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