Allochory

Allochory is the dispersal of plant propagules by external agents, in contrast to autochory, where dispersal is produced by the plant itself. In allochory, seeds, fruits, or propagules are moved away from the parent plant by abiotic or biotic vectors, or by human activity. Abiotic allochory includes wind (anemochory) and water (hydrochory). Wind-dispersed seeds often have aerodynamic structures such as wings or plumes; water-dispersed seeds are buoyant. Biotic allochory involves animals, either as epizoochory, where seeds attach to fur or feathers, or endozoochory, where seeds are ingested and later excreted at a different location. Human-mediated dispersal, or anthropochory, also falls under allochory and can significantly alter species distributions.

Allochory contributes to range expansion, colonization of disturbed habitats, and maintenance of population connectivity. Its efficiency depends on propagule traits and environmental conditions, including wind patterns, water currents, animal behavior, and landscape structure. Some plants rely on multiple dispersal modes, increasing the chance that a seed reaches suitable habitat.

Examples include dandelions and maples dispersed by wind, coconuts dispersed by ocean currents, burrs and other hitchhiking seeds through epizoochory, berries and other fleshy fruits that pass through animal guts in endozoochory, and human-assisted introductions in agricultural or introduced species.