Ground-dwelling Invertebrates Disperse Seeds of Hundreds of Plant Species, Study Shows

A comprehensive review conducted by scientists from the University of Hong Kong and collaborators in China, the United Kingdom and Japan has highlighted the extensive role of ground-dwelling invertebrates in seed dispersal. By examining 43 published studies, the team documented internal seed transport by at least 51 invertebrate species, affecting 186 different plant species across four continents. The mechanism, known as invertebrate endozoochory, involves animals swallowing whole seeds, which pass through their digestive tracts unharmed and are deposited in favorable sites such as leaf litter or soil.

This gut passage can scarify seed coats, improving water uptake and germination success. While the dispersal distances are shorter than those achieved by birds or mammals, the frequent, localized movements help reduce seedling competition and bolster forest recovery, especially as larger animal dispersers decline. The authors suggest that ecological restoration and biodiversity management should incorporate the contributions of these small but numerous organisms.