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African mahogany (Khaya spp.) produces high-value wood, and its cultivation is expanding in tropical regions. The silvopastoral system is an alternative method for growing timber trees, but may involve cattle stripping bark from trees, which limits its usefulness. We evaluated cattle bark-stripping rates in two African mahogany species, K. grandifoliola and K. senegalensis, in a silvopastoral system with Guinea grass, Panicum maximum, in South-eastern Brazil. Cattle had free access to plantations of both tree species for 2 weeks in May 2018 and July 2019, when trees were 5 and 6 years old, respectively. In 2018, we found bark-stripping only in K. grandifoliola, but in 2019 both species were bark-stripped. The proportion of bark-stripped trees was higher for K. grandifoliola than for K. senegalensis. Considering both years, 29/155 (18.7%) K. senegalensis trees and 106/153 (69.3%) K. grandifoliola trees had some of their bark-stripped by cattle. Bark-stripped trees had lower trunk diameter growth than unaffected trees, and their growth was affected by the degree of bark-stripping. Some trees were girdled by bark-stripping. These trees dried up, and some of them fell down 1 year after girdling. In 2019, despite the high herbage mass, levels of crude protein in the pasture were very low, which may have stimulated bark-stripping. Although we could not identify the reasons for bark-stripping, we recommend avoiding the use of silvopastoral systems with cattle and African mahogany in times of the year when pasture has a low quality.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T20:06:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-07-30 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. National Science Foundation Afforestation and fire exclusion are pervasive threats to tropical savannas. In Brazil, laws limiting prescribed burning hinder the study of fire in the restoration of Cerrado plant communities. We took advantage of a 2017 wildfire to evaluate the potential for tree cutting and fire to promote the passive restoration of savanna herbaceous plant communities after destruction by exotic tree plantations. We sampled a burned pine plantation (Burned Plantation); a former plantation that was harvested and burned (Harvested & Burned); an unburned former plantation that was harvested, planted with native trees, and treated with herbicide to control invasive grasses (Native Tree Planting); and two old-growth savannas which served as reference communities. Our results confirm that herbaceous plant communities on post-afforestation sites are very different from old-growth savannas. Among post-afforestation sites, Harvested & Burned herbaceous communities were modestly more similar in composition to old-growth savannas, had slightly higher richness of savanna plants (3.8 species per 50-m(2)), and supported the greatest cover of native herbaceous plants (56%). These positive trends in herbaceous community recovery would be missed in assessments of tree cover: whereas canopy cover in the Harvested & Burned site was 6% (less than typical of savannas of the Cerrado), the Burned Plantation and Native Tree Planting supported 34% and 19% cover, respectively. By focusing on savanna herbaceous plants, these results highlight that tree cutting and fire, not simply tree planting and fire exclusion, should receive greater attention in efforts to restore savannas of the Cerrado. Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Super Agr Luiz de Queiroz, Dept Ciencias Biol, Ave Padua Dias 11, BR-13418260 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Biotecnol & Prod Vegetal & Anim, Araras, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agron, Dept Ciencia Florestal, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Inst Florestal Estado Sao Paulo, Floresta Estadual Assis, Assis, Brazil Texas A&M Univ, Dept Ecol & Conservat Biol, College Stn, TX USA Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agron, Dept Ciencia Florestal, Botucatu, SP, Brazil CAPES: 001 CNPq: 303179/2016-3 U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture: 1016880 U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture: 12726253 U.S. National Science Foundation: DEB-1931232

Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) is considered worldwide as a powerful approach to recover ecological functionality and to improve human well-being in degraded and deforested landscapes. The literature produced by FLR programs could be a valuable tool to understand how they align with the existing principles of FLR. We conducted a systematic qualitative review to identify the main FLR concepts and definitions adopted in the literature from 1980 to 2017 and the underlying actions commonly suggested to enable FLR implementation. We identified three domains and 12 main associated principles—(i) Project management and governance domain contains five principles: (a) Landscape scale, (b) Prioritization, (c) Legal and normative compliance, (d) Participation, (e) Adaptive management; (ii) Human aspect domain with four principles: (a) Enhance livelihoods, (b) Inclusiveness and equity, (c) Economic diversification, (d) Capacity building; (iii) Ecological Aspects domain with three principles: (a) Biodiversity conservation, (b) Landscape heterogeneity and connectivity, (c) Provision of ecosystem goods and services. Our results showcase variations in FLR principles and how they are linked with practice, especially regarding the lack of social aspects in FLR projects. Finally, we provide a starting point for future tools aiming to improve guidance frameworks for FLR.

Investigating the impact of silvicultural practices on tropical forest restoration plantations is highly relevant, as there is a growing global demand for large-scale ecological restoration. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that native trees respond positively to the intensification of fertilization and weed control in a forest restoration plantation on a site previously used as cropland in the Atlantic Forest region of Brazil. We carried out a study with 22 native tree species, 11 of which were classified as shade species and the other 11 classified as diversity species. We implemented a randomized experimental design in a split-plot design, with six replicates of four treatments: intensive weed control (glyphosate spraying every 3 months) with and without fertilization, and non-intensive control (mechanical control every 6 months), with and without fertilization. We performed fertilization by supplying the site with 53 kg ha−1 of nitrogen, 35 kg ha−1 of phosphorus, and 51 kg ha−1 of potassium. We evaluated individual tree crown areas and increments in basal diameter and height 16 months after planting. In general, growth varied more among species than in weed control and fertilization treatments. Overall, the method of controlling weeds did not influence tree growth, but interacted with species for all growth variables. Fertilization increased tree diameter increment, and interacted with species, leading to diameter and height increments; however, most of the species did not respond to fertilization. Contrary to our expectations and previous findings, silvicultural intensification did not promote higher overall tree growth, probably because the restoration planting was conducted on a cropland with decades of intensive management, which increased soil fertility and reduced weed abundance through periodical maintenance prior to restoration planting. Our results highlight the importance of considering local and historical conditions to decide whether and when management intensification is required to accelerate tree growth in tropical forest restoration plantations.

