A genetic approach for simulating persistence of reintroduced tree species populations in tropical forest restoration plantings

• Grant number: 14/01364-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: May 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Maria Imaculada Zucchi
• Grantee: Patricia Sanae Sujii
• Supervisor: Patrick M. A. James
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université de Montréal, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/03246-8 - Genetic diversity and structure and reproductive system in Centrolobium tomentosum Guillem. Bentham (Fabaceae) aiming to support genetic enrichment in areas of forest restoration, BP.DR

Abstract

There is a growing number of restoration projects and managements actions being developed in order to conserve and recover forests. Recently, some projects include an effort to introduce high species diversity as well as high intraspecific genetic diversity. However, there is a lack of studies on effects of genetic diversity to restoration effectiveness. The success of a restoration project is often hard to access and the monitoring is high cost. It is not feasible to do experiments to test the effects of different methods, because it takes time, has high cost and is hard to control the environmental variables. So, the use of computer simulations and modelling can help to fill this knowledge gap. This project aims to simulate persistence of population of a reintroduced tree species in tropical forest restoration plantings, using a genetic approach. We will develop an individual-based model to simulate populations of Centrolobium tomentosum in restoration areas. This model will allow us to estimate the minimum number of mother trees from which is necessary to collect seeds for restoration projects; estimate the minimum initial genetic diversity necessary to a self-maintaining population; and understand how spatial distribution affects the success of a restoration project. We will write the scripts for the simulation program in R. The data for the model construction will be obtained from a restored area around Iracemápolis Water Supply Reservoir (23 years old) and we will validate the program using data from another restored area along the Jaguari river (55 years old). This model will help to enhance restoration and management projects and to reduce the need of adaptive management after planting the restored areas, reducing the cost of restoration projects. Furthermore, simulation studies associated with field data, can support discussions about laws and public policies for forest restoration, since they may determine important limitations in the persistence of reintroduced populations and thus necessary changes in restoration practices carried out for law compliance or with public fundings. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ZUCCHI, MARIA I.; SUJII, PATRICIA S.; MORI, GUSTAVO M.; VIANA, JOAO P. G.; GRANDO, CAROLINA; SILVESTRE, ELLIDA DE AGUIAR; SCHWARCZ, KAISER D.; MACRINI, CAMILA M.; BAJAY, MIKLOS M.; ARAUJO, FABIANO L.; et al. Genetic diversity of reintroduced tree populations in restoration plantations of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. RESTORATION ECOLOGY, v. 26, n. 4, p. 694-701, JUL 2018. (14/01364-9, 11/21295-3, 12/03246-8, 11/50296-8, 13/08086-1, 12/06431-0, 15/06349-0, 13/11137-7, 13/05762-6)

SCHWARCZ, KAISER DIAS; SILVESTRE, ELLIDA DE AGUIAR; DE CAMPOS, JAQUELINE BUENO; SUJII, PATRICIA SANAE; GRANDO, CAROLINA; TRINDADE MACRINI, CAMILA MENEZES; DE SOUZA, ANETE PEREIRA; PINHEIRO, JOSE BALDIN; SANTIN BRANCALION, PEDRO HENRIQUE; RODRIGUES, RICARDO RIBEIRO; et al. Shelter from the storm: Restored populations of the neotropical tree Myroxylon peruiferum are as genetically diverse as those from conserved remnants. FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, v. 410, p. 95-103, FEB 15 2018. (14/01364-9, 15/06349-0, 11/21295-3, 13/05762-6, 13/11137-7, 12/06431-0, 12/03246-8, 13/08086-1, 11/50296-8)

SUJII, PATRICIA S.; NAGAI, MICAEL E.; ZUCCHI, I, MARIA; BRANCALION, PEDRO H. S.; JAMES, PATRICK M. A.. A genetic approach for simulating persistence of reintroduced tree species populations in restored forests. ECOLOGICAL MODELLING, v. 403, p. 35-43, JUL 1 2019. (14/01364-9, 11/50296-8)