From passive to informed: mechanical mechanisms of seed dispersal

Abstract

SummaryPlant dispersal mechanisms rely on anatomical and morphological adaptations for the use of physical or biological dispersal vectors. Recently, studies of interactions between the dispersal unit and physical environment have uncovered fluid dynamic mechanisms of seed flight, protective measures against fire, and release mechanisms of explosive dispersers. Although environmental conditions generally dictate dispersal distances, plants are not purely passive players in these processes. Evidence suggests that some plants may enact informed dispersal, where dispersal‐related traits are modified according to the environment. This can occur via developmental regulation, but also on shorter timescales via structural remodelling in relation to water availability and temperature. Linking interactions between dispersal mechanisms and environmental conditions will be essential to fully understand population dynamics and distributions.

Between a rock and a hard place: adaptive sensing and site‐specific dispersal

“…For this reason, it is crucial to sense the condition of the local environment to determine if the risk of entering a potentially worse sub‐habitat is worth taking the chance. Adding the interactions between dispersal mechanisms and environmental conditions into models, such as the one presented in this paper, gives a fuller, more in‐depth understanding into population dynamics and the consequences of the environment on dispersal (Seale & Nakayama, 2019).…”

“…This is because plants have been widely regarded as passive organisms to those outside of plant sciences. However, it has been recognised that plants are able to undergo site‐specific dispersal and can manipulate the dispersal phenotypes of their offspring in response to their environment (Seale & Nakayama, 2019). With little knowledge on how plasticity or lack thereof will affect plant populations in the wake of environmental unpredictability, this could put many species at risk.…”

“…But when sub‐habitats are of more or less equal quality, yet differ in variability, what dispersal strategies will evolve? Will dispersal be adaptive, and if so, will the dispersal rates be sub‐habitat specific (Seale & Nakayama, 2019)?…”

“…arabicum exhibits fruit and seed dispersal dimorphism and is able to undergo site‐specific dispersal between sub‐habitats of similar quality but different variability, by sensing its location through temperature (Fig. 1) (Lenser et al, 2016; Mohammadin et al, 2017; Arshad et al, 2019; Seale & Nakayama, 2019).…”

Naomi Nakayama

“…Browsing through them I get excited by all sorts of interesting topics, even those quite far from those that I work on myself, because they are big picture‐oriented and wide perspective. For the exact same reasons, it was fun to pen one (Seale & Nakayama, 2020). Recently, the reviews about horizontal gene transfer in plants (Wickell & Li, 2020) and high evolvability in angiosperms (Onstein, 2019) got me thinking.…”