In this study, tree density (per plot), tree richness(per plot) and percentage of shade-tolerant species (i.e., those capable of regenerating in the shaded understorey of old growth forests) and emergent species (i.e., species capable to occupy the
highest stratum of the forest) were used as tree community attributes (Table S1).
The percentage of shade-tolerant and emergent trees were used as indicators of habitat integrity, because these two ecological groups have been consistently reported as negatively affected by habitat fragmentation in the Atlantic Forest in
north-eastern Brazil