25. Seed Dispersal

This is a picture of a pine cone in water. This picture demonstrates seed dispersal. Seed dispersal is the movement of seeds from the parent plant. Because plants have a limited ability to move, they rely on abiotic (non-living) and biotic vectors. These vectors (carriers) are, but are not limited to, water, wind, animals (bees, butterflies, the feces in larger animals), and fungi. In the picture, the pinecone fell from a tree (I am standing underneath it) and the pinecone landed in the water, where the seeds can become dispersed through the movement of water to limit competition from other pinecones.