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For millions of years, day and night, year after year, fruits and seeds have migrated across the globe, ensuring the survival of genera and species. And only in this way will future generations continue to do so. Plants which reproduce themselves with seeds are currently the most widespread on the planet. A thorough analysis of the “microcosm” of insects has shown that, in addition to ants, many other insects habitually transport from one place to another small seeds and fruits, less than a gram in weight, contributing in this way to the dispersal of plants. Some do so unconsciously, transporting diaspores, some of which have hooks. These attach themselves to the insect's body and later fall to the ground, allowing new plants to germinate some distance from the original plant. Other insects transport a number of seeds to underground nests—similar to ants—where these may germinate. Scarabaeoids which are found in sandy areas and live on excrement have a considerable role in this process; these insects are instrumental in the dispersal and germination of seeds, burying them with dung. It is likely that grassland termites also aid Poaceae dispersal. The study of entomochorous seeds and fruits draws attention to the fact that elaiosomes are often present and therefore; in this case, dispersal by non-Formicidae insects is of secondary importance.
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... Pollination of flowers is needed for fruit production of most plants, including important sources for humans. But the function of insects does not end with the production of fruits, as they are also very relevant agents of seed dispersal (Li Vigni & Melati, 1999). ...
... Numerous studies in recent years have focused on the function, structure, chemical composition and medicinal uses of the flowers, buds, thorny stems, leaves and fruits of the C. spinosa, as well as this species' evolution and the dispersal of its numerous seeds from dehiscent mature fruits [18,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. It has been reported that wasps, which are active concomitantly with the ripening of caper fruits, act as "vectors" of its seeds, enhancing their dispersal [37]. Also, the odor [38][39][40] and other substances of mature caper fruits attract ants and lizards that serve as vehicles, influencing the long-distance dispersal of its small seeds that are adhered to their bodies and transferred to their nests [41,42]. ...
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