Abstract

BEDOYA-PATINO, Juan G; ESTEVEZ-VARON, Jaime V  and  CASTANO-VILLA, Gabriel J. SOIL SEDS BANK AND ITS ROLE IN THE RECOVERY OF TROPICAL FORESTS. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas [online]. 2010, vol.14, n.2, pp.77-91. ISSN 0123-3068.

Given the high rates of deforestation of tropical forests and their effects on biological diversity among others, the recovery of the vegetable coverage is a task that must be undertaken immediately. Therefore, knowing the factors which determine the natural growth of vegetation allows the planning and better direction of restoration efforts. In this sense, the study of the soil seeds bank provides information about the vegetal succession state, the species potentially capable to substitute the existing ones, and the types of species which compose the present and surrounding vegetation, as well as its relation with the wild fauna. This article presents a description of the meaning and importance of the seeds bank in the tropics, of the determinant factors for its existence, and of its contribution to restoration and conservation. Also, some aspects related to the seeds bank for future research such as tropical seeds physiology and the role of animals which contribute to seed dispersal are stated.

Keywords : seeds bank; tropical forest; seed physiology; dispersion; conservation.

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