{"title":"Seed functional traits as predictors of seedling establishment success in Brazilian tropical forest restoration","authors":"Diego Cerveira de Souza, Vera Lex Engel","doi":"10.1111/btp.13355","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Several ecological filters in deforested and degraded areas reduce seedling emergence and establishment and hinder ecological restoration by direct seeding. Understanding whether functional traits are related to a species' capacity to overcome these filters and predict their field performance might improve the success of direct seeding techniques for ecological restoration. We assessed eight seed functional traits of tropical tree species, seeking those that best explained their establishment success in direct seeding restoration projects. We analyzed a dataset from 52 studies that tested direct seeding techniques with tree species in Brazil. From each study, we collected the mean establishment percentage for all tree species. Seed mass, cotyledon function, and germination speed were the only functional traits that significantly affected the species establishment percentage in direct seeding restoration projects. Species with larger seeds, storage cotyledons, and faster germination had higher establishment percentages. Choosing species with these functional traits for seed mixes will provide higher establishment percentages and, consequently, improve restoration success by direct seeding techniques.</p>","PeriodicalId":8982,"journal":{"name":"Biotropica","volume":"56 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Biotropica","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/btp.13355","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Several ecological filters in deforested and degraded areas reduce seedling emergence and establishment and hinder ecological restoration by direct seeding. Understanding whether functional traits are related to a species' capacity to overcome these filters and predict their field performance might improve the success of direct seeding techniques for ecological restoration. We assessed eight seed functional traits of tropical tree species, seeking those that best explained their establishment success in direct seeding restoration projects. We analyzed a dataset from 52 studies that tested direct seeding techniques with tree species in Brazil. From each study, we collected the mean establishment percentage for all tree species. Seed mass, cotyledon function, and germination speed were the only functional traits that significantly affected the species establishment percentage in direct seeding restoration projects. Species with larger seeds, storage cotyledons, and faster germination had higher establishment percentages. Choosing species with these functional traits for seed mixes will provide higher establishment percentages and, consequently, improve restoration success by direct seeding techniques.
期刊介绍:
Ranked by the ISI index, Biotropica is a highly regarded source of original research on the ecology, conservation and management of all tropical ecosystems, and on the evolution, behavior, and population biology of tropical organisms. Published on behalf of the Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation, the journal''s Special Issues and Special Sections quickly become indispensable references for researchers in the field. Biotropica publishes timely Papers, Reviews, Commentaries, and Insights. Commentaries generate thought-provoking ideas that frequently initiate fruitful debate and discussion, while Reviews provide authoritative and analytical overviews of topics of current conservation or ecological importance. The newly instituted category Insights replaces Short Communications.