Seed Dispersal Ecology in Tropical Forest Ecosystems

Seed dispersal is fundamental to the structure and resilience of tropical forests, underpinning regeneration, gene flow and ecosystem function. In these ecosystems, more than two thirds of woody plant species rely on animals to transport seeds away from parent trees, shaping patterns of species richness and carbon storage. Dispersal processes unfold across multiple scales, from local seed shadows to long-distance journeys that facilitate range shifts in response to climate change. The interplay of frugivore behaviour, fruit traits and landscape configuration determines seed deposition and recruitment. Alterations to frugivore communities—through defaunation, habitat fragmentation or invasive species—can cascade through plant networks, reducing biodiversity and compromising reforestation and restoration efforts. Recent advances integrate mechanistic models, interaction networks and functional traits to inform conservation strategies that leverage animal-mediated dispersal for forest recovery and climate mitigation.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have quantified the role of frugivores in forest restoration and carbon dynamics. One investigation employing individual-based models across fragmentation gradients demonstrated that large birds disperse seeds of late-successional species with high carbon storage potential, yet their movements become severely restricted below a threshold of 40 per cent forest cover. Maintaining landscape connectivity thus emerges as a prerequisite for optimising biomass recovery. Another study on island ecosystems revealed that loss of native frugivores and subsequent plant–frugivore network rewiring often fails to restore seed dispersal function, as novel interactions with introduced species tend to result in seed predation rather than effective dispersal. Together, these findings underline the necessity of preserving functional frugivore assemblages and ensuring sufficient habitat continuity to sustain regeneration and carbon sequestration.

Seed Dispersal Ecology in Tropical Forest Ecosystems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in seed dispersal ecology in tropical forest ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Frugivore: An animal that consumes fruits and carries seeds to new locations.

Seed rain: The spatial pattern of seed deposition resulting from dispersal processes.

Seed dispersal syndrome: A set of fruit and seed characteristics adapted to particular dispersal vectors.

Fragmentation gradient: A measure of habitat continuity varying from intact forest to highly fragmented landscapes.

References

1. Novel plant–frugivore network on Mauritius is unlikely to compensate for the extinction of seed dispersers. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Frugivores enhance potential carbon recovery in fragmented landscapes. Nature Climate Change (2024).
3. Making dispersal syndromes and networks useful in tropical conservation and restoration. Global Ecology and Conservation (2016).
4. Moving from frugivory to seed dispersal: Incorporating the functional outcomes of interactions in plant–frugivore networks. Journal of Animal Ecology (2018).
5. Seed Dispersal Anachronisms: Rethinking the Fruits Extinct Megafauna Ate. PLOS ONE (2008).