Seed dispersal syndromes are morphological characters of seeds correlated to particular seed dispersal agents.[1][2][3][4] Dispersal is the event by which individuals move from the site of their parents to establish in a new area.[5] A seed disperser is the vector by which a seed moves from its parent to the resting place where the individual will establish, for instance an animal. Similar to the term syndrome, a diaspore is a morphological functional unit of a seed for dispersal purposes.[6]
Characteristics for seed dispersal syndromes are commonly fruit colour, mass, and persistence.[4] These syndrome characteristics are often associated with the fruit that carries the seeds. Fruits are packages for seeds, composed of nutritious tissues to feed animals. However, fruit pulp is not commonly used as a seed dispersal syndrome because pulp nutritional value does not enhance seed dispersal success.[5] Animals interact with these fruits because they are a common food source for them. Although, not all seed dispersal syndromes have fruits because not all seeds are dispersed by animals. Suitable biological and environmental conditions of dispersal syndromes are needed for seed dispersal[2] and invasion success[1] such as temperature and moisture.
Seed dispersal syndromes are parallel to pollination syndromes, which are defined as floral characteristics that attract organisms as pollinators.[7] They are considered parallels because they are both plant-animal interactions, which increase the reproductive success of a plant. However, seed dispersal syndromes are more common in gymnosperms, while pollination syndromes are found in angiosperms.[5]
Seeds disperse to increase the reproductive success of the plant. The farther away a seed is from a parent, the better its chances of survival and germination. Therefore, a plant should select certain traits to increase dispersal by a vector (i.e. bird) to increase the reproductive success of the plant.
^ abClobert, J., Le Galliard, J.F., Cote, J., Meylan, S. & Massot, M. (2009). Informed dispersal, heterogeneity in animal dispersal syndromes and the dynamics of spatially structured populations. Ecology Letters, 12, 197–209.
^ abGriz, L.M.S. & Machado, I.C.S. (2001). Fruiting phenology and seed dispersal syndromes in caatinga, a tropical dry forest in the northeast of Brazil. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 17, 303–321.
^Link, A. & Stevenson, P.R. (2004). Fruit dispersal syndromes in animal disseminated plants at Tinigua National Park, Colombia. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, 77, 319–334.
^ abTamboia, T., Cipollini, M.L. & Levey, D.J. (1996). An Evaluation of Vertebrates Seed Dispersal Syndromes in Four Species of Black Nightshade. Oecologia, 107(4), 522–532.
^ abcHerrera, C. M. & Pellmyr, O. (2002).Plant Animal Interactions: An Evolutionary Approach. USA: Blackwell Science Ltd
^Booth, D. T. (1990). Plant diaspore functions. Journal of Seed Technology, 14(1), 61–73.
^Fenster, C. B., Armbruster, W. S., Wilson, P., Dudash, M. R. & Thomson, J. D. (2004). Pollination Syndromes and Floral Specialization. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 35, 375–403.
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Seeddispersalsyndromes are morphological characters of seeds correlated to particular seeddispersal agents. Dispersal is the event by which individuals...
In spermatophyte plants, seeddispersal is the movement, spread or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and rely...
behavioral syndromes, as well as pollination syndromes and seeddispersalsyndromes.[citation needed] In orbital mechanics and astronomy, Kessler syndrome refers...
Martin took the lead on proposing a distinct seeddispersalsyndrome: the "megafaunal dispersalsyndrome" by comparing the maladapted neotropical fruits...
Levey, Douglas J. (September 1996). "An evaluation of vertebrate seeddispersalsyndromes in four species of black nightshade (Solanum sect. Solanum)". Oecologia...
such as seeds and spores. Technically, dispersal is defined as any movement that has the potential to lead to gene flow. The act of dispersal involves...
phylogenetics of Dipsacaceae reveals [sic] parallel trends in seeddispersalsyndromes. — Pl. Syst. Evol. 246: 163–175. Avino M., Tortoriello G. & Caputo...
activity is important for the dispersal of seeds of Corymbia torelliana, including the unusual seeddispersalsyndrome of mellitochory. Plant resins are...
some of the syndrome traits are themselves phenotypic. Rapid growth Efficient use of nutrients Seed dormancy Effective seeddispersal, often more aggressive...
Seeds exhibit insular gigantism, becoming predominantly larger than mainland seeds, which is thought to improve mortality at sea during dispersal. The...
coevolved with large mammals serving as long-distance seed dispersers. The megafaunal dispersalsyndrome is a common feature of some plants native to the Western...
the plume of seeds to close up and reduce the chance to separate from the stem, waiting for optimal conditions that will maximize dispersal and germination...
experienced "domestication syndrome" leading to several morphological and phytochemical changes leading to increased fruit and or seed size, changes in reproductive...
phylogenetics of Dipsacaceae reveals [sic] parallel trends in seeddispersalsyndromes". Pl. Syst. Evol. 246: 163–175. Avino, M.; Tortoriello, G.; Caputo...
Zamiaceae. The seeds have an orange red sarcotesta which attracts fauna consumption, allowing a mutualistic seeddispersal for the cycad. These seeds are also...
evolutionary anachronism—that is, a fruit coevolved with a large animal seeddispersal partner that is now extinct. This hypothesis is controversial. Maclura...
(2019). "Overlooked Parrot SeedDispersal in Australia and South America: Insights on the Evolution of DispersalSyndromes and Seed Size in Araucaria Trees"...
resulted in a reflectivity similar to the base colour of the tepal. Pollen dispersal was simulated using the application of dye powder. The result was that...
and dispersal of Gerridae. The existence of wing polymorphism in a given species can be explained as a particular case oogenesis-flight syndrome. Following...
linear seed capsule splits from the apex and curls open. It bears many minute brown seeds, about 300 to 400 per capsule and 80,000 per plant. The seeds have...
regarded as an evolutionary anachronism, having likely coevolved dispersal of its large seed by now-extinct megafauna in South America, notably giant ground...
bearing hermaphrodite flowers. The seeds are 4–5 mm long, with a feathery pappus which assists in wind dispersal. One to 5 flower heads occur per branch...
effectiveness of seeddispersal by bonobos are present. Behavior of the bonobo could affect the population structure of plants whose seeds they disperse...
bees (see pollination syndrome). Regarding seeddispersal it is considered a barochore. According to a Mongolian study, its seeds are exclusively dispersed...
caused a disturbance in early plant regeneration processes such as seeddispersal and pollination. Early processes of plant regeneration greatly depend...
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