Planting tree monocultures in Brazilian savannas is a common practice for wood production. However, afforestation and fire suppression have caused significant ecological changes and biodiversity loss in the Cerrado region. Restoring these modified systems to their pre-plantation states remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we compared the recovery of savanna vegetation after afforestation in areas managed with three restoration strategies: (i) old pine plantation stands that are not managed anymore (control), (ii) passive restoration (natural regeneration after pine clearcutting), and (iii) native tree planting (native tree seedlings planted at high density after pine clearcutting). To compare the outcome of each strategy to native ecosystems that were never plantations, we sampled a cerrado sensu stricto (the desired restoration target), and a cerradao (the local alternative state when savannas are fire-suppressed). Fifteen years after applying the restoration approaches, we assessed the structure, richness, and composition of the plant communities. For the analyses, we separated the upper layer (woody native species, diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm) and ground layer (woody species with height ≥ 50 cm and DBH

Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) involves using services on which human well-being depends to help people adapt to the impacts of climate change. Aiming at strengthening ecosystem resilience and reducing ecosystem and people’s vulnerability, EbA has been encouraged worldwide as an option for climate change. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) are incentives offered to farmers and landowners to provide an ecological service and are currently proposed as a method for EbA and water resources sustainability on a global scale. However, organized information on PES in Brazil is limited. This paper provides a concise review of PES initiatives in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, where various PES projects on watershed protection (Water-PES) have been set up. We found 16 ongoing Water-PES in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The first initiative was launched in 2005 and since then these projects have grown rapidly. In spite of the advances made in many of these initiatives, they seldom have baseline hydrologic data and an implemented strategy for ecohydrological monitoring. Thus, we discuss how PES projects could be more effective by implementing hydrological monitoring based on ecohydrological concepts. Special attention has been given to explaining how the recent Impact-Vulnerability-Adaptation idea could be integrated into Water-PES. As can be seen from the review, these projects contribute as EbA options for climate change, thereby carrying practical implications for environmental policy makers.

Resumo Neste trabalho, foi avaliada a viabilidade do uso de composto de lodo de esgoto, proveniente de estação de tratamento de esgoto, como fertilizante alternativo para o cultivo inicial de eucalipto. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação no CCA - UFSCar, Araras, SP. Os cultivos ocorreram em vasos de 11 L durante 75 dias. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e sete repetições. Os tratamentos adotados foram constituídos por uma testemunha, três tratamentos com composto de lodo de esgoto (25%, 50% e 75% do volume do vaso) e um tratamento com fertilizante mineral convencional, todos em solo arenoso. Ao final do experimento, a taxa de crescimento relativo (TCR) e a massa seca das plantas foram medidas e submetidas à análise de variância seguida pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. A TCR foi maior nos tratamentos com fertilização do que na testemunha, mas não diferiu entre a fertilização mineral e as doses de fertilização orgânica. A massa seca das plantas foi maior no tratamento com 50% do volume do vaso com fertilizante orgânico (p

Forest and landscape restoration (FLR) is a powerful strategy for large-scale tropical forest recovery, and payment for ecosystem services (PES) is used to support FLR programs and projects on privately-owned land. In this article, we discuss the lessons learned from the Water Producer Project, a pioneer, multiple-stakeholder, and PES-supported FLR project in the Atlantic Forest, south-eastern Brazil. The project was implemented in four landscapes located in two municipalities. Altogether, 41 PES contracts with landowners were signed, resulting in various FLR practices being implemented in a total of 342.4 ha (64.2 ha for riparian forest restoration, 90.8 ha for soil conservation, and 187.4 for forest conservation) of land, which represents 39% of the project goal. As of the end of the project, only 50% (USD 49,250) of the available PES funds had been spent. However, funds spent on project planning, implementation, communication, and monitoring were 12 times greater than those spent on PES. Several challenges restricted the progress and monitoring of the project. The main issue was landowner participation and/or engagement. In terms of lessons learned, we highlight that PES schemes are more complex than initially thought, and that sufficient funding does not guarantee the success of FLR projects. It is essential to promote landowner participation and engagement by considering them key players in FLR projects. Finally, acceptance from landowners was higher and implementation was easier for forest conservation practices that required no land-use changes. Thus, we suggest that similar future projects should focus on targeting private properties in marginal agricultural lands with a high probability of natural regeneration. Alternatively, future projects could focus on lands with remnant forest cover of high conservation value.

