(4) Ways in which seeds are dispersed - adaptations to help propagate the next generation

In order for the plant species to continue the seeds must be scattered and spread by one means or another to avoid over competition from each other for the same nutrient resources.

(i) Animal dispersal

Animals can spread seeds in several different ways.

Fruits are a source of food to animals and after consumption the seeds are scattered in the dropped animal faeces some distance from the plant of origin.

The fruit, containing the seed, can stick to an animals coat and be carried away before falling off at some distant location. Some fruit have barbed points that make them stick on the animals coat.

(ii) Wind dispersal

Seeds are small lightweight objects are readily made airborne and carried away by the wind, to eventually settle some distance from the 'mother' plant.

Good examples are dandelions and sycamore seed bearing fruits.

(iii) Explosive dispersal

Some seed pods dry out and then the seeds inside are flung out in a mini explosion e.g. peas from a seed pod.

(iv) Drop and roll dispersal

If the fruit is round and smooth, after falling from the plant, it will roll away from the mother plant.

The conker fruits from the horse chestnut trees is a good example.

---

WHAT NEXT?

TOP OF PAGE

INDEX of biology notes on flowering plants

INDEX of all my BIOLOGY NOTES

BIG website, try using the [SEARCH BOX], maybe quicker than the many indexes!

UK KS3 Science Quizzes for KS3 science students aged ~11-14, ~US grades 6, 7 and 8

Biology * Chemistry * Physics UK GCSE/IGCSE students age ~14-16, ~US grades 9-10

Advanced Level Chemistry for pre-university ~16-18 ~US grades 11-12, K12 Honors

Find your GCSE/IGCSE science course for more help links to all science revision notes

email doc brown - comments - query?

Use your mobile phone or ipad etc. in 'landscape' mode?

Website content © Dr Phil Brown 2000+. All copyrights reserved on revision notes, images, quizzes, worksheets etc. Copying of website material is NOT permitted. Exam revision summaries & references to science course specifications are unofficial.