Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora

Edit Answers
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
Across
  1. 5. An animal that primarily eats fruits.
  2. 8. 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.
  3. 10. The study of the timing of seasonal biological events, such as flowering and fruiting, which are crucial for understanding seed dispersal patterns.
  4. 13. A flowering plant genus, both native and exotic species found in NZ, dispersed by ants, name also similar to a musical instrument.
  5. 15. The ability of a seed to sprout and grow into a new plant.
  6. 17. Related to or characteristic of birds.
  7. 18. A native New Zealand bird known for its complex song and role in pollination and seed dispersal.
  8. 19. The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
  9. 22. A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
  10. 23. Seed dispersal by reptiles, significant in New Zealand ecosystems.
  11. 25. The process by which two or more species influence each other’s evolution, as seen between birds and the plants they disperse.
  12. 26. A specialized muscular stomach found in some birds, including moa, that grinds up food, often with the help of ingested stones.
  13. 27. Fossilised faeces of animals, used to study the diets and seed dispersal habits of ancient animals.
  14. 28. The process by which seeds are spread from the parent plant to new locations.
  15. 30. Plants that partially rely on a host for water and nutrients but can also photosynthesize.
  16. 32. A high-altitude vegetation zone below the permanent snow cap, characterized by cold temperatures and specialized plant species.
  17. 33. Seed dispersal method where seeds are ingested and later defecated by animals.
  18. 34. Species native to a specific region, not found naturally elsewhere.
Down
  1. 1. A sticky substance found in some fruits, aiding in seed attachment to birds.
  2. 2. The spitting up of food from the oesophagus or stomach without nausea or forceful contractions of the abdominal muscles.
  3. 3. The process by which pollen is transferred from one flower to another.
  4. 4. The outer layer of a fruit, often eaten by birds.
  5. 6. The upper layer of vegetation in a forest, which can influence light availability for seedlings.
  6. 7. The process by which a seed begins to develop into a new plant.
  7. 9. A medium-sized yellowish-green honeyeater that also plays a role in dispersing seeds in New Zealand forests.
  8. 11. 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.
  9. 12. A parasitic plant from the family Loranthaceae, often dispersed by birds, commonly found in New Zealand.
  10. 14. The natural environment in which a plant or animal lives.
  11. 16. A large, native New Zealand pigeon known for dispersing large seeds.
  12. 20. The dispersal of seeds by birds, a key process in the spread of many plant species in ecosystems like those in New Zealand.
  13. 21. Very early stage of a plant that grows from a seed.
  14. 23. The process by which seeds are prepared for germination after passing through an animal’s digestive tract.
  15. 24. The plant on which a parasitic plant, depends for nutrients.
  16. 29. A small bird with a distinctive white ring around its eye.
  17. 31. The act of eating fungi (another word for Fungivory), associated with fungal spore dispersal.