Directed vertebrate‐mediated seed dispersal of a fleshy‐fruited amaryllid in a heterogenous habitat

Most plants with fleshy fruits have seeds that are ingested by animals, but a less well-understood mode of seed dispersal involves containing discarded frugivorous animals because they too large or toxic to be ingested. We studied the biology Haemanthus deformis, an amaryllid lily species found in mosaic bush clumps grassland matrix South Africa. asked whether is directed and among germination survival greater for dispersed than those into grassland. Using camera trapping, we consumed mainly birds rodents. The pulp was removed from which were then without ingestion. While many close parent plant, most (c. 78.5%) further 1 m away plant. Longer distance resulted flying off their bill rodents engaging scatter-hoarding behavior. Seedling successful within as compared grasslands shade identified primary requirement seedling survival. Seeds fruit had been germinated faster intact fruits. deformis deploys system dispersal, whereby both contribute patchy favorable