endozoochory

Endozoochory is a method of seed dispersal where animals consume seeds or fruits, and these seeds are later passed through their digestive system and expelled in their feces. This process is crucial for plant reproduction and is believed to have played a significant role in the diversification of flowering plants.12

For endozoochory to be successful, the seeds must remain intact during digestion, unlike in seed predation where seeds are destroyed. This form of dispersal often involves a mutualistic relationship between plants and animals, where plants provide nutritious fruits, and animals facilitate the spread of their seeds. While many plant-animal seed dispersal systems are generalized, some specific mutualisms exist, particularly in tropical ecosystems, involving fruits from trees like figs and mistletoes. Various animals, including birds and mammals, act as dispersers through endozoochory.12