Facilitation by pioneer shrubs for the ecological restoration of riparian forests in the Central Andes of Colombia

• DOI: 10.1111/rec.12490
• Publication Date: 2017-01-17T00:20:15Z
• Authors: Víctor Galindo; Zoraida Calle; Julian Chará; Inge Armbrecht
• Keywords: Restoration Ecology

Abstract Riparian vegetation has great functional importance in agroscapes because it establishes physical connections between natural ecosystems embedded an agricultural matrix. Throughout the tropics, historical demand for cropland and pastures lands adjacent to streams led replacement of forests by exotic grasses. In order find new methods initiating restoration riparian forests, we evaluated use pioneer shrubs Tithonia diversifolia Piper auritum as nurse species their effects on (1) competition with dominant grasses; (2) regeneration ecological facilitation six native tree different successional stages; (3) influence microclimate. Over a period 15 months, 4.4% coverage P. was insufficient inhibit contrast, 81% T. limited growth grasses such Cenchrus purpureus , Paspalum paniculatum Cynodon plectostachyus likely intercepting more than 90% photosynthetically active radiation ( PAR ), even though other factors cannot be ruled out. showed simultaneous promoting higher survival planted trees while slowing inhibiting woody plants probably result high light interception. This study suggests that planting shrub may facilitate early stages pastures, but requires pruning, both increase availability promote recruitment plants.