Seed dispersal by frugivorous animals in New Zealand

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Across
  1. 4. The phenomenon where trees produce large quantities of seeds or fruits in synchronized cycles, often leading to increased seed dispersal by animals during these peak years.
  2. 7. The process by which seeds are prepared for germination after passing through an animal’s digestive tract.
  3. 12. The plant on which a parasitic plant, depends for nutrients.
  4. 15. A parasitic plant from the family Loranthaceae, often dispersed by birds, commonly found in New Zealand.
  5. 17. Plants that partially rely on a host for water and nutrients but can also photosynthesize.
  6. 19. The process by which a seed begins to develop into a new plant.
  7. 21. The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
  8. 22. The outer layer of a fruit, often eaten by birds.
  9. 25. Related to or characteristic of birds.
  10. 26. A young plant that grows from a seed.
  11. 28. A high-altitude vegetation zone below the permanent snow cap, characterized by cold temperatures and specialized plant species.
  12. 29. The spitting up of food from the oesophagus or stomach without nausea or forceful contractions of the abdominal muscles.
  13. 30. A large, native New Zealand pigeon known for dispersing large seeds.
  14. 31. A native New Zealand bird known for its complex song and role in pollination and seed dispersal.
  15. 32. The act of eating fungi (another word for Fungivory), associated with fungal spore dispersal.
  16. 34. The dispersal of seeds by birds, a key process in the spread of many plant species in ecosystems like those in New Zealand.
Down
  1. 1. The process by which two or more species influence each other’s evolution, as seen between birds and the plants they disperse.
  2. 2. A sticky substance found in some fruits, aiding in seed attachment to birds.
  3. 3. The upper layer of vegetation in a forest, which can influence light availability for seedlings.
  4. 5. The process by which seeds are spread from the parent plant to new locations.
  5. 6. A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
  6. 8. An animal that primarily eats fruits.
  7. 9. The process by which pollen is transferred from one flower to another, often facilitated by animals.
  8. 10. A small bird with a distinctive white ring around its eye, important for seed dispersal.
  9. 11. A specialized muscular stomach found in some birds, including moa, that grinds up food, often with the help of ingested stones.
  10. 13. The ability of a seed to sprout and grow into a new plant.
  11. 14. A medium-sized yellowish-green honeyeater that also plays a role in dispersing seeds in New Zealand forests.
  12. 16. Species native to a specific region, not found naturally elsewhere.
  13. 18. Seed dispersal method where seeds are ingested and later defecated by animals.
  14. 20. The study of the timing of seasonal biological events, such as flowering and fruiting, which are crucial for understanding seed dispersal patterns.
  15. 23. Seed dispersal by reptiles, significant in New Zealand ecosystems.
  16. 24. An adaptation in some plants where seeds are released in response to an environmental trigger, such as fire, rather than at maturity, ensuring regeneration in challenging conditions.
  17. 27. Fossilised faeces of animals, used to study the diets and seed dispersal habits of ancient animals.
  18. 33. The natural environment in which a plant or animal lives.