Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 19 April 1968:
Vol. 160. no. 3825, pp. 321 - 322
DOI: 10.1126/science.160.3825.321
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Long-Distance Dispersal of Seeds by Retention in Digestive Tract of Birds

Vernon W. Proctor 1

1 Department of Biology, Texas Technological College, Lubbock

Viable seeds of Celtis, Convolvulus, Malva, and Rhus were regurgitated from the digestive tract of kill-deer (Charadrius vociferus) after 160, 144, 152, and 340 hours, respectively; seeds were recovered in the same way, after long-time retention, from least sandpipers (Erolia minutilla). Most other birds do not retain seeds as long. There is evidence that seeds of many species can remain viable in the intestinal tract of some shorebirds long enough to be transported several thousand miles.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Ecology and Evolution of Flowering Plant Dominance.
P. J. Regal and P. J. Regal (1977)
Science 196, 622-629
   Abstract »    PDF »
Aquatic Weeds.
L. G. Holm, L. W. Weldon, and R. D. Blackburn (1969)
Science 166, 699-709
   PDF »
Galapagos Flora: Fernandina (Narborough) Caldera before Recent Volcanic Event.
P. A. Colinvaux, E. K. Schofield, and I. L. Wiggins (1968)
Science 162, 1144-1145
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)