Scientists find slugs, beetles and crabs help spread seeds for 186 plant species

How beetles and crabs help forests spread seeds When we think about how forests grow and regrow, we often think about colorful birds carrying berries or monkeys dropping fruit seeds. For a long time, these animals have been known as nature's seed dispersers, carrying seeds far from the parent plant and helping forests grow. But beneath the forest floor another team of hard-working helpers has been quietly doing the same job for millions of years. Tiny ground-dwelling invertebrates are emerging as unlikely allies in forest regeneration, from modest earthworms and slugs to beetles, crickets and even freshwater crabs. Though often ignored due to their small size, these beings play a key role in helping plants reproduce and sustaining biodiversity.A new review by researchers from the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) published by Phys Org, suggests that these small animals contribute much more to seed dispersal than we previously believed. The researchers, by pooling together evidence from studies worldwide, argue that invertebrates should be given more recognition in ecological research and conservation planning.A secret network of seed dispersersAccor...