Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5230, USA.
New Phytol. 2010 Oct;188(2):333-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03402.x. Epub 2010 Jul 28.
Growth in seed dispersal studies has been fast-paced since the seed disperser effectiveness (SDE) framework was developed 17 yr ago. Thus, the time is ripe to revisit the framework in light of accumulated new insight. Here, we first present an overview of the framework, how it has been applied, and what we know and do not know. We then introduce the SDE landscape as the two-dimensional representation of the possible combinations of the quantity and the quality of dispersal and with elevational contours representing isoclines of SDE. We discuss the structure of disperser assemblages on such landscapes. Following this we discuss recent advances and ideas in seed dispersal in the context of their impacts on SDE. Finally, we highlight a number of emerging issues that provide insight into SDE. Overall, the SDE framework successfully captures the complexities of seed dispersal. We advocate an expanded use of the term dispersal encompassing the multiple recruitment stages from fruit to adult. While this entails difficulties in estimating SDE, it is a necessary expansion if we are to understand the central relevance of seed dispersal in plant ecology and evolution.
自 17 年前种子散布者有效性（SDE）框架提出以来，种子散布研究的发展速度非常快。因此，现在是根据积累的新见解重新审视该框架的时候了。在这里，我们首先介绍该框架的概述，它的应用方式，以及我们所知道和不知道的内容。然后，我们引入 SDE 景观，作为可能的散布数量和质量的二维组合的表示，以及代表 SDE 等斜线的海拔等高线。我们讨论了这种景观上散布者组合的结构。接下来，我们在讨论种子散布的最新进展和思想时，讨论了它们对 SDE 的影响。最后，我们强调了一些新出现的问题，这些问题提供了对 SDE 的深入了解。总的来说，SDE 框架成功地捕捉到了种子散布的复杂性。我们提倡使用更广泛的术语“散布”来涵盖从果实到成年的多个招募阶段。虽然这在估计 SDE 时带来了困难，但如果我们要理解种子散布在植物生态学和进化中的核心重要性，这是必要的扩展。
