Forest fragmentation and selective logging affect the seed survival and recruitment of a relictual conifer

Abstract Defaunation, invasive speciesand forest fragmentationare considered to be the major drivers for the disruption of key ecological processes, particularly those related to plant animal-interactions such as seed dispersaland predation. The disruption of critical phases in the plant life cycle may ultimately have negative impacts on plant recruitment and the survival of plant populations. Here, for the first time we compared the seed removal and recruitment of Araucariaangustifolia , a critically endangeredand relictual gymnospermspecies, in multiple sites, including continuous and fragmented forest areas in the Brazilian Atlantic subtropical forest. Our sampling included seed removal experiment monitored by camera trapsand surveys of A. angustifolia recruitment. We found that seed survival and recruitment were related to the density of adult A. angustifolia . Therefore the formation of large and dense groves, which is a characteristic of pristine Araucariamoist forests endangered by forest fragmentationand selective logging, may be an attempt to satiate seed predatorcommunities. Additionally, forest fragmentationand the introduction of wild boardecreased seed survival to very low, and forest fragmentationdecreased recruitment by fourfold on average. Increase protection and recuperation of Araucariamoist forests and the eradication of the invasive wild boarwhere possible are necessary measures for increasing seed survival rates and the recruitment of this relictual conifer.