Hydrochory
Hydrochory is the dispersal of organisms or seeds by water. It occurs through waterways, ocean currents, runoff, or flooding.
Seed buoyancy: The tendency of a seed to float in water, influenced by its density and structure. Buoyant seeds can remain afloat long enough for water to carry them away from the parent plant.
Mangrove: A salt-tolerant woody plant that grows in tropical and subtropical coastal intertidal zones. Many mangrove propagules float and disperse through tidal water.
Anemochory: The dispersal of seeds or other propagules by wind. Wind transports propagules through air, unlike hydrochory through water.
Sea bean: A common name for large, hard seeds of tropical lianas that can float in seawater. Sea beans are classic examples of seeds carried over long distances by ocean currents.
Water dispersal syndrome: A set of seed traits associated with dispersal by water, including buoyancy and resistance to soaking. These traits help explain how plants use water as a transport route.
Coconut: The large, fibrous fruit of the coconut palm, containing a seed and a water-resistant husk. Its buoyant husk allows coconuts to survive ocean transport and colonize distant shores.
Zoochory: The dispersal of seeds or other propagules by animals, externally or after ingestion. Animals provide a distinct transport vector from water currents and floods.
Barringtonia asiatica: A tropical coastal tree whose large, fibrous fruits can float in seawater. Its floating fruits can disperse among Indo-Pacific shorelines.
Seed coat: The protective outer covering of a seed, formed from the ovule’s integuments. A water-resistant coat can protect a seed during immersion and transport.
River restoration: The repair of degraded rivers and their ecological processes, habitats, and connectivity. Restored flow regimes can reconnect seed sources with downstream habitats.