O banco de sementes e importante para a regeneracao natural. Porem, em florestas degradadas, trepadeiras hiperabundantes podem afetar a chegada de sementes no solo. Neste trabalho, descrevemos o banco de sementes de especies arboreas em um fragmento degradado de Floresta Estacional Semidecidua e testamos a hipotese de que trepadeiras afetam negativamente o banco. O solo superficial foi coletado em 26 pontos do fragmento em 2015 e em 2016, e colocado em casa de vegetacao para germinacao das sementes. Os individuos arboreos emergidos foram contados e identificados. Em cada um dos pontos de coleta do solo, estimou-se o grau de cobertura do dossel por trepadeiras. Nos dois anos, foram encontradas as mesmas cinco especies no banco de sementes, todas autoctones e com sementes ortodoxas (formam bancos pouco persistentes ou persistentes). Nao houve diferenca na riqueza e na abundância do banco entre os graus de cobertura do dossel por trepadeiras. A baixa riqueza pode ser explicada por diferentes fatores que diminuem o sucesso reprodutivo das plantas, como os relacionados a propria fragmentacao. A ausencia de especies aloctones indica que especies provenientes de outras areas nao estao sendo incorporadas no banco de sementes, nao havendo, assim, colonizacao do fragmento. Diferentemente do esperado, a cobertura do dossel por trepadeiras nao influenciou a incorporacao de sementes no solo. Conclui-se que a regeneracao do fragmento esta comprometida, mas isso parece ser explicado por fatores que atuam sobre a regeneracao de forma mais intensa do que o grau de cobertura do dossel por trepadeiras.

We aimed to investigate the effects of root carboxylate exudation in the interaction between Azospirillum brasilense and Zea mays. We hypothesized that root carboxylate exudation is a mechanism that increases colonization of the maize rhizosphere by A. brasilense and that carboxylate exudation would increase at a low soil phosphorus (P) availability. We conducted a greenhouse experiment, using maize seeds inoculated and uninoculated with A. brasiliense. Seeds were planted in pots, supplied with nutrient solution, varying in P concentration. After 45 days we measured total plant biomass, root length and area, plant nutrient status, and the root carboxylate-exudation rate. Inoculation increased the root length and area, and this effect increased with increasing P supply. Inoculated plants also showed an increased root carboxylate-exudation rate. For inoculated treatments, the exudation rate was positively correlated with root architecture parameters; however, it was negatively correlated with leaf manganese concentration, a proxy for the amount of carboxylates in the rhizosphere. Inoculation of A. brasilense stimulated root carboxylate exudation, which was positively correlated with root length and area. These positive correlations are probably mediated by the effect of carboxylates on the rhizosphere microbial community. This indicates a positive feedback in which A. brasilense inoculation stimulates root carboxylate exudation, influencing the rhizosphere microbial community. It results in positive effects on maize root architecture. The root length of inoculated plants was positively correlated with P supply, indicating that P supply positively affects the microbial community, modulating the interaction between A. brasilense and Z. mays.

Em paisagens degradadas, a restauracao ecologica e essencial para aumentar a conectividade e prover servicos ecossistemicos. No Brasil, o principal instrumento para alavancar a restauracao e a Lei Florestal, que sofreu alteracoes em 2012, reduzindo as areas a serem reflorestadas nas propriedades rurais. O objetivo deste estudo foi quantificar as areas a serem restauradas e avaliar a conectividade funcional por meio da simulacao de dois cenarios de restauracao florestal na microbacia hidrografica das Posses, em Extrema-MG: o primeiro baseado no antigo Codigo Florestal (Lei no 4.771 de 15 de setembro de 1965) e o segundo, na nova Lei Florestal (Lei n o 12.651 de 25 de maio de 2012). Foram calculadas as areas a serem restauradas e o percentual de cobertura florestal na microbacia para os dois cenarios. Tambem foi analisada a conectividade funcional nos cenarios propostos. Os dados foram processados e analisados no software de geoprocessamento ArcGIS. A nova Lei Florestal implicara numa reducao de 212,08 ha de Areas de Preservacao Permanente e 101,05 ha de Reservas Legais a serem restauradas na microbacia. Com a nova Lei Florestal, a area de vegetacao nativa prevista para a microbacia passaria de 514,22 ha (43,2%) para 201,09 ha (16,9%). A conectividade da paisagem cairia em media 10%. Conclui-se que o cenario proposto pela nova Lei Florestal causara evidente reducao da area com florestas nativas, reduzindo a conectividade e limitando o percentual de cobertura florestal para um valor inferior ao limiar considerado minimo para proporcionar a conservacao da biodiversidade na paisagem.

Este trabalho avaliou a viabilidade do uso de composto de lodo de esgoto, proveniente de estacao de tratamento de esgoto domestico, como fertilizante para o cultivo inicial de eucalipto, hibrido urograndis. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetacao no CCA - UFSCar, Araras, SP, no periodo de 12 de novembro de 2014 a 28 de janeiro de 2015. Os cultivos ocorreram em vasos de 11 L durante 75 dias. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e sete repeticoes. Os testes consistiram de um tratamento de controle sem adubacao, tres tratamentos com composto de lodo de esgoto (25, 50 e 75% do volume do vaso) e um tratamento com fertilizante mineral convencional, todos em solo argiloso. Mediu-se a altura das plantas, a taxa de crescimento relativo (TCR), a massa seca e a concentracao de nutrientes nas folhas de eucalipto. A massa seca foi inferior no tratamento testemunha, mas nao diferiu significativamente entre os tratamentos com adicao de fertilizantes. A TCR das plantas foi maior no tratamento com 75% do volume do vaso com lodo de esgoto (p < 0,05). O composto de lodo de esgoto apresenta potencial para substituir fertilizantes minerais convencionais no cultivo inicial de eucalipto.

