How does seed dispersal take place

Dormant seeds can wait months, years, or even decades for the proper conditions for germination and propagation of the species. Improve this page Learn More. Skip to main content. Module 9: Plant Reproduction. Search for:. Try It. Other plants have exploding seed pods that fling seeds into the air.

There are seeds that become attached to animal fur and get carried away. Many seeds are contained inside tasty fruits, including nuts and berries. These get eaten by hungry birds and other small animals.

Some water plants, such as lotuses and lilies, let their seeds fall on the water and float away. Add to collection. Nature of science Science is an attempt to explain the natural world. Go to full glossary Add 0 items to collection. Download 0 items. Twitter Pinterest Facebook Instagram. Email Us. See our newsletters here. Would you like to take a short survey? This survey will open in a new tab and you can fill it out after your visit to the site. Yes No. Sign in.

Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Key concepts Biology Plants Evolution Aerodynamics Introduction Have you ever looked outside on a windy day and seen "helicopter" seeds spinning through the air? Materials Examples of different seeds that are dispersed by the wind Depending on where you live, you may be able to find some of these seeds outside. If you have access to the Internet, you can also do a Web search for maple seeds, dandelion seeds and other types of wind-dispersed seeds to help get ideas.

Small, uniform, lightweight objects that you can use as "seeds" For example, you could use small paper clips or small binder clips; or purchase a bag of real seeds—such as sunflower seeds—at the supermarket. Craft supplies to build dispersal mechanisms for your seeds These could be as simple as paper and tape or you could also use things such as streamers, cotton balls or even items you find outside, such as blades of grass.

Scissors, tape and glue for cutting and attaching your craft supplies to your seeds Be careful when using scissors. A window fan or large box fan Use with caution and appropriate supervision. Stopwatch or timer optional Measuring tape or ruler optional Preparation Clear an open area in the room where you will do the seed-testing activity.

Place the fan on a table or chair, aimed across the room. You can also do the experiment outside on a windy day. Procedure Design and build several—at least four—dispersal mechanisms for your seeds. The activity works best if you can create at least two similar dispersal mechanisms to test against one another see examples below. You can use your imagination and come up with your own ideas but here are a few to get you started using a paper clip as an example "seed" : Attach a paper clip to a small, square piece of paper, about the size of a Sticky Note, without making any changes to the paper.