Seed Dispersal facts

While investigating facts about Seed Dispersal By Animals and Seed Dispersal By Water, I found out little known, but curios details like:

After large animals went extinct, such as the mammoth, avocados had no method of seed dispersal, which would have lead to their extinction without early human farmers.

how seed dispersal by animals?

After large animals went extinct, such as the mammoth, avocados had no method of seed dispersal, which would have lead to thier extinction without early human farmers.

What are the four mechanisms for seed dispersal?

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering what is the importance of seed dispersal. Here are 50 of the best facts about Seed Dispersal Ks2 and Seed Dispersal Methods I managed to collect.

what are the 5 types of seed dispersal?

Avocados depended on megafaunas to disperse its seeds. However, when the megafaunas became extinct, avocados survived primarily due to human cultivation.
The chemical that makes chili peppers hot induces pain in mammals, who would chew the seeds and destroy them, but has no effect on birds, who swallow the seeds whole and poop them out, serving to disperse them.
The avocado evolved to appeal to extinct megafauna (e.g. the giant armadillo) in order to facilitate seed dispersal via ingestion and excretion. This is why the avocado has such a sizeable seed.
Some plants that relied on extinct animals to disperse their seeds now rely on rodents, who will bury them. The seeds travel further when other rodents steal them, and bury them again, and again, and again, etc.
Figs are pollinated by special type of wasp which enters the infructescence through a tiny passage. Various animals eat figs and disperse their seed via feces.
Ripe capsule splits into 5 parts to release seed. Each seed is equipped with wings that facilitate dispersal by wind. Seed do not stay viable long period of time (they are able to germinate only during the first rainy season).
Skunkvine is valuable source of food for birds which facilitate dispersal of seed in the wild.
Fruit of sorrel is golden brown, three-edged achene filled with miniature seed. Wind and insects facilitate dispersal of seed.
Bats are ecologically very important. They help in seed dispersal and ensure successful reforestation: 95% of the newly grown rainforests is result of bat induced seed dispersal. Besides, by eating various insects in large quantities, they protect crops and keep the pest under control.
Name "mistletoe" is coined from the Anglo-Saxon words "mistle" and "tan" which mean "dung twig". Name refers to the dispersal of seed via bird droppings.

seed dispersal facts — What are the advantages of seed dispersal?

Why seed dispersal is necessary?

You can easily fact check why seed dispersal is important for plants by examining the linked well-known sources.

Broadleaf plantain propagates via seed. It belongs to the group of self-sowing plants, which mean that it doesn"t require external help for dispersal of seed.

Common hop is dioecious plant (male and female flowers develop on separate plants). Yellow-green male flowers are organized in multi-branched, loose clusters. Female flowers are arranged in densely packed spikes called cones. Each cone consists of 60 individual flowers surrounded by bracts (modified leaves) that facilitate dispersal of seed.

Female cones reach maturity 9 months after fertilization. Degradation of female cones results in release of seed. Seed has wings which facilitate dispersal by wind.

Fully developed flowerhead bears purple flowers that contain large number of seed. Seed of artichoke are covered with hairs to facilitate dispersal by wind.

Fruit of common myrtle is purple-black berry filled with few seed. Fruit ripens during the autumn. Birds like to eat fruit of common myrtle and they play important role in dispersal of seed.

When might seed dispersal not be beneficial?

Many forest animals such as woodpeckers, wild turkeys, chipmunks, beavers, forest mice and deer eat bark, leaves and fruit of hickory. Those that feed on fruit facilitate dispersal of seed.

How seed dispersal by water?

Birds eat berries and facilitate dispersal of ginseng (seed) in the wild.

Corkscrew-shaped fruit can be easily attached to the fur and skin of animals and humans, which together with water play role in dispersal of seed.

Seeds have wings that facilitate dispersal by wind.

Seed of castor bean has small appendage, called caruncula which attracts ants that are responsible for dispersal of seed.

Almost every country participates in "Cloud Seeding", A method of increasing rainfall from a cloud. Most places use aircraft to disperse something advanced like Silver Iodide or Dry Ice, but Russia tried using Cement and accidentally dropped a 25 Kg sack of cement through somebody house.

When does seed dispersal happen?

Giant hogweed produces 100 000 winged, oval seeds. Animals, rain and wind facilitate seed dispersal. Seed is able to germinate even after 10 years of dormancy.

Ants play important role in dispersal of seed of bleeding heart. Each seed is equipped with elaiosome, white fleshy part that is rich source of lipids. Elaiosome is one of the favorite type of food for the ants. Ants collect seed, transport them to the anthills and consume elaiosome. They do not produce damage on the seed, which retains ability to germinate under the optimal environmental conditions.

More than 30 species of birds feed on the sumac fruit and facilitate dispersal of seed. Besides via seed, sumac propagates via root sprouting.

Birds and wind facilitate dispersal of seed. Common heather also propagates via buds that appear at the base of the stem.

How seed dispersal by wind?

Many birds and animals consume fruit of camphor tree and play important role in dispersal of the seed in the wild.

Colorful seed of carrotwood attracts birds and small mammals which play important role in dispersal of seed in the wild.

Fruit of catsear is single-seeded, orange-brown achene shaped like spindle. Seed is equipped with feathery hairs which function like parachute and facilitate dispersal of seed by the wind.

Fruit-eating birds and mammals facilitate dispersal of seed (they eliminate undigested seed via feces).

Seed are equipped with hairy filaments which facilitate dispersal by wind. During the windy days, seed often travel 25 to 100 feet away from the mother plant.

Tropical species of birds and mammals eat guava and facilitate dispersal of seed.

Birds (especially birds from the group of thrushes) eat fruit and eliminate undigested seed via feces (they facilitate dispersal of seed in the wild).

Cornflower is type of self-seeding plant, which means that it doesn"t require external help for the successful dispersal of seed.

Aspen produces hundreds of miniature, hairy seed that are easily dispersed by wind.

Animals, wind and water facilitate dispersal of seed of elephant grass in the wild.

Hooked spines facilitate dispersal of seed. Animals collect fruit that easily attach to their fur and skin, when they pass near the plant.

Rosary pea is valuable source of food for birds which play important role in dispersal of seed in the wild.

Fruit of tamarisk is capsule filled with numerous seed. Capsule splits into three or five parts to release seed. Each seed has tuft of hairs which facilitate dispersal by wind. Tamarisk produces up to 200.000 seed per year.

Aldabra giant tortoise plays important role in the ecosystem. It alters the habitat when it searches food and creates new pathways and clearings that are beneficial for other animals. It also plays important role in dispersal of seed.

This is our collection of basic interesting facts about Seed Dispersal. The fact lists are intended for research in school, for college students or just to feed your brain with new realities. Possible use cases are in quizzes, differences, riddles, homework facts legend, cover facts, and many more. Whatever your case, learn the truth of the matter why is Seed Dispersal so important!