Muitos remanescentes de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual encontram-se degradados. Nestas condicoes, trepadeiras sao abundantes, recobrindo a copa e dificultando o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivencia das arvores. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da competicao por luz e nutrientes de uma trepadeira nativa hiperabundante em condicoes de degradacao, Calopogonium mucunoides (Fabaceae), sobre o desenvolvimento da arvore pioneira Guazuma ulmifolia (Malvaceae). As hipoteses eram que a trepadeira reduz o desenvolvimento da arvore e que isso varia conforme o nivel de irradiância. O experimento foi realizado em viveiro de mudas, em Piracicaba-SP, Brasil, plantando‑se uma muda da trepadeira e uma da arvore no mesmo vaso, simulando competicao apenas acima do solo (anteparo separando as raizes no vaso), apenas abaixo do solo (anteparo separando parte aerea), acima e abaixo do solo (sem anteparo), e sem competicao (duas mudas de arvore por vaso, sem trepadeira). Todos tratamentos foram implantados a pleno sol e na sombra, com seis repeticoes cada. Cinco meses apos implantacao do experimento, as mudas da arvore foram retiradas e comparadas entre tratamentos para crescimento, particao da biomassa e taxa de crescimento relativo. O crescimento da arvore foi negativamente afetado pela trepadeira, corroborando a primeira hipotese. A competicao abaixo do solo com a trepadeira reduziu a taxa de crescimento relativo da arvore, indicando que a competicao e maior abaixo do solo. Porem, os efeitos nao variam com niveis de irradiância, rejeitando a segunda hipotese. Ha necessidade de maior atencao a competicao abaixo do solo na interacao entre arvores e trepadeiras.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T16:04:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-06-07 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Monitoring is a key step for achieving restoration success. Despite increasing advances for selecting ecological indicators, monitoring sampling designs are not always available. We investigated how tree richness and the most used forest structure indicators vary spatially in restoration sites, aiming to provide evidence-based guidance for future monitoring protocols. We collected data from eight forest restoration sites covering overall 1,000 ha in four Brazilian Atlantic Forest regions. Canopy cover, tree density, vegetation height, and species richness were assessed in 18.2 ha of plots ranging from 60 to 300 m(2) in size, in restoration sites aged 1 to 5 years old. Using resampling techniques, we calculated the sampling error for the indicators and compared them with original sampling results, and then estimated the number of plots needed to reach a 20% sampling error. The ecological indicators assessed showed high variability among restoration sites. Canopy cover and height required less plots to reach the targeted sampling error than density of trees. The number of species does not stabilize even when more than 90% of the total number of plots was resampled, indicating high spatial variation. The use of the sampling error approach for defining how much to monitor, associated to appropriate sampling methods, could increase the reliability of monitoring. In addition, they will reduce operational costs, thus providing a key contribution to the effectiveness of large-scale restoration programs expected to be implemented globally in the coming years. Thus, we recommend the incorporation of this in the forest restoration monitoring protocols being discussed worldwide. Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Biotecnol & Prod Vegetal & Anim, Rodovia Anhanguera Km 174,CP 153, BR-13600970 Araras, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Programa Posgrad Biol Vegetal, Campinas, SP, Brazil Fundacao Espaco Eco, Sao Bernardo Do Campo, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Campus Rio Claro, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Dept Ciencias Biol, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Dept Ciencias Florestais, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Campus Rio Claro, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil FAPESP: 2013/50718-5

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:54:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-08-08 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Restoration projects designed to promote one ecosystem service may have synergistic benefits to other services. Therefore, bundling them can be an effective way to maximize the return to the investments in programs of payments for ecosystem services (PES). Here, we investigated the additional gain of restoration actions-which were implemented as part of a PES program to protect a key watershed for water supply-on increasing functional landscape connectivity in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil. Using a landscape ecology approach, we estimated the amount of forest cover before (2006) and after (2012) restoration activities by the PES program and changes in structural and functional landscape connectivity for birds with varying gap-crossing capabilities. Forest cover increased from 42.5 to 86.1 ha after the implementation of restoration projects by the PES program. In the simulated scenarios of landscape connectivity, the mean patch size of functionally connected forest increased by I,034%, 392%, 248%, and 94% for species with gap-crossing capabilities of 0, 20, 40, and 60 m, respectively. Our results highlight the potential for incorporating biodiversity conservation objectives into PES projects primarily designed to enhance water-related ecosystem services. Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Biotecnol & Prod Vegetal & Anim, Rodovia Anhanguera Km 174,CP 153, BR-13600970 Araras, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Dept Ciencias Florestais, Piracicaba, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Ecol, Spatial Ecol & Conservat Lab, Rio Claro, Brazil Secretaria Meio Ambiente Extrema, Extrema, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Ecol, Spatial Ecol & Conservat Lab, Rio Claro, Brazil FAPESP: 2013/50718-5 CNPq: 304817/2015-5

Euplassa cantareirae is a Neotropical Proteaceae, native to the Restinga forest in Brazil and it experiences a wide array of adverse environmental conditions, especially seasonal flooding and low nutrient availability. We aimed to investigate the effects of phosphorus (P) supply on plant growth and cluster root formation, as well as to characterize the main carboxylates released by the cluster roots of this species. We conducted a greenhouse experiment where seedlings were grown in a sandy soil and watered three times a week with nutrient solution with the following P concentrations: 0, 10, 50 or 100 μM. Cluster-root production per plant, tissue P concentrations, growth parameters and carboxylate release were recorded and analyzed. Remarkably, cluster-root formation, biomass production and leaf P concentration did not depend on P supply. These results differ from what have been found for almost all other investigated species, except for one other plant that inhabits a similar habitat in south-western Australia, Viminaria juncea (Fabaceae). The carboxylates that were found in the rhizosphere were similar to those reported before for other Proteaceae. Euplassa cantareirae is a Neotropical Proteaceae producing cluster roots, and contrary to what is known for other family members, it does not appear to regulate its cluster-root formation, growth and leaf P concentration by the soil P availability.

