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Restoring fauna is a fundamental objective of ecological restoration. For organisms that depend on vegetation structures (e.g., hunting support), such as spiders, this can be difficult, especially in early stages of intervention. Multifunctionality in restoration practices occurs when one action can achieve more than one objective. Given the complexity of restoration actions and the general scarcity in resources worldwide, this property can play a key role. Therefore, we sought to study the multifunctionality of using seedling shelters to support Araneae recolonization, through the addition of structural complexity (e.g., wire mesh structures as spider webs support). We evaluated the presence of Araneae , the percentage of shelter covered by webs and elements of structural complexity (height and number of leaves,) in 32 seedlings of four tree species that had been in the restoration process for about one year. To determine the relationship between structural complexity and Araneae abundance, we used a Generalized Additive Model (GAM). We observed spiders (95.5% Araneidae) on all monitored structures (seven on average), and an average of 5% of the shelters' area covered by webs. The variation in spider abundance in shelters was correlated to seedling height and number of leaves. The taller the seedling, the fewer spiders it had, and higher spider abundance was found when seedlings had from 25 to 30 leaves. The spatial characteristics of seedlings inside screens is a condition of the quality/availability of the shelter as a resource for spider colonization. Therefore, our results indicate a possible multifunctional property of seedling shelters in improving microhabitat structure for orb-weaver spiders, as well as preventing herbivory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In ecological restoration, one of the main challenges is to develop new methods, techniques, and incentives that both favour and reduce maintenance costs in restoration projects. Besides, post-planting maintenance is often neglected hampering seedling survival over time owing to alien grasses, which compete strongly with native plants for resources. To solve these issues, recently, an innovative technology called Nucleário has been developed in Brazil. Aiming to hinder alien competition filters, the Nucleário also attempts to condition a better microenvironment, reducing drought stress through the water storage tank, decreasing temperatures, which facilitates the survival and growth of seedlings in areas under restoration. Another method used to decrease alien grasses, which is inexpensive, is seedling crowning using cardboard lowing maintenance needs in restored areas. Cardboard has similar functions to Nucleário , such as protecting soil against loss of water and nutrients and reducing competition with invasive exotic grasses. Therefore, comparing them also with traditional manual weeding (i.e., clean-weeded crown by hoe), we aimed to verify which technique is most cost-efficient for seedling crown maintenance of Dipteryx alata Vog., which is an indigenous tree species with high economic value owing to its nuts. We tested three techniques in areas under restoration in the Cerrado, in the Environmental Protection Area "Córrego Guariroba" located in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. We monitored seedlings submitted to the three methods in the wet and the dry periods for biotic (competition with exotic grasses, herbivory, and growth) and abiotic (moisture and soil temperature) indicators. We observed that the Nucleário was the treatment that maintained the highest soil moisture, resulting in a larger canopy area. However, these effects do not reflect increases in the survival rate, diameter, and height of the seedlings. None of the treatments was effective in reducing herbivory. Nucleário was the most effective treatment in reducing the competition of seedlings with invasive grasses. Cardboard presented an implementation value 21.5 times lower than Nucleário and 1.2 times than manual crowning. Given the high purchase price, the Nucleário 's cost-benefit ratio was very high compared to the crowning of cardboard and the manual weeding, which discourages us from recommending it for this species with high survival rates. Its project can be revised to decrease herbivory rates, as well as its efficiency tested in the short and long term in different ecosystems and species, particularly species susceptible to water stress. • Dipteryx alata is a Cerrado native tree appreciated for its nuts and had high rates of seedling survival in all treatments. • Nucleário enhanced soil moisture content in dry season, enlarged D. alata crown area, and reduced alien grass competition. • Cardboard was the most cost-effective maitenance technique and presented an implementation value 21.5 times lower than Nucleário and 1.2 times than manual crowning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]