**2. Materials and methods**

Data were obtained from published and unpublished scientific reports and monographs written by undergraduate students under the supervision of Dr. Niwton Leal Filho of the National Institute for Amazon Research (INPA). One dataset contains complete data on density and floristic composition. We used 17 datasets from a seed bank in *terra firme* forest of the Amazon rainforest, which dataset [48–50] was not included in the floristic composition. **Table 1** list all datasets

**69**

**Study area location**

Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project

(BDFFP), Amazonas, Brazil

Experimental Station of Tropical Forestry (EEST),

Amazonas, Brazil

Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project

(BDFFP), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Experimental Station of Tropical Forestry (EEST),

Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil

River Capim Farm, Paragominas, Pará, Brazil

Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve (riparian or

bottomlands forest, with periodic flooding),

Amazonas, Brazil

Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil

Experimental Station of Tropical Forestry (EEST),

Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Experimental Station of Tropical Forestry (EEST),

Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Ferreira Penna Scientific Station (ECFPn),

Melgaço, Pará, Brazil

**(2) Forest fragments**

Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project

2°25' S; 59°50' W 2°25' S; 59°50' W

Remaining isolated forest

25

90

0.70

2

4073 ± 3578

unpublished

data

fragments of 1 ha

Remaining isolated forest

25

90

0.70

2

3829 ± 2565

unpublished

data

fragments of 10 ha

(BDFFP), Amazonas, Brazil

Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project

(BDFFP), Amazonas, Brazil

02°53' S; 59°58' W

2°37' S; 60°09' W

2°37' S; 60°09' W

1°42′30" S; 51°31′45" W

—

—

100

6.25

5

94 ± 61

[50]

—

**—**

40

0.31

3

194 ± 263

unpublished

data

—

**—**

30

0.24

5

246

unpublished

data

—

**—**

30

0.24

5

299

unpublished

data

02°53' S; 59°58' W

03°37′59.9" S; 48°32′46.8" W

02o53' S; 59o58' W

—

—

—

**—**

72

4.32

10

367

[58]

—

60

3.75

5

423

[57]

—

1440

11.31

2

460

[19]

**Latitude and longitude**

**(1) Old-growth forest (with no evidence of anthropogenic changes in the last 60 years or more)**

2°25' S; 59°50' W

2°37′38" S; 60°09′11" W

2°25' S; 59°50' W

2°36′50" S; 60°12′13" W

—

—

160

5.03

5

498 ± 437

[46]

—

**—**

45

1.01

3

662 ± 741

[7]

—

—

30

0.71

3

722

unpublished

data

—

**—**

90

0.70

2

913 ± 1112

unpublished

data

**Type of disturbance**

**EA**

**N**

**A**

**D**

**DS**

**Reference**

*Ecology of the Seed Bank in the Amazon Rainforest DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94745*

#### *Ecology of the Seed Bank in the Amazon Rainforest DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94745*



**71**

**Study area location**

**(3) Forests with logging of wood species**

Experimental Station of Tropical Forestry (EEST),

2°36′50" S; 60°12′13" W

The area explored in

14

30

0.71

3

2219

unpublished

data

forest management,

clearing of exploration

Explored area of forest

14

30

0.71

3

1561

unpublished

data

management, tractor

trail

Old-growth forest with

17

25

6.25

8

1427 ± 729

[59]

logging of wood species

Explored area of forest

21

30

0.71

3

1274

unpublished

data

management, tractor

trail

Old-growth forest with

30

25

6.25

8

756 ± 250

[59]

logging of wood species

The area explored in

21

30

0.71

3

711

unpublished

data

forest management,

clearing of exploration

Logging and woody

1

120

7.50

5

317 ± 413

[57]

waste

Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Experimental Station of Tropical Forestry (EEST),

2°36′50" S; 60°12′13" W

Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Experimental Genetic Resource Station "José

01°10' S; 48°20' W

2°36′50" S; 60°12′13" W

Haroldo", Benevides, Pará, Brazil

Experimental Station of Tropical Forestry (EEST),

Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Experimental Genetic Resource Station "José

01°10' S; 48°20' W

2°36′50" S; 60°12′13" W

Haroldo", Benevides, Pará, Brazil

Experimental Station of Tropical Forestry (EEST),

Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

River Capim Farm, Paragominas, Pará, Brazil

**(4) Secondary forests (with evidence of natural and anthropogenic changes)**

Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project

2o24'48" S; 59o 52′21" W

01°10' S; 48°20' W

2°30' S; 60°10' W

With a history of

7

32

1.28

3

8085

[39]

abandoned pasture

Abandoned pasture with

6

25

6.25

8

2848 ± 537

[59]

burning history

Abandoned pasture with

20

21

2.65

5

2187 ± 1137

[60]

history of fires

(BDFFP), farm Esteio, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Experimental Genetic Resource Station "José

