Abstract
ABSTRACT: This study analyzed natural regeneration floristic patterns in spring habitats submitted to different ecological restoration actions in the seasonal forest in Atlantic Forest biome, Rio Grande do Sul. We assessed floristic composition in six springs before restoration actions and 12 months later. We identified and counted all regenerating individuals with height greater than or equal to 30 cm and diameter at breast height less than or equal to 5 cm in eight plots in each spring. The richness and abundance of each spring and assessment were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis test (P<0.05). Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was performed to verify floristic patterns and association between species. Results showed an increase in richness and abundance after ecological restoration implementation. The DCA showed a distinct floristic composition between springs. The springs remaining natural vegetation and the successional stage of these vegetation influenced the natural regeneration floristic composition pattern. Passive restoration, which was effective by enclosure, favored natural regeneration recruitment.
Highlights
A spring is where groundwater discharges to the ground surface creating a visible flow
We highlighted the control of surface erosion, river flow regulation, biogeochemical cycling, microclimate and improvement of water quality (MEA, 2005)
The Brazilian legislation defines a minimum radius of 50 meters to preserve these habits called Permanent Preservation Area (PPA) (BRAZIL, 2012)
Summary
A spring is where groundwater discharges to the ground surface creating a visible flow. Protection of springs is a question of protecting the physical feature defined as the spring, but it is essential to preserve its surroundings to provide ecosystem functions and services, manly water quality. These fragile ecosystems are of great importance to regional biodiversity, but they are currently threatened by groundwater abstraction and pollution, habitat degradation, land use and global warming. V.51, n.8, connectivity (BOESING et al, 2018), and a loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services (ROVEDDER et al, 2016) As these ecosystem services, we highlighted the control of surface erosion, river flow regulation, biogeochemical cycling, microclimate and improvement of water quality (MEA, 2005). When the spring was degraded the legislation requires the restoration to return to ecological function and ecosystem service
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