Planting of native trees has been adopted in many tropical regions worldwide as a central forest restoration method, but little is known concerning the role that these planted species play in catalyzing forest regeneration beneath their canopies. We investigated the role of animal-dispersed tree species in catalyzing the regeneration of woody species in the understory of restoration plantings. We assessed both the density and richness of tree seedlings within plots located beneath the canopy of both animal-dispersed and abiotic-dispersed tree species planted in three riparian forest restoration sites with ages of five, six and eight years. The proportion of animal-dispersed tree seedlings increased with plantation age. The richness of animal-dispersed tree seedlings was higher beneath animal-dispersed trees in the eight-year-old planting. The density of animal-dispersed tree seedlings was higher under animal-dispersed trees when sites were analyzed altogether. The top three species in regeneration density beneath the canopy were animal-dispersed trees, and from the top ten, seven were animal-dispersed species. We suggest that animal-dispersed pioneer trees which facilitate natural regeneration and promote a high density and richness of woody species beneath their canopies should be considered as “framework” species for tropical forest restoration.

Abandoned pastures are increasingly targeted for forest restoration in the neotropics. However, the dominance of such areas by fodder grasses imposes a challenge for efficient and low cost control. Therefore, we questioned whether alien and native grasses equally affect: (1) natural regeneration; (2) natural regeneration under artificial perches; and (3) planted seedling development. Our study was carried out in an abandoned pasture in southeastern Brazil, in the Atlantic Forest biome. For (1) we installed plots in grass patches of Melinis minutiflora (molasse grass, an alien grass) and Imperata brasiliensis (satintail, a native grass that occurs in degraded areas); for (2) we installed plots under perches in alien and native grass patches; and for (3) we compared overall planted seedling mortality and development of four tree species in alien and native grass patches. Density and diversity of woody species in natural regeneration and under perches were similar for invasive and native grass patches. However, species composition differed between alien and native grass patches (Ellenberg similarity of 28% for perches and 35% for natural regeneration in different grass patches). Seedling mortality was similar for both alien and native grasses. Except for two tree species, development was similar for both native and alien grass patches. Our results indicate that the biological barriers imposed by a given grass species for forest succession and restoration must not be estimated based only on the species' origin.

Climate change is predicted to affect the water balance of several ecosystems mostly through changes in the energy budget and hydrological input (rainfall frequency, intensity, and timing). Changes in rainfall patterns and cloudiness directly affect incoming radiation, atmospheric water vapor saturation deficit and soil water availability, the main variables controlling the rates of water uptake and transport along the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum (SPAC). Developing a predictive framework about vegetation responses to a changing climate is challenging because it involves complex non-linear interactions between these environmental variables and species-specific responses. By examining the hydraulic traits of functional groups within plant communities we can better predict the impacts of changes in rainfall regimes within functional groups and therefore, generate more realistic predictions of ecosystem carbon and water balance changes due to local and regional changes in precipitation regimes. In this review, we discuss several aspects of plant hydraulic functioning and then explore how predicted changes in precipitation regimes may affect tree water and carbon balance. We examine the impacts of changes in rainfall patterns on the SPAC and also explore the multiple ways that plants can absorb and transport water. Finally, we explore the diversity of hydraulic traits and potential mechanisms causing large-scale drought-induced mortality recently observed in several ecosystems.

The recent change in Brazilian laws reduced the amount of area that is set aside for native vegetation restoration in rural private properties. However, we lack estimates of its impacts on the provisioning of key ecosystem services at local scales. Therefore, in a microwatershed in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest hot spot, we quantified the impact of the change from the Forest Code (1965) to the Native Vegetation Protection Law in Brazil (2012) on future native forest cover, biomass carbon stocks, and soil loss and sedimentation. We analyzed three scenarios: (a) the land use and cover as of 2016, (b) the Forest Code, 1965, and (c) the Native Vegetation Protection Law, 2012. In each scenario, we modeled soil loss and sedimentation (InVEST, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) and calculated the carbon stocks. The 2012 law implementation would increase forest cover (15.6%), decrease soil sedimentation (1.12%) and loss (1.13%), and increase carbon stock (5.4%). However, compared to the Forest Code, it would reduce the area for restoration and the potential for native forest cover growth, increase soil loss and sedimentation potential, and limit increases in carbon stocks at the landscape level. In both restoration scenarios, the potential percent increase in forest cover in the microwatershed owing to the laws is higher than the percent decrease in soil loss and sedimentation. These findings have the potential to elucidate the effect of laws on ecosystem services and be useful to those planning the creation, modification, and implementation of laws for forest restoration in private properties.

