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Frugivory and seed dispersal: ecological and evolutionary aspects pp 3–13Cite as

Specialized and generalized dispersal systems: where does ‘the paradigm’ stand?

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Part of the book series: Advances in vegetation science ((AIVS,volume 15))

Abstract

I explore the ‘specialization’ versus ‘generalization’ paradigm in frugivory and seed dispersal. This view predicts that some tropical trees produce nutritious fruits adapted for use by a small coterie of specialized frugivores that provide reliable seed dissemination. Other tree species are expected to offer superabundant fruits of lower nutritional reward, relying instead on common opportunistic frugivores that are individually less reliable, but collectively disperse seeds effectively. Though widely referenced, many aspects of ‘the paradigm’ are untested with tropical trees and avian frugivores, primarily because plant ecologists rarely determine whether ‘specialist’ or ‘generalist’ foragers are responsible for different patterns of seed distribution, while students of foraging behavior rarely determine the effects seed dispersal by different animals for survival of seeds or seedlings of ‘specialist’ or ‘generalist’ trees.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Sciences (M/C 066), University of Illinois at Chicago, Box 4348, Chicago, IL, 60680, USA

    Henry F. Howe

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  1. Henry F. Howe
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T. H. Fleming A. Estrada

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Howe, H.F. (1993). Specialized and generalized dispersal systems: where does ‘the paradigm’ stand?. In: Fleming, T.H., Estrada, A. (eds) Frugivory and seed dispersal: ecological and evolutionary aspects. Advances in vegetation science, vol 15. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1749-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1749-4_1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4767-8

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