A trait-based approach for selecting tree species for aerial seeding
FORRU Contributors
ABSTRACT: We review recent ecological research on functional traits that can aid selection of tree species for restoration by aerial seeding. A major barrier in selecting species for restoration of hyperdiverse tropical forests is a lack of silvicultural and ecological information. Functional traits give insight into the potential performance of tree species in deforested sites and provide a mechanism to scale up from individual tree performance to ecosystem functions. Using relatively easy-to-measure functional traits may be an effective way to screen the suitability of tree species for aerial seeding for automated forest restoration. Aerial seeding would be particularly useful to restore forest in remote or isolated sites, where extirpation of vertebrate seed dispersers limits natural seed dispersal. Therefore, we focus on selecting tree species, based on fruit traits, to enhance restoration via aerial seeding.
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