What are the four major methods of seed dispersal? Then for each, describe the adaptations evolved by plant?

Question

What are the four major methods of seed dispersal? Then for each, describe the adaptations evolved by plant?

Answer 1

Anemochory - wind dispersal - plants like members of Family Asteraceae have structures that made their seeds easily blown by wind. That structure is called pappus. That is the bristle wing like structure of the seed-fruit.

Hydrochory - water dispersal - this is like on what Alexandrian Laurel that has cork-like fruit that can float on water. Most of the magrove species dispersed by this means.

Zoochory - animal dispersal - this can be epizoochory or endozoochory. In epizoochory the seed is carried by animals accidentally on their body because the seed/fruit of the plants has structures that made them adhesive on animal skin/fur just like the Amorseco. In endozoochory the plant has very attractive fruit that can be eaten by the animal. The seed will be also consumed by the animal but not digestable. This is like with the dispersal of Kaong seeds by the Civet cat.

Mechanical Dispersal - dispersal caused by dehiscence of fruit. The fruit is usually pressurized and when ripe will explode. A good example is the fruit of Cannon ball tree.

Answer 2

Wind: Dandelions- seeds carry great distances - the seeds need to be adapted to be very small and light and usually with a wing or parachute

Animal: Two ways- Eaten (berries and fruit) or Carried (burrs) excellent distribution - the seeds need to be able to deal with a digestion tract (some actually need it to germinate) or be sticky to get carried

Water: Coconuts - float to the next land mass and populate

Projectile: The plant is actually able to shoot the seeds far enough away by itself (a type of mistletoe does this)