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Seed dispersal effectiveness revisited: a conceptual review
Author(s) -
Schupp Eugene W.,
Jordano Pedro,
Gómez José María
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03402.x
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , seed dispersal , context (archaeology) , ecology , seed dispersal syndrome , representation (politics) , disperser , relevance (law) , biology , mathematics , sociology , population , paleontology , demography , combinatorics , politics , political science , law
Summary Growth in seed dispersal studies has been fast‐paced since the seed disperser effectiveness (SDE) framework was developed 17 yr ago. Thus, the time is ripe to revisit the framework in light of accumulated new insight. Here, we first present an overview of the framework, how it has been applied, and what we know and do not know. We then introduce the SDE landscape as the two‐dimensional representation of the possible combinations of the quantity and the quality of dispersal and with elevational contours representing isoclines of SDE. We discuss the structure of disperser assemblages on such landscapes. Following this we discuss recent advances and ideas in seed dispersal in the context of their impacts on SDE. Finally, we highlight a number of emerging issues that provide insight into SDE. Overall, the SDE framework successfully captures the complexities of seed dispersal. We advocate an expanded use of the term dispersal encompassing the multiple recruitment stages from fruit to adult. While this entails difficulties in estimating SDE, it is a necessary expansion if we are to understand the central relevance of seed dispersal in plant ecology and evolution.ContentsSummary 333 I. Introduction 334 II. Caveats 335 III. What is an effective disperser? 335 IV. The SDE landscape and its quantitative and qualitative axes 336 V. How are disperser assemblages distributed on the SDE landscape? 340 VI. Composite seed shadows and SDE: are there advantages to being dispersed by multiple dispersal agents? 342 VII. The context dependence of SDE 344 VIII. ‘Distance‐dependent SDE’ 347 IX. Emerging issues 348 X. Conclusions 349Acknowledgements 349References 349