The Ecology of Seeds

How many seeds should a plant produce, and how often? Why and how are seeds dispersed, and what are the implications for the diversity and composition of vegetation? These are some of the questions tackled in this extensive review of the role of seeds in plant ecology. The text encompasses a wide range of concepts of relevance to plant ecology, reflecting the central role of seed ecology in clarifying many fundamental aspects of plant community function.

A succinct review of the ecological aspects of seed biology.

Michael Fenner is senior lecturer in ecology in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton, UK.

Ken Thompson is a research fellow and an honorary senior lecturer in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield, UK.