Author: Vander Wall, Stephen B.; Beck, Maurie J.
Description: Frugivory (animals ingest all or part of fleshy-fruits and defecate or regurgitate seeds) and scatter-hoarding (animals store seeds in small caches in soil) are two important vertebrate-mediated seed dispersal syndromes. In both instances, there is an exchange of food for seed transport, but there are many important differences. For example, the seeds of frugivore-dispersed plants are often clumped in feces or under roosts and the microsite of depostion is often unsuitable for seedling establishment. However, frugivores can transport seeds long distances allowing plants to colonize new areas and promoting gene flow between populations. Scatter-hoarding animals, on the other hand, actively space seeds in microsites that often favor seedling establishment, but don’t move seeds very far. Both modes of seed dispersal can be very effective, but in different way. Some species of plants have evolved propagules that take advantage of both modes of dispersal in two separate phases (i.e., diplochory), apparently to obtain both types of benefits.
Subject headings: Coevolution; Diffuse mutualism; Frugivore; Granivory; Plant-animal interactions; Seed caching; Seed dispersal; Seed fates; Seed predation; Seedling establishment
Publication year: 2012
Journal or book title: The Botanical Review
Volume: 78
Issue: 1
Pages: 10-31
Find the full text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12229-011-9093-9
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Serial number: 4222