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Predicting the terminal velocity of dipterocarp fruit
Author(s) -
Smith James R.,
Bagchi Robert,
Kettle Chris J.,
Maycock Colin,
Khoo Eyen,
Ghazoul Jaboury
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/btp.12316
Subject(s) - dipterocarpaceae , biological dispersal , seed dispersal , habitat , terminal (telecommunication) , ecology , terminal velocity , biology , atmospheric sciences , geography , environmental science , forestry , geology , physics , population , telecommunications , demography , sociology , computer science , thermodynamics
We measured the terminal velocity of helicopter‐like fruit from the Dipterocarpaceae family and present a model predicting the terminal velocities for all dipterocarp species in the Malesiana region. A ballistic model of seed dispersal using the observed terminal velocities predicted dispersal distances of 17–77 m under normal atmospheric conditions. These data are of applied use in parametizing models of species coexistence, forest regeneration and habitat connectivity in Southeast Asian tropical forests.