Premium
Mopane diaspores are not dispersed by epizoochory
Author(s) -
STYLES C. V.,
SKINNER J. D.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1997.099-89099.x
Subject(s) - diaspore (botany) , biological dispersal , seed dispersal , biology , botany , population , demography , sociology
The mode of dispersal of the diaspores of Colophospermum mopane has always been ascribed to epizoochory due the slightly sticky nature of mopane diaspores. The stickiness results from the plentiful supply of resinous compounds in developing structures on a mopane plant. Epizoochory as the mode of dispersal for both seeds which had the pod removed and diaspores of C. mopane is disproved, and experimentation shows the most likely agents of dispersal of mopane diaspores to be water and wind.