Present address: School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
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Estimating adhesive seed-dispersal distances: field experiments and correlated random walks
Article first published online: 15 JUL 2005
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.00992.x
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How to Cite
MOUISSIE, A. M., LENGKEEK, W. and VAN DIGGELEN, R. (2005), Estimating adhesive seed-dispersal distances: field experiments and correlated random walks. Functional Ecology, 19: 478–486. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.00992.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 15 JUL 2005
- Article first published online: 15 JUL 2005
- Received 22 November 2004; revised 4 March 2005; accepted 7 March 2005
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Keywords:
- epizoochory;
- large herbivores;
- long-distance dispersal
Summary
- 1In this study we aimed to estimate distance distributions of adhesively dispersed seeds and the factors that determine them.
- 2Seed attachment and detachment were studied using field experiments with a real sheep, a sheep dummy and a cattle dummy. Seed-retention data were used in correlated random walk models to simulate adhesive seed dispersal.
- 3Seed attachment to the sheep dummy was larger in quantity and in number of species, and stronger in relation to seed density in the vegetation, than was seed attachment to the cattle dummy. Species found on the real sheep were also found on the sheep dummy.
- 4Detachment from sheep wool differed little between smooth, bristly, small or large seeds, but smooth seeds detached from cattle fur within a few metres. Seeds applied within reach of vegetation detached sooner than seeds applied higher on the dummy.
- 5The simulations showed that sheep are long-distance seed-dispersal vectors for seeds of any morphology (99 percentile distance, 2·9 km). The virtual cattle and Fallow Deer dispersed bristly and hooked seeds over long distances (99 percentile distance, 435–840 m), but not smooth seeds. Wood Mouse simulations generated only short-distance dispersal (99 percentile distance, 12 m).