Partial recovery of large seed arrival following ecological restoration in fragmented tropical rainforests

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Forest restoration success depends crucially on the reinitiation of ecological processes such as seed arrival that drive natural regeneration. We know little about whether, by increasing and diversifying local seed sources to alleviate seed limitation and attracting animal frugivores to alleviate dispersal limitation, restoration could shift seed arrival rates and species composition in the direction of mature rainforests, particularly for large-seeded species in degraded fragments. We tested this by examining seed arrival in 189 1 m2 seed fall traps across sites ecologically restored (through maximum diversity mixed-native species planting 13-21 years ago) and those left unrestored within degraded rainforests fragments, and in mature “benchmark” rainforests, in India’s Western Ghats. We found that overall large-seeded species arrival rates in restored sites were intermediate between benchmark (highest), and unrestored (lowest) sites. Dispersed seeds (those arriving from fruiting trees absent in the overstory) also showed partial recovery, but were dominated by alien species abundant in the matrix habitat. Restoration also had no effect on overall species richness and composition of arriving seeds, with restored sites closely resembling unrestored sites and remaining distinct from benchmark sites. Further, restoration did not alleviate the effect of fragment isolation on large seed arrival rates, which declined with distance from benchmark forests similarly in restored and unrestored sites. Our results suggest that restoration can increase local availability and dispersal of large seeds, and highlights the value of maximizing the diversity of native species in restoration plantings within degraded forests and promoting their use instead of alien tree species in the surrounding matrix. Our findings also show that the recovery of natural regeneration can remain slow or uncertain in restored forest fragments, and underscore the need for sustained monitoring and evaluation of restoration over multiple decades. Supplementary Material File (oik-11945-file001.docx) - Download - 1.90 MB Information & Authors Information Version history Peer review timeline Published Oikos Version of Record24 Feb 2026Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection

Authors Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 294views 118downloads Citations Download citation Aparna Krishnan, Jyotsna Nag, S Arun, et al. Partial recovery of large seed arrival following ecological restoration in fragmented tropical rainforests. Authorea. 20 August 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175567325.56643988/v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175567325.56643988/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.