page_title: Dispersal vector
section_title: Mammaliochory
hierarchical_section_title: Dispersal vector / Animal dispersal / Mammaliochory
caption_attribution_description: Tamboti Camp, Kruger NP, SOUTH AFRICA
context_page_description: A dispersal vector is an agent of biological dispersal that moves a dispersal unit, or organism, away from its birth population to another location or population in which the individual will reproduce. These dispersal units can range from pollen to seeds to fungi to entire organisms.
  There are two types of dispersal vector, those that are active and those that are passive. Active dispersal involves organisms that are capable of movement under their own energy. In passive dispersal, the organisms have evolved dispersal units, or propagules, that use the kinetic energy of the environment for movement. In plants, some dispersal units have tissue that assists with dispersal and are called diaspores. Some dispersal is self-driven, such as using gravity, and does not rely on external vectors. Other types of dispersal are due to external vectors, which can be biotic vectors, such as animals, or abiotic vectors, such as the wind or water.
  In many cases, organisms will be dispersed by more than one vector before reaching its final destination.
context_section_description: Similarly to birds, dispersal by mammals allows for long distance dispersal, especially via carnivores. The act of carnivores eating primary dispersal vectors (herbivores) can lead to long distance dispersal and connection between different populations of the same species because of large predator ranges in comparison to smaller herbivore ranges. Mammals have been shown to act as dispersal vectors for seeds, spores, and parasites.
  Just as in ornithocory, ingestion by herbivores acts as a dispersal vector for seeds, and gut passage increases the rate of germination.
  Marsupials, primates, rodents, bats, and some species in the suborder Feliformia (Cape grey mongooses and Cape genets) have all been identified as pollinators. Non-flying mammals have been identified as acting as pollinators in Australia, Africa, South and Central America. Some plants may have traits that coevolved to utilize mammals as dispersal vectors, such as being extremely pungent in odor, nocturnal nectar production, and robust flowers that can handle rough feeders. The pollen of some plants can be found stuck to the fur of mammals as well as accidentally ingested when nectar is consumed.  
  Mammals contribute to bryophyte and fern spore dispersal by carrying spores on their fur. Small mammals acting as dispersal vectors may have advantages for the dispersing organism compared to wind transport, as the mammals share similar ecosystems to the parent plant, while wind transport is random. Additionally, mammals can transport spores that have qualities such as low production and non-wind adapted morphology that wouldn't be conducive for wind transport.
  Dik-dik, (Madoqua kirkii), Grant's gazelle (Gazella granti), and impala (Aepyceros melampus) become infected by gastrointestinal nematode parasites that lay on vegetation the antelope consume. Once infected, they disperse nematode parasites in their feces. Once consumed, the eggs are spread to a new area via the defecation of small mounds of dung.
caption: Cape Genets have been found to act as pollinators when they drink nectar from flowers.[7]
exif: {}