Marinés de la Peña Domene
PhD Student, University of Illinois at Chicago
Research: Overcoming barriers to rain forest regeneration in a Mexican agricultural mosaic
Abstract: Deforestation of tropical forests threatens animal and plant species as critical habitats disappear. In heavily-grazed landscapes, regeneration is inhibited by limited seed arrival and failure of seedlings to establish. We will test how experimental tree plantings of economically important species that rapidly mature fleshy fruits attractive to seed-carrying animals overcome regeneration barriers. Cost-efficient plantings will be designed to be used widely throughout the Neotropics. Our aim is to assess whether attracting animal seed-dispersers into pastures re-establishes dispersal processes that accelerate habitat restoration and enhance landscape connectivity in a highly fragmented biodiversity hotspot.