Large-scale ecological restoration programs across the world have begun to extensively transform degraded lands into young native ecosystems. However, more projects like these will be necessary in the coming years to fulfill the goal of restoring 150 million ha established by United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Here, we present and discuss the steps required for and the lessons learned from the organization of a large-scale ecological restoration program in Brazil, the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact. These lessons are organized around 9 steps: (a) the presentation of the motivations driving the promotion of large-scale restoration, (b) the organization of the main stakeholders, (c) the definition of goals, (d) the organization of a database, (e) the indication of both available and priority areas for restoration, (f) the proposal of science-based and field-validated methods, (g) the establishment of a monitoring protocol, (h) the proposal of a communication program to unite members and in...

Edaphic macrofauna must be better studied if we want to take advantage of their full potential for the restoration of tropical ecosystems. We investigated changes in edaphic macrofauna density and diversity along a secondary succession chronosequence in the Atlantic Forest. Our results show some clear patterns of change in soil macrofauna along the chronosequence. Density did not increase along secondary succession, but was correlated with canopy cover. Diversity was characterized by high dominance of social insects and evenness among other groups. We conclude soil macrofauna has a high capacity to recolonize young forests and that its recovery is considerably fast compared to other ecosystem transformations. Resumo A macrofauna edáfica deve ser mais bem estudada se quisermos aproveitar todo o seu potencial para a restauração de ecossistemas tropicais. Nós investigamos as mudanças de densidade e diversidade da macrofauna edáfica em uma cronossequência durante a sucessão secundária na Mata Atlântica. Nossos resultados mostram padrões claros de mudança. A densidade não aumentou ao longo da sucessão secundária, mas foi correlacionada com a cobertura de dossel. A diversidade foi caracterizada pela alta dominância de insetos sociais e equidade entre os demais grupos. Nós concluímos que a macrofauna edáfica tem alta capacidade de recolonizar florestas jovens e que sua recuperação é relativamente rápida se comparada a outras transformações ecossistêmicas.

Apesar de pesquisas apontarem a importância das florestas tropicais secundárias para a conservação da biodiversidade e provimento de serviços ambientais, este ecossistema vem sendo continuamente substituído por atividades antrópicas, sendo degradado pela recorrência das perturbações oriundas dessas atividades. Neste contexto, além da compreensão dos processos de geração, da função e do desenvolvimento das florestas secundárias, elas deveriam ser alvo de políticas públicas que possibilitassem não somente sua manutenção em paisagens modificadas pelo homem, mas também seu avanço sucessional, com consequente potencialização do seu papel de conservação de biodiversidade e de serviços ambientais. Neste trabalho, revisamos as causas da destruição e degradação das florestas secundárias em paisagens modificadas pelo homem e sugerimos estratégias para a definição de políticas públicas baseadas em aspectos ecológicos, socioeconômicos e legais de manejo e de conservação florestal para dois cenários distintos – paisagens tropicais muito e pouco modificadas – aqui exemplificadas, nos biomas Mata Atlântica e Amazônia, respectivamente. Estas estratégias estabelecem uma abordagem nova e holística para promover e sustentar um futuro mais favorável em termos de conservação da biodiversidade e provimento de serviços ambientais para as florestas secundárias nos trópicos e, em especial, no Brasil.

O uso de plântulas da regeneração natural tem sido recomendado como estratégia para produção de mudas visando à restauração florestal, contudo muitos aspectos técnicos desse método ainda carecem de investigação científica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da redução da área foliar e do transplantio imediato na sobrevivência e crescimento de mudas de espécies arbóreas produzidas a partir de plântulas obtidas da regeneração natural. Plântulas de Esenbeckia leiocarpa (Rutaceae), Eugenia ligustrina (Myrtaceae) e Maytenus salicifolia (Celastraceae), obtidas em remanescente de vegetação secundária de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual em Bofete, SP, foram extraídas do solo e submetidas aos tratamentos: I) redução de 50% da área de cada folha e transplantio imediato; II) nenhuma redução de área das folhas e transplantio imediato; III) redução de 50% da área de cada folha, manutenção das plântulas em água e transplantio 24 h após a coleta; e IV) nenhuma redução de área das folhas, manutenção das plântulas em água e transplantio 24 h após a coleta. As mudas foram avaliadas com relação à sobrevivência e ao crescimento em altura, ao longo de oito meses. Os resultados evidenciaram que nem o corte das folhas ou a manutenção das plântulas dentro de recipientes com água por 24 h antes do transplantio afetaram os parâmetros avaliados. Assim, para as espécies estudadas a redução da área foliar e o transplantio imediato são desnecessários para a produção de mudas em viveiro a partir de plântulas obtidas da regeneração natural. The use of seedlings from natural regeneration has been recommended as an strategy for seedlings production aiming at forest restoration but many of its technical aspects still need to be scientifically investigated. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of leaf area reduction and immediate transplant on the survival and growth of seedlings of native tree species obtained from a naturally regenerating forest. Esenbeckia leiocarpa (Rutaceae), Eugenia ligustrina (Myrtaceae) and Maytenus salicifolia (Celastraceae) seedlings, obtained from a secondary remnant of semideciduous seasonal forest in Bofete-SP, Brazil, were extracted from the ground and submitted to one of the following treatments: I) 50% area reduction of each leaf and immediate transplant; II) no leaf area reduction and immediate transplant; III) 50% area reduction of each leaf, maintenance of the seedling in water and transplant 24h after harvest; IV) no leaf area reduction, maintenance of the seedling in water and transplant 24h after seedlings harvest. The seedlings were evaluated according to their survivorship and height over a eight month period. Results evidenced that neither leaf area reduction nor maintenance of seedling in container with water for 24 hours before transplant affected the evaluated parameters. Thus, leaf area reduction and immediate transplant to pots are unnecessary procedures for use in forest nurseries when seedlings are obtained from naturally regenerating forests.

