Seed Dispersal Mechanisms and Strategies

Meredith CUNY, a student at Cornell University, discusses the importance of seed dispersal in forest regeneration. She explains various seed dispersal methods, including wind, animal, hitchhiking, and fire dispersal, highlighting how each strategy is adapted to specific environments. The video emphasizes the role of environmental factors in determining the most effective dispersal method for different plant species.

What is the primary purpose of seed dispersal?

• To make seeds more attractive to animals

• To ensure seeds remain close to the parent tree

• To allow seeds to find new locations with adequate resources

• To prevent seeds from growing

Which of the following is an example of a wind-dispersed seed?

• Acorn

• Milkweed

• Chestnut

• Apple

How do fruits aid in animal dispersal of seeds?

• By being lightweight and carried by the wind

• By being bright and nutritious, attracting animals to eat them

• By being resistant to fire

• By sticking to animal fur

What is the term for when animals like squirrels bury seeds, sometimes forgetting them?

• Caching

• Hitchhiking

• Masting

• Germination

What is the main trade-off for plants using animal dispersal?

• They can produce many seeds with little effort

• They must invest significant energy into producing attractive fruits

• They rely on fire to clear competition

• They depend on wind to carry seeds long distances

What is a unique feature of hitchhiking seeds?

• They are carried by water

• They are dispersed by fire

• They have hooks or sticky surfaces to attach to animals

• They are edible and attract animals

How do fire-dispersed seeds take advantage of their environment?

• They rely on animals to spread them

• They wait for fires to clear competition before germinating

• They are carried by the wind

• They grow in nutrient-poor soil

Why might wind dispersal be less effective in tropical forests?

• The trees are too sparse

• The wind is too strong

• The dense vegetation blocks the wind

• The seeds are too heavy

Which dispersal strategy is most common in spacious forests like those in New York?

• Fire dispersal

• Wind dispersal

• Animal dispersal

• Water dispersal

What is the key factor that determines the best seed dispersal strategy for a plant?

• The plant's color

• The environment in which the plant grows

• The plant's age

• The plant's size