Scatter-hoarding birds disperse seeds to sites unfavorable for plant regeneration.

ABSTRACT: Scatter-hoarding birds provide effective long-distance seed dispersal for plants. Transporting seeds far promotes population spread, colonization of new areas, and connectivity between populations. However, whether seeds transported over long distances are deposited in habitats favorable to plant regeneration has rarely been investigated, mainly due to methodological constraints. To investigate dispersal patterns and distances of Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra) seeds we utilized advances in tracking technology to track the movements of their sole disperser, the spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes). We found routine individual movements between single seed harvesting and seed caching site. Harvesting sites of individual birds overlapped, whereas seed caching sites were separated and

SUBMITTER: Sorensen MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9482738 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature