Native species for restoration and conservation of biodiversity in South America

Abstract

Since for terrestrial ecosystems, land-use change probably will have the largest effect on biodiversity, research on native species of both plant and fungi have received more attention for restoration of degraded ecosystems and for mitigation of the expected effects on biodiversity. Very few studies in South America have pointed to the importance of the soil microbiological and biological processes influence upon biodiversity conservation of natural ecosystems. Research on the mycotrophy of plants is thus fundamental to the understanding of the ecophysiological characteristics and therefore for improve their conservation. The same applies for endangered vegetation, especially under extreme climatic and edaphic environmental conditions. Until recently, the role of native plant endophyte (and, also of symbiotic bacteria or fungi) had received little attention. Studies of aquatic plants, types of endophyte and dominant species colonizing plants offer new reports and point to the urgent need for further research. In paricular, reports of dark septate endophytes in roots of plants have received increasingly more attention as possible mutualistic. However, it must be kept in mind that symbiosis type is also influenced by environmental factors. Little is known about the soil biota and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi present in roots of most plant species also dominating in tropical dry forests and in the Andean region, which could help in dealing with the uncertainties in future climate and vegetation. Very few studies have been devoted to the consequences of the plant symbioses on the ecosystem function. The aim of this review is to explore currently available information on soil microbiology influencing biodiversity conservation of natural ecosystems and to speculate about the management of natural sites focusing on root symbioses. Case studies of the Brazilian dry forest/woodland and the Andean Puna are mentioned.