Evaluation of the Potential of Seed Rain as an Alternative for Forest Restoration in Permanent Preservation Areas1

Abstract

-The ecological restoration of degraded areas using seeds collected in forest remnants has shown significant results. This study was developed to verify the potential of seed rain to regenerate forest fragments of a Permanent Preservation Area (PPA) in the Apa River Basin which is located in the southwestern portion of the Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. To develop the study, we installed 25 collectors measuring 1 m 2 each, which were systematically distributed on an area of 1.5ha. Seed gathering was conducted in a monthly basis throughout the year of 2013. A total of 26.411 propagules were identified and distributed among 50 species, 45 genera and 32 families. In terms of the propagules distribution, 70.51% were identified as trees, 22.8% as lianas, 6.5% as shrubs, 0.1 as herbaceous, 0.05% as palm and 0.05% could not be classified. The value for the Shannon Diversity Index was (H ') = 1.67 and the Pielou Evenness index was (J) = 0.42. These results indicate that the seeds rain has low species diversity with the abundance of a few species. The overall results suggest that seed rain can be a potential technique for restoration of the PPAs and other forested areas. However, it is necessary to enhance the diversity of tree species. cada um, distribuídos de forma sistemática em uma área de 1,5 ha. As coletas foram realizadas mensalmente durante o ano 2013. Foram identificados um total de 26.411 propágulos, distribuídos em 50 espécies, 45 gêneros e 32 famílias. Em termos de distribuição dos propágulos, 70,51% é do tipo arbóreo, 22,8% de lianas, 6,5% de arbustivas, 0,1% de herbáceas, 0,05% de palmeiras e 0,05% não puderam ser classificados. O valor do Índice de Diversidade de Shannon (H') foi de 1,67 e o índice de Equabilidade de Pielou (J') = 0,42. Esse resultado indica que a chuva de sementes tem baixa diversidade de espécies com abundância de algumas espécies. Os 22Revista Árvore, Viçosa-MG, v.40, n.1, p.21-28, 2016 SILVA, E.P. et al.resultados sugerem que a chuva de sementes apresenta potencial como técnica para restauração de APPs e outras áreas similares da região. No entanto, é necessário aumentar a diversidade de espécies arbóreas.Palavras-chave: Restauração; Mata ciliar; Chuva de sementes.

Seed Rain in a Tropical Dry Forest and Adjacent Home Gardens in the Yucatan

“…1). Some previous studies have set up a similar number of traps (12–33) or a similar area covered by traps (4.5 – 30 m 2 ) (César et al., 2017; da Silva et al., 2016; Labatore et al., 2017; Piña-Rodrigues & Aoki, 2014;); therefore, sampling efforts are comparable. All traps were placed in the areas of extensive management of the selected home gardens because they offer better conditions for plant establishment than intensively managed area does.…”

Breaking dormancy, alternative substrates, and the production of <i>Samanea tubulosa</i> (Benth.) seedlings

“…Among these species, Samanea tubulosa (Benth.) Barneby & JW Grimes has been used in the restoration and maintenance of ecosystems in degraded areas [6,7], being characterized as a typical tree in the Cerrado biome, reaching up to 28 m in height and 1 m in diameter, widely used in forestry, ornamentation and as part of animal nutrition [8,9].…”

“…The use of commercial substrates that are based on expanded vermiculite and organic materials [13] is costly [7,14], however, decomposed organic residues and fractions from Brazilian pre-Amazonian palms, such as babassu (Attalea speciosa Mart. ), buriti (Mauritia vinifera Mart.…”

Dispersal syndrome influences the match between seed rain and soil seed bank of woody species in a Neotropical dry forest

“…Seed dispersal is critical for the recruitment of new individuals (Schupp & Fuentes, 1995; Nathan & Muller‐Landau, 2000) and a key process for the regeneration of plant populations and communities (Howe & Smallwood, 1982). Recruitment may occur immediately upon the arrival of seeds to the ground after seed dispersal from the mother plant (i.e., seed rain), or be delayed through the formation of transient or permanent soil seed banks (Uhl et al , 1981; Álvarez‐Buylla & Martínez‐Ramos, 1990; Moles & Drake, 1999; Vandvik et al , 2016; Silva et al , 2016). The relative importance of these two primary regeneration sources conforms to a remarkable evolutionary dilemma with variations among habitats (Thompson, 2000; Vandvik et al , 2016), and its clarification is a crucial step to understand the community structure and composition and to apply appropriate management measures.…”

“…The ability to establish soil banks has been studied in relation to a few plant functional traits, e.g. regeneration guild (Vázquez‐Yanes & Orozco Segovia, 1984; Garwood, 1989; Chandrashekara & Ramakrishnan, 1993; Vázquez‐Yanes & Orozco Segovia, 1993; Rees, 1997), life form (Garwood, 1989; Rees, 1997; Silva et al , 2016), seed chemistry (Thompson, 2000), seed size and dispersal capacity (Bakker et al , 1996; Thompson, 2000; Valenta et al ., 2015; Douh et al , 2018; Ssali et al , 2018), and phenology (Salazar et al , 2011; Heydel & Tackenberg, 2017). For instance, observational studies suggested that large seed size and long dispersal distance should be negatively related to persistence in the soil (Klinkhamer et al , 1987; Bakker et al , 1996; Thompson, 2000).…”