RECUPERAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA DA RESTINGA DA PRAIA DE PANAQUATIRA, SÃO JOSÉ DE RIBAMAR, MARANHÃO

Abstract

Restinga is a resilient coastal ecosystem, but it is vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures and severe abiotic conditions, such as high solar radiation, wind exposure, salinity, and seasonal water deficit. This study was structured into two chapters, integrating a theoretical approach and a field-based analysis. Chapter 1, entitled “Restoration of restinga ecosystems: techniques, challenges, and perspectives for the recovery of coastal ecosystems”, consisted of an integrative review of restoration strategies applied to restinga ecosystems. The review indicated that nucleation and natural regeneration are promising and low-cost alternatives, although their effectiveness depends on the environmental conditions and degradation history of each site. Chapter 2, entitled “Natural regeneration of the Panaquatira restinga, São José de Ribamar”, evaluated Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) in a restinga area in Maranhão after the removal of invasive species. The objective of this study was to characterize the physiognomy and floristic composition of areas undergoing restoration, identifying functional groups and assessing the influence of climatic seasonality on plant community structure. For this purpose, permanent plots were established in two areas with distinct physiognomies, and individuals with stem diameter at the base (SDB) ≥ 3 cm were monitored across four field campaigns. Phytosociological parameters, diversity, floristic similarity, and temporal responses of the community were analyzed using linear mixed models. A total of 808 individuals were recorded, distributed among 29 species and 13 families, with a predominance of native species and pioneer groups. The results indicated positive responses of the vegetation to ANR, particularly through the role of woody species in increasing canopy cover and promoting the structural development of the community. Environmental differences between the areas influenced regeneration structure, highlighting the importance of factors such as solar radiation, wind exposure, and water availability. Climatic seasonality also influenced species richness and abundance, with greater recruitment during the rainy season and ecological limitations during the dry season. Temporal monitoring revealed that the dry season was associated with structural simplification of the community and increased dominance of a few species, whereas the return of rainfall favored recruitment. During the rainy season, new species records represented 48.27% of the observed richness, with a predominance of representatives of the families Poaceae and Fabaceae, and floristic dissimilarity reached 0.45 in relation to previous periods. These results suggest that the restoration of restinga ecosystems in Maranhão responds positively to management interventions, but remains strongly conditioned by climatic seasonality. The survival of herbaceous species was limited by water deficit, reinforcing the need for long-term monitoring. Thus, ANR represents a viable strategy to promote ecological succession in restinga ecosystems, and further studies are recommended to evaluate the transition to more advanced successional stages and the influence of variables such as wind, humidity, and water availability on ecosystem stability.