Plant recruitment in a mined area colonized by Urochloa spp.
Landscape restoration; Ecological succession; Floristic survey
This article is about monitoring the phytosociological survey of a gravel pit undergoing environmental restoration, in 24 plots of 100 m2 each, subjected to different treatments, which were colonised by various species, providing a rich plant diversity, understanding the change in the composition and dynamics of the vegetation. A total of 1,618 plants were found, distributed among 47 species belonging to 18 families, with a predominance of exotic herbaceous species. Analysing the data revealed an increase in biodiversity and the number of species in the area studied, which can be attributed to the criteria of functional diversity and landscape restoration. Among the native species that showed the greatest coverage and frequency in the area were Anacardium occidentale L., Sida glaziovii K.Schum., Sidastrum micranthum (A.St.-Hil.) Fryxell and Enterolobium gummiferum (Mart.) J.F.Macbr, however the dominant presence of Urochloa spp, shows that the interference provided by exotic and invasive species jeopardises the establishment of native species, and shows that the fragility of mined environments can make them more prone to other anthropogenic disturbances.