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Time and distance in seed dispersio.3/1/2023 ![]() ![]() A plant's fitness and survival may heavily depend on this method of seed dispersal depending on certain environmental factors. Long-distance seed dispersal (LDD) is a type of spatial dispersal that is currently defined by two forms, proportional and actual distance. Seed dispersal is sometimes split into autochory (when dispersal is attained using the plant's own means) and allochory (when obtained through external means). In fact, recent evidence suggests that the majority of seed dispersal events involves more than one dispersal phase. Dispersal distances and deposition sites depend on the movement range of the disperser, and longer dispersal distances are sometimes accomplished through diplochory, the sequential dispersal by two or more different dispersal mechanisms. Seed dispersal may also allow plants to colonize vacant habitats and even new geographic regions. These features are peculiar to myrmecochory, which may thus provide additional benefits not present in other dispersal modes. These seeds can thus avoid adverse environmental effects such as fire or drought, reach nutrient-rich microsites and survive longer than other seeds. Seeds dispersed by ants ( myrmecochory) are not only dispersed short distances but are also buried underground by the ants. In the case of fleshy-fruited plants, seed-dispersal in animal guts (endozoochory) often enhances the amount, the speed, and the asynchrony of germination, which can have important plant benefits. Male bellbirds perch on dead trees in order to attract mates, and often defecate seeds beneath these perches where the seeds have a high chance of survival because of high light conditions and escape from fungal pathogens. For example, Ocotea endresiana (Lauraceae) is a tree species from Latin America which is dispersed by several species of birds, including the three-wattled bellbird. Seed dispersal also allows plants to reach specific habitats that are favorable for survival, a hypothesis known as directed dispersal. Competition with adult plants may also be lower when seeds are transported away from their parent. This higher survival may result from the actions of density-dependent seed and seedling predators and pathogens, which often target the high concentrations of seeds beneath adults. Seed survival is often higher away from the parent plant. Seed dispersal is likely to have several benefits for different plant species. Įpilobium hirsutum seed head dispersing seeds Benefits Plants can disperse via modes without possessing the typical associated adaptations and plant traits may be multifunctional. However, this simplified view may ignore complexity in dispersal. These modes are typically inferred based on adaptations, such as wings or fleshy fruit. Some plants are serotinous and only disperse their seeds in response to an environmental stimulus. There are five main modes of seed dispersal: gravity, wind, ballistic, water, and by animals. ![]() The patterns of seed dispersal are determined in large part by the dispersal mechanism and this has important implications for the demographic and genetic structure of plant populations, as well as migration patterns and species interactions. Seeds can be dispersed away from the parent plant individually or collectively, as well as dispersed in both space and time. Plants have limited mobility and rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their seeds, including both abiotic vectors, such as the wind, and living ( biotic) vectors such as birds. In Spermatophyte plants, seed dispersal is the movement, spread or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Movement or transport of seeds away from the parent plant ![]()
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