Survival of Saplings in Recovery of Riparian Vegetation of Pandeiros River (MG)

Nathalle Cristine Alencar Fagundes,Walter Viana Neves,Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes,Lílian De Lima Braga,Maria Das Dores Magalhães Veloso,Ricardo Almeida De Souza,Chirley Alves Coutinho,Wesley Alves Silva

doi:10.1590/2179-8087.021215

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study monitored the survival of saplings planted according to different recovery models in a riparian forest of the Pandeiros river (Januaria, MG). The models consisted of planting the saplings in lines of 2 or 4 m with presence (T2S and T4S, respectively) or absence of direct seeding (T2 and T4, respectively). We planted 16,259 saplings of 17 botanical families, 32 genera and 33 species. The saplings, in general, presented a survival rate after one year of 34.4% (±1.8). The species with highest survival rates were Jacaranda brasiliana, with 85.0% (±13.5) of survival, Anadenanthera colubrina, with 70.1% (±7.0), and Triplaris gardneriana, with 69.3% (±9.1). Survival did not vary between the models tested, probably due to the short evaluation period (12 months).

Highlights

The Cerrado, a region of considerable biological diversity, is identified as one of the richest and most threatened ecosystems in the world, with a large number of restricted and specialized endemic species, which are susceptible to extinction (Scariot et al, 2005)
These forests act to filter water flowing into the watercourses along which they are found, developing conditions conducive to infiltration and significantly reducing the possibility of water contamination by sediment, fertilizer residues and agricultural pesticides (Ribeiro & Schiavini, 1998; Roni & Beechie, 2013). They are important ecological corridors for the movement of fauna and gene flows (Martins, 2007). Given these particular characteristics that highlight their importance, forests bordering streams and springs, are protected by federal legislation and are considered Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs), according to the Forest Code, Law, that is, an ecological reserve that cannot undergo alteration, and whose vegetation must remain intact in its original state (Brasil, 2012)
This work was developed at the Pandeiros River Environmental Protection Area (EPA), Januária, northern Minas Gerais, Brazil

Summary

Introduction

The Cerrado, a region of considerable biological diversity, is identified as one of the richest and most threatened ecosystems in the world, with a large number of restricted and specialized endemic species (about 44% of the flora), which are susceptible to extinction (Scariot et al, 2005). Riparian forests protect and maintain water resources, since they are formations associated with watercourses, standing out for their richness and genetic diversity and acting as a physical barrier between terrestrial and aquatic systems (Hughes et al, 2008; Roni & Beechie, 2013) These forests act to filter water flowing into the watercourses along which they are found, developing conditions conducive to infiltration and significantly reducing the possibility of water contamination by sediment, fertilizer residues and agricultural pesticides (Ribeiro & Schiavini, 1998; Roni & Beechie, 2013). Given these particular characteristics that highlight their importance, forests bordering streams and springs, are protected by federal legislation and are considered Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs), according to the Forest Code, Law (number 12.651 of May 25th 2012), that is, an ecological reserve that cannot undergo alteration, and whose vegetation must remain intact in its original state (Brasil, 2012)

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