Seed rain and seed bank dynamics of the Rio Doce as support for watershed conservation in Espírito Santo
Name: ANEICY DOS SANTOS RAMOS
Publication date: 23/02/2026
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| HENRIQUE MACHADO DIAS | Presidente |
| LHORAYNNE PEREIRA GOMES | Examinador Externo |
| PATRÍCIA BORGES DIAS | Examinador Externo |
Summary: The Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened biomes on the planet, exhibiting a high degree of fragmentation, especially in urbanized landscapes and in regions affected by major environmental disturbances, such as the Doce River Basin. In this context, understanding the processes that sustain natural regeneration is essential to support conservation and ecological restoration actions, with seed rain and the soil seed bank standing out as key components of forest dynamics and ecosystem resilience. This work aimed to analyze the composition, structure, and dynamics of seed rain and the soil seed bank in two remnant alluvial forests in the lower Doce River region, Espírito Santo, Brazil. In the first chapter, seed rain was evaluated in two forest fragments by comparing its floristic composition with the regenerating and adult strata, based on monthly collections conducted over a 12-month period and a seedling emergence experiment. The results indicated high seed deposition, with strong dominance of pioneer species, especially anemochorous ones, as well as low seedling emergence and predominance of Leucaena leucocephala, indicating that seed rain alone is insufficient to drive restoration toward the original composition of native vegetation. In the second chapter, the soil seed bank was characterized in the same areas through soil sampling conducted at the end of the dry and rainy seasons, followed by evaluation of seedling emergence under controlled conditions. In both areas, the soil seed bank was dominated by herbaceous and pioneer species, with seedling densities varying between seasons. Seedling abundance differed significantly between seasons in only one of the areas, while species richness did not vary significantly; however, floristic composition differed between seasons, indicating seasonal variation in seed bank structure. Overall, the results indicate that both seed rain and the soil seed bank have the potential to sustain initial regeneration in the studied areas, but with limitations for the recovery of more advanced successional stages, with the presence of species of invasive potential, evidencing the need for management to ensure natural regeneration.
Keywords: Atlantic Forest; Doce River Basin; Ecological restoration; Forest fragments; Natural regeneration; Seed rain; Soil seed bank.
