Faecal mimicry by seeds ensures dispersal by dung beetles

DOI
10.1038/nplants.2015.141
Publication Year
2015
Publication Site
Nature Plants
Journal Volume
1
Page Numbers
15141
Family
Scarabaeidae
Species 1 Binomial
General topic
Behaviour
Specific topic
biotic interactions
seed dispersal
seed dispersal
Author

Midgley, J J; White, J D M; Johnson, S D; Bronner, G N

Abstract Note

The large brown, round, strongly scented seeds of Ceratocaryum argenteum (Restionaceae) emit many volatiles found to be present in herbivore dung. These seeds attract dung beetles that roll and bury them. As the seeds are hard and offer no reward to the dung beetles, this is a remarkable example of deception in plant seed dispersal. © 2015, Nature Publishing Group. All rights reserved.