Evaluation of the acceleration in the process of forest restoration resulting from the tip pruning of fill species

• Grant number: 14/23567-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Sergius Gandolfi
• Grantee: Leticia Ferreira Magnin
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/50718-5 - Ecological restoration of riparian forests, native forest of economic production and of degraded forest fragments (in APP and RL) based on restoration ecology of reference ecosystems in order to scientifically test the precepts of the New Brazilian Forest Code, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

The formation of a forest canopy in degraded areas create a favorable habitat for shade-tolerant tree species and inappropriate for grasses and weeds. The supply and abundance of flowers and fruits is crucial in attracting fauna, and in the reestablishment of the dispersion and pollination processes. In tree species, the removal of the apical meristems breaks the apical dominance and allows the development of lateral buds, resulting in a higher production of branches. Thereby, it is expected that the tip pruning of shade-intolerant tree species results in the production of more branches, and that this, can lead to a rapid increase in the canopy area of these individuals, and, due to the greater number of branches, in the number of flowers and fruits produced. Based on these expectations, this study will conduct the after-planting tip pruning in individuals of the species: Trema micrantha (L.) Blume (Ulmaceae); Bauhinia forficata L. (Fabaceae); Croton urucurana Baill. (Euphorbiaceae); Solanum granuloso-leprosum Dunal (Solanaceae); Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (Malvaceae) e Heliocarpus popayanensis Kunth (Malvaceae). A control group will be established, where the pruning will not occur. The canopy development of all selected individuals will be monitored and, in addition, the flowers, fruits and seeds production of some individuals from B. forficata and S. granuloso-leprosum. Parametric analyzes will be performed with the data collected (treated and control individuals) to verify the existence of meaningful differences. The results obtained will be discussed in relation to initial expectations, which, if confirmed, would result in a method of easy application and low cost capable of accelerating the process of covering and attraction of pollinators and dispersers fauna in restoration plantations.