scholarly journals Soil seed banks in two environments of forest restoration post bauxite mining: native tree plantation and natural regeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastião Venâncio Martins ◽  
Wesley da Silva Fonseca ◽  
Luiz Henrique Elias Cosimo ◽  
Diego Balestrin

The objective of this study was to compare the soil seed bank of an area under natural regeneration (F1) and another reforested through seedling planting (F2), seven years after bauxite mining, in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. In each area, 10 sampling points were randomly distributed, using three samples of topsoil to represent each point. The samples were transported to a shade house and evaluated for six months, where emerging individuals were identified every two weeks. In F1, 2,114.94 propagules m-2 were registered, belonging to 51 species and 24 botanical families, H’=2.770 e J’=0.705. In F2, 1,168.62 propagules m-2 were registered, belonging to 42 species and 22 families, H’=2.618 and J’=0.700. The Jaccard index between F1 and F2 was 0.61, indicating a high similarity between the analyzed areas. The results showed high density of propagules, good diversity and absence of ecological dominance. The high similarity between forests is related to geographical proximity, the same topsoil origin (agricultural/pasture) and also to the role of the dispersing fauna. The high number of individuals and diversity of tree species with zoochoric dispersion found in the areas indicate that both natural regeneration and reforestation were efficient in the ecological restoration of bauxite mined areas. 

2012 ◽  
Vol 610-613 ◽  
pp. 3483-3487
Author(s):  
Xun Qiang Mo ◽  
Nuo Xu ◽  
Hong Yuan Li ◽  
Wei Qing Meng

Field survey and laboratory experiment were conducted to study the characteristics of soil seed banks (SSBs) in typical Saline-alkali wetlands in Tianjin Binhai New Area. The composition, diversity and temporal and spatial distribution of SSBs in three sampling plots were analyzed. The results show that there are 26 species in the SSBs, with species density 6809~30644 grains/m2 and ecological dominance at 0.51~0.81. The diversity index show a relatively low value - the highest Shannon-Wener value is 1.78. The similarity coefficients between SSB and aboveground vegetation are low as well, the lowest value is 0.21. Vertical distribution demonstrates significantly obvious condition with 0-5cm layer having the most species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ítalo Favoreto Campanharo ◽  
Sebastião Venâncio Martins ◽  
Pedro Manuel Villa ◽  
Gabriel Correa Kruschewsky ◽  
Andreia Aparecida Dias ◽  
...  

Currently there is an urgent and special attention in actions to restore tropical forests. In this study, we evaluated the effect of different restoration methods on aboveground biomass (AGB) stock, tree community diversity and structure, in areas affected by the Fundão tailings dam collapse in Mariana, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. We measured and compiled data of the AGB, community diversity and structure attributes in 36 plots distributed in six restoration treatments and six replicas: planting of native tree seedlings with fertilization and pH correction (PSf) and without fertilization and pH correction (PS); seeding of native trees with fertilization and pH correction (SDf) and without fertilization and pH correction (SD); natural regeneration with fertilization and pH correction (NRf) and without fertilization and pH correction (NR). No significant differences in substrate properties and AGB between treatments. Although biomass storage between treatments was not statistically different, there is a clear pattern showing higher values active restoration method. The Pielou index ranged from 0.520 (SDf) to 0.943 (NR), except for SDf all the others treatments had values higher than 0.76. This result suggests floristic heterogeneity, without ecological dominance in the plant community. Overall, active restoration had important implications for the forest restoration where natural regeneration is limited.


Author(s):  
Josephine Esaete ◽  
Augustine Bongo ◽  
Thomas Lado ◽  
Tomor Bojoi ◽  
Henry Busulwa

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Balestrin ◽  
Sebastião Venâncio Martins ◽  
Wesley Fonseca ◽  
Luiz Henrique Elias Cosimo

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-425
Author(s):  
Md Khayrul Alam Bhuiyan ◽  
Md Akhter Hossain ◽  
Abdul Kadir Ibne Kamal ◽  
Mohammed Kamal Hossain ◽  
Mohammed Jashimuddin ◽  
...  

A study was conducted by using 5m × 5m sized 179 quadrates following multistage random sampling method for comparative regenerating tree species, quantitative structure, diversity, similarity and climate resilience in the degraded natural forests and plantations of Cox's Bazar North and South Forest Divisions. A total of 70 regenerating tree species were recorded representing maximum (47 species) from degraded natural forests followed by 43 species from 0.5 year 39 species from 1.5 year and 29 species from 2.5 year old plantations. Quantitative structure relating to ecological dominance indicated dominance of Acacia auriculiformis, Grewia nervosa and Lithocarpus elegans seedlings in the plantations whereas seedlings of Aporosa wallichii, Suregada multiflora and Grewia nervosa in degraded natural forests. The degraded natural forests possess higher natural regeneration potential as showed by different diversity indices. The dominance-based cluster analysis showed 2 major cluster of species under one of which multiple sub-clusters of species exists. Poor plant diversity and presence of regenerating exotic species in the plantations indicated poor climate resilience of forest ecosystem in terms of natural regeneration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Chambi-Legoas ◽  
Daigard Ricardo Ortega Rodriguez ◽  
Francisco de Marques de Figueiredo ◽  
Joel Peña Valdeiglesias ◽  
Percy Amílcar Zevallos Pollito ◽  
...  