Background and Aims Cerradao (Brazilian woodland savannas) and seasonally dry forests (SDF) from southeastern Brazil occur under the same climate but are remarkably distinct in species composition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of soil origin in the initial growth and distribution of SDF and Cerradao species. Methods We conducted a greenhouse experiment growing Cerradao and SDF tree seedlings over their soil and the soil of the contrasting vegetation type. We evaluated soil nutrient availability and seedling survivorship, growth and leaf functional traits. Results Despite the higher nutrient availability in SDF soils,soilorigindidnotaffectseedlingsurvivorship.The three SDF species demonstrated home-soil advantage, enhanced growth with increasing soil nutrient availability and had higher growth rates than Cerradao species, even on Cerradao soils. Growth of Cerradao seedlings was not higher on Cerradao soil and, overall, was not positively correlated with soil nutrient availability. Conclusions SDF species are fast-growing species while Cerradao trees tend to be slow-growing species. Although savanna soil reduces growth of forest species, our findings suggest that soil chemical attributes, alone, does not exclude the occurrence of SDF seedlings in Cerradao and vice-versa.

O sudoeste paranaense localiza-se na transição entre a Floresta Estacional Semidecidual (FES) e a Floresta Ombrófila Mista (FOM), numa região de grande relevância ecológica, por conter duas importantes formações florestais do sul-sudeste brasileiro. Entretanto, essa mesma região é marcada pela escassez de levantamentos florísticos e de caracterização da vegetação. Nesse trabalho é feita a caracterização florística e estrutural de três áreas de vegetação nativa, localizadas em Quedas do Iguaçu, sudoeste do Paraná, na bacia do rio Iguaçu. Além disso, foi feita a caracterização fitogeográfica das florestas estudadas, com base nos dados coletados e na listagem de espécies amostradas em outras 52 áreas de FES ou FOM do Brasil. Em cada uma das três áreas estudadas, a vegetação arbustivo-arbórea (diâmetro à altura do peito > 5 cm) foi caracterizada por meio da alocação de pontos quadrantes. No total foram encontradas 128 espécies, com variação entre 63 a 78 para cada área. Cada área apresentou distinção quanto à estrutura e às espécies mais abundantes. Além disso, as áreas se distinguem quanto ao grau de influência da FES e da FOM em sua composição florística. Comparativamente, a área de menor altitude, localizada no vale do Rio Iguaçu, apresenta mais elementos de FES em sua composição florística, enquanto as outras duas áreas, localizadas em trechos mais elevados, têm maior influência da FOM, contando inclusive com a ocorrência de Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze.

Nitrogen availability and N-cycling dynamics across ecosystems play a critical role in plant functioning and species distribution. Measurements of 15N natural abundance provides a way to assess ecosystem N dynamics, and the range of nitrogen stable isotope values (δ15N) for plants in an ecosystem can indicate divergent strategies for N uptake. We tested the hypotheses that the N-rich seasonally dry forest would have higher soil and leaf δ15N and a smaller range of leaf δ15N values compared to the N-poor cerradao (savanna woodland). We measured N concentration and δ15N in two soil depths and leaves of 27 woody species in cerradao and 26 in seasonally dry forest. As expected, total soil N concentration decreased while soil δ15N value increased with soil depth. Regardless of soil depth, seasonally dry forest soils had higher δ15N and total N concentration compared to cerradao soils. Foliar δ15N values varied from −6.4‰ to 5.9‰ in cerradao and from −2.3‰ to 8.4‰ in seasonally dry forest plants. Phylogenetically independent contrasts analysis and comparisons of δ15N mean values of the most abundant species and species co-occurring in both sites confirmed the hypothesis of higher δ15N for seasonally dry forest in comparison to cerradao. These results corroborate the expectation of higher soil and leaf δ15N values in sites with higher soil N availability. However, except for the most abundant species, no across-site leaf–soil (δ15N leaf –δ15N soil) differences (Δδ15N) were found suggesting that differences in leaf δ15N between cerradao and seasonally dry forest are driven by differences in soil δ15N. Variation of leaf δ15N was large in both sites and only slightly higher in cerradao, suggesting high diversity of N use strategies for both cerradao and seasonally dry forest communities.

Environmental legislation has fostered ecological restoration programs worldwide, but few studies have reported the outcomes for landscape connectivity. Here, we investigated the contribution of fo...

