In this study the structure of the sub-montane Atlantic tropical rain forest tree and shrub component in different size classes was compared and their regeneration dynamics was discussed. The plants in each size class were sampled in plots of different size: Class I (individuals <=15cm tall) in 250 1x1m plots taken in five main samples of 50 units, at three-months intervals, between July/95 and July/96; Class II (individuals >15cm and <= 1,3m tall) in ten 2,5x5m plots; Class III (individuals > 1,3m tall and < 5,0cm DBH) in ten 5x10m plots and Class IV (individuals > or = 5cm DBH) in ten 10x20m plots. The highest diversity was found in intermediate size classes was due to a more even distribution of individuals among species. These classes had also the highest values of quantitative and qualitative species similarity indices. The majority of the species and the individuals were secondary-climax and under-story, suggesting that the present forest structure have favored the regeneration of these plant groups.
Atlantic rain forest; structure; size classes; regeneration
