Clonal propagation, scale dependent assembly, and nucleation drives natural regeneration in a restinga sandy coastal plain

• DOI: 10.1002/ldr.5057
• Publication Date: 2024-02-20T09:48:54Z
• Authors: Lidiane Matias; Guilherme Ramos D...; Milena Dutra da S...; Flávia Moura
• Keywords: Nestedness; Coastal plain

Abstract On the sandy coastal plains, environmental filters that limit seedling establishment and survival create a naturally heterogeneous landscape, formed by vegetation patches inserted in matrix of bare soil. The succession processes these ecosystems depend on some pioneer species facilitate recruitment other species. Here, we evaluated spatial pattern changes restinga (i.e., plain vegetation) over one decade (2011–2021). research was carried out Alagoas State, Northeast Brazil. We considered as islands soil applied methodologies photointerpretation. Landscape metrics included patch area, edge, shape, core area. To test effect landscape occurrence richness per patch, generalized linear models (GLM) with binomial quasi‐Poisson distributions, respectively. used “betapart” package to evaluate importance turnover nestedness drivers beta diversity among patches. Our data indicate key plant ( Myrciaria floribunda ), which can propagate root suckers, initiates process, creating regeneration nuclei, seem follow deterministic until reaches 10 m 2 In successional sequence, grow coalesce neighboring Species presented an unimodal response size. Overall, there is greater contribution among‐patch diversity. However, for smaller than , mostly driven nestedness, reflecting process addition growing found study area should be formulation nature‐based restoration models, expected more efficient effective similar filters.