pine cone seed dispersal?

Question

I dont get how animals can be used as a way of seed dispersal. PLZ PLZ PLZ explain it to me.

I get how seed dispersal is thru wind but do animals eat the pine cones....or it gets stuck on its fur???

Answer 1

First click on the blue link below to see a Pine cone-

1) http://lovett-pinetum.org/pinecones%5B1%5D_files/diggercone.jpe

In the above photo which is an aerial view of a pine cone , there are a number of woody bracts.
Each bracts holds TWO SEEDS on its upper surface.

Each seed has a distinct WING . It is much larger , thin and paper like.

Now click on the links below to see the seeds only



1)http://www.target.k12.mt.us/20002001/fires/pattee23/Mvc-019s.jpg

2) http://www.atl.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/seedcentre/images/18.jpg


In the first photo the part nearest to the human finger is the seed proper and the rest is the wing.

In the second photo two seeds are with out wings ( removed) and the other three are with wings.

Conclusion- As the pine cone ripens the seeds get deteched and are carried away by the wind due to the parachute mechanism of the wings on the seeds.

Edit-- Pine seeds are edible and birds as well as animals including man eats them; but then these are completely digested like we digest peas and beans. So it cannot be a way of SEED DISPERSAL.
YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT SEED DISPERSAL ONLY.

Answer 2

OR animals can carry the pine nuts off and bury them, which is what I suspect happens. A lot of plants with larger seeds depend on this type of dispersal mechanism. Fortunately for the plants, squirrels, rodents, etc, tend to bury seeds in caches for the winter and then not find the seeds again. Off the top of my head, I know this also happens with acorn, walnuts, lots of larger seeds.