Context: Gold mining is the most destructive activity in the natural forests of the Madre de Dios region in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. Understanding the natural regeneration process of these degraded areas is necessary to develop forest restoration projects in such conditions.Aims: We aimed to evaluate forest recovery and identify the successional and structure patterns of vegetation governing natural regeneration over time.Methods: Structure, composition, richness, diversity, and successional status were evaluated in abandoned artisanal gold mine areas in Madre de Dios, southeastern Peru. Vegetation data were recorded in 61 plots of 250 m2 established in five sites varying from 1 to 19 years of abandonment. Vegetation in abandoned areas was compared with six undisturbed forests evaluated in previous inventories.Results: In the mining lands, tree density and basal area recovered quickly, while species richness and composition were slow. Forest recovery is an initial stage of transition from pioneer to early secondary species until at least 19 years after abandonment. The most abundant and frequent species were the fast-growing species Ochroma pyramidale and Cecropia engleriana. These species could be considered potential candidates to promote restoration plans. Pioneer species represented 63% of the number of species in plots of 1–4 years, 57% in plots of 5–7 years, and 50% in plots of 8–19 years. Early and late secondary species represented 34 and 16%, respectively, of the number of species in plots of 8–19 years. Abandoned mining and reference plots present less than 5% of species in common.Conclusion: Our results highlight a slow natural regeneration process in areas for up to 19 years after gold mining. Species from different successional statuses were identified as potential candidates for recovering vegetation in such areas. Our findings may have important implications for further research focusing on the ecological restoration in tropical forests severely degraded by gold mining.


2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Wódkiewicz ◽  
Anna Justyna Kwiatkowska-Falińska

Forest seed banks mostly studied in managed forests proved to be small, species poor and not reflecting aboveground species composition. Yet studies conducted in undisturbed communities indicate a different seed bank characteristic. Therefore we aimed at describing soil seed bank in an undisturbed forest in a remnant of European lowland temperate forests, the Białowieża Forest. We compared similarity between the herb layer and seed bank, similarity of seed bank between different patches, and dominance structure of species in the herb layer and in the seed bank of two related oak-hornbeam communities. We report relatively high values of Sorensen species similarity index between herb layer and seed bank of both patches. This suggests higher species similarity of the herb layer and soil seed bank in natural, unmanaged forests represented by both plots than in fragmented communities influenced by man. Although there was a set of core seed bank species present at both plots, yielding high Sorensen species similarity index values, considerable differences between plots in seed bank size and dominance structure of species were found, indicating spatial variability of studied seed bank generated by edaphic conditions. Dominance structure of species in the herb layer was not reflected in the underlying seed bank. This stresses, that natural forest regeneration cannot rely only on the seed bank, although some forest species are capable of forming soil seed banks. While forest seed banks may not reflect vegetation composition of past successional stages, they may inform on history and land use of a specific plot.


Author(s):  
Ya-Fei Shi ◽  
Zengru Wang ◽  
Bing-Xin Xu ◽  
Jian-Qiang Huo ◽  
Rui Hu ◽  
...  

Soil seed banks may offer great potential for restoring and maintaining desert ecosystems that have been degraded by climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. However, few studies have explored the annual dynamics in the composition and relative abundance of these soil seed banks. We conducted a long-term observational study to assess the effects of environmental factors (meteorology and microtopography) and aboveground vegetation on the soil seed bank of the Tengger Desert, China. The desert seed bank was dominated by annual herbs. We found that more rainfall in the growing season increased the number of seeds in the soil seed bank, and that quadrats at relatively higher elevations had fewer seeds. The species composition had more similarity in the seed bank than in the aboveground vegetation, though the seed bank and aboveground vegetation did change synchronously due to the rapid propagation of annuals. Together, our findings suggest that the combined effects of environmental factors and plant life forms determine the species composition and size of soil seed banks in deserts. Thus, if degraded desert ecosystems are left to regenerate naturally, the lack of shrub and perennial herb seeds could crucially limit their restoration. Human intervention and management may have to be applied to enhance the seed abundance of longer-lived lifeforms in degraded deserts.


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