phytosociology peruacu

This study investigated how contrasting environments in a karst system, skylights and riparian forest influence floristic composition, diversity, and community structure. Analyses included diversity estimation using Hill numbers, rarefaction and extrapolation curves, diameter distribution, and multivariate ordination (NMDS), along with statistical tests such as ANOSIM and PERMANOVA. The results showed higher diversity and evenness in the riparian forest, as well as significant differences in floristic composition between environments. Skylights exhibited overlap among themselves, whereas the riparian forest showed greater structural and floristic distinction. Diameter distribution followed a reverse J-shaped pattern in all environments, although with significant deviations from expected proportions. Overall, the findings indicate that riparian forest plays a key role in maintaining regional diversity, while skylights contribute complementarily to landscape heterogeneity.