IJMEC_2025v15n4

International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.4, 175-186 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 1 77 indicate that successful long-distance wind propagation depends on seed release time, canopy structure and meteorological conditions. Among them, updraft and turbulence play a key role in lifting seeds above the canopy for long-distance transportation (Nathan et al., 2002; Snell et al., 2019; Kim et al., 2022). These adaptive characteristics enable plants to colonalize in new or disturbed habitats and play a core role in species expansion and ecosystem resilience (Nathan et al., 2002; Nathan et al., 2008; Kim et al., 2022). Water dispersal is very common in riverbank, wetland and coastal ecosystems, and its seeds are transported by streams, rivers or ocean currents. Seeds adapted to water propagation usually have floating structures, waterproof shells or inflatable structures, which enable the seeds to float and remain active during prolonged soaking (Nathan et al., 2008; Soons et al., 2017). This mechanism enables plants to take advantage of the dynamic aquatic environment, promoting gene flow and connectivity among populations, and even achieving diffusion in fragmented landscapes. Ocean currents can also drive long-distance transmission and contribute to the colonization of remote islands and coastal habitats (Nathan et al., 2008). In areas prone to flooding or seasonal flooding, water dispersal is particularly important because water body movement is the dominant ecological force (Nathan et al., 2008; Soons et al., 2017). Gravity propagation, also known as gravity-driven propagation, refers to the process where seeds fall from their mother plants by their own weight and roll to nearby areas. This mechanism is common in plants with large and heavy seeds or fruits. Terrain features such as slopes or uneven ground can further promote the movement of seeds (Soons et al., 2017). Although gravity propagation usually causes a limited propagation distance compared with wind propagation or water propagation, it still has important ecological significance in dense forests or steep terrains because seeds may aggregate in suitable microhabitats, which is conducive to germination and establishment (Soons et al., 2017). The spatial patterns produced by gravitational propagation often affect the local genetic structure and seedling renewal dynamics (Horn et al., 2001). 3.2 Biological transmission Biology helps plants spread seeds, which is not accidental, but the result of long-term interaction. It not only affects how populations expand in space, but is also closely related to whether genetic diversity can be maintained and whether ecosystems can be restored. The ways of transmission are not singular, they may involve animals or humans, and each method will leave its own distinct imprint at the ecological level. Take Epizoochory as an example, which is quite intuitive. The seeds do not enter the animal's digestive system, but choose another path - hanging tightly on the hair, feathers, or skin. Some plants have even evolved special structures for this, such as hooks or sticky shells, which make it easier to "hitchhike" and even achieve long-distance diffusion (Zhang and Wang, 2023). This approach is particularly prominent in fragmented or highly differentiated environments, as animal movements often cross isolation zones, connecting dispersed plants and promoting gene flow and population exchange (Cruzan and Hendrickson, 2020). Endozoochory refers to the internal transmission achieved by animals through feeding, especially in fruit-eating animals. The seeds are ingested along with the fleshy fruits and excreted with feces at a distance from the mother plant. After passing through the digestive tract, the germination rate of seeds is often increased due to the erosion of the seed coat or the removal of the inhibitory pulp. For example, in the spread among primates, the germination speed and success rate of seeds of many tropical plants have significantly increased (Fuzessy et al., 2016; Nevo et al., 2023). Large vertebrates, including mammals and birds, are important vectors of long-distance transmission and play a crucial role in forest regeneration, population connectivity and the maintenance of plant diversity (Nathan et al., 2008; Fuzessy et al., 2016; Tol et al., 2017). However, the loss of these spreaders due to deanimalization or habitat change may disrupt plant regeneration and alter community structure (Beckman and Rogers, 2013; Donoso et al., 2022). Among the various ways of seed dispersal, Myrmecocorry is often mentioned. The reason is not difficult to understand: many plant seeds have elaiosomes on their surface, which are small structures rich in nutrients that can attract ants. Ants carry seeds back to their nest, gnaw off oily bodies, and usually throw the seeds around the

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