Development of Floristic Diversity in 10-year-old Restoration Forests on a Bauxite Mined Site in Amazonia

background

This article evaluates the diversity of species in a 10-year-old native species plantation in the Para state of Brazil. The study site was mined for bauxite in 1984 and planted in 1985 with 70 species of native forest tree species.

Research Goals & Methods

Researchers established plots in 1995 in the reforestation area in which all of the trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, and grasses were inventoried. Additionally, soil characteristics, canopy closure, wildlife presence and mychorrizal spores were measured.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The diversity and density of understory plant species was strongly correlated with the diversity of the planted species. Species diversity decreased with distance from primary forest edge and increased with planted tree basal area. The capture rate of birds was about 4.2 per 100 net hours, whereas the capture of bats was about 147 per 100 hours with the nets. Smaller-seeded species were in higher proportion than larger-seeded species, which may require enrichment planting to improve diversity.