Question

Name at least three factors in a plant’s environment that aid in fruit dispersal. Please think beyond fruits consumed by humans.

Answer 1

There are many inbuilt mechanisms in plants to disperse its fruits with the help of various agents wind, water, and animals including human beings. Some modifications in the structure and size that helps in their dispersal. This dispersal may be controlled by various environmental factors also such as humidity, temperature, sunlight, wind etc. There are many fruits that are dispersed by wind blowing will have some specific features like light weight nature of the fruits, winged or hairy nature of the fruits etc. Eg. Pine, Maple, Dandelion etc.

Fruits that are dispersed by water will also may be light and buoyant due to air filled space inside as in the case of coconut or fruits of many mangrove.

Many fruits will be eaten by animals or birds and their seeds may be excreted undigested through their droppings. Some animals like bats will eat the fleshy part of the fruits and discard the remaining part which contains the seeds. Some animals like squirrels bury fruits containing seeds for future use but if they couldn't find it out later, the seeds may germinate. Some fruits like cocklebur may have hooks on their surface or sticky nature which will also help in sticking them on to the feather of birds or fur of animals. When they clean their body, the fruits may fall down and thus dispersed.