Litter as an Ecological Indicator of Forest Restoration Processes in a Dense Ombrophylous Lowland Forest

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of spacing, species richness, and sampling time on accumulated litter in forest restoration areas in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The experiment was conducted under a randomized complete block design, in a subdivided plot scheme. Six treatments were evaluated, consisting of a combination of spacing levels and species richness. Accumulated litter samples were weighed and chemically analyzed to obtain nutrient concentrations. The variables analyzed in the restoration process, in general, did not influence litter biomass and nutrient concentrations. The time elapsed between restoration implantation and data sampling for the present study may have been insufficient for the occurrence of differences in variables evaluated. Despite the small amount of accumulated litter, it is of great importance for soil physical protection and fertility improvement, generating conditions for the stabilization of new forest species in the restoration area.

摘要 本研究旨在评估造林间距、物种丰富度与采样时间对巴西圣埃斯皮里图州（Espírito Santo）森林恢复区累积枯落物的影响。本实验采用随机完全区组设计（randomized complete block design），以裂区试验方案（subdivided plot scheme）开展。共设置6组处理，由不同造林间距水平与物种丰富度组合构成。研究人员采集累积枯落物样本并称重，同时开展化学分析以获取养分浓度。总体而言，本研究所分析的恢复过程相关变量并未对枯落物生物量及养分浓度产生显著影响。本研究中，从森林恢复营建到数据采样的间隔时长可能不足以使所评估的变量出现差异。尽管当前累积枯落物总量较低，但其对土壤物理保护与肥力提升具有重要意义，可为恢复区内新森林物种的稳定存续创造有利条件。