazil.