BIO330H5 Study Guide - Final Guide: Fagus Grandifolia, Germination, Tsuga Canadensis
Document Summary
Seed= reproductive unit; the only dispersal stage in many plants. For most plants, seeds are going to disperse. Seeds are a major mortality stage for plants. They produce a large # of seeds and very few actually germinate (very few survive) Wind-dispersed seeds: dry, fine, tends to have some wing structure. Seeds have to rely on a vector to move them from site to site. The main 2 vectors are wind-dispersal & animal-dispersal: tend to have some plume or wing. Common milkweed: seeds have plumes that help them remain in the air column. Paper birch: really broad wings on either side that help them get transported by wind currents. Animal dispersed seeds have to have some kind of reward 2 major kinds. They have some sort of food reward for animals. 1st major type of reward: fruit is the food item seed spreads as a by-product. Animals are dispersing the seeds as a result of ingestion of the fruit.