Seed & Fruit Dispersal (Cambridge O Level Biology)

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Seed & Fruit Dispersal

  • Fruit and seed dispersal is required in order to distribute seeds away from the parent plant; this prevents overcrowding and reduces competition between offspring and the parent plant
    • It may also serve as a way to colonise new habitats 
  • Methods of fruit and seed dispersal include:
    • Wind 
      • Parachute- or wing-shaped, lightweight fruits and seeds have a large surface area which will ensure that it is easily transported by air currents

Adaptations for wind dispersal diagram

Adaptations for wind-dispersal

Certain fruits and seeds are adapted to be transported by wind

    • Animals
      • Fleshy fruit that is often brightly coloured is eaten by animals
        • The seeds will pass through the alimentary canal and leave the body in the faeces 
      • Sticky or hooked seeds catch on to the fur or feathers of passing animals

Adaptations for animal dispersal diagram

Adaptations for animal-dispersal

Fruits and seeds of certain species have adaptations that allow them to be dispersed by animals

  • Seed dispersal can often be confused with pollination
    • Pollination is the transfer of pollen from anther to stigma, while seed dispersal is the distribution of mature seeds; both processes can involve wind or animals

Examiner Tip

Make sure that you can relate the features of wind- and animal dispersed fruits and seeds to the method by which they are dispersed away from the parent plant.

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Marlene

Author: Marlene

Expertise: Biology

Marlene graduated from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, in 2002 with a degree in Biodiversity and Ecology. After completing a PGCE (Postgraduate certificate in education) in 2003 she taught high school Biology for over 10 years at various schools across South Africa before returning to Stellenbosch University in 2014 to obtain an Honours degree in Biological Sciences. With over 16 years of teaching experience, of which the past 3 years were spent teaching IGCSE and A level Biology, Marlene is passionate about Biology and making it more approachable to her students.