Natural regeneration status and soil seed bank composition in IITA Forest Reserve, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Soil seed banks are important for regeneration of degraded wetlands ecosystems. The Sudd wetlands of Juba city have long been encroached for crop cultivation. Seedling germination was monitored in a greenhouse to establish possible natural regeneration in Mindiari, Rejaf and Roton wetlands in the Sudd. Sixty-four species germinated from the soil seed bank of which 12.5% were dominated by Cyperus difformis and Typha capensis. The findings showed that median wetland species richness in Mindiari was 1.5 (interquartile range = 0.75?3.5), Rejaf 2.5 (interquartile range = 1.0 ? 4.0), Roton 3 (interquartile range = 1.0 ? 5.0) while median Shannon-Wiener diversity was 1.5 (1.14 ?1.73), 1.43 (1.01?1.66), 1.15 (0.98?1.67) for Mindiari, Rejaf and Roton respectively. Both the median seed species richness and diversity were not significantly different among the study wetlands. The median of seed density (56.1) was significantly higher in Roton than in Mindiari (36.7) and Rejaf (29.4) wetlands. The NMDS results showed that species composition of Mindiari and Rejaf was different from Roton. It is concluded that growing crops in wetlands did not influence species richness and diversity but it reduced seed density and altered species composition. Although wetland species were not significantly different in the three-wetland categories, dominance of canopy species belonging to Typhaceae and Cyperaceae indicates that these species are resilient to cultivation and could facilitate natural regeneration of cultivated wetlands edges of the Sudd region in Juba. Further research should examine effect of cultivation duration and flooding regimes on soil seed bank species richness, diversity, and density and composition.

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Ecological restoration through natural regeneration in Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary – a protected area of South-East Bangladesh

Ecofeminism and Climate Change ◽

10.1108/efcc-06-2020-0019 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Abdullah Al Mamun ◽

Mohammed Kamal Hossain ◽

Md. Akhter Hossain

Keyword(s):

Ecological Restoration ◽

Seed Bank ◽

Forest Ecosystem ◽

Tree Species ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Management Strategy ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Importance Value ◽

Content Type

PurposeIn this paper, the authors show that ecological restoration potential through natural regeneration of degraded tropical rainforest is possible. This is significant because at present most of the tropical forest of the world, including of Bangladesh, are degraded.Design/methodology/approachRegeneration status of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) was assessed through stratified random sampling method using sample plots of 5 × 5 m in size covering 269 sample plots.FindingsA total of 3,256 regenerating seedlings/saplings of 105 species belonging to 35 families were recorded from CWS. From regenerating tree species, maximum (37.83) family importance value (FIV) index was found for Euphorbiaceae followed by Myrtaceae (18.03). Maximum importance value index (IVI) was found for Aporosa wallichii (21.62) followed by Grewia nervosa (16.41). Distribution of seedlings into different height classes of regenerating tree species was also calculated.Practical implicationsForest scientists are working to find out the best nature-based solution for ecological restoration of tropical rainforests to attain climate resilient ecosystem in a sustainable way. Tropical rain forest has huge plant diversity, and we find that ecological restoration is possible through natural regeneration from its rich soil seed bank. Natural regeneration is the best nature-based solution for sustainable management of the forest.Social implicationsThe authors believe that the findings presented in our paper will appeal to the forest and environmental scientists. The findings will allow readers to understand degraded tropical hill forest ecosystem and its management strategy.Originality/value The authors believe that this manuscript will give a clear picture about degraded tropical hill forest ecosystem and its genetic composition, diversity and soil seed bank status to apply appropriate management strategy.

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Soil Seed Bank and Natural Regeneration of Trees

Journal of Sustainable Development ◽

10.5539/jsd.v9n2p73 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 73 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Molla Mekonnen Alemu

Keyword(s):

Seed Bank ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Current Trend ◽

Vital Role ◽

Regeneration Process ◽

Forest Plantations ◽

Excessive Pressure ◽

Physical And Chemical

The current trend of natural resources utilization, such as soils is getting incompatible with the natural, biological, physical and chemical processes of ecosystems. Excessive pressure of increasing agricultural production has exerted a negative impact on soil and its associated resources development. As the agricultural frontiers are getting exhausted in terms of productivity, immediate need has been developed to bring previously considered marginal and peripheral lands under cultivation by clearing forest resources by posing a sever threat to different ecosystems. Forest plantations are generally considered as efficient ways for the sustained development, rehabilitation and protection of land resources. Forest plantations will also provide other ecosystem services like, timber and associated products, control of soil erosion, edible fruits, shelter for wildlife, moderating climate and weather and carbon sequestration. Apart from this, forest plantations will serve a natural medium for the succession of the forest in the understory by moderating the microclimate and by creating the conducive environment for the proper functioning of dispersal agents and the soil seed bank regeneration process. The objective of this article is, therefore, to outline the soil seed bank elements and the natural regeneration process of trees as knowledge about soil seed bank and regeneration process plays a vital role in the proper management of forest development activities and understanding of forest dynamics.