Quantifying global patterns of terrestrial nitrogen (N) cycling is central to predicting future patterns of primary productivity, carbon sequestration, nutrient fluxes to aquatic systems, and climate forcing. With limited direct measures of soil N cycling at the global scale, syntheses of the 15N:14N ratio of soil organic matter across climate gradients provide key insights into understanding global patterns of N cycling. In synthesizing data from over 6000 soil samples, we show strong global relationships among soil N isotopes, mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP), and the concentrations of organic carbon and clay in soil. In both hot ecosystems and dry ecosystems, soil organic matter was more enriched in 15N than in corresponding cold ecosystems or wet ecosystems. Below a MAT of 9.8°C, soil δ15N was invariant with MAT. At the global scale, soil organic C concentrations also declined with increasing MAT and decreasing MAP. After standardizing for variation among mineral soils in soil C and clay concentrations, soil δ15N showed no consistent trends across global climate and latitudinal gradients. Our analyses could place new constraints on interpretations of patterns of ecosystem N cycling and global budgets of gaseous N loss. Fil: Craine, Joseph M. Kansas State University. Division of Biology; Estados Unidos Fil: Elmore, Andrew J. University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Appalachian Laboratory; Estados Unidos Fil: Wang, Lixing. Indiana University-Purdue University Department of Earth Sciences; Estados Unidos Fil: Augusto, Laurent. INRA. Bordeaux Sciences Agro; Francia Fil: Baisden, Troy. GNS Science. National Isotope Centre; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Brookshire, E.N.J. Montana State University. Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences; Estados Unidos Fil: Cramer, Michael D. University of Cape Town. Department of Biological Sciences; Sudáfrica Fil: Hasselquist, Niles. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Forest Ecology and Management; Suecia Fil: Hobbie, Erik A. University of New Hampshire. Earth Systems Research Center; Estados Unidos Fil: Kahmen, Ansgar. Departement of Environmental Sciences - Botany; Suiza Fil: Kaba, Keisuke. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. Institute of Agriculture; Japón Fil: Kranabetter, M. British Columbia (Canadá). Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations; Canadá Fil: Mack, M. University of Florida. Department of Biology; Estados Unidos Fil: Marin-Spiotta, E. University of Wisconsin. Department of Geography; Estados Unidos Fil: Mayor, J.R. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Department of Forest Ecology & Management; Suecia Fil: McLauchlan, K.K. Kansas State University. Department of Geography; Estados Unidos Fil: Michelsen, A. University of Copenhagen. Department of Biology; Dinamarca Fil: Nardoto, G.B. Universidade de Brasília. Faculdade UnB Planaltina; Brasil Fil: Oliveira, R.S. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Biologia. Departamento de Biologia Vegetal; Brasil Fil: Perakis, S.S. Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center; Estados Unidos Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Quesada, C. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia. Coordenação de Dinâmica Ambiental; Brasil Fil: Richter, A. University of Vienna. Department of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research; Austria Fil: Schipper, L.A. University of Waikato. Environmental Research Institute; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Stevenson, B.A. Landcare Research; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Turner, B.L. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; Panamá Fil: Viani, R.A.G. Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Centro de Ciências Agrárias; Brasil Fil: Wanek, W. University of Vienna. Department of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research; Austria Fil: Zeller, B. INRA Nancy. Biogéochimie des Ecosystèmes Forestiers; Francia

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84939570316&partnerID=40&md5=fcadae8e6c274e8b7efca96099304a7c Successional gradients are ubiquitous in nature, yet few studies have systematically examined the evolutionary origins of taxa that specialize at different successional stages. Here we quantify successional habitat specialization in Neotropical forest trees and evaluate its evolutionary lability along a precipitation gradient. Theoretically, successional habitat specialization should be more evolutionarily conserved in wet forests than in dry forests due to more extreme microenvironmental differentiation between early and late-successional stages in wet forest. We applied a robust multinomial classification model to samples of primary and secondary forest trees from 14 Neotropical lowland forest sites spanning a precipitation gradient from 788 to 4000 mm annual rainfall, identifying species that are old-growth specialists and secondary forest specialists in each site. We constructed phylogenies for the classified taxa at each site and for the entire set of classified taxa and tested whether successional habitat specialization is phylogenetically conserved. We further investigated differences in the functional traits of species specializing in secondary vs. old-growth forest along the precipitation gradient, expecting different trait associations with secondary forest specialists in wet vs. dry forests since water availability is more limiting in dry forests and light availability more limiting in wet forests. Successional habitat specialization is non-randomly distributed in the angiosperm phylogeny, with a tendency towards phylogenetic conservatism overall and a trend towards stronger conservatism in wet forests than in dry forests. However, the specialists come from all the major branches of the angiosperm phylogeny, and very few functional traits showed any consistent relationships with successional habitat specialization in either wet or dry forests. Synthesis. The niche conservatism evident in the habitat specialization of Neotropical trees suggests a role for radiation into different successional habitats in the evolution of species-rich genera, though the diversity of functional traits that lead to success in different successional habitats complicates analyses at the community scale. Examining the distribution of particular lineages with respect to successional gradients may provide more insight into the role of successional habitat specialization in the evolution of species-rich taxa.

Monitoring protocols are needed to evaluate the millions of hectares of land that are being proposed for forest restoration in the coming decades. Standardized proposals are critical to evaluate efficacy of restoration strategies, identify triggers for corrective actions, compare results across projects, and generally learn from past projects to inform future restoration efforts. We describe an iterative process, including over 200 stakeholders, to develop a protocol for monitoring Brazilian Atlantic Forest restoration. We give an overview of the ecological, socioeconomic, and management criteria, indicators, and metrics included in the protocol. Strengths of the protocol include the following: (a) testing and use across sites with a range of ages, forest types, past land uses, restoration techniques, and implementing institutions; (b) participation by a broad range of government, nongovernment, private, and academic institutions in the protocol development process; and (c) inclusion of socioeconomic and management criteria. Next steps for facilitating the broad adoption of the protocol in the Atlantic Forest region include providing in person and online training courses, establishing an online repository for storing and comparing monitoring data, and developing smartphone applications to facilitate data collection. Although the protocol was developed for the Atlantic Forest context and further refinements are needed, we think that the Atlantic Forest Pact monitoring protocol may serve as a model to inform the development of similar protocols in other regions, which ultimately could be integrated to produce a pantropical protocol for common use by several restoration forest programs worldwide.