| The ability of a plant's propagule to reach microhabitats with the adequate conditions for seed germination and sapling establishment will have a direct effect on the plant's fitness. In the case of fleshy-fruited plants, the seeds are dispersed by frugivorous animals. One part of the seed dispersal process is the removal of the fruits, which contain the seeds, from the parental plant. Another important part of the dispersal process is where the seeds land, especially for species with specific light, temperature or humidity needs for germination, such as disturbance colonizers. Solanum riparium (Solanaceae) is a shade intolerant species found in forest gaps within a subtropical montane forest and along river and road edges in North-western Argentina. In... |
