Plant species–habitat networks in a mosaic landscape of restored and fragmented tropical forests

Abstract Scaling up ecological restoration is vital to address biodiversity loss and reconnect fragmented landscapes. However, there is a limited understanding of how restored forests are integrated into seed dispersal processes and positively influence tropical human‐modified landscapes. Using a species–habitat network approach, we investigated the biological organization of adult and seedling plant communities across 14 forest fragments and 14 restored sites in Brazil's highly fragmented and defaunated Atlantic Forest. We modelled three network scenarios: adults‐only , where only adult plant species connect sites; mixed , combining adults from fragments and seedlings from restored forests; and restored‐only , evaluating connectivity among restored patches. For each, we assessed network structure, traits influencing species roles and abundance‐based beta‐diversity. All networks were poorly connected and highly modular, with modules in restored forests dominated by seedling species distinct from those originally planted. Nestedness was lower than expected in all scenarios. Animal‐dispersed and smaller seed–plant species showed the higher potential to connect the landscape in the mixed and restored‐only scenarios, respectively. High beta‐diversity was mainly driven by species replacement, highlighting strong variation in species composition across the landscape. Our findings indicate that the species pool employed in restoration efforts tends to reflect the structure of a tropical fragmented network, characterized by forest patches that are only weakly connected, often through a small set of widespread generalist plant species. This limited connectivity suggests that restored forests may not yet function as fully integrated components of the broader landscape in terms of seed dispersal and community assembly. Synthesis and applications . Species–habitat networks offer valuable insights into how restored forests can be functionally integrated within fragmented landscapes. Our findings highlight the role of species interactions and their correlated traits such as dispersal syndromes in promoting landscape‐scale connectivity. To improve ecological outcomes, restoration should prioritize functional traits and dispersal strategies over species richness alone, aiming to enhance connectivity, support beta‐diversity and strengthen the ecological integration of restored sites across the landscape.