Haroldo", Benevides, Pará, Brazil

Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project

(BDFFP), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil (three

topographic positions: plateaus, slopes, and

bottomlands)

03°37′59.9" S; 48°32′46.8" W

**Latitude and longitude**

**Type of disturbance**

**EA**

**N**

**A**

**D**

**DS**

**Reference**

*Ecology of the Seed Bank in the Amazon Rainforest DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94745*

#### *Ecosystem and Biodiversity of Amazonia*

#### *Ecology of the Seed Bank in the Amazon Rainforest DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94745*



#### *Ecosystem and Biodiversity of Amazonia*

**73**

**Figure 1.** *Seedling density (m*

*2*

*standard deviation when cited. The datasets used are those described in table 1.*

categories.

**3. Results**

(**Table**

emerged in agricultural areas (**Figure**

to be higher and had high variation (**Figure**

*Ecology of the Seed Bank in the Amazon Rainforest DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94745*

used in this stydy. The datasets involve different types of land use in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, incluinding (1) old-growth forests, with no evidence of anthro

pogenic changes in the last 60 years or more; (2) forest fragments with different historical changes; (3) forests with logging of wood species; (4) secondary forests with evidence of natural and anthropogenic changes and (5) agriculture areas. Seedling density emerging from soil samples is used in all datasets as an indi

rect estimate of seed density in the seed bank [51–56]. In addition to the highly variation found in the seed banks, even at small distances [20, 54, 55], we see variation in the methods of soil sampling and sampled area [56], sampling depth and spread of sample in the nursery [15], all of which could influence both density and floristic composition. It should be noted that the tropical region lacks seed

ling identification guides or floras, making this activity largely dependent on the expertise of parabotanics and researchers involved in the field. It is well known that the seedling stage is one of the most difficult stages to identify, as reflected in the floristic composition of the seed bank. Even the division of seedlings into a life form, is difficult to position and categorize. To compile a file form database, we followed the categories proposed by the authors, but with minor changes. We chose to group emerged seedlings into four major categories, i.e., tree, herb, shrub, and support-dependent plants, which included lianas, epiphytes, and hemiepiphytes. Some species like *Miconia serialis* DC. can be shrubby to small trees; however, the small tree life form is the most common, and this species was placed in the tree

In general, the lower density of seedlings that emerged from the seed bank samples was observed in old-growth forests, while the highest density in seedlings

had less variability, with numbers varying between 94 and 913 seedlings per m

**1**). In the other classes of land use, the density of seeds in the soil was found

**1** and **Table**

*) emerged from the seed bank in different classes of land use. The vertical bar shows the* 

**1**). Seedling density in old-growth forests

**1**).




2

*Details of density, family abundance, and forms of seedlings that emerged from the seed bank in the terra firme forest of the Amazon rainforest. EA: Estimated age at the time of the study; N: Number of samples; A: Total area sampled (m2); D: Depth of the sample collected (cm); DS: Density of seedlings (m2) (mean ± standard deviation).* *Ecology of the Seed Bank in the Amazon Rainforest DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94745*

used in this stydy. The datasets involve different types of land use in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, incluinding (1) old-growth forests, with no evidence of anthropogenic changes in the last 60 years or more; (2) forest fragments with different historical changes; (3) forests with logging of wood species; (4) secondary forests with evidence of natural and anthropogenic changes and (5) agriculture areas.

Seedling density emerging from soil samples is used in all datasets as an indirect estimate of seed density in the seed bank [51–56]. In addition to the highly variation found in the seed banks, even at small distances [20, 54, 55], we see variation in the methods of soil sampling and sampled area [56], sampling depth and spread of sample in the nursery [15], all of which could influence both density and floristic composition. It should be noted that the tropical region lacks seedling identification guides or floras, making this activity largely dependent on the expertise of parabotanics and researchers involved in the field. It is well known that the seedling stage is one of the most difficult stages to identify, as reflected in the floristic composition of the seed bank. Even the division of seedlings into a life form, is difficult to position and categorize. To compile a file form database, we followed the categories proposed by the authors, but with minor changes. We chose to group emerged seedlings into four major categories, i.e., tree, herb, shrub, and support-dependent plants, which included lianas, epiphytes, and hemiepiphytes. Some species like *Miconia serialis* DC. can be shrubby to small trees; however, the small tree life form is the most common, and this species was placed in the tree categories.
