Soil Microbiological Attributes Under Ecological Restoration Technologies in Subtropical Forest

Abstract To accelerate the recovery of degraded environments, it is necessary to use ecological restoration techniques, which require validation according to the ecosystem conditions where are implemented. This work aimed to evaluate soil microbiological attributes under different ecological restoration technologies in a subtropical forest. The study was conducted at UTFPR-DV, southwest of Paraná, in an ecotone between Mixed Ombrophilous Forest and Semideciduous Seasonal Forest and on an Oxisol. In December 2010, a tillage area of at least 17 years old was isolated and the passive restoration, tree planting and nucleation treatments were installed in 40x54 m plots and four replications. In November 2018 the soil was sampled in these plots and in a native forest area as a reference. There were calculated soil organic carbon content (OCC) and microbiological attributes such as microbial biomass N and C (NMIC and CMIC), basal respiration, fungal spore content and the metabolic (qCO2) and microbial quotient (MICq). It can be concluded that nucleation technology can restore soil microbiological attributes but has not yet reached the conditions of a natural environment. Passive restoration is not a good technology for restoring soil microbiological attributes. The higher contents of CMIC, NMIC, OCC, MICq and fungal spores in the soil under native forest compared to ecological restoration technologies indicate that eight years of adoption of these techniques have not yet been enough to fully recover soil microbiological activity.

Annual changes in a bird assembly on artificial perches: Implications for ecological restoration in a subtropical agroecosystem / Variação anual na assembleia de aves em poleiros artificiais: Implicações para a restauração ecológica em agroecossistema subtropical

Artificial perches are used in tropical forest restoration projects to increase the dispersal of seeds into restored areas. The ability of perches to enhance seed deposition depends on their ability to attract seed dispersing birds, as well as the correlation between the season of bird visits to perches and the phenology of fruit production in adjacent forests. Using data collected from a large-scale restoration project, we characterized the community of birds that utilize artificial perches over the course of one year. We hypothesized that the structure of a bird assemblage that uses artificial perches is affected by seasonal variation. We aimed to describe the richness, abundance and diversity of a bird assemblage on artificial perches in a subtropical Atlantic forest restoration experiment in Southern Brazil. Richness and abundance estimates of the avian fauna were obtained from eight artificial perches placed in four experimental plots (∼2 y-old). Parameters of richness and abundance were compared using ANOVA. The bird assemblage was described using SHE analysis [richness (S), diversity (H') and evenness (E)], with additional estimates of occurrence and dominance. In total, 451 records of 32 ± 3.16 SD species were obtained. Thraupidae was the most numerous family (nine species, 28.12% of the total). Richness and abundance varied seasonally and were highest during spring and summer. Five migratory species of flycatchers were recorded between spring and early autumn. Perches were ineffective in attracting specialized frugivorous birds, emphasizing that seed dispersal tends to be carried out primarily by generalist omnivores in the initial phase of forest regeneration.

Poleiros artificiais são usados em projetos de restauração de florestas tropicais para aumentar a dispersão de sementes em áreas restauradas. A capacidade de poleiros para melhorar a deposição de sementes depende da sua capacidade de atrair aves dispersoras, bem como a correspondência entre a estação de visitas de aves nos poleiros e a fenologia da produção de frutos nas florestas adjacentes. Usando dados coletados a partir de um projeto de restauração de grande escala, que caracterizaram a comunidade de aves que utilizam poleiros artificiais ao longo de um ano, foi testada a hipótese que a estrutura da assembleia de aves em poleiros artificiais é afetada por variações sazonais. O objetivo foi descrever a riqueza, abundância e diversidade da assembleia de aves que visitam poleiros artificiais em um experimento de restauração florestal da mata Atlântica subtropical no sul do Brasil. Estimativas de riqueza e abundância da avifauna foram obtidas de oito poleiros artificiais colocados em quatro parcelas experimentais (∼2 anos de idade). Parâmetros de riqueza e abundância foram comparados usando ANOVA. A assembleia de aves foi descrita por meio de análise SHE [riqueza (S), diversidade (H') e equitabilidade (E)], com estimativas adicionais de ocorrência e dominância. No total, foram obtidos 451 registos de 32 ± 3,16 DP espécies. Thraupidae foi a família mais abundante (nove espécies, 28.12% do total). Riqueza e abundância variaram sazonalmente, sendo mais elevadas durante a primavera e verão. Foram registradas cinco espécies migratórias de tiranídeos entre a primavera e o início do outono. Poleiros foram ineficazes na atração de aves frugívoras especializados, enfatizando que a dispersão de sementes tende a ser realizada principalmente por onívoros generalistas na fase inicial de regeneração florestal.