Abstract
Given the universal prevalence of plant modifications for dispersal, it is appropiate to ask what advantages do these traits provide. In this paper we propose that ecological phenomena that have selected for these ‘adaptations’ are operational at a local scale and argue that for a proper evaluation of dispersal, it is mandatory to explore the ecological consequences of this phenomenon, besides the dispersal event itself. Here we explore some of the consequences of dispersal, placing special emphasis on the role of post-dispersal seed predation — one of the major presumed advantages of dispersal. In this analysis we include a discussion of i) the hypothesis of escape from predation as a function of distance from propagule source, ii) the effects of several additional factors such as demographic events occurring at subsequent stages of the plant’s life cycle, and iii) the population dynamics of seeds after the dispersal event. An analysis of the possible qualitative and quantitative effects of pre-dispersal predation is also included.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Literature cited
Anaya, A.L. and M. Robalo. 1976. Alelopatía en plantas superiores: diferencias entre el efecto de la presión osmótica y los alelopáticos sobre la germinación y crecimiento de algunas especies de la vegetación secundaria de una zona cálidohúmeda de México. In: Regeneratión de Selvas (eds. A. Gómez-Pompa, C. Vázquez-Yanes, S. del Arno, A. Butanda, pp. 388–427. Editorial Continental, Mexico.
Augspurger, C. 1983a. Offspring recruitment around tropical trees: changes in cohort distance with time. Oikos 40: 189–196.
Augspurger, C. 1983b. Seed dispersal of the tropical tree, Platypodium elegans, and the escape of its seedlings from fungal pathogens. J. Ecol. 71: 759–771.
Carlquist, S. 1974. Island Biology. Columbia University Press, New York.
Clark, D. and D. Clark. 1984. Spacing dynamics of a tropical rain forest tree: Evaluation of the Janzen — Connell Model. Am. Nat. 124: 769–788.
Connell, J. 1971. On the role of natural enemies in preventing competitive exclusion in some marine animals and in rain forest trees. In: Dynamics of populations. (eds. den Boer, P.J. and Gradwell, G.R.), pp. 298–310. Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen.
Connell, J. 1979. Tropical rain forest and coral reefs as open non-equilibrium systems. In: Population Dynamics (eds. Anderson, R.; Turner, B. and Taylor, L.). Symp. Br. Ecol. Soc. London. pp. 141–163. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford.
De Steven, D. and F. Putz. 1984. Impact of mammals on early recruitment of a tropical canopy tree, Dipteryx panamensis, in Panama. Oikos 43: 207–216.
Dirzo, R. 1984. Herbivory: a phytocentric overview. In: Perspectives on Plant Population Ecology (eds. Dirzo, R. and J. Sarukhán), pp. 141–165. Sinauer, Sunderland, Mass.
Docters van Leeuwen, W. 1954. On the biology of some Loranthaceae and the role birds play in their life-history. Beaufortia 4: 105–208.
Gunn, Ch. and J. Dennis. 1976. World wide guide to tropical drift seeds and fruits. Demeter Press Book.
Harper, J.L. 1977. Population Biology of Plants, [pmAcademic Press. London.
Howe, H. 1980. Monkey dispersal and waste of a neotropical fruit. Ecology 61: 944–959.
Howe, H. and G. Van de Kerckhove. 1979. Fecundity and seed dispersal of a tropical tree. Ecology 60: 180–189.
Howe, H. and G. Van de Kerckhove. 1981. Removal of wild nutmeg (Virola surinamensis) crops by birds. Ecology 62: 1093–1106.
Howe, H. and W. Richter. 1982. Effects of seed size on seedling size in Virola surinamensis, a within and between tree analysis. Oecologia 53: 347–351.
Howe, H. and J. Smallwood. 1982. Ecology of seed dispersal. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 13: 201–228.
Howe, H., E. Schupp and L. Westley. 1985. Early consequences of seed dispersal for a neotropical tree (Virola surinamensis). Ecology 66: 781–791.
Janzen, D.H. 1970. Herbivores and the number of tree species in tropical forests. Am. Nat. 104: 501–528.
Janzen, D.H. 1976. Reduction of Mucuna andreana (Leguminosae) seedling fitness by artificial seed damage. Ecology 57: 826–828.
Janzen, D.H. 1983. Food webs: who eats what, why, how and with what effects in a tropical forest. In: Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystems, A Structure and Function (ed. F.B. Golley), pp. 167–182. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam.
Janzen, D.H., G. Miller, J. Hackforth-Jones, M. Pond, R. Hooper and D. Janos. 1976. Two Costa Rican bat generated seed shadows of Andira inermis (Leguminosae). Ecology 56: 1068–1075.
Stanton, M.L. 1984. Seed variation in wild radish: effect of seed size on components of seedling and adult fitness. Ecology 65: 1105–1112.
Vazquez-Yánes, C., A. Orozco, G. Francisco and L. Trejo. 1975. Observations on seed dispersal by bats in a tropical humid region in Veracruz, Mexico. Biotropica 7: 73–76.
Wolda, H. 1983. ‘Long-term’ stability of tropical insect populations. Res. Pop. Ecol. Suppl. 3: 112–126.
Wright, J.S. 1983. The dispersion of eggs by a bruchid beetle among Scheelea palm seeds and the effect of distance to the parent palm. Ecology 64: 1016–1021.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1986 Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dirzo, R., Domínguez, C.A. (1986). Seed shadows, seed predation and the advantages of dispersal. In: Estrada, A., Fleming, T.H. (eds) Frugivores and seed dispersal. Tasks for vegetation science, vol 15. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4812-9_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4812-9_22
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8633-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4812-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive