Vegetation and seed bank of an open-scrub bush restinga formation in the Southeastern coast of Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Restingas are coastal plain ecosystems located along Eastern Brazil, corresponding to about 5 000 km. The restinga vegetation is associated with the Atlantic rainforest biome and comprises four distinct main formation zones: coastal grasslands, shrublands, open-forests and marsh zones. Especially due to coastal urbanization, this is a threatened ecosystem that, through its different shrub formations, exhibits a unique mosaic as a result of the vegetation distribution in nuclei of different covering, physiognomy and floristic composition. Objective: We aimed to characterize the above and belowground composition of a conserved, non-flooded, open-scrub, nuclei (patches of bushes) formation of restinga in Linhares, ES, southeastern Brazil. Methods: The vegetation survey was conducted using the line intercept method. Diameter and height of the first six nuclei were measured in five transects separated by 50 m, totaling 30 nuclei up to 350 m away from the shore line. The phytosociology and Shannon Index of the aboveground vegetation community were calculated. In the same 30 nuclei, leaf litter and topsoil layer (15 x 15 x 10 cm) samples were collected to survey the viable seed bank, which was later placed in a greenhouse for germination and seedling identification. The Sørensen Similarity index (SSi) was used to compare the floristic composition between the leaf litter and topsoil layer seed banks. Nuclei volume and number of species were calculated as well. Results: In the aboveground vegetation, 54 plant species belonging to 32 families were identified, totaling 1 098 individuals. The nuclei showed a diversity (H') of 3.08 nats, and an average diameter of 11.5 m (s = 9.1), area of 526.4 m2 (s = 1 081.7), and height of 2.9 m (s = 1.1). Davilla flexuosa, followed by Smilax rufescens, presented the highest IVI (Importance Value Index). A total of 1 839 seedlings from 32 species and 19 families were identified in the seed bank. Enydra sessilis (Asteraceae) had the highest seed density (544), while the family with highest species richness was Cyperaceae. A low similarity between the vegetation surveyed and the seed bank composition was found (only 5 species in common, SSi = 0.10). Conclusions: The results indicate that a post-disturbance early community, established from the seed bank, would have a substantially different species composition, but with other potential species to restore vegetation over the long-term succession.

Banco de semillas de relaves mineros como indicador de recuperación de vegetación en Brasil

“…Por ejemplo, los resultados indican que la proporción de especies pioneras entre profundidades varía entre 70 y 58 %, mientras que de especies secundarias iniciales entre 14 y 23 %. Estos grupos de regeneración de rápido crecimiento y exigentes de luz durante la regeneración (Villa et al, 2019), presentan semillas persistentes en el suelo, la mayoría viables para la germinación a largo plazo, hasta cuando se presenten las condiciones favorables para su germinación, principalmente después de un disturbio (Chazdon, 2014;Mall & Singh, 2014;Bechara et al, 2020;Miranda-Neto et al, 2020). Por el contrario, un menor número de especies secundarias tardías (tolerantes a la sombra) en el banco de semillas, representa un indicador del nivel de disturbio, ya que estas semillas presentan baja viabilidad y alto grado de depredación como principales limitaciones para permanecer en el suelo durante largos periodos de tiempo (Wijdeven & Kuzee, 2000;Chazdon, 2014).…”

“…El banco de semillas de bosques tropicales está compuesto principalmente por especies pioneras exigentes de luz, responsables de las primeras etapas de regeneración natural (Dalling et al, 1997;Martins, 2009;Miranda-Neto & Martins, 2017;Bechara et al, 2020). Sin embargo, la calidad y potencial del banco de semillas después de un disturbio es determinada por una alta riqueza de especies y variabilidad de la composición florística (Silva-Weber, Nogueira, Carpanezzi, Galvão, & Weber, 2012;Balestrin, Martins, Schoorl, Lopes, & Andrade, 2019).…”

Residues from the Fundão dam accident in Brazil and their effects on photosynthetic efficiency of two restinga plant species

“…The restinga is denomination as a Quaternary sandy coastal plain ecosystem that is part of the Atlantic Forest located along the Eastern Brazilian coast (Brito et al 2018;Bechara et al 2020). Restingas soil is composed of sediments classified as marine quartz sands and is naturally nutrient-poor (Monteiro et al 2014;Bechara et al 2020).…”

“…The restinga is denomination as a Quaternary sandy coastal plain ecosystem that is part of the Atlantic Forest located along the Eastern Brazilian coast (Brito et al 2018;Bechara et al 2020). Restingas soil is composed of sediments classified as marine quartz sands and is naturally nutrient-poor (Monteiro et al 2014;Bechara et al 2020). Soil attributes combined with water availability, organic matter content, and salinity determine the variation in restinga plant communities (Bona et al 2020;Lourenço Júnior et al 2021).…”

Survival, seedlings growth and natural regeneration in areas under ecological restoration in a sandy coastal plain (restinga) of southeastern Brazil

“…Albeit some revegetation actions have been carried out in Brazilian restingas (Sá 2002;Zamith & Scarano 2004Bechara 2006;Fidalgo et al 2009;Correia & Crepaldi 2011;Gerzson et al 2012;Tomazi et al 2012;Tieppo 2015;Da Silva Morais Rodrigues et al 2016;Lorenzo & Campagnaro 2017;Bechara et al 2020), detailed studies on ecological restoration in this community type are still scarce (Correia & Crepaldi 2011), especially in contrasting areas (sandbanks and depressions). There are even fewer studies addressing monitoring of revegetation projects in restinga vegetation.…”