**4. Conclusions**

In the same study of floristic and structural changes that have occurred in a Mixed Rainy Forest, located in Paraná [23], the authors found a value for Menhinick index of 1.10, in 1979,

Even without considering the size of the sampling area, the Menhinick index, different of Margalef index, represents, in this case, the real diversity of the area, even a small sampling area. The suggestion would be in smaller sampling units, use the Menhinick index, and, in larger sampling units, Margalef index, both to assess the species richness within the area.

The dominance of species by the two indices, Simpson and MacIntosh, presented values of 0.26 and 0.8, respectively. The contents of Simpson and MacIntosh presented low dominance by one or a few species on the plots. Other research found very similar values in Mixed Rainy Forest area in São João do Triunfo, PR [23], with 0.21, in the year of 1979, and 0.26 in 2000, for the Simpson index, and 0.97 (1979) and 0.96 (2000), for the MacIntosh index, characterizing

It is common to find misinterpretation in Simpson index, in which the authors use this index as a parameter of the diversity of local information, when in fact he expressed only the dominance of some species in the plot. Other researchers found values of 0.15 [24] and 0.04 [25] for the Simpson index in areas of Mixed Rainy Forest and interpreted as areas of middle and low diversity, when in fact these values indicate only that there are low dominance of one or a few species in the area, it means that there are, approximately, the same number of species

We obtained a value for Shannon index of 1.54, denoting low diversity when compared to other studies. The low floristic diversity is common in Mixed Rainy Forest remnants located in areas of higher altitude, where the climatic rigors selective pressure on plant diversity [26]. These low values of diversity can also be a result of sample unit size, as well as the index of species richness of Margalef. In the same FLONA of São Francisco de Paula, in sampling units of 100 × 100 m [22], the authors found values for the arboreal component between 2.78 to plots of less diversity, to 3.40 to the greater diversity, with an average of 3.19, which features high diversity. Also in the FLONA of São Francisco de Paula, others researches found high diversity in the areas sampled by the Shannon index, with values of 3.53 [27] and 2.95 [28]. Highest values of diversity were found in several works with Mixed Rainy Forest [17, 25, 29–32], which characterized the diversity in these areas of medium to high, according to the

Pielou, Alatalo, and Hill indices presented values of 0.93, 0.88, and 0.91, respectively, demonstrating high uniformity in the composition of the parcels. Other research [28], in the FLONA of São Francisco de Paula, also found high uniformity in the composition of the parcels, with value of 0.80 for the Pielou index. Similar values were also found in other areas of Mixed

Other research also found similar results by evaluating the arboreal component in National Forest of São Francisco de Paula, in sampling units of 100 × 100 m, with a value of 0.60 at

Rainy Forest, like [17] (Pielou = 0.90) and [32] (Pielou = 0.83).

Alatalo index and 0.63 for Hill index, featuring high uniformity.

and 1.17 in 2000, characterized by medium diversity.

low dominance by one or a few species in the area.

in each sample unit.

54 Selected Studies in Biodiversity

Shannon index.

The specific richness of Margalef index was highly influenced by the size of the sampling unit, obtaining values of diversity, both in arboreal component and in natural regeneration. As a result, this index is not suitable for assessing the diversity of Mixed Rainy Forest in small sampling units, as adopted in this methodology.

Even without considering the size of the sampling area, Menhinick index represented the diversity in a real way of the area, fact that indicates this index for diversity evaluation in small sampling units of Mixed Rainy Forest.

The Simpson and MacIntosh indices showed similar patterns, both to the arboreal component and natural regeneration, denoting low dominance of one or a few species. These values are similar to those found in other studies in Mixed Rainy Forest, which denotes that the two indices show the real dominance of species in these areas, in accordance with the methodology adopted.

The Shannon-Wiener index, which reports directly to the value of diversity at the site, showed an average value of 1.54 for the arboreal component, which denotes low diversity in place. This low value of diversity can also be a result of sample unit size, as well as the Margalef index.

On natural regeneration, the Shannon index was not influenced by the size of the sampling unit, showing an average of 2.13, which denotes medium diversity in place.

The three equity indices used, Pielou, Alatalo, and Hill, showed the same pattern in each subplot evaluated, denoting high uniformity in the composition of the parcels. The indices presented the uniformity in composition of species on the plots, being suitable for the assessment of equity in Mixed Rainy Forest areas, according to the adopted methodology.

Beta diversity indices presented low similarity in the floristic composition of different samples with the low value may also be a consequence of the small area of sampled units.
