Plant reproductive phenology and dispersal patterns after natural regeneration in a limestone mining spoil banks

Abstract

Studies were carried out on the phenological patterns and dispersion of a plant community developed naturally after limestone mining operations, in accumulated materials of wastes (spoil banks). The objectives were to focus the seasonally of plant reproductive in a degraded environment; to analyze the community according to dispersal syndrome and to know about plant resources for the animals Monthly observations of flowering and fruiting patterns of the community were done, comparing the herbaceous, shrubs and woody species. Proportion of anemochorous and autochorous was higher in the herbaceous and shrubby strata. The zoochorous ones, on the contrary, were more frequent in the woody stratum. This study showed that natural introduction of the animals at the unreclaimed area, increased the chances for long time, of preserving the plant species since they are pollinated and dispersed their seeds.