Abstract
Dispersal of ornithochorous seeds from isolated forests in the phosphate mining region of central Florida, U.S.A., were studied for two seasons (July to November) to determine patterns of dispersal. Three separate studies included (1) dispersal directly from forest edges to early successional herbs; (2) standardized perches (2 m high post with a crossbeam); and (3) snags (dead trees, 11.3±2.8 m high, 21.4±23.3 stem branches). Perch availability was more important than distance in predicting seed types and quantities of bird-dispersed seeds. The greatest concentration of bird-dispersed seeds were found under standard perches (255±249 seeds/m2/fall) followed by snags (147±85 seeds/m2/fall) and early successional vegetation (3.0±4.1 seeds/m2/fall). Seed quantities dispersed to snags were positively correlated with the number of stem branches on snags. Seeds beneath standard perches were significantly lighter and less diverse than those found beneath snags. This difference is attributed to the larger percentage of forest or later successional species found beneath snags (73%) as compared to the standard perches (15%). Perches and vegetative structural development should facilitate ecological succession by increasing the quantity, quality and diversity of seed deposition.
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McClanahan, T.R., Wolfe, R.W. Dispersal of ornithochorous seeds from forest edges in central Florida. Vegetatio 71, 107–112 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044824
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044824