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Soil seed bank characteristics ofCanarium schweinfurthii(Engl.): implications for its natural regeneration.

Fruits ◽

10.1051/fruits:2008015 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 219-225

Author(s):

Emmanuel Nzegbule ◽

Egwu Nwachi

Keyword(s):

Seed Bank ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Soil Seed Bank

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Size-Dependent Patterns of Seed Rain in Gaps in Temperate Secondary Forests, Northeast China

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10020123 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 123 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Qiaoling Yan ◽

Qun Gang ◽

Jiaojun Zhu

Keyword(s):

Seed Bank ◽

Tree Species ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Seed Rain ◽

Spatiotemporal Pattern ◽

Small Scale ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Gap Size

Secondary forests have become the major forest type worldwide, and are experiencing various disturbances and exhibiting obvious vegetation degradation (e.g., reduced biodiversity and decreased productivity) compared with primary forests. Forest gap is a common small-scale disturbance in secondary forests. Promoting natural regeneration under gap disturbance is an important approach to recover biodiversity and ecosystem services for temperate secondary forests. The gap size is the crucial characteristic controlling natural regeneration of many tree species. However, little is known about the spatiotemporal pattern of seed rain for gravity-dispersed and wind-dispersed tree species in gaps of varying sizes. The objectives of this study were to determine how seed rain of dominant tree species depend on gap size, and consequently, to explore some gap-based silviculture solutions for restoring secondary forests from the view of seed dispersal. The spatial distribution of seed rain in gaps with three sizes (large gaps of 250–350 m2, medium gaps of 150–250 m2, and small gaps of < 150 m2), the temporal dynamics of seed rain over three years, and the relationship between seed rain and soil seed banks were explored in temperate secondary forests. The results showed that more than 90% of the seeds in seed rain were wind-dispersed, and their seed rain density and the contribution of seed rain to soil seed bank in medium gaps reached the highest (p = 0.03). The results suggest that establishing medium-sized gaps (i.e., gap size with 150–250 m2) in the secondary forests is more favorable for improving the natural regeneration potential (arrival of seeds and forming soil seed bank) of gap-dependent and wind-dispersed species (e.g., Acer mono) in gaps.

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL SEED BANK AND CANOPY COVERAGE IN A MINED AREA

Revista Árvore ◽

10.1590/1806-90882019000400003 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Diego Balestrin ◽

Sebastião Venâncio Martins ◽

Wesley Fonseca ◽

Luiz Henrique Elias Cosimo

Keyword(s):

Seed Bank ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Forest Restoration ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Spatial Proximity ◽

Canopy Openness ◽

Area Index ◽

Restoration Process ◽

High Dispersal

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate and correlate information about soil seed bank and canopy (%Canopy Openness and Leaf area index-LAI) in a mined area in restoration process through natural regeneration. The study area is located in Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, which presents predominance of Semideciduous Seasonal Forest, and has an area of 0.5 ha in process of natural regeneration after six years of bauxite exploitation (without any intervention). Along the area, ten plots of 45x29cm were allocated and distributed in the best way to represent the whole area in restoration process. Seed bank diversity and canopy characteristics were evaluated in these plots, the last one using a NIKON D40X photographic camera, with fisheye lens of 8mm. As results, 8280 individuals (tree, shrub, herbs, and vines) were found, totaling 51 species and 24 botanical families. The Shannon diversity index (H’) was 2.770, and the equability (J) was 0.705, which demonstrate an average diversity in this area, with a density of 2114.94 germinated seeds m-2. Through the evaluation of the seed bank, the presence of exotic species (23.5%), the dominance of the pioneer species (68.6%), as well as high dispersal by wind (52.9%) were verified in the area. According to canopy characteristics, a significant variation between different points/regions within the study area was found, while patterns of existence of certain herbs as a function of canopy openness (lower vegetal cover/clearings) were also identified, as well as in response to spatial proximity between the allocated plots, confirming the high correlation between these two variables and their importance in the process of forest restoration.

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