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| Author(s): |
Danielle Christine Tenório Leal Ramos
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | Campinas, SP. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia |
| Defense date: | 2013-02-21 |
| Examining board members: |
Wesley Rodrigues Silva;
Marco Aurélio Pizo;
Giselda Durigan
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| Advisor: | Wesley Rodrigues Silva |
| Abstract | |
Necessary resources for forest regeneration are usually depleted in disturbed sites and seed dispersal and seedling establishment are limited. Isolated trees play a fundamental role in those sites by attracting dispersers and concentrating seed rain in micro sites favorable to native species establishment. Here we report the effect of trees and the vegetation's structure and function at their surroundings on the zoochorous seed rain promoted by frugivores in an abandoned pasture in Southeastern Brazil. We installed seed traps beneath 50 isolated trees of different species and dispersal syndromes. In one year, we collected a high seed density of, at least, 47 species underneath the isolated trees, and a scarce seed rain in the open field. The majority of the seed species was allochthonous in the study site, what points for the use of trees as stepping-stones in the landscape by dispersers. Structural equation modelingresulted that trees' canopy size and dispersal syndrome, vegetation cover, and number of surrounding zoochorous trees did not affect seed rain. Only trees' height and number of surrounding zoochorous shrubs and herbs positively affected seed rain richness. Therefore, despite isolated trees' dispersal syndrome was not determinant for seed rain, we concluded that fruits availability is crucial in intensifying it. The relative importance of vegetation structural and functional characteristics on seed rain we described in this study can potentially contribute to improve disturbed sites management and forest conservation (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 10/03184-7 - Isolated pasture trees potential to forest restoration in a Mata Atlântica area |
| Grantee: | Danielle Christine Tenório Leal Ramos |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |