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.

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.

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Background: Coffee and livestock degrade Seasonal Semideciduous Forests in the Zona da Mata region of the Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil. The floristic composition must be studied to preserve and conserve forest remnants. The objective was to evaluate the arboreal structure, characterize the seed dispersal syndrome and the ecological group of forest species of a 45-year-old restored area in Viçosa, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The phytosociological parameters density, frequency, dominance and importance value, Shannon's diversity and Pielou's equability were evaluated considering individuals with DBH (diameter at breast height) ≥ 5 cm in sixteen contiguous plots (25 x 25 m). Results: A total of 1,323 individuals from 109 species and 35 botanical families were registered, of which 90 were native and 15 exotic species. The importance value (VI= 11.9%) was highest for Guarea guidonia (Fabaceae). The Shannon's diversity (H') was 3.46 and the equability (J') was 0.74. The number of species (33%) was largest for the initial secondary successional class and the number of individuals with zoochoric dispersion syndrome for the late secondary class (38.3%). The basal area was 44.1 m² ha-1 and the average height was 13 m (ranging from 2 to 32 m). Conclusion: The restored Semideciduous Seasonal Forest is in an advanced successional stage with zoochoric species and a great number of late secondary species.