Comparative Resilience of Soil Seed Banks in Restored Wildlife Corridors and Remnant Forests Under Recurrent Disturbance

Abstract

This paper will look at the resilience of soil seed banks in reinstated wildlife corridors and remnant
forests during repeated disturbances, with emphasis on the importance of seed banks in ecosystem
restoration. The vegetation recovery after disturbances cannot take place without soil seed banks, and
the robustness of these seed banks in disturbed landscapes is not well comprehended. The aim was to
compare the seed bank density, species richness, diversity, and functional composition of restored
wildlife corridors and the remnant forests. The experiment was done in a discontinuous forest
environment, having paired restored corridors and remnant forest patches. The samples of the soil and
the seed bank properties were measured using a germination experiment under controlled conditions.
The frequency and intensity of disturbance were described using historical data and field observations.
Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the two habitats. Seed bank density in
restored corridors was significantly lower (1,420 ± 160 seeds m⁻²) than in remnant forests (2,870 ±
210 seeds m⁻²; p < 0.01). Species richness in corridors (12.4 ± 1.1 species) was significantly lower
than in remnant forests (21.7 ± 1.6 species; p < 0.01). Shannon-Wiener diversity (H′) and evenness
(J′) were also significantly reduced in corridors (H′ = 1.83 ± 0.12; J′ = 0.62 ± 0.05) compared to
remnant forests (H′ = 2.71 ± 0.15; J′ = 0.78 ± 0.04). Resistance–recovery indices showed greater
resilience in remnant forests (Rᴅ = 0.87 ± 0.05; Rᴴ′ = 0.91 ± 0.04) than in restored corridors (Rᴅ =
0.58 ± 0.07; Rᴴ′ = 0.63 ± 0.06). Regression analysis indicated that there was a significant negative
correlation between disturbance intensity and seed bank properties, especially in corridors. These
results underline the importance of considering the ecological processes in the ground when restoring
the areas.