ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN AREA DOMINATED BY Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn IN CAPARAÓ NATIONAL PARK, MG

ABSTRACT The goal of this study was to restore an area dominated by P. aquilinum in the National Park of Caparaó, by nucleation techniques. In an area covered by P. aquilinum, 60 nuclei or gaps of 2 x 2 m were cleared, i.e., 10 nuclei per treatment. In these open areas, all P. aquilinum cover was removed down to the soil. In the center of each gap was delimited one parcel of 1 x 1 m, in which the treatments were applied: T1-liming, T2-seed bank and litter transposition, T3-direct-seeding, T4-liming + seed bank and litter transposition, T5-liming + direct-seeding, T6-control. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with 10 replications. In each nucleation plot, after one year, all arbustive-arboreous species were recorded, by measuring plant height and diameter at ground level. The plants were classified according to the succession class and dispersion type. One year after the installation of the nucleation experiment, 331 individuals of 19 species, 12 genera and 10 botanical families were recorded. Pioneer plants were the predominant ecological group, and the prevailing dispersion type was zoochoric. The richest families were Solanaceae and Euphorbiaceae. Solanaceae was represented by the highest number of individuals (56.2%), followed by Fabaceae (10%). The genus Solanum had the highest richness and abundance. The applied nucleation techniques triggered the succession process in the area invaded by P. aquilinum. Treatments with seed banks were the most appropriate to facilitate forest regeneration in this area.