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Genetic diversity of reintroduced tree populations in restoration plantations of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Author(s) -
Zucchi Maria I.,
Sujii Patricia S.,
Mori Gustavo M.,
Viana João P. G.,
Grando Carolina,
Silvestre Ellida de Aguiar,
Schwarcz Kaiser D.,
Macrini Camila M.,
Bajay Miklos M.,
Araújo Fabiano L.,
Siqueira Marcos V. B. M.,
AlvesPereira Alessandro,
Souza Anete P.,
Pinheiro José B.,
Rodrigues Ricardo R.,
Brancalion Pedro H. S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
restoration ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1526-100X
pISSN - 1061-2971
DOI - 10.1111/rec.12620
Subject(s) - biodiversity , forest restoration , ecology , biology , species richness , restoration ecology , genetic diversity , ecological succession , biological dispersal , introduced species , effective population size , population , seed dispersal , forest ecology , ecosystem , demography , sociology
Long‐term ecological success of large‐scale restoration programs planned for the next decades will rely on genetic diversity (GD) of reintroduced or colonizing species, a limiting factor in highly fragmented landscapes. In small and isolated natural remnants or restoration areas, substantial reduction in population's size or connectivity may lead to local extinctions due to the accumulation of deleterious recessive alleles and ongoing reduction of fecundity, plant vigor, recruitment success, and adaptive potential. Despite the paramount role of GD for species persistence, its levels in restoration programs are poorly known. We assessed the GD of four model tree species (different succession stages, dispersal, and pollination syndromes) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, comparing two high‐diversity restoration plantations, one forest fragment and one conserved remnant. Contrary to the expectation that the plantation strategies adopted in the restoration programs could result in genetic composition homogenization, we found that restoration areas established heterogeneous genetic groups with similar levels of neutral GD and inbreeding to those observed in natural forest remnants. This pattern was consistent across the four functionally different tree species, despite some species idiosyncrasies. For instance, we observed lower allelic richness in early successional species in restoration sites, suggesting that some species may be more prone to reintroduction with lower GD. Thus, we advocate the use of high GD levels in restoration to support biodiversity conservation in human‐modified landscapes, thus reinforcing the role of ecological restoration for recovering the diversity of genes—the basic constituent of biodiversity.