Does invasion by Pteridium aquilinum (Dennstaedtiaceae) affect the ecological succession in Atlantic Forest areas after a fire?

Abstract

Pteridium aquilinum (Dennstaedtiaceae) colonization affects ecological and restoration processes. The knowledge of the impacts on the ecological succession by this species allows the use of restoration strategies in invaded environments. This work aimed to evaluate the floristic composition, diversity, structure, density, basal area, height, and diameter of natural regeneration in three areas of the Atlantic Forest in the Serra do Espinhaço Biosphere Reserve in an area invaded by P. aquilinum after a fire. Three environments with different coverage intensities by P. aquilinum were studied, and the plants over 10 cm in height or 5 cm in canopy diameter were measured. The floristic composition and diversity were analyzed using indices presented by Chao, Fisher, Margalef, Pielou, Shannon-Weaver, and Simpson, and similarity was evaluated by the Jaccard index. Species density, basal area, height, and canopy diameter classes were also evaluated. The floristic composition, diversity, structure of natural regeneration, density, and basal area were higher in post-fire areas with a lower coverage by P. aquilinum. The topsoil coverage with plant litter and the possible effect of P. aquilinum allelopathy probably reduced the species richness and diversity. The proportion of plants from the lowest height and canopy diameter classes was higher under moderate coverage by P. aquilinum. The reduction in the floristic composition, diversity, number of species, and basal area in post-fire areas colonized by P. aquilinum is probably due to this species aggressiveness. The population of this plant is high, accumulating large quantities of plant litter as a physical barrier preventing light and propagules from reaching the soil, reducing the germination of the seed bank and, consequently, the natural regeneration. The floristic composition, diversity, structure of natural regeneration, density, and basal area were lower in areas with higher coverage by P. aquilinum. The proportion of plants in the most significant height and canopy diameter classes was higher with reduced coverage by P. aquilinum. The P. aquilinum reduced forest succession in areas after a fire.