Germination of Temperate Grassland Species After Passage through Ungulate and Rabbit Guts

Endozoochorous seeds are dispersed through uptake by an herbivore and passage through the digestive system. The survival rate of seeds was examined in a study of 19 plant species common to temperate semi-natural grasslands, and typically consumed by five species (two ruminants, two colon fermenters, and a caecum fermenter). Germination success was lowest for gut-passed seeds (0-26%) compared with those sown on dung (2-79%) or soil (7-89%). Germination differed according to seed type and animal species, as a result of complex interactions between seed and host characteristics. Germination success was, however, related to seed longevity, mass, and shape. Long-distance dispersal was facilitated by retention times of up to 72 hours.