Avaliação do banco de sementes em uma área de restauração ripária em São Carlos, SP

Abstract

Riparian restoration is crucial for conserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem services. Describing the seed bank in areas undergoing restoration can indicate the success of the interventions carried out and the recovery of native vegetation over time. The aim of this study was to describe the species composition and density of the soil seed bank in a riparian area restored after 11 years and to compare it with a riparian forest remnant. The taxonomic composition of the seed bank of the areas distributed in 10 plots of the restoration and 1 of the forest remnant were evaluated. In addition to describing the families and species found, the data was evaluated by Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (nMDS) analysis based on the number of individuals per species between the seed bank plots in the restoration area. The results show that, after 11 years of restoration, the riparian area studied still shows variations in the species composition of the seed bank compared to the forest remnant. The presence of native tree species such as Pau-pólvora (Trema micranthum (L.) Blume), Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.), Sangra d'água (Croton urucurana Baill. ), suggest a positive influence from the surrounding vegetation, while the occurrence of exotic species, such as Flamboyant (Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook) Raf.), warns of the need for continuous monitoring and appropriate management to ensure the effectiveness of the restoration and the conservation of native biodiversity.