Seed Dispersal Experiment

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Seed Dispersal Plants disperse seeds using different methods such as through water, wind, or animals. Without these methods of seed dispersal, those seeds may fall to the ground near the parent plant and may not receive sufficient sun, water, or nutrients. Seed dispersal by wind can involve gliders, parachutes, helicopters, flutterers, and tumbleweeds. The glider design is generally a seed between two lateral wings that allows the seed to float through the air. Parachutes, on the other hand, can have an umbrella-like structure which allows the fragile unit to become airborne with just a tiny gust of wind. Another method of seed dispersal are helicopters, which simply spins as it falls through the air. A similar method of dispersal to the helicopters are the flutterers. The flutterers are slightly different to the helicopters for the reason that the seed includes a…show more content…
Certain seeds that contain special spikes or “claws” attach to feathers or fur of an animal where the animal then carries the seed away from the parent plant, eventually until the seed falls off. In this experiment, the glider is released over a ledge to test how far and long it can glide. The control group in this experiment is a pea without any glider attached with the height of the glider being released and wind in the environment staying the same. Wind dispersal mechanisms were only tested because of the limitations that were set in the environment of the testing. Using any other seed dispersal mechanisms, for example by water or animals, did not seem logical given the location of the experiment. Objective: The objective of the experiment is to find what type of carrier is the most efficient for seed dispersal by wind. Hypothesis: With the glider, the seed will travel at least 10 cm and will stay in the air for at least 5 seconds. Materials: 10 pieces of printer paper Clear tape 10 black-eyed peas
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